I-Spy WIP is a flimsy!

My I-Spy quilt has been a WIP for about a year now. I've been collecting and swapping 4 inch squares with fellow blogging buddies and it has continued to grow:  

When my oldest daughter expressed interest in sewing it together. I didn't hesitate to organize and label the rows and sent them home with her. 

She set up a little sewing corner in their apartment living-room and 

got busy sewing them together...block by block...row by row:

This past weekend, we spent Sunday together. She, busy trading summer clothes for winter clothes out of storage while I sewed the remaining rows together. I brought it home as a flimsy...all ready to quilt! ("Someone" was already having fun playing on it.)

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday I'll be teaching her how to bind it. So fun! Have you had the opportunity to pass this hobby we all love so much onto to a special someone? 

With Grandma Smiles!

Val:)

Tuesday Archives #35: Irish Chain & Fall Quilts

Welcome to the linky party that let's you rejuvenate your old quilting/sewing posts! 

(Check over in my right margin for the list of our November themes)

This week is all about skimming through those archives and finding quilts that showcase your IRISH CHAIN QUILTS/PROJECT and everything and anything that says: FALL. 

IRISH CHAIN QUILTS: 

Okay here's a blast to the past for you: YES! That's me about, 20 years ago! I found these photos slipped into an old pattern book and started busting up! I mean check out my hair! As I shared here, I'm a cancer survivor and I remember referring to this crazy hair as my million dollar perm. Seriously, it came back in ringlets after my 10 months of chemo. You may have noticed I'm not a long hair gal, but I did enjoy this wild hair for awhile. 

Remember the Mauve days of decorating!! Bahahahaaaaa!!! I made the bunnies too! I geuss you can say, "Crafts have always kept me sane" as these projects kept me busy when I was home sick from chemo or the girls where early to bed in the evenings. My mom still uses this quilt twenty years  later and takes such good care of it.

Fall

I've yet to meet a person who doesn't love the colors and transition of Fall. Last week I saw this wonderful Fall quilt by Shannon who blogs at Modern Tradition Quilts and knew immediately it had to be highlighted this week for our Fall Linky!

ALYofF Oct. Sock Monkey Finish

Our Grandson turned one earlier this month. 

 I think I scored a touchdown with his birthday quilt: 

As I stated here, my goal was to create a birthday quilt for our grandson. His parents are BIG Seattle SeaHawks Fans so my son-in-law was especially awed that I found his team's fabric. LOL!! (I actually found a background fabric called artificial turf grass!)

 He noticed that too! I even signed the front like a "sports star" would sign a football!

 I had so much fun creating this Sock Monkey Football Quilt for him!! 

A few shortcuts used:  First, I used premade binding for the white field stripes and machine sewed them on. I used iron-onVarsity Numbers. Applique: I drew the sock monkey and enlarged it by about 150%  at the local print shop. I found the football pattern in one of my old teacher bulletin board books and used 3" lettering templates leftover from my scrapbooking days to create the TOUCHDOWN letters. I then hand appliqued them all onto the quilt top. 

     It measures a cuddly 38"x 50". It's soft, lime-green, polka-dot, flannel backing, will hopefully make this his favorite "go-to" comfort quilt. Andddd...though I was a little apprehensive about using a pantograph on an appliqued quilt, I couldn't resist quilting it with my Sock Monkey Pantograph and it sewed over the applique with no problem. 

Jackson also wanted me  to show  how I included our 

grandson's age and the year on the back: 

Well, there ya have it, my pride and joy for the month!
I'm linking up with everyone else at:

(Can't believe I've made my monthly goal every month so far!! Anyone else feeling like that??) A big thanks to Shanna and Melissa for the motivation!!
Also check out my linky page for more fun places to link up and share.
With smiles,
Val:)

Tuesday Archives #34: HALLOWEEN!

Created by Nancy at Patchwork Breeze.

Hey fellow blog friends!!! It's time for our Halloween version of:
I also updated our themes. Check out my side-bar for November's list. 

Our highlighted blogger this week is Nancy who blogs at Patchwork Breeze. Serious, look at this adorable jack-o-latern: A small ppp used in the wavy banner (as seen on her post here). She designed this herself and you can check out her pattern on PatternSpot.com

Butterfly Quilting

 I recieved this commission quilt in the mail last week.  The only request that the customer had was they wanted it to give their nursing home recipient "a lot to look at".

I knew immediately I'd use my  Butterflies with Words Pantograph to accent the butterflies already in the prints and to add to this quilts whimsical garden appeal. 

The pantograph says: colorful, beautiful, butterfly. 

Upon my customer's request, I used a lime green thread comibination. King Tut in Limestone (A wonderful variegated color) for the top thread and So Fine #450 (Lime) for the bobbin. I think the thread color really complimented her work wonderfully!

And, hey, if you or a friend are ever looking for a long-arm quilter,
please check out my information page:

Just click this picture for more information.

I offer an extensive selection of designs and quick turnaround service.

November Special: FREE return shipping on any quilt in the U.S.

Feel free to drop me an email with your requests.

With Smiles!

Val:)