Hello and welcome back to Bonjour Quilts for a weekend update. And not just any weekend, it’s Black Friday (well, it was yesterday, but you know what I mean) with sales everywhere you look.
Obviously, if you’re well and truly over it, then disregard this section of the blog post. But if you’d like to nab some of my patterns at a great discount, then use the code BF2024 at the checkout and you’ll score 30% off until Thursday, 5 December.
The discount applies to everything there, including…
All The Triangles Pattern
My All the Triangles Pattern (which featured in the wall calendar bundle last month) is now available as a stand-alone PDF quilt pattern. Yes, the BF2024 code applies to this new pattern too!
All The Triangles has instructions for 3 quilt sizes: crib, rectangular throw and square throw. This was the crib version I sewed earlier this year:
And here is the square throw that I finished in October.
And this is my plan for my next one (scrappy rainbow, of course!). The PDF comes with printables so you can test out your fabric placement ideas before you start sewing.
If you’d like more information on All The Triangles, I have a dedicated blog post for it. I go into detail on the fabrics and quilting of each quilt, and show you how I’d use my old Army uniforms in a throw quilt version.
As well as my latest pattern, Black Friday is a great time to stock up on some scrap friendly patterns like these:
Perhaps you’re after a fat quarter friendly pattern?
Or maybe you’d like to make a statement quilt for your own bed? Diamonds in the Deep has been my most popular pattern since Day 1 for this purpose.
Whatever you’re looking for, have a stroll through my shop and see if something tickles your fancy. And remember to use BF2024 at checkout for 30% off your total order until Thursday.
Other good shopping deals:
Cotton Threads has up to 40% off in some instances – you can find their online store here.
The Fat Quarter Shop, one of my favourites, has been having Flash Sales in the lead up to the holidays. Every 24 hours a handful of products get a deep discount. It’s worth checking in each morning to see if there’s something you need as you’ll get a great deal! They’re also having 15% off site-wide until midnight Saturday (US time).
Set Yourself Up for 2025
Now is the perfect time to think about ordering the Quilter’s Planner for 2025. As you may remember, I was one of the featured designers for this year’s Quilter’s Planner – you can see my block below.
Next year there will be a whole new Planner with several project patterns (instead of a sampler quilt) included. I’m excited to see this change-up! (I ordered my 2025 Quilter’s Planner a couple of weeks ago.)
One thing that won’t change is how this Planner is so customisable. I love being able to choose my cover design, whether my layout is vertical or horizontal, and whether I start my week with Sunday or Monday (Monday, because I’m not a monster…)
As the Quilter’s Planner is a small business run by a lovely quilter, and printed in-house, it’s important to give yourself enough lead time to get your Planner. So get that order in today!
Chez Bonjour…
It’s the business end of the year for us here in Australia. Our school year ends in less than 2 weeks and the long summer holidays are December/January. The kids are excited and tired and looking forward to their exams being over.
I had a mini-melt down about 2 weeks ago which I (with my doctor) figured out was due to the fluctuating hormones of perimenopause. I basically had a couple of days of horrible panic attacks (for no reason) as my body dropped into a fight-or-flight response. (Zero out of 5 stars, would not recommend.)
I started Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT in Australia, known as HRT in the US) 10 days ago and thankfully it’s made a big difference. I’ve had a few wobbly moments but it does take a couple of months to kick in completely, so hopefully I will only go on to feel better and better.
I just wanted to bring it up because society tends not to talk about perimenopause and menopause very much, but it can be a huge change for some. And it lasts a very long time. Half our lifetime! If you’re having issues that are making your life painful or unenjoyable, do take the time to talk to an understanding doctor and seek some treatment. And don’t leave it too long (like I did) – the sooner you discuss your options the better.
Alright, that’s my public service announcement over, ha. (But seriously, it was awful, I thought I was having multiple heart attacks each day and thought I was going to die. Everyone’s menopause journey is different, but if my words help even one person avoid this, then I’ll be happy. Phew!)
Enough of the mood-wrecking hormones and on to the mood-soothing critters!
Cats’ Corner
These two cats have had a fun time because I managed to put the Christmas tree up this week. They’ve actually been quite good (no tree climbing) but I did interrupt a bauble-gnawing session:
And I came out one night to find Tigger dragging one of my gnomes off with his teeth to who-knows-where. Even more reprehensible when you see how loving those gnomes have been to him:
Other than that it’s been business as usual around here for Tigger and Lulu. i.e: lots of cuddles and sleeping. What a life.
And if you’re a big cat lover and enjoy seeing them in all sorts of landscapes, you’ll love this coffee table cat book. I think it needs to go on my Christmas list!
Have a wonderful weekend
I hope all my US readers had a lovely Thanksgiving on Thursday. May your stretchy pants and leftovers bring you continued joy through the weekend. Man, I love leftovers.
Happy sewing and shopping, and don’t forget that code BF2024 for any patterns here at Bonjour Quilts!
Kirsty x
P.S. All the details on All The Triangles (and BF2024 works for this one, too).
I had to go through your website to find this blog post. Not sure but I don’t think I got the email notification. I see your note about your horrible menopause situation. I had a total hysterectomy at 34 and my doctor didn’t put me on HRT. 2 weeks post-surgery, I was suicidal. I really felt insane. I had to be hospitalized and then thank God received some good meds. It was an awful experience so I can relate. God bless and thank God for good docs and good meds!
Oh my goodness, Rosey – that is so horrible. I can understand how horrible it would have been after my (smaller) issue that I went through. So disappointing how your outcome wasn’t foreseen and appropriate treatment started immediately after your surgery!! It’s so annoying how it has been portrayed as a ‘trifling women’s issue’ when it can be so debilitating. I’m with you on good docs and good treatment – a Godsend!
Hi Kirsty, I so enjoy getting your emails for the quilting, family and cats (I love cats), even though I don’t do so much quilting now.
On the menopause subject, we all have different experiences and you will get so many different opinions on coping with it, but if you have a good doctor to work through it with that’s the most important thing. I tried a lot of remedies, natural and medical and have been on HRT patches for nearly 30 years, going from high dose to the lowest for a few years now. I have tried weaning off so many times but after about 10 days symptom’s start so will be on until I kark it. (I am now 79 yrs old)
There were fears over cancer in the early 2000’s but now it is thought that HRT is beneficial to heart and general health of women, so who knows ! It sure beats putting up with the effects. I had a hysterectomy at 28 yrs old due to Endo..and have a cyst on the ovary that was left that is not sinister., and had a melanoma removed from my face a couple of years ago and all ok, so if cancer was a problem things may have ben worse.
I can laugh now but I must have driven my family nuts, switching off heaters and taking off
clothes when everyone else was freezing, and the moods etc.
My sister breezed through it with no problems.
Good luck ! Love and Hugs
Hi Jenny, my gyno said she wouldn’t be surprised if we are on the hormones until the end of life. And if the alternative is panic attacks then sign me up forever.
My doctor (GP) is so lovely and understanding and helped me immensely, my hope is that everyone gets to talk to such a professional.
And yes, it’s been shown that MHT/HRT prevents osteoporosis and heart health, as you mentioned. I can only imagine how beneficial it is to mental wellbeing and mood too. No complaints from me (although I recognise that I’m early days and I will be sure to report back if I have any side effects).
Thanks for posting this – although I’m old enough to say that is a vague memory. Grab the cats and go to the beach and yell at the waves, (wine helps too) “This too shall pass….” Love the review of all the great quilts you have designed! Thanks, Joan, Chicago
Ha, a good yell never hurts. And wine is wonderful, although I do have to be more careful with it, sadly (it messes up my sleep). But day drinking is still okay!!
I was lucky to have had minimal disruption from menopause but my periods used to last 7+ days so perhaps
It’s a trade off. Thought I would mention that if anyone is considering using Premarin it comes from pregnant mates and isn’t a great life for the horse. There are plant based alternatives if this is of concern to anyone. Also vaginal atrophy is a thing post menopause. That is never mentioned. Our bodies sure go through a lot!
We really do go through the wringer with this, don’t we! I can only speak for Australia, but man-made estradiol is the first choice prescription for perimenopause. Neither my doctor or gynaecologist have mentioned Premarin. The estradiol comes in a vaginal gel too, which helps with atrophy (I’m not a doctor, just what I’ve read/heard from my doctor).
My hope is that as peri and menopause get more attention, more treatments will become available.
Dear Kirsty, So sorry for you. I’m one of the lucky ones that never had any problems with the change over at all.
Hope the treatment works out for you
with hugs Ros
I’m so glad it wasn’t an issue for you Ros. I thought I was doing okay there for a while but nature had other plans, ha! Hopefully this new treatment will have me back on track for the future.
Just a note pass on, when you lose your hormones you start losing muscles, tendons tighten up. I was 80 before I knew what was wrong. I was on HRT for over 40 years and then the medical people decided it was causing breast cancer, so my Dr took me off of it :-( And my new Dr won’t put me on it because of the cancer concern. So be sure to talk to your Dr about what to do whenever they decide it’s time to stop using the HRT
Hi Dorothy, yes there have been some misguided studies in the past that correlated estrogen with breast cancer in perimenopause, but that has thankfully been set straight. Thank you for the reminder to make the effort to keep muscle mass (strength training and increasing protein intake) so that we keep our muscles. It helps us stay strong and prevents osteoporosis, and we look even better in shorts. :)
Thank you for your shout-out to female normality! Menstruation is normal. Pads and tampons are normal. Perimenopause is normal. Menopause is normal. Not hush hush or taboo!
–a fellow hot-flasher
Yes!! 50% of the population will go through this. Some of it’s not fun, but it’s all completely normal. The more we talk about it the better it will be for the women who come after us. x
Dearest Kirsty,
I have not written before but I felt like such a “taker” not telling you how much you, your family (including the cats) mean to me. I love your patterns, so clever and beautiful! My it’s your personality and giving nature that has me always looking for a message from “my good friend “. You mix humor, quilting, family, nature and practical advice all together for all of us, me, feel like we’re friends not just faceless customers.
Have a wonderful holiday season, try not to get tired out with the boys home. Lol
I used St Johns Wort during menopause and always have it on hand for those rare occasions that I feel
Hugs,
Joanne , US citizen , living permanently in Cotacachi Ecuador!
Thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment, Joanne, I’m so glad you enjoy the newsletters/posts. And thank you for the St John’s Wort recommendation – I had heard of it but had forgotten, I’ll look into it again.