Thank you so much for all the love on my last pattern release - Time Capsule Quilt and Diamond Flare Quilt! Sometimes, as a pattern designer, I get caught up in the business side of things a little too much and forget to share a bit more about my personal life. Honestly, I'm not sure if people are interested in seeing that side of me or not. But either way, I'm going to try to prioritize that more! Scroll down for exciting news!
Where do I even begin?! Many of you know that I had a really rough start to the year – I was battling some mental health issues, dealing with personal struggles, and just facing a lot of bad luck in general. It was challenging for me to fully engage with my business, myself, and my friendships. I honestly felt like I was just going through the motions, barely present. While some of those issues haven't magically disappeared overnight, unfortunately, I feel like 2024 is bringing a brighter outlook. I'm striving to work in harmony with my natural rhythms instead of fighting against them. Plus, it's no surprise that the sun is shining a bit more here, which definitely helps foster a more positive perspective on life.
In The Studio
Something that has been a bit challenging for me is finding the motivation to sit down and sew... how can that be? Well, like most things, hobbies and interests ebb and flow with life, and my disorganized studio was the root cause of much of my dissatisfaction with sewing. I had numerous unfinished projects, random fabric crammed into every nook and corner, and an unhealthy work/life balance when it came to my studio. I realized it was time to tackle it head-on when my friend Taylor came to visit and offered to assist me. It took us the entire day, but we sorted and organized almost everything! Now, I just need to tackle the tedious task of sorting out scraps, works in progress, and donation piles. I know many of you were interested in potential scrap bundles, so stay tuned for more information on that!
Can we also take a moment to appreciate how AMAZING it looks now? It's like a breath of fresh air... I separated all my fabric into stacks based on size – fat quarters, quarters, halves, three-quarters, one yard, and more – and created a dedicated shelf for works in progress. Each project has its own CLEAR plastic container, allowing me to easily see the progress and identify each project. No more hiding away works in progress to be forgotten! With this system, I'm aiming to implement a "one in, one out" rule... meaning I won't start a new project until at least one work in progress is finished (or donated).
If you want to join me in this new organization era and stay on top of your UFOs (unfinished objects), you can grab this free UFO Tracker below. Making and using this free resource has been such a game-changer in my studio.
My best friends had a baby!
Honestly, not a lot of my friends have babies… almost none of them do, so this is a big stickin' deal in my life! They're basically our first local friends to become parents, so I'm thrilled to shower their little one with lots of quilts, of course. He's such a little cutie and it just brings me so much joy seeing their family grow!
Dining Room Refresh
You might have caught glimpses of my dining room updates on my IG stories, but here's a glamor shot of our new built-in bookshelves showcasing Tawnee's (Owner of Wyldwood Creative) Farrow Quilt from the latest mystery quilt SAL! Also featured is my mini wall hanging pattern that I designed last summer for Amber's Modern Makes Membership box. I'm still fine-tuning the styling of the bookshelves, so if you have any tips, feel free to share!
Important Toad Circle News!
We're thrilled to announce that Toad Circle is hosting its VERY FIRST guest designer, Christina from Kindred Quilt Co.! She's the creative mind behind the Lemon Blossom Quilt, which will be the next upcoming Mystery SAL starting April 30th. Christina's pattern incorporates curves, making it an excellent opportunity to dive into sewing curves if it's a skill you've been eager to learn!
Toad Circle sign-ups will be open from April 23rd to April 30th - we hope you'll join us for this fun, new adventure!
That's all for now! Let me know what you've been up to in the comments below. Got any fun summer plans you're excited for? I'd love to hear about it!
- Taylor <3
