First Jan. OMG: Cow Quilt Finished!

I think this is the funniest quit I've created and quilted in quite awhile!

I love everything about it and am especially glad it will find a home with our youngest grand guy.

 This quilt got me back to doing the kind of freestyle, custom quilting I like to do. The puffy clouds as seen in the clouds above and the tulips and grass as seen below at the bottom of the quilt were fun.

 Celebrating our little guy being one with another quilty hug and...

...continuously cracking up as he keeps "dancing" on his quilt! 

Happy happy first birthday (again) little guy.

Love you bunches.

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:

My Favorite Eye-Spy Quilt Yet!!!!

Today our little grand guy is ONE!!! 

This is his birthday quilt:

Right! An eye-spy cow!!! I had so much fun creating this one!! I love the  ribbon tail, ping-pong utters and taggy number one on top of the spiderman cupcake! I know...it's not even done....but enough to gift to him. Life's just been so busy....in great ways. (more on that later)

We didn't capture his initial reaction on film...but he loved all the colors and textures.

 He immediately clapped and sat right down on it. He made my day.

I have the border picked out and I'm really looking forward to custom 

quilting it over my Winter Break in December.

We brought big brother home for a few days of Grammy Camp as I'm off work all this next week!

(SOOOOOO excited!!!!) Planning to post and certainly catch up with all of  your blogs too.

Wishing you a happy start to the holiday week ahead. 

I-Spy Many Smiles!

I-Spy three happy boys!

Earlier this summer I made this lap size eye-spy for these three special little guys. I finished it's quilting and binding on just in time for the arrival of their new little brother. (Who's wrapped in a receiving blanket I made especially for him! Along with a hand knitted blanket by my mom.)

These are just one of those ultimate moments we quilters love isn't it! 

So while his cousins above are celebrating the arrival of their new brother,

this little grand-guy of ours started Pre-k this year!

Annnnddddd this little guy is growing way too fast and is just the happiest baby!

It's been a very busy month filled with with family vacations, visits and adventures. My school year is also off to a fantastic start and I'm really enjoying my new position as a teacher mentor with no regrets of leaving the classroom. (whew!) It's been a welcome transition in my life.

I have to say, we've even improved our golf game quite a bit this summer too!

Wild Horse Casino, Pendeleton Oregon.

And now, with Labor Day finally upon us, I'm sure I'm not alone in welcoming the coming of Fall. I find my sewing studio calling me once again. It's serenity and outburst of creativity awaiting me. I can't wait to fling it's windows open and begin quilting this Christmas Quilt of a friends that has been patiently waiting it's turn. I also have an entire sew day planned with a friend and we are going to create one of  Buggy Barn's (Now One Sister) newest quilt: Sunny Side of the Street. 

OH! And A game of golf and a BBQ afterwards with hubby are on the agenda too.

Thank you for your support and patience this past month as I made my work transition.

I'm looking forward to catching up with all your blogs and going-ons and an inspiring Fall together.

Another Eye Spy Finish!

Hello! Hello! Wow! I'm so excited to start the week with a quick finish. 

I was inspired while quilting an eye spy quilt for Nancy who blogs at Pug Mom quilts.

She used the four inch eye spy blocks from our last swap and sewed them into a 4-block.

She then alternated these blocks with a 7 1/2 square eye spy block. 

I really liked this alternating pattern and set out to do the same!

(Don't ya love those big chocolate chip cookies in the upper right hand corner.)

After reading all your comments from my previous post, I decided to make this a lap quilt measuring 58"x71" knowing the family of three boys it is intended for will enjoy using it often as they watch TV,  picnic and enjoy their various camping trips. It's headed to the quilting frame this week and will be finished with a fun "boy" pantograph soon. Thank you once again to everyone that participated in our  Eye Spy Swap this year. I'm only waiting for a few more packages before I can sorting them. . 

Mark you calendars:

Tomorrow's Tuesday Archives highlights a give-away to celebrate our 200th linky party!

Remember to stop by to participate. I hope your week is off to great start as well.

Moving It Forward....

Aughhhhh.....hello Summer!

I'm sitting on our back patio, sipping my coffee, thinking of everyone else going to work.

I always find this first Monday of Summer to be rejuvenating.

I absorb the quiet. I adjust to not having a schedule to follow. (My husband calls this my "decompressing week") I'm grateful for the good school year had and the time off ahead.

I loose track of time and before I know it, it's 11:00pm and I almost have a quilt top made! This is the Eye-Spy quilt I'm making as a family gift for some friends that are having their third son in August. The boys are seven, four and newborn, so I thought an eye-spy they could all use would be fun.

QUESTION:

Right now this one is a lap-size and I'm wondering if I should add a few rows to make it a twin size?

I'm thinking they could use it as a family or on one of the boy's beds?? Your thoughts? 

As I get my own 4 inch blocks ready for our swap, I'm cutting a 7 1/2" square from each fabric to alternate with the four patches I made from previous swap pieces. I like the variety.

Sometimes I think I should add sashing to break them up, but that thought quickly fads as I think of our own grand guy happily laying on top of his own Eye-Spy quilt playing the game with me.

Well, Happy Monday everyone! 

Don't forget to comment to leave your opinion: 

Should I make this one to be a lap size or twin size quilt?

OUR SPOT IS CLOSED! 

Hey Guys! There's still a few openings left and what better way to collect 200/400 different Eye-Spy fabrics than by swapping with fellow blogger friends. Click HERE to read about our Eye Spy Swap and perhaps think about joining us.

May OMG: Eye-Spy Name Quilt Finished.

Linking up w ith everyone else at May's One Monthly Goal. (OMG)

As previously posted, I wanted to turn my last stack of Eye-Spy fabrics into a baby name quilt.

A young couple we know are having their first baby in August: Kash Joel. 

Since this is my seventh stash busting project for the year, I got to play with a lot of fabric combos for the name plate. I finally settled on a solid black for the name and a fun pirate print for the background. I think it works, especially for an Eye-Spy Quilt.

This finish  measures 50"x54" and though it's not our traditional baby quilt, we all know how babies grow way too fast and before we know it, he'll be cuddling under this quilty hug as a little toddler getting ready for an afternoon nap. Our grand guy continues to not only love his Eye Spy quilt but at four and a half, we had fun  playing the game and trying to trick each other this past weekend! 

I used a soft, velvety minky fabric for the backing and a solid black for the binding. I thought the trains, trucks, helicopters and planes in my Go-Go-Go pantograph added to the whimsy of an Eye-Spy quilt for a little boy.

I like the idea that this can be a quilt that a little baby can grow into and 

hopefully become a favorite along the way.

(Our SWAP IS CLOSED)

If you like Eye-Spy Quilts as much as me....mark you calendars as sign-ups for our Second Eye-Spy Swap here at Val's Quilting Studio open this Friday, June 1st!! In the meantime, here's a few things to keep in mind as you begin to search for your eye-spy fabrics:

  You will need 1/3 yard or a fat quarter, depending on the print, of ten different fabrics with recognizable prints within a 3 1/2" square for one spot in the swap. 

Click HERE to see examples of good and bad fabric choices.

I'm off to link and share my May finish with everyone else at:

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - May Finish Link-up

PS: Help Spread The Word! Add this button below to your posts and  blogs. This will be a double swap...meaning with a maximum of  36 "swap spots" available, you'll be able to sign-up Friday 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!! I hope you'll think about joining  us.

May OMG: Eye Spy Baby Name Quilt

This Fall we have a few friends expecting babies thus, I'm going to dig into my stash of Eye Spy squares and turn them into a Eye Spy Baby Name Quilt as my May OMG.

I'm setting out to have it sewn, quilted and binding complete by this month's end.

Uh Oh!...but with that said, that's also going to deplete my stash of Eye Spy squares:

Anyone interested in an Eye Spy Swap this June (Next month!)???? Peek HERE to see one I've made in the past and another I made for our grand guy: click HERE. Then, click HERE to read about our past swap here at Val's Quilting Studio. It was fun to collect blocks from all over the country:

Comment to let me know if you are interested and if I get enough interest, I'll get the swap organized.

Linking and joining everyone at: 

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.