Aughhh....

The first rainy day of Fall....just makes everything feel so much better!

New slippers in the mail from my mom also keep my toes warm for a cozy afternoon of binding.

I have found teaching in a comprehensive distant model to be weirdly exhausting emotionally.

Zoom, Google Meets are common place forms of communication and teaching.

By the weekend, I'm just done. I hoping as the rain clears tomorrow to go for a long mountain hike to enjoy the fresh air, beautiful Fall leaves and rejuvenate my heart and head. How about you.? How do you keep yourself rejuvenated as we continue to find ourselves living a new normal?

With Smiles! Val

Our Anniversary Weekend

We both took a little extra time off work last week and escaped to this quaint little town of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. It's rich in history as for centuries before it was turned into a settlement, the Bannock and Shoshone Indian tribes gathered here to bathe, rest, and worship in the natural, odor-free mineral waters found in this quiet valley. 

In 1911, the State of Idaho began developing the hot springs into what is now a main street of hotels, restaurants and ol' time western bars that greet visitors with a smile and continue to offer fair prices.

We were spoiled from the moment we arrived and truly  enjoyed the inclusiveness of our Anniversary stay.
We were able to schedule mineral soaks, evening dining and enjoy complimentary wine tasting and
 breakfast without ever leaving our Inn.
It was all amazingly relaxing and rejuvenating.

Both private and public hot spring pools and tubs can be found in every hotel and park. 

Seriously, it became "normal" to greet other guests with a quick hello as we passed each other in hallways and common areas bundled up in bathrobes and styling flip flops. Which okay, admittedly felt weird in the beginning, but of course, didn't take us too long to get use to. 

We also enjoyed some out door recreation in-between all those mineral soaks and found 

snow-shoeing to be the perfect way to see the winter landscape.

As we reached the peek of our hike, we were thinking another mineral soak would be perfect just about now! Luckily we had that and a couple's massage scheduled once we returned to the Inn.

So yeah, no machine sewing to share, but thanks goodness for hand sewing on a long drive.

Tomorrow reality sets in and it's back to work, but never the less, we're so grateful to have gotten away to celebrate that which makes the day to day so worthwhile and awesome!

 
PS: Please feel free to comment and share an anniversary celebration of your own.

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: "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!

A New Charity Mission....

Like many of us, my mom and I sometimes just like to try new patterns, yarns and fabric 

without any reason except to learn something new. 

But soon, we each find ourselves with a closet full of unused blankets and quilts: 

So together we have set out over the next year to provide a blanket or quilt for each of the students in my elementary school that are in Foster Care. Right now we have about fifteen kids.

The three pictured above were gifted to three girls last month. Two of the girls are in the sixth grade with special needs and were immediately drawn to the bright colored ones. They are actually in foster care together so were happy to each get a new blanket together. The pastel blanket went to a girl with a brain impairment and she immediately cuddled up in the blanket. It was sweet and inspiring and is a good "excuse" for mom and I to continue to try new things. (Not that we need an excuse) But sometimes don't you find it's rejuvenating to find a new purpose for a hobby you enjoy so much?

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.

H2H: An Extra Blanket for Little Lambs

My mom is one of my most faithful followers (thanks Mom!) and when she read about our H2H Charity Drive she asked if she could donate this knitted blanket: 

Do you like the Tulip Quilt the blanket is on? Click HERE to check it out! 

Like us quilters, she likes to experiment and "play" with different skeins of yarn. This skein she tried turned right into the above pattern. She had fun trying something new and wanted to see the blanket go to good use, so I immediately emailed her the information for the Little Lambs Foundation for Kids. It operates out of Utah and provides comfort kits for children ages newborn to 17 years old who are transitioning into foster care, emergency shelter or who have been hospitalized. Her blanket measures 36"x 36" so would be the perfect donation for a little one's kit don't ya think!? 

I love and am grateful that my mom and I support each other's love of knitting and quilting.

Thanks for joining me Mom as we both send warm hugs to kiddos in need. 

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.

Knitted Baby Blankets and More...

Many of you who follow my blog regularly know I sometimes like to highlight the beautiful projects my mom knits for our family and friends. I just received this one in the mail yesterday as a gift for my previous teacher partner's family, as they just had their second child, a baby boy, two weeks ago.
They named him Everett and for some reason I just love that name. 

I love the pattern in this knitted blanket. It is super soft and the babies will often be found with their little fingers weaved through those tiny holes when you are cuddling them. It's so sweet.

She also made a small, car seat blanket. I love how the yarn is variegated and the pattern it creates.

I made two receiving blankets last night. Dad's a local high school football coach and mom loves elephants. Needless to say, they both loved their personalized blankets. Upon request, this summer  I'll be making them a football designed quilt in our town's school colors. I'll use minky on the back and it will be perfect for mom and son during those Fall football games next year. 

I even made another "taggy" blanket with minky on one side and satin on the other. I like to use books as "my card" and included The Baby's Handbook of Songs thinking is was perfect for big sis to "sing and read" to her new baby brother as all the pictures are in black and white.  

Well...I hope you found a little inspiration here and perhaps even a few baby gift ideas.

Hope your weekend is filled with sunshine and happiness.

PS: Here's one more gift idea perfect for preschoolers. Their preschooler "cut" for the entire two hours I was there. Bless her little soul. She was having so much fun before she noticed a new little blister on her finger. Luckily it was nothing a band-aid couldn't fix and she was back to cutting before we knew it. It was cute. She is three and our grand-guy who is four, really enjoy this book:  

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.

A Knitted Surprise!

 I was greeted at my parent's house with this beautiful blanket my mom has been secretly knitting for me since before December! She made it to match a quilt in our guest bedroom, but until I get the quilts finished for our master bedroom, I'm going to enjoy it right here every day!

It's a cozy lap size measuring 45"x 85".

The greens and browns are so rich and I love the texture and edge of this blanket.

My mom knits blankets for me and I sew quilts for her. Each of our homes are filled with both...though I noticed hers more with quilts and mine more with blankets. (smiles) Hubby reminded me of the quilt I have started for our room...hhhmmmm....looks like I found my my March One Monthly Goal! Thanks for my new blanket mom. I love it!!!

Tuesday Archives #142: Home-Made Gifts

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: HAND-MADE GIFTS 

I had every intention of making coaster for gifts this year and can only admire from afar those of you who completed some hand-made gifts this year. (I could always start NOW for next year! LOL!) And....today's linky will be sure to produce many ideas and much inspiration for me to do just that!
Like, Jo's a d o r a b l e premie Santa hats she knitted for their local hospital!

Or Tanya who created a variety of these tea towel sets for co-workers!

How clever to use the applique designs from our previous Lori Holt Bloom SAL.

With Christmas only a few days away....do share (if you can) what you've been up to as a creative elf this year...and as always, rejuvenate older hand made gifts as well.