Volume 17: Finishing Things
I have had way too many projects in the works lately and I don’t know about you but sometimes that just causes me to freeze up completely. So I’ve put a couple things on hold until I finish the things I already have going. I finally feel like I’m coming out of project overload and am so excited about some of the things I have coming up in the Fall (after the wedding, haha).
A New Pattern
I posted a classic tomato pin cushion tutorial on YouTube this week and if you need a fun and gratifying little project right now, this will do the job. They are so fun, I made four. I’m here to argue that you need several pin cushions — one on your cutting space, one next to your machine, one to hold your specialty pins, one just for hand sewing needles, one on your ironing board, one upstairs in your sewing box — you get the picture. Watch the tutorial here and grab the printable version here in my shop or on Etsy if you prefer.
Make a classic tomato shaped pin cushion in three sizes! The PDF tutorial includes instructions with photos, and pattern pieces for three sizes of this pin cushion.
Layla’s Quilt
I put the final rows into Layla’s butterfly quilt this week! She wants some borders on it to make it twin size, so I still need to do that and then I think I’ve decided to enter it into the Kentucky State Fair. The improv category at the fair was very unfairly judged last year, but I’ve been reminded by many of you on Instagram that we enter to “see and be seen”, so others can enjoy and be inspired by our work and so that we can enjoy and be inspired by the work of others. So I’m going to enter it!
A New Wonky Book!
I’m happy to report that I’m currently working on a fourth improv quilting book and it’s a how-to for all the bugs and flower blocks in this quilt! I expect it to be done and printed within the next month (I’m hustling!) I’m very excited to share it with you. You can shop my first three books here.
We Saw a Legend
My husband and I went to Cincinnati to see Paul Simon in concert last weekend!! His album Graceland (a perfect album, in my opinion) came out when I was 5 and my parents had it and I’ve been a huge fan every since. The show was so, so good. Pictures weren’t allowed during the show, (one lady really got yelled at for trying hahaha), but we got this one beforehand.
Projects to Finish
Okay, so here’s what I’m still needing to finish:
The dress I started yesterday for my porch goose (whoops).
My mother-of the bride dress — a wearable muslin and then the real thing.
The wedding dress hem and adding hip padding to the store bought petticoat we got from David’s Bridal.
I might be making the veil.
The butterfly quilt.
The new improv book.
AND THEN, once I finish those things, I can start these things:
The Beginner’s Quilting Course I’ve been planning (more to come about this once I’ve made progress).
Finishing the quilt my great grandmother started.
A pillow case dress tutorial (let’s face it, I’m going to film this way before those other things are finished lol).
An idea I’m toying with for 2027: An improv medallion quilt block of the month club. Tell me if this is something you think sounds interesting!
Vintage Pattern Collage
I made my dad the absolute best masterpiece of a Father’s Day card ever! It’s super funny. I had a vision, I had the perfect pattern art, I found the perfect magazine pictures. Lol, it’s so good. He laughed enough to need to remove his glasses and wipe his eyes, and that’s winning.
Write and tell me what your to-finish list is looking like! I want to add that I absolutely love receiving your emails in response to these newsletters. I do read every one and I try to respond to some, especially the ones with questions, but don’t always get to all of them. I do read them all though and you’re so helpful!! Thank you :)
Cheers!
Nikki
