Tuesday Archives #75: Strip Quilts

 Hello! Hello! and Happy Tuesday Archives! 

I'm still on my Grammy Vacation...and will look forward to returning on August 16th.

Until then, welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

You can always click here to read more about this linky party if you are new to this ol' blog.

And remember, every time you link up counts as an entry for our monthly

 $15.00 gift certificate to Fabric N Quilts. 

This week's theme is STRING QUILTS!

I found a new blogger who makes string quilts with a purpose! Meet Robin who blogs at Ormand Beach Quilts. She makes string quilts for teens who are graduating from the Foster Care System! Her post and purpose touched my heart and I know it will yours too! Click here to read her Foster Teens  Post. Click here to read her Foster Teen Quilts Part post. I'm so inpsired by her mission.

Grammy Vacation

Hey hi! Well, the only thing close to a finish around here is: Summer. Yep! Next week is my last week off before returning to a new classroom of 36 Second Graders (YES!!! I wrote 36!!! Don't even get me started on the topic.) Never-the-less, I always figure it's just more little ones to love and  more opportunity to provide a great day of learning for! Anyhoo,  I seriously couldn't think of a better way to wrap up my summer than spending time with this little guy:

(Can you believe he's almost two already! I LOVE this age! )

 Tomorrow I fly out. Mom and Dad will be working most the days I'm there, so I get to "babysit".  

I don't think we'll need too many "time-outs"... 

...as I've been busy on pinterest planning Grammy Camp! 

(Always helps to have a grandma that's a Second Grade teacher huh!)

You can check out the details for each of these projects and others
 on my Pinterest Grammy Fun Board by clicking right here.

Hey, I need to make sure I wear him out so he takes good naps. Then I can....sew a restful bit. Now, you didn't think I'd go a week without sewing something did you!? No way! I have these hexi's packed and ready to be sewn together. (FINALLY!!)

So though I may not being doing a lot of lounging, I am unplugging and leaving the ol' laptop home.

I pre-scheduled next week's Tuesday Archives String Quilts linky, so things should be cool there.

It will be kinda wierd not being here and I know I'm going to miss blogging and some of your great projects and our correspondences. Yet, after contemplating the idea over the last couple of days, I think it will be rejuvinating and the time with our little guy, my daughter and son-in-law priceless. 

Just imagine the post I'll have for August 16th! LOL!

Until then, happy sewing...

Everytime you link and share here at Tuesday Archives you will be entered you into a monthly drawing for a $15.00 Gift Certificate to: (pretty cool huh!)

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

Tuesday Archives #74: Sampler Quilts

Hey Hello! Hello! and Happy Tuesday Archives! 

Annnnddddd.....

....to: Cnythia who blogs at: Quilting is More Fun Than Housework!!!

You are July's linky winner of a 15.00 gift certificate to Fabric N Quilts. 

(Coincidentially, it was your scrappy link, #20, under our Scrappy Quilt theme!!)

(Watch your email for the gift code!!)

Sooo...How is the Winner Chosen?

Here's what I did: 

I counted the number of total links in July. We had 180!! Mr. Random chose number 92.

I then started at the first link on  July 7th and counted forward.

On July 7th were numbers 1-52. Then, on July 14th the first link was counted as #53 and the last link was #71. So on July 21st, the first link was actually #72 and I counted until I hit #92. 

And because NO ONE is a loser...EVERYONE who linked gets a 5% discount to Fabric N Quilts.

Please just email me at vworksofheart@gmail.com and let me know one of the dates you linked and I will reply with the promo code. 

Thank you for rejuvinating your old posts here!

I know "digging" through our archives sometimes takes more time, thus I'm grateful to Shannon for coming aboard and supporting my idea of giving you guys a little extra incentive/reward. I mean, serously, what's a party without a little "door prize" right!

So, let's have the fun continue with today's theme:

SAMPLER QUILTS:

This Saturday I will pick up the final month of my 2014-15 Saturday Sampler that my quilty friend and I have enjoyed attending this past year:

I continue to love this Bloomin' Fresh line by Deb Strain.

It's been rewarding to play with different blocks and gradually see my points, seams, piecing  and even color/fabric combining improve. (Though I admittably, reworked a couple.) I'm sure many of you have done some samplers, thus, I'm curious what you like most about them??

Underground Railroad Sampler Quilt

I took my first quilting class in the Fall of 2009. We used a simple pattern and learned about patchwork and quilting. We started with fabric selection and were guided through every step of the quilt-making process. Following this six week class, I was immediately hooked and found myself  immediately signing up for the only class available to this wee beginner, an Underground Railroad Sampler quilt class. (I know talk about jumping in with your feet first!)  Over the next ten months, seven of us met every Monday night at our LQS. We compared our progress. We discussed our challenges and of course, praised and cheered eachother along. 

I used the Kansas Trouble fabric line for this quilt.

I finished this sampler 10 months later, just in time to gift it to my parents for the 50th wedding anniversary. I made it specifically for their motorhome, as they travel 5 months out of the year, and there's nothing better than a home-made quilt by their "favorite" daughter (LOL!!)to make a place feel like home. My mom loves it so much, she uses it on their bed at home during their non-travel months! (Yes, this was one of those ultimate moments for me!)

As you can see, I was pretty proud of my accomplishment too!

September 2010

I always kinda miss the comaraderie of taking classes with quilty friends. Unfortunatly, I'm just too tired (or maybe I'm just getting older) at the end of school/work day to take a class until 9:00pm. We don't have a local guild. Saturdays are the only day off my husband and I have together. Store closed on Sundays. So thus, I'm grateful for blogging and our virtual guild of sorts we find here. Also, like many of you, I'm thankful for the opportunity of Tuesday Archives to document this sampler quilt here on my blog as I write a new post about an older quilt to share with you...

my "oohhh and aughhh" comaraderie of quilty friends.

BOM: My Cabin Applique

It feels good to have started my new BOM applique project.

It's always fun to watch an applique project transition from pattern to...

...some relaxing hand-sewing.

This measures 17"x21".

I think what I love most about applique though, is having some simple sewing to wind down with at the end of the day. Today finds me cleaning out my clothes closet in preparation of returning back to work/school in a few weeks. Yet, afterwards, I look forward to some stitching on this as I enjoy an afternoon Lifetime movie. How about you, when is your favorite time to get in a little hand sewing??