It's Birthday Quilt Time!

Time sure flies when we have Grand kiddos doesn't it!

Our oldest grand guy continues to request a birthday quilt each year. This year he actually picked out all the fabrics for this one. These are in honor of the fact that we've watched every dolphin movie made for kids and have made a pinky shake that someday we are going to swim with the dolphins to celebrate our birthdays!

I found the perfect dolphin pantograph.

His choice to use a minky backing that looks like "water" makes this one an especially cozy lap quilt. 

Happy Happy NINTH Birthday buddy!

With hugs and smiles,

Meme:)

A New Summer Quilt!

I can remember a time I use to make a quilt every month...

...now here I'm posting one I made last summer that I finally got quilted and 

the binding sewn just in time to enjoy it for the summer!!

The pattern is called: Friendship Scrap Block from www.quilterscache.com.

The very best part...it was made from left over fabric from this Lori Holt Kit: 

(Which by the way, makes me smile everyday as it brightens my little laundry room.)

What else makes me smile is the fact that I loved this fabric so much, I now have an oversized 

lap quilt to enjoy and ALL my extra fabric was used!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!

I hoping more sewing is in my future, as I find myself at another cross road. Yep! Last week I hung up my school lanyard and recess whistle after 33 years of teaching.

But! I'm NOT retired! 

I have actually been transitioning into a new District job as our very first Talented and Gifted Coordinator. This has proven to be the most empowering transition I have made personally in quite a long time and one that is worthy of one of my "Life and Learning" post. Hopefully some words of wisdom and inspiration will come to me, but for now, I'm simply relishing the process of change and personal growth I'm experiencing. 

I just turned 57 and got to happily celebrate with these two:

I feel blessed in so many ways and am looking forward to having one more chapter in my career.

I hope this post finds you, my old blogging friends, doing well.

With Smiles, Val:)

A Sweet Baby Girl Quilt

This Kinder Layer Cake of fabric by Windham Fabrics turned out to make the perfect quilt for our Kinder teacher who just had her first baby. I figured new mom received plenty of "baby things" so it was fun to make a bright and happy quilt her new daughter could use as toddler and beyond.

It measures 46"x53", so easy enough for her to drag around as she grows into it.

 

I used a bright flannel backing and love the checked green binding.

 I had my daughter make me this quilt label and easily added it to the quilt with a zig-zag stitch.

  

And of course, my ABC-123 pantograph put the finishing touches on it don't ya think!

This was a fun one to make.

With smiles, Val:)

"May the Force Be With You"

Like most four years old's right now, our youngest grand guy just loves Baby Yoda.

For his fourth birthday (last month) he got Baby Yoda Jammies:

He got a "big boy" twin bed so of course, we bought him Baby Yoda sheets:

 

And....finally...Meme got his birthday quilt DONE!!! 

(Yes, a month later!!!)

I love the flannel green & black check backing and "bubbles" pantograph I used:

It's just the right size for that NEW twin size bed too!!!

And here he is opening up his "Happy Mail":

SWEET DREAMS Little One!!!

With Smiles! Val:)

Quilty Smiles!!!

I always cherish that moment the boys first see their new quilt!

 

      

And look at these smiles as they are all tucked in for their first night under a new quilty hug!

These are the moments I cherish!!

Happy Birthday boys!!
With smiles! V:)