Best of 2018 Linky

I like participating in Cheryl's "Best of" Linky Party as it creates the opportunity and motivation for me to look back and see how my year of blogging and quilting has been. 

 My "word" for 2018 was CREATE. But....in reflection, well, THAT didn't really happen now did it. I find myself wondering, how can so much happen in a year, and yet, so much not. In review, I did finish seven quilts, but if I were to be honest, it was more a year of self growth than creative expression. It's not the details that matter so much, but truly the lessons learned. My lesson being that of acceptance and choosing to move forward and authentically begin to creatively define myself not as a teacher, or even as a mother, but a creative women who's esteem is independent of these outgrown roles. So today, I reflect upon 2018, grateful for my lessons learned but planning to be more authentic in 2019.

#1: My little buddy asking to teach him how to sew.

I cherish my relationship with this little guy and am so grateful for his presence in my life.

As I move forward, I will continue to cherish the fact I am a grandmother and value that I have grown to understand my role as such. I offer my daughter and grands comfort and wisdom. They need that kind of grounding in their busy, busy lives. I offer that. Lucky me.

#2: Hubby and I discovered a new hobby we  really enjoy together. As I move forward, I'm so grateful we found Golf as it challenges us and finds us laughing a lot. But most of all, I've grown to appreciate that the one childhood wish I had, that came true, was that I married my best friend. This man truly completes me. He is so patient, so kind, so wise. He makes me a better me. 2019 will find us selling our home and downsizing and really just having fun within that process. We're excited!

#3: Our Annual Piggy Bank Challenge continues for it's 6th year!

As I move forward, I'm grateful there are still a few others of you that like to save spare change as much as me. I'm grateful that even though I haven't been really "quilty" this year, that you continue to follow and join in on the challenges and linkys I offer. Thank you!

 

#4: Our Eye Spy Swap was a huge success.

Receiving 1,758 views, this was just so much fun! I move forward, valuing the community we have in our blogging world and commit to continuing to be an active part of it.

 This swap lead to...my favorite finishes of the year. They all make me smile as I think about the five energetic boys they were each created and gifted to over the past year.

#5: Career Transition. Retired Quilts and yes, Jackson.
As I move forward, I'm so grateful I had the confidence and opportunity to move into a mentor role at work and thus, start to value the time this has created for me to perhaps expand myself creatively outside of work. Time has been presented as an opportunity to embrace new found freedoms as for the first time in thirty years, I'm truly living without the obligations of children. I'm liking it. And, of course, there's always comfort found in having a loyal companion like my Jackson by my side.

So there you have it: The 5 Best Lessons learned here at Val's Quilting Studio. I want to thank all of you who have become my blogging friends over the past years.  I also want to welcome you if you are new to my ol' spot here in blogland. Please take a look around, and if ya are even a little bit inspired by what ya see, I hope you'll follow too. In the meantime, happy holidays to you all and thank you Cheryl for hosting this party. Click on the picture below to check out everyone participating and celebrating:

Simple JOY: Through the eyes of children...

Oh nothing fills my heart more than seeing Christmas through the eyes of children!

And boy! Don't grands seem to grow even faster than our own did? Our grand guys are now one and five and as many of you can relate to,  continue to fill our hearts with enormous JOY!

 

Hubby and I are having one of those "weird" holidays where we actually won't being seeing these two cuties until after the New Year. (But what a great way to ring in the new year!) My Christmas actually being spent sewing (LOL!) while hubby works.  Having always brought our girls up with Christmas's filled with traditions and family, it's taken me awhile to process the idea of being alone on such a big holiday. But as the idea grew on me, I began to find myself embracing it's simplicity as I realized: 

MY FOCUS:

I've enjoyed sharing my simple celebrations of holiday JOY with you here on the blog this month. Thank you for visiting and for your kind comments.  As you know, the JOY of being a grandmother continuously fills my heart. The LOVE of my husband and family nourishes my soul. But! My FOCUS for 2019 will find me embracing new found freedoms at home and work. For the first time in thirty years, I'm living without the obligations of children. Acknowledging this has been a HUGE part of my esteem, I find myself wanting to be intentional about making 2019 a mid-life creative journey of self discovery and expression.  I'll share more on this as I write my post Yvonne's Planning Party later this week. Until then, I'd like to wish you all a holiday filled with love and...

Simple JOY: Jackson

Always grateful for his companionship.

Simple JOY: Holiday Music!

In the car....

...on my desktop...

...Christmas Music happily fills my day with JOY this time of year!

I just LOVE it!! How about you???

Simple Joy: SNOW!

Nothing brings me more JOY this time of year than 

watching kids react to the first snow of the season!

They exclaim!

 They persevere. 

 They begin to roll....

...and roll....

  ...and roll!

 Nooooottt the amount you my friends are receiving back East here in the United States...but if ya ever drive by a snow filled school yard, whose fields are scattered with snowballs of a variety of sizes, you can now  smile knowing the JOY of those happy little people behind all that rolling!

I Heart BABY Quilts

Sometimes some easy-peasy sewing quickly rejuvenates the ol' soul on whats been a cold, foggy morning. This little cuddle quilt will now be moved to my Winter Break quilting pile as...

...I look forward to using the rest of the weekend to finish up my Anni Downs project 

as I relax and enjoy some holiday movies. Grateful for a quiet end of the week spent at home.

Simple JOY: Christmas Lights!

We had the perfect date night as we strolled along...

,,,hand in hand, enjoying the JOY of Christmas lights aglow.

We enjoyed a nice dinner out and...

...even sent a picture of Santa was out for a sail to the grand guys!

Just one of my very favorite things about the holiday season.

Simple JOY: "Vintage" Sweaters

Okay....so this has been my very favorite sweater forever!

My mom made it for me when I was in college and when our Winter temperatures begin to greet us with frosty, 18 degree days, it not only gives me comfort and warmth, it fills my heart with JOY knowing it was handmade just for me by my mom. (Thanks mom!)

With that said, I never think twice about wearing it nor the cardigans she makes me until one of the younger teachers at school commented this week: "Val, I love all the vintage sweaters you wear." Bahhhh....my mom and I got such a kick out of that! I'm vintage!

Speaking of "vintage"...these sweaters below are from my youth and in in my efforts to downsize and simplify in my life, I'm "moving many things on" that I now longer use. 

These sixth grade girls were literally filled with JOY to inheritate sweaters that "Mrs. Reynolds" herself wore when she was their age! They called them their new favorite sweaters!

 Curious if you too have a cozy, "vintage" sweater you can't wait to wear once Winter arrives?

Sending warm Winter hugs your way!

Simple JOY: Our Little Tree

 Aughhhhh the dark days of Winter are upon us and this little ceramic tree just seems to be the perfect way to add a bit of JOY as it's colorful little lights brighten our dining table.  I rescued it from a church rummage sale a few year back. Ordered replacement bulbs and since it's become our annual Christmas tree. Yep.That's it. That's our tree. Admittably, it was kinda wierd to "break" our traditions of tree decorating. Yet, in our transition as empty nesters, replacing our BIG family Christmas Tree with this new little guy has been wonderful! The holiday itself often finds us traveling to spend it with our daughter and grands....so I purchase a pine scented candle to add to the whole holiday ambiance and embrace the simplicity!
 Every morning...

...and every night...this little tree just brings me JOY.

Plus, just imagine how quick my holiday clean-up is! 

Sometimes, "breaking" tradition is good.

Simple JOY: Holiday Mugs!

I awoke early this morning and found myself continuing to find JOY in my little holiday mug tradition. I mean now  I even look forward to receiving  my inevitable gifts mugs at school each year  knowing the'll be a special addition to this fun holiday collection.

My most soothing teas this season include peppermint. ginger with lemon along with my daily dose of green tea. Buttttt the absolute Best treat that brings me that JOY of feeling like a kid at Christmas again is when we mix up a little bit of this:

I add one of those soft peppermint candy sticks to it and THAT is YUM! YUM !YUM!

 Curious if you too have a seasonal sippy drink that brings you JOY?

A Sunday Sew Day....

I awoke early with the realization that my Christmas shopping is near finished, the household chores are all caught up and I am actually feeling well after a week of being sick myself. I have all day to myself. As I wander outside, I am greeted with a cold, damp morning and realize the best place to retreat is my basement sewing studio for a final day of rest. Thus, with a hot cup of peppermint tea, holiday music playing softly and my loyal companion, Jackson, by my side, this is where I sit as I write to you today.

 Have you ever found yourself sitting down to write a post and suddenly become reflective on why you blog?  Along with a change in my job, our personal life this past Summer and Fall were once again consumed by those unexpected, out-of-our-control, changes life with adult children can sometimes add to your life.

The past five years have found me in a place were at times my heart was consumed with loss. Yet, I'm beginning to find myself  evolving mindful and personally stronger and grounded in MY own life journey than ever before. Disappointment and heartbreak have finally been replaced with acceptance and in that, I've gained a freedom, a sense of peace that I've never quite had. It's unfamiliar and exciting all at once. 

 So much so, that hubby and I are inspired to enter the new year with an authenticity we've never had. It feels good to be here blogging today but even more, it feels good to have my heart filled with the anticipation for this personal transformation that lies ahead for us as an empty nest, middle age couple who are about to downsize and simplify big time.   With that said, I have always thought of my blog as a journal (that is of course, read my anyone and everyone...LOL!) But, I value our small, quaint, virtual community. I know mine is not overly innovating or filled with unique techniques as much it's just about sharing my life as a quilter/crafter. I post about things I'd sit and chat with you about if we were to have a sew day together.  I love the simplicity of it.  So thanks for stopping by and visiting my muses. I hope you continue to find even a tad bit of inspiration and joy here especially as I myself, begin this new chapter in my life.

 And what perfect creative timing, I discovered this morning that my Summer/Fall sketchbook is full  and it's time to start another!! I love starting a new creative journal.  So as my ideas begin to formulate between the covers of my little black sketchbook, know I'll also look forward to sharing them here with you as well. 

Beginning with my upcoming posts this month celebrating the simple JOYS found in the season. Because when we get right down to it, we all have "something" going on in our lives and well:

 (Choose to make lemonade with me won't you.)

Okay, so I also found myself scrolled through my own blog archives this morning and realized it's been almost exactly three months since I have even had a sew day! How grateful am I to find myself right where I am today. I have spent many afternoons this past week just stitching my the fire, making great headway on my December list of hand sewing projects. 

But this afternoon, I'm looking forward to sewing. Baby girls are due to arrive at work in the next month. One co-worker is a first time mommy, the other a first time Grandmother....both I'm gifting a crib quilt. So I'd better get myself going don't ya think. I close wishing you a Happy Sunday and again, thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll stay tuned for my next life chapter...imagine how rejuvenating a new studio space will be!! I can't wait!