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

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.

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.

Moving Forward...

Well I returned home this weekend. My Meme duties finished, for now. I'm grateful for the precious moments I got to share as our daughter and SIL settled into their new home and welcomed their new little baby. I soooo enjoyed all my newborn cuddle time.

I also had the duty of unpacking and setting up the boys' bedroom. I never tire to seeing my my quilts being used and it was rewarding to see the boys' dinosaur quilts together and looking good.

My daughter texted me this picture below this morning exclaiming: "I swaddled him in one of your receiving blankets and he slept from 11:00 pm to 4:00 am."  Now, I'd like to think it was the blanket...but he really is such a good little baby and my daughter is doing a wonderful job nursing.

But hey, I'll take credit whenever I get it! Seriously though, sleeping newborns are just adorable. 

As we all move forward and begin to return to familiar routines, life is good for big brother too. He is loving his baby brother and even started at his new preschool today. He told his mom on the way that he was excited to be back at school...but misses his two friends. I miss him already!

So with that said, I'm back to sewing. I won this fat quarter bundle awhile back and it arrived while I was gone. I'm thinking of making two receiving blankets with them, with flannel on the back. Please do share  if you have any quick pattern ideas. I also have my Dec. OMG goal and wool stitching to keep me out of trouble, I mean busy. All truly are fun sewing, that I did get a chuckle from your previous comments how each project "was so me." You guys are the best! Thank you for your continued bloggy friendships and for inspiring and motivating me with your talents as well.

Until Tuesday Archives tomorrow, I will close wishing you a fantastic day!

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.

Baby Gifts Done!

Like many of you, I enjoy making baby quilts but find new moms seem to use the heck out of these extra large, flannel receiving blankets. The first one  I made is for my instructional assistant who is having a baby boy in February and doing an "outdoor" theme for his nursery. The middle one is for my stash of baby gifts and the third one is for a friend who is having a little girl and they are having a "mermaid" themed shower for her. (Cute huh!) So quick and easy to sew them right sides together, turn right side out and add a decorative stitch around the perimeter. (Finished size: 45"x45")

Plus! These are blankets that seem to be a favorite with the little ones for quite awhile,

as witnessed by our own grand guy. Here he is a few days old with his Dinosaur R.B.:

Here he is last June with it as he packed all his "favorite things" to go to preschool.

It doesn't get better than that does it.

Wishing you all a great start to the week.

Our snow days are FINALLY over and I'm looking forward to a NORMAL week.

Well, as normal as things get around here! LOL!!

Tuesday Archives #128: Kids Sewing

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: KIDS SEWING 

I love sewing for and with kids!  But I sure didn't expect a trip to the store would leave me with a cart filled with "tractors",  "trains" and  "dinosaurs"....but our grand-guy got soooo excited when he saw all these fabrics he just starting pulling them off the shelf and loading them into our cart. 

Need-less-to-say, my daughter and I were cracking up!

 

We finally had to narrow it down to "two". Luckily one was a flannel, so it was easy to...

...sew them together into a quick "receiving blanket" he can use for preschool and for play.

So as you can see, I spent the better part of my long, last weekend of summer getting in one more weekend with our Grand-guy. Yet, admittedly, it was nice to have yesterday as a day off. I'm tired. I needed a home day filled with sewing, relaxation  and house-hold chores attended to.  In reflection, it's been a wonderfully busy, fun-filled summer I am so very grateful for. But, I'm welcoming this transition into Fall as a time of self-rejuvenation. A season to get back into my own routines of life. Which by the way, will kick off with me starting this little guys birthday quilt and dusting of the long-arm. More to come!

FYI: September's themes are posted on the sidebar.

My Quick Go-To Gift

A school friend retires this year annnddd is becoming a grandma for the first time. Thus, I couldn't resist using this I Love Grandma flannel to quickly make a receiving blanket for her party this afternoon. Plus, every Grandma needs their own special blankets to cuddle their grands in.

This, wrapped with a nice bottle of wine, I'm hoping will help her begin to
celebrate a fun, new life chapter which lies ahead.
Hope your weekend is going wonderful well.

PS: I-Spy Swap coming this summer here at Val's Quilting Studio!!

Click the picture below to get a peek.

Last minute gift idea...

Receiving blankets aren't just for babies.

I know many of you have toddlers in your life. 

Grab a yard of their favorite character print in a soft cozy flannel.

(This Christmas it's Paw Patrol for us.) 

Add another yard of cuddly minky. Sew wrong sides together. 

Reverse. Sew along the perimeter and ta-da:

Toddlers love to use them for tents, capes, and even a nap if mom is lucky!

Update:

Here's our little grand guy using his on Christmas day with his new Paw Patrol couch! 

(Yes, he is entering that silly stage as he purposely stuck cereal in his nose as I took a picture!)

Receiving Blankets Done

My Monday Design Wall is getting empty!

These receiving blankets are always fun to make and "cute as a bug" when finished.

These each open up to be 41"by 41" square.

I had time to play with the decorative stitches on my sewing machine and 

like this extra accent around the perimeter of the blankets.

 

Wondering if you have a favorite "go to" baby shower gift that's quick and easy?

Today will find me FMQ a baby panel and playing with a farm themed jelly roll.

More baby finishes to come...

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