Wool Sampler Finished

 This summer I started a wool sampler with creative stitching inspired by Sue Spargo. It was fun to create and even more fun to practice my pebble quilting on!  

Here are a few close-ups of the stitching on some of the flowers:

This now happily hangs in my bathroom, truly making it easy to live, laugh and love!

Also for a quick tip on hanging quilts, I use:

These babies are STRONG! I've used them to hang larger quilts as well.

2014 will find me sharing more wool/creative stitching, as every year I treat myself to one BOM and Sue Spargo's BOM called: In Full Bloom is my choice for 2014! It will definitely make for some wonderful "happy mail" don't ya think!  

Hope your week is off to a great start. 

With smiles!

Val:)

Linked up with: http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/ and http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/

A Peek at This Week's Upcoming Finishes

 First, this is the back of a wool sampler I started this summer. I quilted it today and will finish the binding tonight as I watch The Amazing Race. I can't wait to post and share it finished with you tomorrow.(done!)

Next, this weekend I dropped quilt tops off for Project Linus and came home with an even bigger stack! (I love it!) This set of quilt tops will offer new long arming challenges for me, of which I'm ready for and looking forward to. (I've already begun sketching some new quilting ideas for the quilt top you can partially see on the top of the stack.) It will be a lot of fun.

So...since it's been been over a month since I've quilted, I had one strip top from Project Linus left and felt that would be a good warm up/refresher quilt for me to find my "rhythm" again. It's on the frame and I'll start sketching some quilting ideas tonight and get started on it tomorrow after work. (done!)

And finally, For The Boys Blog Hop begins this week

 and my "blog hop day is Friday"...

So I busily sewed today and finished "twisting" my flannels and completed the quilt top. I hope to have it on the quilt frame by Tuesday.(done!)

Please do stop by Friday to see it finished!!

Whew! In reflection, that's a pretty big "finish" list, but I'm ready. The days are getting darker earlier. My lawn/yard chores are nearing an end till Spring and I'm able to get  "in" my afternoon walk right after work. So my evenings will find me in the studio much earlier...looking forward to a productive week!

With smiles,

Val:)

Happy Halloween!

A few "treats" to share: 

A fun quilt top.  

A picture of us on our Grandson's first Halloween along with...

... the cutest Second Graders in the world!

The kids got to dress up as their favorite story book character. We had a fairy, Woody from Toy Story, Chrysanthemum, Amelia Bedelia, The Cat in the Hat , Thing One, along with Spiderman, and Captain Underpants!!

Soooo very precious!
Hope your Halloween had more treats than tricks!

With smiles, 

Val:)

And for a bonus "treat" visit Karen at her Quilts, Crows and Cardinals Blog and help celebrate her very first Moda Bake Shop Recipe!!! (How exciting!!!) Congrats Karen!

Thanks...Gingham Dog finds a home!

So here he will live cozy and safe from direct light in my very favorite book shelf.  

I truly loved the idea of preserving this little piece in it's "authentic" stage. (BTW...I also love that the needle is still threaded and in place.  I know I already emailed some of you about this, but seriously, I STILL thread my needle at the end of the night so it's ready for my next sewing session.)

I know in this modern time of  kindles, and I-pads, books are becoming obsolete but  I still love the smell and feel of an old book. 

Most of these books were collected during my years of teaching and raising a family. So lucky me, not only do I get to pass by my Oh Happy Day! quilt every morning, I'm now reminded of my ten year old self. (LOL!) 

It all just makes me smile!

Thanks so much  for your input ...it's appreciated!

Val:)

A New Hexi Flower

I'm not one to watch a lot of TV but Mondays this Fall finds me hooked on Dancing With the Stars and Castle (Though I usually fall asleep before Castle is over!!!LOL!!) So I use Mondays to work on Hexagon Flowers for my Hexagon Memory Quilt.

This flower represents a childhood memory of my first learning to stitch.. 

The cream hexagons in the middle row of the flower have the very same gingham dog that matches this little dog needlework sampler I had started when I was very young. I love that I still have it. I love the memory of  being so happy and proud that I had my own little hoop and "supplies". I love that when my hands were small they made this. (Well almost, I've obviously had WIP my whole life!!!)

So what do you do when you find treasures like this from your past? 

It's made of linen and stained in a few places. 

  I'd love your input. 

Do I: 

A. Frame and hang it as is?

B. Finish it and frame it?

C.  Finish it and incorporate it into a quilt?

D. Any other ideas?

The answer: I ended up framing and hanging it just as it is.
He ended up here.

With smiles,

Val:)