Retired Quilts & A Little Blogging Break

Happy Happy August everyone!

With two weeks of family fun and vacations behind me, I sat down and looked at my desk calendar this morning realizing that a time of transition is once again approaching as my summer vacation begins to wind down and a new school year begins to appear on the horizon. 

This year I begin my 30th year of teaching and with it, a transition out of the classroom as a 

second grade teacher to that of a mentor coach and reading specialist. 

Which means, it's time to retire all my classroom quilts:

So what does that mean? What will I do with them?

Well, I gifted one of the student created story quilts to a previous student who is now starting seventh grade. I'm gifting the polka dotted jelly roll quilt as part of a school auction, the other three I kept.

I'm really excited for this change in my career and the opportunities it will bring.

But, it also means I'm gong to be busier than usual, which I have to admit, I'm also looking forward to that too as I've really needed a change. Along with mentoring new teachers, I'm also responsible for our weekly staff professional developments and admittedly, that is always fun for me too. LOL!

So what does that mean for my blog? For my quilting? I really don't know.

 I have found myself wanting to "downsize" and simplify more and more in every area of my life. In example, my husband and I spent the better part of yesterday cleaning out my classroom and after finding teaching resources dating back to 1987 (Okay....these are literally older than most the teachers I even work with) Yes, we decided to purg most of it. After seven LARGE cafeteria trashcan fulls, I moved into my new office with only a few boxes left to move. I turned the lights off to my old classroom with a smile and a feeling of exhilaration for that which lies ahead and pride for that which has been accomplished over the past years.

I also talked to my mom about my desire to downsize my quilting too. I mean I love my sewing. I'm never without a hand project or two and well, as an avid knitter, she understood that feeling of having a stash of WIP and an overwhelming amount of projects awaiting our attention. She encouraged me to continue my "stash busting" efforts and to give myself  permission to just enjoy the hobby without blogging or completing customer quilts as I enjoy my new transition. So with that said, I am putting Tuesday Archives on hold for just a little bit and will downsize my weekly blogging efforts as well. I'm hoping that come September, life will find me returned to my Sunday sewing as the two things I enjoy most about blogging is being able to document and share my quilty adventures and the inspiration I find from each of you. I appreciate and value our virtual community and just wanted to say thanks for your patience and wonderful support during this transition of mine.

Classroom Quilt's Fair Win!

I love fair season and my grand-guy and I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon visiting ours.

Our Classroom Quilt won a blue ribbon in the group quilt division.

The kids will be so excited and I hope many of them see it at the fair this week.

With the new school year quickly approaching, it will find it's new "home" hanging outside my 

classroom to greet this year's new class. After which, it will be used by the kids during reading time.

I was thinking as we walked through all the exhibits that I really need to create more entries for the fair. It's so fun to see them all displayed and judged. Do you complete fair entries? If so, curious if they are only quilt entries or what other entries do you have?

2017 Classroom Quilt: Finished!

I spent a good part of the morning on our deck stitching the binding on my classroom quilt...

...which led me to a Friday Finish!! Yipppeeee!!!! 

I found this fun crayon fabric in my stash and thought it was the perfect accent to the kids' colored panels. I even splurged and if you zoom in, you'll see I used a crayon pantograph!

As I later busied myself with getting ready to run some errands, 

I came around the corner only to find somebody fast asleep: 

One of my errands was to the local library to pick up some summer reading...where what better place to take a final picture of this Classroom Quilt that illustrates all the various story "themes" we read throughout our past year in 2nd grade.

Summer is a great time to quilt with kids and this method is an easy way for them to do just that.

Click HERE for my detailed tutorial on how to make the colored panels.

Washing Note: I used two color catchers in the first wash. No color run. 

WIN quilt batting this summer. Click HERE to read how.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

WIN quilt batting this summer. Click HERE to read how.

Game Day=Sew Day!

Their assignments are completed. Their textbooks are cleaned and put away.

They now get to spend the afternoon playing old fashion board games they brought for home.

They remind me of Jackson as they spread out underneath my make-shift sew area.

After the kids leave Friday, I still have three work /snow make-up days ahead. So, when my  cooperating teacher suggested we use our "collaboration day" to sew our class quilts together, I jumped at the opportunity! As I set up, found myself watching  others play across the classroom from me. I was humored to see that though some were busy with their board games, I couldn't help but smile as I watched the others who got together and are yes, playing school! LOL!!!

This is "the principal" below at his "pretend" computer. I tried hard to not laugh out-loud , as they were quite serious  as they are playing! I mean his little fingers are just "typing" away  and I finally chuckled out-loud as I heard him announce: "Oh my, I have announcement to tell the school: Mrs Reynold's class just won this week's contest."

In this modern day of technology, I can not tell you how refreshing it is to watch them all play so cooperatively and imaginatively together!! Note to self: Some of the board games these seven year olds like included: The Game of Life, Rainbow Jumbling Tower, Fibber, Candy Land, Don't Wake Daddy, and Rock Em', Sock Em' Boxing.  So fun! 

2017 Classroom Quilt: Kid's Art

This week was quilt week at school and the kids were soooo excited!

They traced selected pictures using their pencils: 

 The also used fabric markers to color. 

Now hindsight being what it is, next time I will have the kids use a black sharpie 

to outline their pictures, as the fabric markers DID smudge a little.

All in all though, I think these are going to make a fun classroom quilt.  I think it would also be an inspiring way to greet my new class in the Fall. I can hang it at the entrance of the classroom during Open House, as the quilt illustrates many of the themes we learned about in Second Grade this year.

Oh we'll definitely enroll it in the County Fair this summer! 

But for now, it looks like it's time for me to get busy sewing this one together. But as busy as life has been this month, I'm going to have be very intentional at getting it sewn into a flimsy before the kids leave for summer. (Luckily I still have two weeks to ahead of me.) As always, thanks for stopping by and  for especially cheering on our classroom projects this month. You guys are the best!

2017 Classroom Quilt: Preparations

Call me crazy....but I spent yesterday after work prepping the many quilt squares needed for me and my cooperating teacher to make classroom quilts with our second graders. I'm using a cotton muslin of which I cut into SIXTY 9"inch squares and then ironed to freezer paper for stability.

As you can imagine, to prepare sixty blocks created quite the "train":

 A quick short-cut: the freezer paper is 18inches wide...so the 9"square blocks fit perfectly upon it and left minimal cutting, that was quick to accomplish. But, never the less, Jackson was beginning to look at me in wonderment of just how long this "train" was going to be!  

So with the squares now prepped and the fabric markers having arrived, I just need to finish preparing the thematic pictures for the students to trace. (This year we are creating a themed quilt based on our reading units from the year. Thus, we will be using preprinted pictures for the students to trace and color onto the fabric.) I hope if any of you want to make a quilt with little ones in your life, this series over the next couple of weeks will give you some inspiration and quick tricks.

I have to admit, if we're going to have snow make-up days through June 9th, 

this is a fun project that makes the extended year fun!

Stay tuned as next week the kids begin their creative part.

Spring Classroom Projects Ahead...

Spring Break has passed. I find myself sitting at my own desk, looking forward to Spring with my second graders, pondering what it is I want to accomplish with them? I'm savoring these last few moments of quiet,  before the morning bell rings and this classroom is once again filled with the joyful energy of children and our Spring semester officially begins. 

I packed a bag with felt and threads to begin a stitching project with those who may be interested.

(Thank you so very much Tonya and Nancy for sending your extras my way!)

And...I'm beginning to plan our yearly classroom quilt:

I'm grateful for the opportunity to be their teacher. I'm grateful to be able to create 

artistic outlets for them that they normally would not have.  

It's going to be a fun Spring for sure! Stay tuned....

Tomorrow's theme is: Thrifty Finds.

Baaahahaha!!!

I mayyyy have said this once or twice!

(Only twenty days of school left...then this teacher is on summer break!)

The Snowmen are Made!

Inspired by a student bulletin board...

I created these this weekend:

 I just couldn't resist following through on this inspiration.

I machine appliqued the snowman and will hand stitch the scarves, noses and eyes this week as we watch TV in the evenings. Then I'll add the arms and sash them together.
Each block is 9"x12".

Any ideas for the sashing??
This one is going to be fun to quilt...I can't wait!

Organized for a New School Year!

Aughhhh, the first day of school is behind me and the new school year has started.

 I'm happy to report that our district redistricted some students and I did NOT start the year with the projected 36 students...but 29. (I know, that's still a lot of second graders, but  I'm use to 28-30.) I have to tell ya though, it feels good this Sunday morning to be sitting here at the blog, finding myself getting back into old routines of spending the morning visiting your blogs and completing misc. household chores, looking forward to a long walk with Jackson and some afternoon sewing!

I'm grateful to start my school year organized and ready to go. Thanks to my Dad! During his visit in June he made those wonderful green, classroom shelves pictured above. I'm trying something new this year: no individual desks. I turned all the kids desks around and they are all raised to the same height with the legs are zip-tied together. This year the kids will be working as four individual teams. (Oh man...and no more messy desks!!!)

As I watched my Dad work this summer, I was reminded of the importance of Math in my teaching.  I'm very right brained and well, need to remind myself of this often!! LOL!! I'm totally looking  forward to this opportunity of having "tables" for my students to work on as they discover and learn, especially when working with Math manipulatives. (Okay, and art projects too!)

 Whether quilting, knitting, or building, Math really is an intertwined skill isn't it?

The building begins.

Thank goodness, some right brained fun of painting always seems to follow!

Anddd as I get back into my studio, without a doubt I'm particpating in Lorna's Dog Gone Cute QAL/Blog Hop! I can't wait to make a Jackson quilt!!! I'm looking forward to picking out fabrics and getting my coloring page done this afternoon! Until then...happy sewing!

Everytime you link and share here at Tuesday Archives you will be entered you into a monthly drawing for a $15.00 Gift Certificate to: (pretty cool huh!)

Winners will be announced the first Tuesday of every month! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Readers!

This ALWAYS makes my day.

(Especially on a Friday afternoon!)

This teacher is ready for a three day weekend that will include some sewing therapy!