It's Birthday Quilt Time!

Time sure flies when we have Grand kiddos doesn't it!

Our oldest grand guy continues to request a birthday quilt each year. This year he actually picked out all the fabrics for this one. These are in honor of the fact that we've watched every dolphin movie made for kids and have made a pinky shake that someday we are going to swim with the dolphins to celebrate our birthdays!

I found the perfect dolphin pantograph.

His choice to use a minky backing that looks like "water" makes this one an especially cozy lap quilt. 

Happy Happy NINTH Birthday buddy!

With hugs and smiles,

Meme:)

A Sweet Baby Girl Quilt

This Kinder Layer Cake of fabric by Windham Fabrics turned out to make the perfect quilt for our Kinder teacher who just had her first baby. I figured new mom received plenty of "baby things" so it was fun to make a bright and happy quilt her new daughter could use as toddler and beyond.

It measures 46"x53", so easy enough for her to drag around as she grows into it.

 

I used a bright flannel backing and love the checked green binding.

 I had my daughter make me this quilt label and easily added it to the quilt with a zig-zag stitch.

  

And of course, my ABC-123 pantograph put the finishing touches on it don't ya think!

This was a fun one to make.

With smiles, Val:)

"May the Force Be With You"

Like most four years old's right now, our youngest grand guy just loves Baby Yoda.

For his fourth birthday (last month) he got Baby Yoda Jammies:

He got a "big boy" twin bed so of course, we bought him Baby Yoda sheets:

 

And....finally...Meme got his birthday quilt DONE!!! 

(Yes, a month later!!!)

I love the flannel green & black check backing and "bubbles" pantograph I used:

It's just the right size for that NEW twin size bed too!!!

And here he is opening up his "Happy Mail":

SWEET DREAMS Little One!!!

With Smiles! Val:)

Birthday Quilts Ready to Gift!

Not one...

...but two birthday quilts.

 These were quick and easy strip quilts that happily filled our grand guys request of  a 

birthday quilt in fabric of his favorite football team. I used a soft flannel backing and 

made them to be twin and crib size to fit the beds at their dad's house.

Hard to believe these two are going to be four and eight!

These are their traditional quilt labels and I finished the quilts with a fun football pantograph.

More quilty hugs...

...for the two that call me Meme.

With Smiles. 

Val

A New Baby Quilt!

Nothing like the anticipation of a new baby to get one's sewing mojo back!

Pattern used: Summer Song by Villa Rosa Designs.
Quilt measures 44"x55".

I love watching a fat quarter bundle turn into a wonderful quilt. 

For this one I used a Purples Bella Solid pack. 

I've never made a commissioned quilt. But this was for a work friend who wanted something special for her new little niece. She requested solid purples with grays. 

I don't think I've ever made a quilt from solids...and this one has quickly become a favorite!

I used my Beautiful, Colorful, Butterfly pantograph to add a girly touch.

I found a fun "Love You To The Moon and Back" gray backing...

...and I was sure to create a tag that our friend could personalize for her new niece.

I had some backing left over so made a matching receiving blanket too. 

I love the texture of the pom-pom trim, don't you?

I have more baby quilts to make before December and may use this pattern again??

Between the cooler Fall weather and the anticipation of babies, it feels good to be sewing again.

With smiles. Val

The Hummmmm of Quilting....

Today is a wonderfully overcast summer day.

I already have my daily walk done and plan on finishing this quilt today.

I always enjoy watching a quilt transform right before my eyes...

...and look who is always close by:

Just dropping in to wish you a great day too!
With SMILES! Val

Rejuvenated and A Finish!

 Sometimes a change of scenery is rejuvenating for the soul. I can't believe we've been in this Coronavirus "shutdown" for four months now. Of which have found me transforming from an efficient, organized, productive human being to a total blob who can't remember when she last showered! Accept for my daily exercise routine, I've had motivation to accomplish nothing more. Finally, weekend before last, hubby and I took a long weekend and escaped to the mountains. We were isolated in the middle of the mountains and though we didn't do much, as the town we visited was in a reverse shutdown...we did find this view rejuvenating and was the "spot" for my daily stitching. Jackson also enjoyed watching all the squirrels with his "birds eye view" from the elevated deck. Never the less....

I don't know about you, but I’m about over it … over this new normal, new reality, new whatever we want to call it.  I want to go out to a restaurant.  I want to be able to go shopping and not just for groceries. I’d like to visit friends face to face. I'm so over Zoom! I think we’re all ready for this pandemic to be over especially our heroes on the frontline who are surely exhausted.

But with no end in sight, somehow, somewhere, over our four day get-away, I found myself remotivated when I returned home. After a year of no activity, I started Lizzi once again. 
I played it safe and started with quilting a donation quilt for Project Linus. 

As I began, I noticed stitches skipping. A text to my long-arm lady, a few phone calls, and a pick up by my husband, I replace the vertical encoder on my long-arm. (Not bad for eight years of wear and tear...as the pad on the encoder was torn....causing the skipped stitches.) 

Sooner than later, we were up and running with smooooth stitches once again.

I think Jackson was thrown off with my morning burst of energy as I set out to get this one done. I sewed and pinned the binding and got pictures taken...all before breakfast!

But I get to call it finished! This quilt was sewn by a Project Linus volunteer and measures 37"x72".
I quilted it with a Ruffled Rose Pantograph.

With STILL another month ahead before officials even think of starting school again and no adventures" on the calendar...I hope to get a few more quilt tops checked off the list.
Stay tuned!

With SMILES! Val

Be Kind to YOURSELF

Hello Hello my fellow blogging friends!!

I came to realize that it's almost been FOUR months since I've even blogged.
Yet, after getting my hair cut today and chit chatting with my hairstylist...

(I just LOVE getting my pixie cut...especially with the onset of Summer!)

 

...I was inspired to write this post...as for the first time during this pandemic I felt like I wasn't alone in finding myself needing to navigate unknown terrain yet internally frustrated in NOT finding comfort and motivation in all that use to motivate me. For example, when this pandemic started I had  an ambitious list of all the things I was going to accomplish with this new found time on my hands....especially when school "officially" let out in June! BIG plans I had listed, because there was nowhere to go and nothing to interrupt my progress. Yet, in four months I've only "loaded" a test quilt onto the frame and completed a quilt top started six years ago (Well, I guess THAT's an accomplishment isn't it! LOL!)  But, the sewing room more often than not, remains dark:

There are honestly moments where I feel as if I'm failing this "stay at home" thing after being so use to an active work/social "routine". Why don't I want to quilt like I use to??? My hairstylist and I talked about this...as she is going through the same thing! We're both use to feeling productive. We both have ambitious list that we have NOT gotten to...nor do we care! We have found comfort in new hobbies. Hers has been bullet journaling and pen pal lettering. Mine has been my Sue Spargo Homegrown stitching:

I L O V E this project. I was able to sew during my school ZOOM meetings and continue to enjoy working on it, now that school is "out for the summer". The bright happy colors, creative stitching offer relaxation and fun!  It's not overwhelming. It's a perfect distraction from the news that at this very moment fills my background announcing: "Will face masks be on student's back to school lists?" It calms any anxiousness as like you, it seems like daily we are trying to navigate an unknown terrain. A text from my principal just dinged reminding me of our "blueprint" meeting as we as our school's leadership team, begin to outline the reopening of school in the Fall according to ODE orders. (We hope!!) I will begin my 32nd year as an educator in a very new normal that's for sure!

My hairstylist and I talked about how we just need to show up with kindness. PERIOD.

And not only for others but I'm here to say, for yourself as well!  My mind and body shout daily: "Fresh air! Fresh air! Exercise" so I have been intentional about that. I'm trying new things and added a different variety to my fitness regiment. I'm trying yoga. I bike ride. I walk. I golf.

I'm being kind to myself. I finally gave myself permission to NOT accomplish anything at all if that's how I'm feeling. My number one priority has been to be healthy and take good care of myself. And I'm doing that. I do exercise a minimum of an hour a day. I eat well. Annnnddd, I even sleep in a little longer if I awake and being under a cozy quilt makes lingering a little longer rejuvenating. 

But I also give myself permission to stay in my PJ's all day long! As often it's discouraging to continue to keep a calendar that has actually morphed into a document of everything that I didn't get do and people I didn't get to be with. Of course, that makes me sad.

So I guess what I wanted to share, is if you feel like you have no idea what you are doing, if you feel like you are failing at this stay at home thing, know you are not alone. You DON'T have to do it all. You don't have to clean the kitchen drawers. You don't have to learn anything new or even accomplish something. Nope. You don't, Just BE. Reach out to a friend to let them know you are thinking of them. Go for a walk. Watch an old movie.  But know you are doing the best you can in this moment you are in. And honestly, THAT in itself is incredible! BE safe. BE healthy. BE present. BE happy. Yes! Even if it means staying in your jammies all day!

With SMILES! Val