Spring is here - time to wake up...

...wake up my garden, wake up the body,  wake up my creative work, wake up this blog too!!

Hello again my friends. 

I am NOT going to whine again about how I am MIA here, since that is nothing new, but just the view of my poor little daffodils under the burden of spring snow...

... Made me slap myself and say - hey, we all have a load on our shoulders, but that's no reason to neglect fun, joy and creativity!! If daffies can bloom under all that - so can I! :)

Snow melted and here they are!

And some mini irises too!

However, to be honest, I have been doing a lot of creative work that brings me joy, I just can't seem to find time to blog about it? :(
 Like teaching! Currently two Beginner's Quilting classes going on, one almost done and one just starting, and just look how amazing my students are:

I am soooo proud of them!! 

This truly is my favorite class to teach, because it is so rewarding to give someone few tools and LOTS of encouragement to make something beautiful and have fun. I will never tire of teaching beginners how to quilt...

I also had fun quilting our Guild's Raffle Quilt that will debut at our bi-annual Quilt Show in few weeks. Spending hours in my friend Robi's basement, with her lovely Nolting long-arm, some great conversation, good cup of coffee and few curious kitties, produced this:

I have to admit struggling, at first, to be inspired how to quilt this one, but then once I start, ideas usually come! I think it turned out OK? What do you think? Would you do it differently?

Oh and then there is the best fun of it all - NEW FABRIC to play with!! My friend Katarina did it again folks - her newest fabric collection, LAVISH is now out and it is just so beautiful!!!! It blooms, it shines, it sings and it is, as always, of a superb Art Gallery Fabric quality.
Just look at these beauties...

Here is a combo with one of the main prints (OH. MY. HEAVENS!!) and some others...

And this floral...

Now, I can't show you just yet the amazing quilt Katarina designed and I had a privilege to make, but here is a little sneak-peek. In just few days, when AGF Lavish Lookbook comes out, you will see it, along with so many other amazing projects and even better - this pattern will be a FREE PATTERN on their web site, so you can make one too!!

There is so much more going on in this crazy sewing room of mine, and in my life too. But hey - that is all the fun, right?

I mentioned the Quilt Show - beautiful, big and oh so inspiring Amherst Quilters Guild Quilt Show is happening from April 22-24, and if you are even remotely local to my neck of the woods - please come and visit!! I promise you several hundred beautiful fabric creations, lots of vendors, free demos and all around fun that any quilt show always brings! I will be there, so come and say hi too! Not to mention lots of chances to win stiff - from door prizes, to basket raffle to two big ones - Raffle Quilt and brand new Janome sewing machine!!

Now, on my part- the crazy run to finish just few more projects for that show is ON. Nothing like last minute, right? We will see how much I get done.

In the meantime, family life is just as busy and happy. My little Miss Sunshine, or precious granddaughter Juliana is growing, talking now, playing and dancing...just so much fun!! Oh and yes - loves to get into grammie's sewing room and play - this below happens every time and eventually we will have to make this lovely piece of toddler art that she keeps planning on the design wall! 

Doesn't she look like a pro?? (she is not even two years old yet!!)

Our four-legged family is just as much fun - Charley is now going to doggy daycare on Thursdays too and look just how much fun he is having! Maddie (left) must be a new girlfriend? Look at those tails wagging! :)

He also finished the Basic Obedience and did really well! "Stay" was a hard one, but the promisse of the treat at the end, made his patiently wait...even if I turned my back and walked away. Anyone who has a puppy know how hard that is for them!! :)

Charley is really growing into a good, loving dog and Marley is just the best big brother and teacher too. Speaking of Marley... that is currently one of my heart-aches. Our big, aging boy now has two thorn ACLs and it is so hard to watch him not being able to be as active as he was. I just wanted to cry, just about every minute... (Thorn ACL is a very common thing among large breed, aging dogs and we just had a bad luck of Marley's BOTH knees going within short time.)
But, things WILL get better! We are currently waiting for the inflammation to go away and then there will be surgery #1 and after a few months probably a #2 also. Our hope is that after two repaired ACLs Marley will have two brand new knees and will be completely back to his beautiful self!! Yes, it will be lots of hard work and even more love during the recovery time, but he is so worth it and he gives it all back, and then some.
Just look at this heart-melting smile!! <3

Yeah, coat blowing is happening too (hence the big bag full of undercoat fur).

Leaving you now with this big boy's smile, I am off to the sewing room some more...

Wishing you a lovely spring awakenings,
love,
Marija