Wednesday, August 31, 2016

#BraveQuilter for September Is OPEN!



Slow Stitch Project

This week has been a push every day. I've been sticking to a list of things that need to be done, and it's been working. Staying on track can be hard when there are so many distractions, especially when you're surrounded by tempting fabrics. But we have a weekend break coming, and I had nothing portable to take and stitch. I kept thinking of these beautiful blue cottons I'd recently dyed, and my growing stash of feed sacks. Throw in some vintage buttons, and it just seemed to feel good together.



I wanted to show you a close up of the texture, and the buttons. It makes me fairly giddy! If someone had said to me a year ago I'd like this more primitive style, I'd have laughed. But I've been keeping an open mind to all kinds of styles, and still find there is something likable about them all. I guess as long as it involves fabric or thread, I'm brave enough to try. 

Do you have something new in mind to try this month? Then write a post giving us some details, and link it up here at Pink Doxies. Details are below. #BraveQuilter happens each month, and is here to encourage you and others to push yourselves just a little bit into learning new skills, and moving out of your comfort zone.





I encourage you to be a #bravequilter, and overcome something that is challenging you.

Do you want to...
Figure out zippers?
Learn to piece a Y-seam?
Learn how to knit?
Enter your work in a show?
Applique something--anything?
Dye fabrics?
Make a project with repurposed fabrics?
Make a block with curved piecing?
Paint with acrylics on fabric?
Take a class on something totally new to you?

We all have things we need encouragement with so I'm going to tell you to TRY ONE THING! Just one thing on your long list you choose to cross off this month, and link it up here. You can add it to a blog post this week, or simply tag it on Instagram. It doesn't have to be a big thing. 

For example, assuming you have never tried or 
mastered curved piecing, and would like to. 

*Add something like this below to a blog post. 
*Add a link somewhere in your post back to Pink Doxies. 
*Link up that post here.

"I'm participating in the Pink Doxies new link up, #BraveQuilter. As part of the #BraveQuilter link party for March, I promise to make one 12" block with curved piecing." 



Instagram could be a simple picture of your materials or any example of what you'd like to achieve, and say the same thing as above. Use the hashtag #BraveQuilter, and tag me @PINKDOXIES. 

Then DO it! Try it. If you wind up making something fabulous, cheers to you! If you try it, and maybe it's just so-so, cheers to you because you still worked at it. Maybe someone else will have some good words of advice to help you out. These do not have to be finished projects. We are taking small steps together to become better quilter, sewists, artists. We are celebrating the learning process.

The link parties normally stay open for one week. Because we've had a summer break, and are just coming back this one will be open today, and close September 10, 2016 at midnight EST. When you've completed your own challenge, write and publish a blog post or Instagram post. The link up for finished projects will be October 1-3. I will draw one winner to receive a small bundle of vibrant, hand dyed fabrics from Pink Doxies Studio, or perhaps another delectable thing for a quilter. You must link up both at the beginning and end of the month to be eligible for prizes. 

Remember: No one is asking you for a finished project of any kind. Pick something that is a personal challenge, and take it on. 

Be your own inspiration, 
and grow this year!

Life begins outside your comfort zone.




Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.



10 comments:

  1. Thanks for the encouragement to push out of my comfort zone!

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    1. You are so welcome! Can't wait to see what you're working on this month.

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  2. I will have to give this some thought and find something to push myself this month. Right now I'm just trying to get my Sewjo back. It seems to have up and left. I think this happens every year around this time. Maybe it's the heat, maybe it's trying to get back into routines after a summer break. Whatever it is, I am having to push through it right now to find my joy in sewing, rather than feeling like it's a huge task that needs to be done.

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  3. I don't have a specific goal in mind, just that I'd like the opportunity to relax enough to allow me to start and finish the ideas that are in my head. There's so much stuff going on around me, it's hard to focus. So we'll see whether I can be a bravequilter.
    Thanks for sharing the idea and encouragement on Midweek Makers!

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  4. I want to see your end product with the dyed blue fabric, feed sacks, and buttons! I'm working on something new to me right now - doing machine appliqué with monofilament thread.

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  5. I'm working on a project now that uses string blocks, not new for me. The blocks are cut in half and sewn back together--this is new--it takes bravery for me to cut them!

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  6. Love the vintage buttons, remind me of my grandmother's tin of buttons I played with as a child)) Interesting, how your "vintage" project will turn out! I've been considering a challenge these past few days, now I have an idea, just need to post about it))

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  7. This is the year of the graduation quilt, so I'm more for ease of construction than challenges. But DT has asked for one quilt to include the words from the first amendment. I'm still considering how to incorporate that into a medallion quilt. That's my challenge for this year.

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  8. Well, I was finally brave enough to link up a challenging project here. Wish me luck! Karen

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Thoughtful comments are Honey to My Heart! Thank you for taking time to leave such words. Feel free to email me directly with any specific questions at julie@pinkdoxies.com
Julie
Pink Doxie Mama