Tuesday Archives #117: I-Spy Quilts

Hello! Hello! and Happy Tuesday Archives! 

The linky party that let's you rejuvenate OLD blogging posts.

. If you are new to our linky, click over the here to read the details about this fun, weekly linky party.

(You can also check out all our past Tuesday Archives themes by clicking right here.)

This week's theme is: "Eye"-Spy Quilts!

I knew exactly who to highlight this week for our Tuesday Archives theme....as Marianne and I both starting blogging during the same time during the summer of 2013. We've been quilty friends every since and one of the things we've enjoyed most over the years is sending each other happy mail of 4 inch I-Spy blocks. (We even keep a basket in our studio with the others name on it.)

It's fun to see your own little pieces in another's quilt and vice-versa.

 I also like her idea of alternating the blocks so you don't have to worry about them lining up.

To see more of Marianne's I-Spy creation, stop by her blog by clicking right here.

Annnddd if you are wanting to make an I-Spy quilt for yourself or maybe someone you know...stop by tomorrow and join our I-Spy Swap here at Val's Quilting Studio. I know I can't wait!

A Happy Birthday + Recipe!

The best birthday surprise was having this little guy arrive for the weekend to 

help his Meme celebrate her birthday! 

Who better to help me blow our all those candles!

(And this was only half of my 51 candles.)

We were all left in stitches when he spit instead of blew!!

If you ever need a quick and oh so yummy chocolate cake, I hope ya give this recipe a try.

It's been a family favorite since we were kids. Thanks for the recipe mom.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pkg. Devils Food Cake Mix

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 1/4 cups of water

1 pkg. Chocolate Instant Pudding (4 serving size)

1 cup of chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour oil into a 13x9x2 inch pan. Tilt the pan until the bottom of the pan is covered with oil. Add the remaining ingredients in to the pan, stir with a for or spoon until well blended. (about two minutes) Scrape sides and spread batter evenly in the pan. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes our clean. Cool cake and sprinkle with powered sugar. Enjoy! 

Happy Memorial Day.

Sign-ups open June 1st!!

May OMG: Rainbow Girl Flimsy!!

I had two easy peasy, chain piecing quilts that I really wanted to get done.

The first was to get my H2H Happy Chemo  I-Spy Quilt sewn, quilted, and mailed!

And many of you saw I did get that done. YEAH!! 

Next, I really wanted to get My Rainbow Girls fun border and hand stitching done. It will then be ready for some fun FMQ when I get out of school from teaching for the summer.

Annnnddd I got that done too!

I debated if I should have made the border around the heart like the border instead of  the log cabin around the heart...and for some reason I keep wondering that?? What do you think?? 

Quite honestly, I think I'm just in love with the fabric-made border! I created tumblers and just sewed them together. So easy and fun! The girls also have perle cotton hand sewn stitching all around them.

Hard to believe May is almost over and now it's time to start thinking of a June goal. 

Thanks for the OMG linky and motivation Heidi! 

Sign-ups open June 1st! 

Tuesday Archives #116: EQ Designs

Hello! Hello! and Happy Tuesday Archives! 

The linky party that let's you rejuvenate OLD blogging posts.

. If you are new to our linky, click over the here to read the details about this fun, weekly linky party.

(You can also check out all our past Tuesday Archives themes by clicking right here.)

This week's theme is: 

EQ Designed Quilts and Projects

This is not a sponsored post, just a curious Nelly post.

But I see many of you creating quilts using the EQ software system and can't help but be curious.

So curious, that when Carole who blogs at From My Carolina Home shared with us her post announcing that EQ7 is having monthly anniversary give-away and contest all year...I entered!

Carole has used her software to create a fun Christmas QAL that included patterns for quilts 

and projects like this table runner:

She also created this Scrap Dance pattern and almost has her next mystery QAL pattern created. 

I always learn so much from Carole's blog and hope you'll stop by to check out her QAL's...also if you're looking for a quick summer recipe, her post today highlights Vanilla Blueberry Tea Cakes that are quick and easy enough for me to create...and I haven't been in a kitchen for YEARS!!!

Click here to check out our Tuesday Archives Directory of OLD posts.

Annndd the winner is...

Welcome Monday!

Just a few bits of "business" to share as we get the week started:

First, Congratulations to Mama Spark you are the winner of Lara's Crafted Applique Book!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:83Powered by RANDO

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Next, tomorrow stop by and share your Electric Quilt patterns and quilts/projects made at T.A.

(Though I've never even used this...so know I'm looking forward to learning a lot from you!)

Finally, I hope you've marked your calendar for the June 1st sign-ups as you think about joining us for our I-Spy Swap here at Val's Quilting Studio!! Click the picture below to get a peek at the details.

H2H: I-Spy Finish

 I've had so much fun sewing these I-Spy blocks together for my H2H Happy Chemo quilt. This quilt measures 53" by 56" and was made with 240 4" I-Spy squares.

Can you I-Spy the goose and otter? I think they are my favorite,
but then again, the cupcake, hamburger and school bus are so fun too!
Here it is finished and trimmed with it's purple binding:

This quilt has been so much fun to create and it makes my heart smile knowing it's 

now on it's way to to be part of  Sarah's H2H Charity Challenge.  

Thanks for organizing this annual event for all of us Sarah!!

After reading that Emily's Happy Chemo quilts will be going to the Rat Pack organization, their main focus is helping those fight breast cancer. They will fill their Love Handle Bags with our donations, so I knew this breast Cancer Ribbon quilting and flannel backing were the perfect finishing touches for my quilty donation. 

June 1st sign-ups for our I-Spy Swap begin!

If ya haven't yet, I hope you'll mark your calendar and stop by June 1st and sign-up for our I-Spy Swap. Annndd....if ya can't wait and want to start collecting now, you'll need ten 1/4 yard or fat quarters of ten different I- Spy prints and you will be able to get your 20 4" squares out of these. (Yes...you'll be getting 200 different squares through this swap!!) Be sure you can tell what you are looking at within a 3 1/2"x 3 1/2" square. (There's many examples in my quilt above.)

 Help me spread the word! This will be a double swap...meaning with a maximum of  36 "swap spots" available, you'll be able to sign-up for a maximum of two regular swap spots if you want...but the fabrics for each swap will need to be different. Okay...Happy collecting!!

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This week's theme will be: EQ Designs.

Annual Catch the Teach Fun Run!

I love Saturdays especially during the Spring. Today we headed out early for my elementary school's  Annual "Catch the Teach"  Fun Run!! Here's a pic of me with my cooperating teacher & our "quick" second graders that showed up for the event. 

They all enthusiastically "beat us" and one little guy was kind enough to come 

back and "walk in" with me! We enjoyed our walk, reminiscing over our past four years of teaching together, as this marked our last race together. Yep, my partner is transferring to a teaching position at the high school and though I'm selfishly sad and really going to miss our teaming, it's a good move for him professionally and as the football and baseball coach he  already is at the high school.

(Sorry for the blurry pic...race days are like that!)  

Just makes me sad. I hate missing people, don't you?  And it doesn't help that our district leaders have literally taken our whole administrative staff, at every level and has practically moved everyone around!  On top of that, eighty percent of our primary staff is leaving for a variety of personal reasons, and that leaves me alone with a whole new set of  administrators and teachers next year. (Darn it! I'm going to have to start acting all professional again! LOL!) Seriously though, there literally doesn't seem like a day goes by that I don't walk out my classroom door into what feels like a whirlwind of craziness going on around me.  Yet, as this May wraps up my 27th year of teaching, I know change in inevitable and that new opportunities of growth are right around the corner. But, for now I'm just going to feel sad as I celebrate and say goodbye to a number of people who have been a wonderful part of  life this past five years and look forward to a rejuvenating summer with family. 

PS: On a happier note: Don't forget Sign-ups for the summer I-Spy Swap here at Val's Quilting Studio opens June 1st!! Click the picture below to get a peek. I hope ya join us.

Tuesday Archives #115: Everyday Quilts

Hello! Hello! and Happy Tuesday Archives! 

The linky party that let's you rejuvenate OLD blogging posts.

. If you are new to our linky, click over the here to read the details about this fun, weekly linky party.

(You can also check out all our past Tuesday Archives themes by clicking right here.)

This week's theme is: Everyday Quilts 

 In reality, THIS is how our TV room looks everyday. Hubby's flannel twister quilt always in a bundle somewhere. The dog's quilt near by and me always having  one that I'm binding or stitching.  But I love seeing this quilty mess. Makes my heart happy to see them being "used" and "abused".

Okay, and I couldn't resist sharing this blurry, yet funny picture of Jackson photo bombing as I  quickly took this picture for today's post. I love that I caught his happy, wagging tail in motion! 

I'm already thinking of a few posts I have to rejuvenate today, finding it kinda fun to look back at all the quilts I've made for the people I love and seeing them enjoy their quilty hugs as well.

PS: I'm getting excited about our I-Spy Swap coming this summer here at Val's Quilting Studio!! Thanks for your great response so far. Sign-ups open June 1st.

Click the picture below to get a peek.

"Under Construction" Quilting

This week I'm "Moving Forward" this quilting project:

It's a Project Linus quilt that is going to allow me to "play" with my Quilt Magician motifs.

I've enjoy my pantographs but am going to play with resizing and fitting pieces into specific spots. This construction theme will make a fun finish for some little guy through the Project Linus organization and yet, allow me the opportunity to play as I expand my expertise in using my Quilt Magician. 

My goal is to quilt a row each day after work.

I'd love to quilt for you!

With that said, summer vacation from teaching is right around the corner for me and 

May through July I'm offering free returning shipping on all quilts and only charge .018 cents per square inch.  I specialize in edge to edge/pantograph designs with an extensive collection to choose from. Contact me for your Summer quilting needs. I'd love to quilt for you.

Click the picture below for more details.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

PS: I-Spy Swap coming this summer here at Val's Quilting Studio!!

It's fun to hear from so many of you that have already begun collecting.

Click the picture below to get a peek.

Crafted Applique Book Give-Away!

This applique project had moved to the top of summer sewing list because with Lara's Crafted Applique Method, tackling those WELCOME letters will be easy!

And if seeing is believing, here's a peek into her book where she compares her method 

with two common applique methods:

Looking at the Fig 3, you can see why I'm not dreading all the curves and thin pieces in my letters as with Lara's Crafted Applique Method, I'm confident they will come out as smooth and clean as her Oak leaves....with no frayed edges!

As you can see in her Table of Contents, Lara explains the process in easy to follow steps and I was able to gather the supplies I didn't have on hand at JoAnne's for under $8.00.

Along with introducing this fantastic new applique method Lara also included a variety of projects 

in her book like this adorable Catmint Cottage sewing machine cover! It's so cute!

This give-away is closed. The winner was announced here.

Anndd, if you are like me, and avoid small pieces, thin stems, and yes, letters in your applique, we don't have to anymore!!! Thank you Lara for sharing your ingenious idea that really does create new possibilities and for letting me give-away one of your books right here on my blog! Yep! Leave a comment sharing what you look forward to most about Summer and I'll be announcing the winner later this week. Click HERE to follow Lara's Book Release blog hop and enjoy others preview of her  book as well. And if you can't wait, Lara's book is available on Amazon. 

Click right HERE to get your copy today. Congratulations Lara!

PS: I-Spy Swap coming this summer here at Val's Quilting Studio!!

Click the picture below to get a peek.