The kiddos and I just finished up their Valentines, and boy did they turn out fun.
I was really going for something “punny” that they could understand–that didn’t involve a food/candy item.
As it was, I told them what I thought we should do, and two days later Beckham came up to me laughing and repeating the punchline.
Give him a break, he’s five. (And really, really, cute.)
Lily, well, she asked for tape for Christmas. Enough said.
She was thrilled when she counted everything out and realized that she could keep two of these.
A couple packs of paper straws or little tape dispensers (washi tape would be cute, too…) and some cardstock in your printer, and you’re all set. Just click on the link below to download and print.
Last Minute Printable Valentines
xoxo
April
PS I actually cut my hearts out with my Silhouette Cameo. If you want me to post that file, I’d be happy to. Just let me know. Also, the super cute washi tape on the valentines came from a free downloadable set I found here. Head on over there to download and use them yourself. They’re super cute.
One of favorite days of the year. A day that I remember in hazy twinkle lights, and sparkling paper and overwhelming good.
Thank you for being born baby Jesus, and thank you even more for your life and your kindness and your patience with me.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to be mommy to my sweet sweethearts, and a man that is better to me than I could have dreamed. So much love. I am grateful for my talents and the opportunity to do the things I love, and for the many many people who have encouraged and helped me along the way. I am so so thankful for the darling people who I have met through this blog, and their love and goodness. <—(that’s you)
I hope your holidays were filled with indescribable magic, love, and hazy twinkle lights.
All my love,
xoxo
April
PS More to come on the new patterns, and now that the recipients know about their gifts, I can tell you more about some of the handmade fun I made this year. Let’s just say it was the year of the quilts. We’ll talk soon.
Something beautiful that I want to share–because everyone can use an extra dose of lovely in their day.
Share yours in the comments, if you’d like.
xoxo
April
PS Happy first night of Hanukkah to my sweet Jewish friends. We’ll be lighting our first candle tonight with you, and reminding ourselves that miracles do indeed, still happen. Have a beautiful, light-filled holiday. xoxo
Had a lovely Thanksgiving with my sweeties, and have lots and lots to be thankful for. How about you?
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
Two of my loveliest friends had birthdays last week, and I couldn’t help but pull some things together for them. I could picture in my head exactly what I wanted to make for them, and no matter how many times I tried to think of something store-bought that would be just as good, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t settle.
So I just did it.
First, an oh-so-fun Cathedral window throw pillow in red and lime green, to match her bedroom makeover! (Lucky girl got some really cute beadboard and shelving in there too!) She said it matched just right, and I’m so glad. A few fat eighths of Ruby by Bonnie and Camille for Moda and some white yardage and I was on my way!
I’ve wanted to do a cathedral window pillow for quite some time, and lucky me, there was a great tutorial on the Moda Bake Shop that walked me through it. I was SHOCKED at how much fabric it uses. So much folding! It’s like origami magic with fabric.
Super fun, super time consuming, but super great results. I’m going to have to refrain from making about 5 for my own room, whenever I get around to redoing it. (In case you’re curious, the walls in my bedroom are a striking shade of mauve, a gift from the previous owner. I avoid my bedroom in daylight at nearly all costs.)
I’ve got one more gift quilt to finish for my sweet baby nephew (I’m in love with him) who’s already 3 weeks old (mini-Swoon, anyone?), another for a sweet little girl fighting cancer, and then I’m on to spring pattern writing frenzy! I’ve got all the quilts made up, and several of the patterns written and tested, but I’m waiting on fabric for the last two.
Have you ever made a Cathedral Window pillow or quilt?
xoxo
April
PS Stay tuned tomorrow to see the quilt I made for my other awesome friend’s birthday…she used to be a Disney princess.
Sometimes I get a little carried away.
Or a lot carried away.
Sometimes, I start a project thinking it will be no big deal. That it will only take an hour to make 14 million zip pouches.
In the middle of this project, I asked the Mister why it was that I start huge projects and don’t realize how huge they are until I am in the middle of them. He just smiled, because I always do this, and he always warns me.
The conversation went something (exactly) like this:
Me: “Am I just really dense or something? Do I just live in a complete fantasy land? Am I just really full of myself and think I can do super human things? What is my problem??”
Him: “No, not any of those things. Really, I just think you have no concept of space and time.”
I couldn’t stop laughing.
And now (much to his dismay) I can’t stop quoting him. Not because his assessment is particularly flattering to me. But because it is so, SO true.
When I get a creative idea, it is so large and full of newness and excitement for me that I tend to overlook critical factors.
Like, hypothetically, if the longarm machine will actually fit in our house.
Or like if there are actually enough hours between now and the craft night before Christmas to make fourteen zip pouches and still have time to sleep and eat. (Let alone enjoy the holiday with my kids.)
Turns out, the answer was Yes, just barely to the longarm question, and yes, just barely to the pouch question too.
Someday I would like to say that I have a better concept of space and time. But until then, I’ll be very, very grateful for patterns like this one, that go together in a snap and have perfect instructions for the novice and expert alike. 
And believe me, if there had a been a problem, I would know. I made fourteen in the space of about 36 hours.
Thanks for the great pattern, Elizabeth. You saved my tail feathers.
If you’d like to make a pouch or two (or fourteen), you can find Elizabeth Hartman’s Perfect Zip Bags pattern here or here.
PS: I made these pouches exclusively from scraps I had sitting around. The only thing I bought new were the zippers. The twill and denim came from pairs of my husbands old pants that I couldn’t figure out what to do with but felt bad throwing away. The back of each pouch is made from a piece of solid twill or denim to match the solid strip at the bottom on the front.
Did you handmake any gifts this Christmas? How good are you at figuring out how long something will take? Please tell me I’m not the only one.
xoxo
April
We had no idea what to give her for Christmas.
Especially because she was quite adamant in saying she didn’t want anything (which is of course not acceptable).
She doesn’t need anything.
But she’s always cold.
Turns out, that, I know how to fix.
A darling layer cake of American Jane’s Fairy Tale Friends (thanks Moda!) some really snuggly backing, and a few hours later?
Voila.
She loved it.
“Oh, I’ve just never felt something so soft!”
It just might have been the only gift that got her to smile this year.
But I might be biased.
It now lives on her bed along with the matching pillowcase.
That, my friends, is what quilting is all about.
xoxo
April
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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
