H2H: Spring Finish for Happy Chemo

   I used this square in a square pattern once again called Summer Song by Villa Rosa Design. It used ten fat quarters and 20 5" squares. Again, it was quick and easy.

I love this picture as while I was taking my "quilt" pictures, Jackson suddenly 
pokes his head out from behind the quilt....as if to say...."oh there you are!"

It measures 46"x 58" and with this soft flannel backing I think it will make a
comfy lap quilt for a Happy Chemo recipient.

Then he returns with a look that begs:  "Are you still doing this? Mom, Come play with me!"

I used this fun pantograph called: Funkadelic for the first time and really like it's swirls, paisley-like flowers and the fact that the pattern wasn't  too dense and quilted up quick.

This is my fifth stash-busting finish this year, second of two charity quilts that I'm creating as part of Sara's H2H Charity Drive andddd this completes my April OMG!! Wow! I'm pretty happy.
I think I'll take Jackson for an afternoon walk and treat myself to a glass of wine of the patio.

Click each picture below as I join everyone else at:

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.

H2H: I-Spy Finish

 I've had so much fun sewing these I-Spy blocks together for my H2H Happy Chemo quilt. This quilt measures 53" by 56" and was made with 240 4" I-Spy squares.

Can you I-Spy the goose and otter? I think they are my favorite,
but then again, the cupcake, hamburger and school bus are so fun too!
Here it is finished and trimmed with it's purple binding:

This quilt has been so much fun to create and it makes my heart smile knowing it's 

now on it's way to to be part of  Sarah's H2H Charity Challenge.  

Thanks for organizing this annual event for all of us Sarah!!

After reading that Emily's Happy Chemo quilts will be going to the Rat Pack organization, their main focus is helping those fight breast cancer. They will fill their Love Handle Bags with our donations, so I knew this breast Cancer Ribbon quilting and flannel backing were the perfect finishing touches for my quilty donation. 

June 1st sign-ups for our I-Spy Swap begin!

If ya haven't yet, I hope you'll mark your calendar and stop by June 1st and sign-up for our I-Spy Swap. Annndd....if ya can't wait and want to start collecting now, you'll need ten 1/4 yard or fat quarters of ten different I- Spy prints and you will be able to get your 20 4" squares out of these. (Yes...you'll be getting 200 different squares through this swap!!) Be sure you can tell what you are looking at within a 3 1/2"x 3 1/2" square. (There's many examples in my quilt above.)

 Help me spread the word! This will be a double swap...meaning with a maximum of  36 "swap spots" available, you'll be able to sign-up for a maximum of two regular swap spots if you want...but the fabrics for each swap will need to be different. Okay...Happy collecting!!

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This week's theme will be: EQ Designs.

A Breast Cancer Ribbon Quilted Finish

I found the perfect pantograph for my H2H Happy Chemo quilt:

I was super happy when I found this one in my collection after reading that  Emily's Happy Chemo quilts will be going to the Rat Pack organization. Their main focus is helping those fight breast cancer and our Quilty Hugs will be going into their Love Handle Bags.

On top of  my I-Spy donation quilt being entertaining and it's soft flannel backing cozy... 

...it's Breast Cancer Ribbon quilting makes it even a little bit more 

special  for a Love Handle Bag don't ya think.

Jackson's pretty happy with this finish too and... 

...is enthusiastic in helping me announce that with summer right around the corner, 

 I'll have more time in the studio and would love to quilt for you! 

I specialize in edge to edge/pantograph designs with an extensive collection to choose from.

May through July I'm offering free returning shipping on all quilts and only charge .018 cents per square inch. Contact me for your Summer quilting needs. I'd love to quilt for you.

Click the picture below for more details.

We hope your week has been filled with a little bit of fun, relaxation and happy sewing.

Linking up with many of the blog parties on my Linky Party Page.

and

PS: I-Spy Swap coming this summer here at Val's Quilting Studio!!

Click the picture below to get a peek.

H2H Eye-Spy Flimsy/Swap Announcement

This Monday I'm joining Em as I find myself Moving Forward"  my  Eye-Spy flimsy as it goes from the sewing machine to the long-arm. I've had so much fun sewing these Eye-Spy blocks together for my H2H Happy Chemo quilt. This quilt measures 53" by 56" and was made with 240 4" Eye-Spy squares. Can you Eye-Spy the goose and otter? I think they are my favorite,

but then again, the cupcake, hamburger and school bus are so fun too! 

 I guess it's easy to say my list of  Eye-Spy favorites continuously change as I look. I mean look at that cute little mermaid and ghost as they peek through the lattice as you get this stained glass "look" from the reverse side. I'm always searching for unique fabrics as I shop for fabric or even enter a quilt store.

I've also had fun collecting and trading  squares with fellow bloggers in the past as
 Eye-Spy quilts are just so darn fun to create, gift and have!

Sooo...with that being said, I've almost run out of them myself and with a list of I-Spy quilts I still want to make, I'm excited to announce that this June I'm hosting my very first swap here at Val's Quilting Studio. All the details will come out June 1st and sign-ups will begin.!! Buttttt....if ya can't wait and want to start collecting now, you'll need ten 1/4 yard or fat quarters of ten different I- Spy prints and you will be able to get your 20 4" squares out of these. (Yes...you'll be getting 200 different squares through this swap!!) Be sure you can tell what you are looking at within a 3 1/2"x 3 1/2" square. (There's many examples in my quilt above.)
 I hope you'll think about joining me for this fun summer I-Spy swap!


PS: Help me spread the word! This will be a double swap...meaning with a maximum of  36 "swap spots" available, you'll be able to sign-up for a maximum of two regular swap spots if you want...but the fabrics for each swap will need to be different. Okay...Happy collecting!!

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H2H Finale: Rainbow Hexagons

It's hard to believe it was almost two years ago that I emptied my buckets of scrappy strips...

...and made this rainbow of hexagons: 

It's fun to see them finally put together into a quilt!

(I like the solid centers much better too.)

This quilt has been so much fun to create and it makes my heart smile knowing it's soon to be on it's way to be part of  Sarah's H2H Charity Challenge.  

 

I think this quilt will make the perfect Happy Chemo hug with it's soft red flannel backing and        cute polka-dot binding don't ya think?!

It's also the perfect lap size quilt finishing at 40"x60". (At least that's what I thought while I got to use it while binding it this week.) And I have to say, this Daisy May Pantograph is quickly becoming one of my favorite patterns to quilt. 

 Are ya wondering where my photo bombing Jackson is? I was too actually, until I spied him nearby, but I geuss too busy with all the Spring activities in the yard today to interrupt me.
(I mean be part of the photo shoot! LOL!!)

So it's time to get this one in the wash then packed up to send to a Happy Chemo recipient.

It's a soft rainy day here and with still 13 1/2 days of school left, I geuss I better get myself ready for work.(Can ya tell I'd rather stay home and sew. LOL!) Hope your Friday is great!

Why Do You Make Charity Quilts?

If ya get a chance, stop by Sarah's to find out why I do.  I've also been randoming sewing by H2H Happy Chemo quilt together. I will post that bright Hexi flimsy this week. (Hmmm...Go see grandson & kids or sew?) Well, admittably, a visit is always worth giving up my "Sunday Sew" day. Besides, Summer break is just six weeks away! (I think we teachers look forward to it more than the kids.) Although I do admit, I'm a life enthusiast and wish I didn't need eight hours of sleep and that days were longer so I could do everything I want to do! Teehee!

Anyhoo....It's still NOT too late to donate a quilt. Check out all the charities right here.

H2H Rainbow Hexi's

After playing with these on the design wall , then most recently crawling around on the floor moving them around like they were a puzzle, this is what I decided for my rainbow hexi's:

I was beginning to worry this quilt may be too small, but I actually think this will be a perfect lap size quilt for a Happy Chemo recipient. Ya know, not too big to carry to appointments, but large enough to cover their legs while sitting during treatments. I'm also thinking of some FMQ fun I'm going to have once I start quilting it! (Think butterflies in a varigated rainbow thread!!) As for me, I can not resist the beautiful spring afternoon we are having so I'm off to get Jackson leashed up and headed out for a long walk. After which, I'll start sewing these rows together. Hope your weekend has been nice and you got in some sewing too!

Click the picture for information:

Hands 2 Help Charity Challenge

It's that time a year that finds Sarah who blogs at Confessions of a Fabric Addict busy organizing her annual charity quilt challenge. 

The sign-ups have begun and there are three charities to choose from. As a cancer survivor myself (you can read about my story here) I always like to make a quilt for Happy Chemo. I think this rainbow of hexagons will brighten someones day! The flower arrangement? This arrangment? I am taking the input you all gave me yesterday and using black with them. (I thought about the grey but realized I don't even have grey in my stash...hmm...this is definitely a color I need to start looking at using!) What I need to do now is cut some blacks to throw into the arrangments as I still kinda like the flowers. (Smiles!) 

So if you too have an extra quilt, maybe thinking of joing us and donating to one of the charities highlighed at the H2H Charity Challenge. Click here to sign-up.

See ya tomorrow for Tuesday Archives where our theme is Anything Green.  I mean it's St. Patrick's Day...I couldn't resist a little fun in the theme!

Whimsical Flower Garden (Blogger's Quilt Festival)

Okay! So when I read about The Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy at Amy's Creative Side I knew immediately the quilt I wanted to highlight this year!
(Also welcome if if you are new to my blog). Here it is:

This is my Whimsical Flower Garden that I made as a donation for Happy Chemo earlier this year.

First off let me tell you, I LOVED MAKING THIS QUILT!!! (It was actually hard to give away!)As a cancer survier myself, when I joined this QAL I found my heart and brain going right...in other words...I wanted to create a realllll happpyyyy chemo hug! LOL! Something different and unique.

My husband and I were practically newlyweds ourselves, our girls just two and three years old when my own diagnosis of Stage 3 Hodgkin's Disease threw our sense of normalcy out the door and was replaced with a new routine of doctor appointments, IV's and chemo followed by days of sickness. (Not to mention with the domino effect cancer has on your  poor family.) To this day, I will never forget, after 10 months of chemo, I then had to have daily "follow up" radiation for a month.  My mom would pick me up from school at lunchtime, my  two toddler daughters would be smiling at me from their car seats, excited by our "trip". My appointment was an hours drive away. They'd drop me off to get "zapped",  go refill the car with gas, return and we'd go for a picnic lunch in a nearby park. (I seriously can not ever repay my mother for her unconditional love and support to my husband and I during these times!!)

So....with every flower sewn on this quilt,

I found myself willing happy thoughts of a healthy,
 loving journey to the recipent of this quilt.

That they too are surrounded with the love of family and that they too have the courage and determination to LIVE life despite their obstacles of cancer!

I went through ten months of very advasive chemo and one month of daily radiation.
I found daily comfort in a blanket my mom knitted me, thus my genuine inspiration to create a quilty hug for someone else as our quilts make such a difference.


Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my story.
If you are new to my blog, Welcome and I hope you like what ya see and will return. I have a Tuesday Linky party that finds us digging through our archived blog posts and rejuvinating them  according to a specific theme here every Tuesday!
My linky is called:

I hope you'll stop by and link up with us!!

Happy Quilt Festival to everyone!
I can't wait to start visiting everyone's elses entries this weekend.

Here are my quilt stats:

Title:  Whimsical Flower Garden

Created by and Quilted by Me: Val Reynolds

Size: 42"x64"

Category: Original Design

A BIG Thank you to Amy for creating such a very 

cool festival of quilting inspiration!!!

With smiles,
Val:)