April Happy Mail

My monthly fat quarters arrived like a ray of sunshine in the mail!

And...I also treated myself to these 1/2 yard cuts from Jane's Fabrics. This is her In The Beginnings Set. I'm thinking of ordering three more ABC panels, another yard of the blue and 2 1/2 more yards of the dots for a future ABC classroom quilt. 

I'm off on a  field trip with my second graders today. Stop by tomorrow for a look at their animal/nature blocks they have been creating for this year's classroom quilt. They are really enjoying this project. 

With Smiles,

Val:)

Tuesday Archives #8: Birthdays & Borders

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Click here to read more about this linky party.  And, hey! If you are new to my blog...welcome! I'd love for ya to help spread the word by adding my button to your blog and after taking take a look around, I hope  you'll become a  follower too!

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This week is all about BIRTHDAYS and BORDERS! 

BIRTHDAYS: 

Whether it be a quilt you made to give as a birthday present, a wall hanging to celebrate birthdays, a table runner or even gifts sewn, I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to share this week!!   

Just a cupcake WIP I made one day while playing with fabric.

BORDERS:

Some of you do the best  work with borders. Today I'm looking forward to you sharing your favorite borders! One of my most recent purchases has been the book: Quilts Without Borders, so with that said, know I'll be learning a lot from you this week. My inquiring mind will be ready your posts in wonderment of why mitered borders (huh?). I'll be searching for tips you may have when it comes to quilting borders...especially if you are a long-arm quilter. And I'll be looking at how you choose your borders. Please...don't be shy, show off your borders today!! Inquiring minds are waiting...

This is the first quilt I quilted using my long-arm. I DO like the ABC and added Rik Rac border on this.

Jackson got a haircut!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! We went to see our grandbaby and family Friday and Saturday, then Jackson and I headed out for a day in the country yesterday to visit his breeder/groomer. He got to do everything Jack Russell's love to do: 

run with a pack, swim in canals, and explore gopher holes: 

I'm always tempted by all the puppies. Yet, by the time I get home I really can't imagine the energy of having two "Jacksons" running around the house anymore. (We've had up to three JRT's at once in the past) I'm learning in this chapter of life how to enjoy ME time without commitments and obligations outside of work.

The day we brought Jackson home 4 1/2  years ago...our empty nest baby!!

 I'm sure he'll be around for my Triangle Friday Finish photo shoot this week! LOL! (As we all know how much he loves to be in my quilt pictures!) His breeder/groomer did tell me he needs to trim down a bit...but I reassured him so did I...Spring will find us both getting our trim waistlines back. (Winter does that sometimes.  I may have spent a few too many weekends living in my flannels...LOL...but I have no regrets!) For me this means smaller meals, no sugar, wine & low carbs, more walks. For him it means smaller meals and more walks too...we got this!

I hope Spring finds you rejuvenated too!

With Smiles,

Val:)

Hoppy Easter!

We had fun making tangram bunny cards in 2nd grade today!

Kinda thought it would make a really cute quilt block too! (ooohhh I just imagined making a classroom quilt made of tangrams figures.) Anyhooo... I wanted to take a second to wish everyone a blessed and happy Easter weekend.

With smiles,

Val:)

Embellishing my Triangle WIP...

Every now and then I like to link up with Let's Bee Social  and Live A Colorful LIfe especially when it seems like I'm having a quiet sewing week. This week just finds me embellishing my Triangle QAL Quilt. I'm busy sewing flowers on in the evenings while we watch TV. Here's a peek at the quilted Hexagon flowers with their ric rak stems and prairie point leaves:

 The flower centers are scappy with two layers of round scraps embellished with a perle cotton running stitch, a yoyo, then topped off with a big button! However, because this requires a lot of front to back work and flipping the quilt around...

..."someone" is not very happy with me right now!

Jackson will sit on the arm of the chair and stare at me!!

And when that doesn't work, he'll actually start to lick and bother me...

Finally finished with the flowers, I got up to get my binding thread only to return to him actually waiting for me, as if to ask: "Can I now????" (He even brought me his bone!)

Because he only wanted to do this:

And that's where he stayed for the rest of the evening as I worked on the binding.

My husband humorously calls us "pathetic" and I smile  "I know" in return.

I've had dogs all my life, but never one that I truly bonded with like my Jackson.

Hope your sewing is cozy too!

With smiles,

Val:)