I’ve been missing around here, enjoying the quiet and magic of the holidays, and the potential of a new year. I’ve really been thinking about my goals, and what I want to do, and where I want to go this year. It’s been a lot of thinking and a lot of decision making. I think it must be something us artist-types have to do on a regular basis (probably everyone else, too)–evaluating where our plans are taking us, and trying to evaluate and course correct before we get too far from where our hearts really want us to go.
Over the break, I jumped in and made a Scrappy Tripalong quilt (it’s all the rage on Instagram, just check out hashtag #scrappytripalong, and follow me: amrosenthal–or I’m posting my pictures on my Facebook Page, too)–and as I’ve been working on it, I realized it’s the first quilt I’ve made just for fun, because I want to. Every other quilt I’ve made over the last 10 years has been as a gift, for a deadline, to show a pattern, etc. It was a strange realization. Pair that with the fact that I’m having so much fun making it, and I think I’m on to something. Creativity flourishes when it’s set free. If you’d like to make one, the tutorial is here.
This year, I’m excited to learn more, slow down, develop my personal style, and really marinate and become the person I want to be–do the things I’ve always wanted to do. If not now, when? Each month, I’m setting 5 goals (a la Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project), each month building on the previous. It sounds like a tall order, but when each goal is truly a delight to work on, I think it will be blissful and restorative.
I’ve also joined in on a few other things that will help me Become (my One Little Word) who I want to be. I joined in on Fifth and Hazel and Ollibird’s 365 Pattern challenge. I’m creating a repeating pattern every day this year to move me toward one of my goals: cultivating the skills necessary to design fabric. I’m making a schedule and committing to blogging more regularly. (I hope you don’t mind). I’m using Project Life to document these fleeting days, weeks, and months. I’m picking up my Farmer’s Wife blocks again (Posts about these blocks: 1, 2, 3, 4.) I’m decorating my newly remodeled studio–my shelving gets put in Tuesday, and then pictures! I’m eating better, exercising early, and taking my vitamins and supplements (if you’re curious, I’m in love with my doTerra supplements). I’m keeping my family healthy, and enjoying these last few months before my kids start kindergarten. I’m trying to get up the guts to start up the IVF process again. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s a year of nurturing and growth, for sure.
And in case you think I’m forgetting you, my sweet friends, I’m most definitely not. Many of my goals revolve around sharing tutorials, creating a community, and learning more about my friends. That absolutely means we’re going to have lots of fun this year. Together.
What do you think, friends? Have you done any reevaluating yourself lately? Any creative (or other) goals for the new year? I’d love to hear them. Maybe we can help each other along.
xoxo
April
PS First up? That Block of the Month I hinted about in September. I can’t wait to show you. Who’s in?
PPS My Home for Harvest pattern is being featured on the Fat Quarter Shop’s Jolly Jabber blog today–go suggest a fabric line you’d like to make it in, and you are entered to win a $50 gift card. Score!
You may have noticed these little pictures of mine on Instagram (amrosenthal, if you want to be friends!) over the Thanksgiving holiday, chronicling my breakfast preparations. For the record, they’re delightful, delicious, and really, really, easy to make. A few people asked for the recipe, and of course I’m more than happy to share so that I’m not the only one eating breakfast for lunch (and dinner, ahem) around here.
As a side note, I don’t really do measurements on recipes, people. I’ll do my best to estimate, but this one is pretty much foolproof. You’ve got this.
Here’s what you need:
- A mini muffin tin
- Olive oil
- Wontons (24 dumpling size, or 6 egg roll size, cut in quarters)
- 5 eggs, beaten (with salt and pepper if desired)
- Ham
- Butter
- Sharp cheddar cheese
Coat the cups in the muffin tin lightly with olive oil. Have a munchkin (or other person) put the wonton wrappers in each cup, being careful not to break them press the dough against the sides of the cup, folding a little if necessary.
Dice the ham into small (1/2″) pieces. I use organic deli slices (honey smoked) and it’s delicious. Saute the ham in a pan with the butter until browned. Pour several tablespoons of water in the pan when the the button on the bottom of the pan is starting to brown. Simmer until the water has evaporated. Remove from heat.
Put a pinch of ham in each cup. Pour beaten egg in each cup to just below the top. Sprinkle the top with sharp cheddar cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 12 minutes.
Make repeatedly until your family has no idea there are other foods in the world.
As a side note, this same thing can be done with a leftover pie crust. Same thing with the egg, cheese, ham, etc. I added 1 shredded potato to it, cooked it for about 23 minutes. It was divine.
In case you needed more excuses to eat breakfast for every meal.
xoxo
April
Fall is in full swing around here and I love love love it. October is easily my busiest month of the year, and this year has been no exception. With all the busy-ness, I wanted to pop in here and give a quick glimpse of what’s going on around here.
I’m sending out fabrics to my quilting bee ladies today (it’s my month! Yay!)
Sewing clothes for a dirty, well-loved monkey. Miss Lily picked out the fabric and the Christmas ribbon. :)
Admiring the leaves and taking long deep breaths of the (awesome) autumn air.
Watching the last soccer games of the season, and cheering on our favorite football teams.
Putting up my Halloween bunting (print yours here), decorations, and finishing up my table runner.
Getting my studio cleaned and put together.
Sewing, and sewing, and sewing for market, and getting my posts ready for the Blogger’s Bar Hop tomorrow and my turn on the Sweet Celebrations tour on Thursday (be sure to come back!) Schedules are here.
In the midst of all the things going on, I’m really trying to focus and be balanced. It’s easy for me to get caught up in the crazy and neglect that this time of year is my very favorite of all. We’re going to the little old man’s pumpkin stand tonight for Family Night to choose out Jack O’Lantern pumpkins, and we’re having Breakfast with a Witch on Thursday. I’m also trying to spend more time reading scriptures and having some quiet time for prayer and grounding before my day gets underway. Finally, a friend and I are getting up before the sun to exercise. I’ll be tired, but it’s time to get more movement into my schedule. If not now, when?
What’s going on with you? Is this your favorite time of year? Any suggestions (or encouragement) for my early morning exercise? (Trust me, I need it!)
xoxo
April
First of all, I was hopping around the other day when these two magazines hit newsstands.
Why? Well, see that cover quilt up there on Simple Quilts and Sewing? I made it!! (And it made the cover!! Wooo!)
I’ve got another quilt right at the front of this month’s Quilt Trends magazine, too. I had a ton of fun making these quilts, and I’m excited to get them back so I can show you something fun. See, these magazine opportunities came because my Big City quilt was shown in the Free Spirit booth last quilt market. Each magazine contacted me and asked if I’d do a quilt for them using the same fabric line (Grand Hotel by Jenean Morrison). So, I did. And I can’t wait to show you how different three quilts made from the same fabric line can look, just by being selective about your color and design choices.
Another reason I’m hopping around? Today (actually yesterday) two different blog hops started, which I’ll participate in later in the month. Both are super fun, so for sure follow along! A little info about each:
The Moda Sweet Celebrations Blog Tour!
Come visit the blogs of the contributors to the Moda Bake Shop’s newest book, Sweet Celebrations. We’ll answer some strange questions, talk a little about and share our favorite recipe from our chosen holiday! Also, at each stop, you can enter to win a copy of the book (not even in stores yet!) and a Moda precut! Here’s the schedule:
Blog Tour Schedule
October 1 – StashBooks and Moda Cutting Table
October 2 – Melissa Mortenson and Melissa Corry
October 3 – Mary Lane Brown and Natalia Bonner
October 4 – Lissa Alexander and Corey Yoder
October 5 – Jane Davidson and Angela Yosten
October 6 – Jo & Kelli Kramer and Stefanie Roman
October 7 – Sherri McConnell and Megan Jimenz & Heather Andrus
October 8 – Angela Mitchell and Ellie Roberts
October 9 – Katie Blakesley and Aneela Hoey
October 10 – Amy Smart and Angela Pingel
October 11 – Vanessa Christenson and April Rosenthal
October 12 – Moda Bake Shop
October 14 – Readers have until midnight on the 14th to comment on all the blogs for the giveaways.
October 19 –Winners announced on all the blogs.
The Blogger’s Bar Hop Quiltalong!
Remember last year how I did the Chevron Dreams block for the Quilt Uberfest Quiltalong? Well, this year Scott of Blue Nickel Studios is at it again, which means you get 14 more free blocks to add to your repertoire! So hop along and get your free downloadable block pattern from each of these fine blogs:
October 1 Amy Ellis
October 2 Lynn Harris
October 3 Heather Jones
October 4 Jacquie Kunkel
October 5 Ashley Jones
October 6 Emily Cier
October 7 Scott Hansen
October 8 Jan Peoples
October 9 April Rosenthal
October 10 Amy Lobsiger
October 11 Cara Quilts
October 12 Konda Luckau
October 13 Alethea Ballard
October 14 Charlie Scott
Finally, a lot more hopping happening because market is only a mere 3 weeks away, and I have an inhuman amount of work to get done. I may have to call in some reinforcements. Wish me luck (and hop along with me!)
xoxo
April
Using these little charm packs to make a quick and easy (and just a little out of my comfort zone) quilt.
The colors are right up my alley, and so are the prints. I’ve been a fan of Lotta’s long before she was creating fabric. In fact, I think I still have a stationery set from a few years ago on my Amazon wish list. :)
Ignore that this quilt needs to be pressed. There’s only so much daylight. The part that’s out of my comfort zone? That stretched me as a quilter just a bit this week? The asymmetry–and not just a little asymmetry, but a whole quilt full of it. I think it’s interesting that something can still be balanced even though it’s not the same on both sides.
I’m also working on deciding what baking project is worthy of these beautiful eggs from the chickens around the corner. (Thanks Sue!)
I’m working on living up the rest of the summer at the farmer’s markets with a fairy princess.
And her bodyguard, Batman. (Dang, they’re cute.)
I’m also working on a project with this…
Using a whole bunch of these–because hey. Soccer season just started. I’m chillin’ at the field 3 evenings a week and twice on Saturdays. Plus, Halloween is one of the best holidays around.
I’ll keep you posted.
What are you working on?
xoxo
April
PS Fabrics are Bella by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics and Happy H”owl”-o-ween by Deb Strain for Moda
Watching fireworks.
Hanging out with these cuties.
Going on a trip to Cancun with My Man for our tenth (!) anniversary.
Finding quilt inspiration from 10,000 feet.
Binding.
Longarm quilting.
Eating popsicles.
Admiring sunsets.
More longarm quilting.
Cutting.
More cutting.
Waking up early to watch dozens of hot air balloons take off.
Sending prayers to my neighbors.
Even more longarm quilting.
Watching more fireworks.
Enjoying an evening in the canyon to celebrate My Man getting his Master’s Degree. (He thinks we should now call him Master. Heh.)
Considering becoming a berryatarian.
Staying cool.
Are you on Instagram? (You should be. It’s free!) If you want to follow me, I’m amrosenthal. :) Download it at the Apple App store here, or the Android app store, here.
What have you been up to?
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Hello!
My name is April. I'm a quilt pattern designer, twin-mama, and color lover. Welcome to my little space, where I blog about all the things going on in my studio and creative life. Relax, and stay a while!My Cute Quilting Bee
Bees and Blog Hops
