A NEW sewing machine!!

Hello my dear blogging friends!!! 

I'm so excited for the new year as I forecast much more sewing in my future!

Yep!  I just upgraded my sewing machine! I patiently waited for the "after Christmas sale" 

and treated myself . (Hubby was so good to come and be my "carry" guy.)

It's literally been TEN years since I bought  my first "real sewing machine":

...and we bought our daughter her FIRST sewing machine!

I've often been very frustrated with the small arm on my current machine, yet didn't want to give up my comfort level with it. Soooo with a little help and guidance from a dear sewing friend, 

I just simply upgraded my machine:

 

She's going to come over tomorrow to give me a quick tutorial and I have a new table on order.

I'll spend a good part of this evening just reading the manual and playing.

But! I am soooo excited! 

I honestly don't know why I waited so long to do this. I can only imagine how much easier it's going to be so sew borders and bindings onto my quilts with this 10" arm. Anyhooo....wow! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to me....as I look forward to sewing in 2021 with this new "toy" .

With Smiles!

Val:)

Quillows & A Change of Plans...

 Well hello! This Friday I find myself with a fresh cup of lemon/honey tea at hand, my faithful companion by my side, comforted by the hum of the fire burning as I emerge from having the flu over the past two days. (Well I technically still have it...just today I'm among-st the land of the living)  And yah! This strand did not have me running frantically to the bathroom every hour...more the chills, severe body aches, then fever, cough kind of flu....all which have finally calmed down but leave me isolated and with a huge change of Spring Break plans ahead.

But, seriously, when our life gets forced into a halt, how do you handle the change?  Honestly, I initially sound something like this: "Darn it! I don't have time for this!" I mean I realize that catching the most recent "bug" that is going around IS an occupational hazard in my line of work. Truth be told, it's been four years since I've caught it. So I guess it was inevitable. Never-the-less, not fun.

Then, I start finding myself  going into one of my "life and learning" reflective modes with my new found time. Like right now. Here I sit realizing all my Spring Break plans of a 10K hike tomorrow, spending time off with my husband, visiting a local Vineyard on our way to see the grands, Grammy Camp....have all changed...cause I actually feel like this: (Though I really don't want them to go.)

 It's weird to suddenly find myself  "quarantined", completely exhausted, with no plans. Luckily the Easter Bunny has a "carrot" dangling, as next Friday I'm invited to go on a Easter trip with the kids....so my assignment:  REST! (Okay....but you all know me well enough to know, rest for me is a two mile walk. LOL!!!) But okay, okay I get it. REST. Hydrate. Luckily, my body knows what to do and my head has learned to listened.

Now, back to answer my original question. I choose to make lemonade from the lemons when my life gets forced into a halt. I know from reading your blogs, many of you do too. I mean, I'm way disappointed. But in reflection I'm also grateful for the energy, activities and people that were to fill my Spring Break. These opportunities will come again.Until then, I need to choose a new happy. A Plan B. Like right now, I'm seriously channeling Matthew McConaughey as I'm beginning to think:
All Right, All Right, All Right...

Time for this gal to get sewing, quilting and stitching don't ya think!

 I just don't know how people survive without a hobby of some sort. A hobby is defined as something that is done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. I think you'd agree, that our hobbies keep us healthy. I know we all find life to be frustrating, disappointing and challenging at one time or another. But I encourage you to continue to choose happy even in those hardest moments.  So to answer my own question, that's exactly what I plan to do with my forced halt and sudden change of plans: I choose to ENJOY my hobby. I choose a new happiness as I play among-st my array of fabrics and projects because really:

Ironically, I think sewing has always sustained me through life's ups and downs. Not one to sit idle, I'm reminded of the year I made everyone in our family a Quillow for Christmas.  My poor nephew's even had a few forgotten pins in his! (Ouch!!Sorry bud.) Our girls were toddlers and I was going through Chemotherapy. Sewing took my mind off my troubles, helped me feel productive during a time I felt helpless.  I've been sewing since I was in Middle School and it has continued to sustain me when I have felt sick, lonely, sad and yes, happy. I'm grateful for our hobby and that I learned it young. It's truly my therapy, as I learned it is for many of you as well.

The girls, Christmas of 1993.

Out of curiosity, I just went upstairs and found I still have these Quillows in our blanket closet!

 They were made from a simple panel.

These measure 40" x 68".

A 15"x15" pocket was added to the back and I used a thick ribbon as a handle.

Trying to think what to do with these? They are still in good condition, but I have no grand girls to pass them on to. Any ideas? Foster Care kids? I just hate to see them not getting used.

I know there's tutorials all over the internet for these but as I get ready to participate in the H2H Charity Challenge  I'm totally inspired to make a quilt into a Quillow for my Happy Chemo donation. Well look at that! Once again, lemonade from lemons, as while writing this post, I've not only found a new happy but inspiration from that which was hidden away in the closet all along!
All Right, All Right, All Right, time to get sewing don't ya think. Well after a cozy nap. Stay tuned!

Remember to:

I specialize in edge to edge  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.

A Happy Anniversary & More!

Oh My! I've been off having fun on vacation to sunny Arizona where we grew up. 

Hubby and I celebrated our 29th Anniv...

...and my Dad celebrated his 80th.

Both on Super-Bowl Sunday! Can you say P A R T Y!!!!!

Yes! We got married on my Dad's birthday and never has a year gone by without the ongoing "joke" that my husband gets a "check-in-the-mail" every month for taking me off his hands. ARG!

We traveled together as a family and our little guy so enjoyed his first plane ride from Oregon to Arizona. Lucky me! He INSISTED that he had to sit by his Meme on both flights!

I especially love this photo taken of the two of us on "family picture day".

Oh man we just had soooo much fun! We ate cake. (My niece making sure I got a corner piece.)

We enjoyed seeing old friends and our cups were overflowing with fun!

This is me with my son-in-law and maid of honor from 29 years ago!

Our little family of six traveled so well together and we truly had a great time on our adventure.

Our new guy, already eleven weeks old, traveled amazingly. His mother so patient.

Annndddd I absolutely love that my mom got to see and cuddle her new great grandson!

We stayed with one of our family friends, who is also a quilter, and I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the gorgeous king size quilt she just finished! (Darn it!) But is was fun to talk quilting and rummage through her stash and talk about projects as we wished we had more time together.

But as every good vacation entails, we must repack our bags and journey ourselves homeward.

I have two whole days of work this week (Thank goodness as I'm exhausted! LOL!!) and plan to spend a better part of Saturday doing laundry and sewing my February OMG project. Easy sewing which I'm sure will prove to be rejuvenating. Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs and catching up with all of you. Seriously, I even missed my own Tuesday Archives this week! LOL!!! Oh well, life is good!

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.

A Spring Walk & an Announcement!

Team Undertrained & Overconfident:

What better way to start my Spring Break than with a 10K in the back hills of Oregon.

My oldest daughter and I joined my teacher partner and some of her friends, as we tackled the Owyhee Mountain Trails her in Oregon. Once we got three miles of steep trails behind us, 

we enjoyed the 50 degree day filled sunshine and a few more miles filled with good conversation.

At mile four we found ourselves a little punchy
but with only one more hill to go, we persevered...

Finished!!!

And though it might be hard to beat those "team t-shirts" of ours...

this one our little guy wore upon his arrival certainly does in my opinion: 

YES! ""Someone" is being promoted to BIG BROTHER!!!

I can already hear Great Meme's knitting needles clicking and my own sewing machines humming!

Nothing like expecting a new grand-baby to reignite one's creative energy.

We're all soooo excited. We'll have to wait until May for the gender reveal...

but under then, one can start day-dreaming right!?

As always, thanks for stopping by!

What Dog Breed are You??

Summer 2011
I'm reminded I took this picture for a story quilt I wanted to create. I should do that!

Take the Quiz!

After finding PuppySpot.com I was inspired to take their flowchart of a quiz: 

I took the quiz three times. I'm a confirmed #2:"Easy Going Playmate"...which is the terrier group! That makes so much sense as Jackson is my "best friend" . As you already know, he is my empty nest angel/life saver/happy companion. LOL! But I would be heartbroken if a reader ran out and adopted a Jack Russell just because they like Jackson. 

Jackson at work with me on a teacher work day. He always uses by jacket as his blanket.

 We haven't always had a Jack Russell/Terrier and after finding PuppySpot I was inspired to write this post. In review of their site, I'm appreciative of the work they have done to develop a resource that helps one find the "right" puppy for their homes and not make the mistakes I have made in dog ownership in the past. 

I'm a strong advocate for finding the right dog for the right home.  Pet ownership is a responsibility. I've witnessed  JRT with the wrong owners. They end up neglected and/or in shelters. Yet, this can be avoided. I sooo enjoy and appreciate that Jackson has become a highlight on my blog and that you all love him too. But it's important we all make the effort to find the "right" pet for ourselves.

Jackson December 2009

Admittedly, I've made my share of uneducated, mismatched choices over the past 28 years. 

They were cute but.....

Pebbles, that  adorable little Yorkie: So cute and playful. But with two toddler daughters, fifteen months apart, this was like having a third child. Unfortunately, she ran into the street and got struck by a car. I was devastated and felt I had failed as a dog owner. I should have never let her loose to play unsupervised with the girls.  We also had a Papillon. This was that situation where your friend just had a litter and you can get this cute puppy for free! The girls begged: "oh it's so cute". Well, puppy grows up. She kept running away from the girls. She was scared of everything, especially the girls! I finally found her a home with a house-bound woman and they each became one another's "Loyal, Lap, Companion". This is a #1 category breed and not a dog for a home with toddlers.

I write this post to share the valuable resource PuppySpot has to offer if you are ever looking for a puppy. I have always had a dog. I grew up with my own dog. (A little terrier I named Cindy) PuppySpot has a variety of  puppies just waiting for a home, including, Jack Russells.  Take the quiz and find the right dog for you and your lifestyle. I understand the terrier breed and even moments like this: (YES! This is where my puzzle ended. Notice the little bowl on the couch.) I understand he's just feeling as housebound as me during this harsh Winter.

Even him trying to "make up to me" as I collected floor pieces only made me love him more!

If you are looking for a puppy:

PuppySpot uses a personalized approach that caters to the needs of those in search of a new furry friend as well as the breeders who are looking for their puppies' forever homes. PuppySpot is a service committed to helping responsible breeders place their puppies with caring individuals and families. But, more than just a service, PuppySpot is a community of dog lovers whose mission is to make lives better by placing healthy puppies into happy homes. 

I want to dedicate this post to our first dog CJ, a Labrador Retriever. 

As a young growing family, having a dog that then fit into #3 "The Active Socialite" category was perfect. She was a rescue dog who who we wanted to retrain. We had a house. I especially didn't mind that she barked when anyone came to the house. She was protective, and active with us. 

She lived a long life with us. She was the dog our girls grew up with. She finally passed away from old age and Cushing's Disease. When she passed, we lost a family member.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope if you are looking for a puppy or know anyone who is, that you will share this quiz and resource with them. They make it possible for everyone to find and enjoy the life-long companionship of "their own" Jackson. 

 Jackson wants me to end with a Give-Away!

So here ya go:

 Take the quiz above and comment which breed is your perfect match! (This will be fun!)

Give-Away will close on January 31st.

and licks and cuddles...