It’s Thursday and it’s time to linky up your quilty process here at Pretty Bobbins! Sometimes I think too much, I always have. In fact one of my favourite things to do is quilt and think (I’m not one to watch TV and piece, I prefer the company of my own thoughts). This week I’ve been thinking a lot about being a professional quilter and blogger and what that means. But first up I want to feature the incredibly talented Jess of The Elven Garden.
Image used with permission from The Elven Garden
I remember first coming across Jess and being so incredibly impressed with her quilting. Seriously amazing stuff! She is now teaching and has been published in magazines and is generally a bit of a quilting superstar in my books 
I’m looking forward to meeting Jess in real life and sharing a room at QuiltCon next year!!
Image used with permission from The Elven Garden – saw this in person, it’s AMAZING!!
Yesterday Jess wrote a post about thinking and quilting. Now I’ll admit that I quilt and think, the two go hand in hand for me. Jess talked about how some of us are mindful quilters and some aren’t and how she’s realised that she is totally happy “just” making pretty things and being happy <3 Jess, I’ll be happy if you keep making pretty things! The world needs more quilt candy, be it mindfully made or thrown together with purpose rather than deep thought involved 
Image used with permission from The Elven Garden
Seriously, this kind of talent kills me! ABSOLUTELY stunning! If you haven’t already, please head over to The Elven Garden and say hi to Jess. Her work is all things wonderful <3
Quilting with my Miss
The only quilting I’ve been up to lately is a super simple quilt for Francois, my daughter’s class mascot. The children in her class laid out the charm squares and we made the quilt together at home. We added photographs to the Francois’ scrapbook and I have hung a few copies in my sewing room <3
Triangle quilt in progress
As usual I have been thinking a lot about my business and I’ve decided to aim to have a market stall. We all know that pricing is arguably the hardest part of quilting and I very much believe that we should charge what we’re worth. I have a super hard time following through with this and generally tend to sell myself short. I have decided that everything I make for market will be properly priced. I’ve been timing myself as I’m working and you may be interested to hear my progress.
Cutting: 50 minutes
Layout: 40 minutes
Piecing: 205 minutes
That’s almost 5 hours of work before basting, quilting and binding and this is only a cot sized quilt. Of course I will probably chicken out and charge far less than the finished quilt is actually worth, but at least by figuring out an accurate cost based on time, materials and skill I can educate myself. In this same vein I urge you to visit this post by Mandalei Quilts on working for free. It is definitely food for thought and fits with my own experience of realising that as much as I love to accept free fabric, the work that I put into my work is worth far more than the say $50 worth of free fabric. As a business I just don’t think I can afford to work for free anymore. I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts on this one
So that’s my thinky quilty Thursday Please link up your quilty process below <3
An InLinkz Link-up
Am I the only person who falls in love with every single thing they make? I have two items for sale in an online market night tonight and I am so proud of what I’ve made. What do you think?
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| Perfect for a slumber party with your favourite dolly! |
The theme of the market night is “Celebrate/Party” as it is part of the first birthday celebrations for The Sewing Library (TSL), an online Facebook group that is all about sewing. I’ve mentioned TSL before and I really do enjoy being part of the group, if you sew I recommend you head on over, you can find TSL here on Facebook and their new blog here.
My second item for the market night is just as cute, perfect for baking birthday cakes
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| Who could resist cupcake potholders? |
I’m not going to go all advertorial on you, but if you’re interested in these items or any of the other gorgeous handmade goodies on offer, head on over to The Sewing Library Noticeboard. The market starts at 7pm AEST tonight, 2 May and all details are in the Market Album.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out the goodies that Angelique and I will be offering for sale on the 23rd November at SPC. As promised here are a few more handmade treats to tempt you.
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| L-R: Santa Stockings, Blackboard Christmas list |
I won’t scare you (or me!) by counting how many days until Christmas, but here are some Christmas goodies to tempt you. Have you ever heard of chalkcloth? It is basically the same as a blackboard but fabric. Clever! So you can stick your Christmas list to the fridge and get the kids to write up their wish list, rub off and rewrite as many times as you want.
Angelique has made these gorgeous dollies. There is not much to say other than I want one
Bonne weekend xx
So my lovely crafting buddy Angelique (who I have been meaning to blog about for awhile now) and I are having a bit of a stall next Wednesday 23rd November at the SPC Social Club from 9.30am here in Noumea (it is near the tennis courts around the back). Excited, me? Just a little… Well, I hope you get excited too and maybe even pop in to say hi!
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Top L-R: Dress, Boys shorts, Hair accessories, Girls romper made
using the Tie Dye Diva Ruffled Romper pattern.
Bottom L-R: passport cover, pencil rolls, ruffled nappy cover, boy’s
reversible overalls made using a Scientific Seamstress pattern. |
Angelique is really very talented, I admire her style and enjoy reading her blog No Life Without Wife. She is a much more prolific blogger than me (although today seems to be a bloggy kind of day)! She makes the cutest hats for these crazy little Blythe Dolls (their eyes change colour!) and sells them and other gorgeous creations in her Etsy store, La Petite Chouette. I’d never heard of Blythe before I met Angelique and now I think I’m starting to want one…
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| Did I mention how talented Angelique is? Here are some of her goodies! |
I have gone on a bit of a cutesy whirlwind and have made some lovely little kids clothes ranging from 6 months – 6 years. Lots of girls stuff but also some nice pieces for the boys too. It is so rewarding to find great boys clothes and I’ve really enjoying making things that Mr 3 and Mr 5 keep asking if they can keep. They’re looking forward to after the Stall when Mummy will make all the cool shorts that I’ve promised them.
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L-R: Girls Romper made using Tie Dye Diva pattern, Ruffled
Nappy Cover, Pillowcase Dress, Ruffled Nappy Cover. |
Other than clothes I’m also making a few toys, Christmas bits and pieces and will offer some custom orders. It’s time for sleep now, but I’ll put some more photos up over the next couple of days in the hope that you’ll be tempted to come along to our Christmas market!
