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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

My ABC School Quilt

Being new to long-arm quilting ( 1year), sometimes I just need to play and practice. I've had this panel in my stash for 20 years!!! Yes! 20 years. I wanted to be a quilter for a long time but quilting is not an easy hobby to pick up when you are in your mid twenties, starting a new career, newly married with two wee ones born within the first three years. But despite the many moves, and chapters so far lived in life, this panel  has endured every purge! SO! When I decided quilting was going to be my empty nest hobby...this was my first quilting practice/project when I bought my long-arm machine:
2011 Classroom Quilt

The Details:

I free-motion quilted a letter of the alphabet in each block with 
stars connecting them. I had so much fun!

  I love rick-rack so added a touch of it for a mini border! 
 The back I made a little scrappy.
Lesson learned:
I need to be more whimsical with my quilting! The perfectionist comes out in me, truly driving me crazy sometimes. LOL! I know...right! But seriously, I had nothing to loose here and it came out great yet when I do try "too hard" I always make mistakes. Love that life is a series of lessons and growth.

So this quilt is added to my collection of classroom quilts.  Each year I enjoy making a quilt for my class and love that  the pile continues to grow. It makes my heart sing to see my second graders cuddled up in them reading!
With smiles!
Val:)

Linked up with:
at

17 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 17, 2013 at 5:42 AM

    Wow, now I don't feel so bad about my first quilt taking over 2 years to finish :D

    I'm glad you had fun with it. This is a perfect quilt for the classroom.

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  2. kimOctober 17, 2013 at 1:21 PM

    What a great little quilt!
    Those are some lucky kiddies, getting to snuggle up and hear a story. :)

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  3. UnknownOctober 17, 2013 at 3:04 PM

    Your second graders are so lucky! I love this quilt! Congrats with your finish!

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  4. Kelly @ My Quilt InfatuationOctober 17, 2013 at 4:19 PM

    this is such a cute quilt, and I just know your 2nd graders love snuggling up. They are so lucky to have such a caring teacher, Val!

    I'm so happy you shared at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  5. DominiqueOctober 17, 2013 at 6:46 PM

    What a fun project! using something from your stash, practicing your whimsical free-motion quilting, ric-rac, snuggles quilt... it's a win-win-win-win!

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  6. Tamara HamptonOctober 18, 2013 at 8:52 AM

    I love the vintage fabric (sorry... i hate to say vintage and i know the feeling i have fabric that old too!!!) it is really cool and i am the same way about not letting go to be more creative. Good job!

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  7. MuvOctober 18, 2013 at 12:31 PM

    Hello Val,

    What a beautiful quilt - just perfect for children, and they can play hunt the letters in the quilting.

    Love from England,
    Muv

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  8. Jessica HaddenOctober 18, 2013 at 1:59 PM

    Love the ricrac and blackboard print!

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  9. Gemma@prettybobbinsOctober 19, 2013 at 6:40 AM

    What a cute quilt! Quilting the alphabet was such a great idea! Thanks for linking up :)

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  10. UnknownOctober 19, 2013 at 10:07 AM

    Oh My Gosh this is such a beautiful quilt! I really admire the talent and after 20 years, patience of quilters like you! Thank you so much for sharing your art at the Fluster Buster Party! Have a fantastic week, Lizy party co host

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  11. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2014 at 3:42 PM

    I LOVE how you captured this quilt on the playground!!!!! Looks great! :)

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  12. Deb@asimplelifequiltsMarch 3, 2014 at 11:33 AM

    This is such a great idea! Perfect for this cute quilt too.

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  13. Jane's Fabrics and QuiltsMarch 3, 2014 at 6:15 PM

    Oh that is just so bright, fun and cute!

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  14. ValspierssewsMarch 3, 2014 at 6:47 PM

    Fabulous quilt. How nice to make them for your classroom.
    Valspierssews

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  15. KrisMarch 4, 2014 at 10:36 AM

    That was a great way to practice. I should do that with some panels I have for practice on my home machine fmqing.

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  16. ClaireAugust 19, 2015 at 8:24 AM

    Curious to know: Is cuddling with a quilt a special reward? open to any student any time? Very cute quilt and a good use of a panel.

    ReplyDelete
  17. TuridJanuary 26, 2016 at 7:47 AM

    So fun to use panels. Great quilt-

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I have to admit, your comments make me smile! Thanks for sharing and for letting me know you stopped by. I Hope your day is awesome!

Val:)