Sunday, July 6, 2025

Color Me Purple & Pour Me a Drink ~ Sew & Tell - 7/7/2025



Welcome to Melva Loves Scraps! Welcome to July!  Where, typically, one would see Red/White/Blue... But this month in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, the color is purple!  A color for royalty... and royalty wear crowns... SO... naturally, I have pulled out my collection of purple Crown Royal bags (with a few other "flavors" sprinkled in). LOL.

Purple Scrab Bin


I'm getting a little ahead of myself.  First, I gathered my purple scraps and made my Korner Kabin blocks.  The foundation Korner of these blocks are a tropical print... that came from Hawaii 21 years ago.  These purple blocks are 100% cotton and were used more often than the other 21-yo blocks that are rayon.  Only 8 whole blocks remain, with a few partial pieces. I will be returning to these last remaining blocks before the end of the month.

I also pulled fabric for my RSC hexagon project... I'll share that later.
Korner Kabins


When the Korner Kabins were done, it was then that I pulled out the Crown Royal bag collection... as well as some yellow/gold scraps to accompany them.  

The process of preparing them for use in a quilt was tedious.  The overlock stitching needed to be removed because of its synthetic nature and because the thread would easily melt with the heat of an iron... even a low heat.

The bags were of varying sizes, so I first needed to determine what size square I could get from most of the bags... turns out, it was 4-1/2 inches.  A few of the smallest bags needed some coping strips added to them, but all in all, I ended up with 39 uniform blocks.  That was when I finally decided on the choice of block to make - a sort of Irish Chain- I only needed 35 CR squares.

I used pieces from the backs and sides of the bags for the 4-patch units (as well as for the feature blocks if they were too small) and had no need to supplement or need to match that purple fabric.


By the end of the day on Thursday, I had 4/7 rows together... and had thought that I would get the remaining 3 rows complete on the 4th.

Dave decided to take the day off from the shop.  We simply can't stay around the house and relax because we both end up doing something for "work".  We enjoyed the water parade in town in the morning.  After lunch we took a drive to the mountains to investigate a few camping spots in the National Forest.  

Two lakes that we visited have been shut down for 3 years.  Straightline winds took down thousands of trees and crews have been working on logging the downed pine trees and cleaning up the aspen trees so that the camping areas can be used again.  It looks pretty sad, and we decided that we will wait a few years before going camping in those two campgrounds, giving nature time to recover and cover over the scars and stumps left behind.

It happened to be 20 degrees cooler at 10,000 feet and we both enjoyed the ride.  It was 90 degrees when we returned home at 4:30 pm.  

As we drove, we listened to Matthew McConaughey's Greenlights.  While there is some foul language that I don't care for, we found his stories interesting and entertaining.  We are only 2-hours in... with 4-1/2 hours remaining.  We'll continue listening when we get away for camping in a week.

The Crown Royal top was completed on Saturday as thunderstorms were building... offering hope that the temperatures would drop drastically... like 15 degrees!  (Yes, we are still being crazily stubborn in refusing to put in the AC units.)  As I snapped a few quick photos I told Dave I was ready to begin happy hour.  Dave refused to join me as he headed for his shop, so I settled for a homemade popsicle instead of a glass of wine. 


In other "news"... I still have a few openings for the Christmas in July blog hop that will begin July 24th.  

Join now!  Time is short, but that doesn't need to scare you!  Think small project... an ornament, table runner or small wall hanging is all you need.  It doesn't even need to be quilted...  Ok, I'll stop.  I don't want to start sounding like I'm begging you to be a participant. ;)

I gave you a few ideas of what to make... here are a few ideas of what to share...

Tell a story about a Christmas memory or family tradition... 

Did your family do Christmas stockings?  Who did the food preparation? Did you always gather at one family member's house?  Did you have a Christmas Eve tradition?  What's your favorite Christmas movie?

Share a special holiday recipe...  Is it a pie?  Maybe a cake?  Or cookies?  What's your favorite side dish?

Offer a tutorial for your project...

Hopefully, one of these sparked a memory and have your creative juices flowing.  Here's another Christmas in July story from me in 2018 that may entertain and inspire you... enjoy!  Send me an email or leave me a comment if you want to join the hop!  "Let's go to the hop... Let's go to the hop" =D


Who's ready to start the party? 🎉 This week's feature is Cheree at Lively Latte and showed us what she's been doing for the past six weeks - gardening, golfing, and this SQUIRREL that she named Winter Stars.  I think it is just the sweetest quilt that finished at 76 inches square.  Cheree used up some Half-Square Triangles that she had hanging around.  She said she's not a super fan of it, but I am!

Be sure to head over to Cheree's to see the other finish that she shared.

That's a wrap for the week!

Before you go...

Tell me what the weather's been like around you?  
Hot? Humid? Dry? Thunderstorms?
What is your favorite season?

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Sunday, June 29, 2025

Repairs & Scars - Sew & Tell ~ 6/30/25


After the "heatwave" last weekend a cool front was welcomed with wide open windows at the beginning of the week.  Our highs during the heatwave were in the mid 90s... in comparison to what many others saw, our temperatures were mild... but it was still hot.  We were tempted to cave to the heat and install the window AC units.  SO tempted!

We held out and survived. It really isn't the warm daytime temps that get to us.  It is the slow to cool evening temps.  If we could leave all of the windows open all night long, the house would sufficiently cool since the overnight temps dip into the low 60s.  What gets us is that we have to shut down windows due to the wildlife (specifically bears!) that are known to roam the neighborhood... we've been told that a mountain lion is around as well. Yikes!

As I said... we held out and we survived the two poor warm nights of sleep.  The reward was the three days in the low to mid 70s!  It was glorious!  I enjoyed ample time in the kitchen messing with some new recipes... particularly GF sourdough recipes.  I prepared muffins, tortillas, pizza crusts, bread and more.  If you are interested in these recipes, I suggest you head over to Homestead on the Hill to see what she has available for free... but even more than that, check out her recipe books. :)

Since I was busy baking, I didn't spend much time in the studio.  Between mixing and baking on Day 1, I tidied up my orange scraps and put them away.  I wonder what the color of the month will be in July???  

I pulled out the Hearts & Flowers quilt that the Irish Chain Quilt replaced in the guest room.

When I took it off the guest bed, I noticed that there was a block that looked rather dirty... it must have been the spot on the bed that my Dad would sit (with dirty lawn care jeans) to change his clothes.  (It is the gold-ish block - far left edge, middle block.)  I noticed that the block above it had a few small tears.  I decided that washing it (on a delicate cycle) was necessary.  After a gentle bath, the dirty block looks about the same, but the block that had a few small tears had become a mess!


It didn't help that the batting in this quilt was a high-loft polyester batting that gives the very poofy look in the quilting.  To make the repair, I used a fine white tulle "webbing".  I pinned it into place and then, using invisible thread, I pulled the open tears together, much like a doctor would stitch closed a wound.  I ran a line of running stitches to hold down the tulle a 1/2-inch or so out from the repair and then trimmed any excess tulle off.  I used this same process to repair a quilt in 2019.

Close up of the repairs


It is a good analogy of life... we live, sometimes really hard and fast, and we can end up with injuries.  Physically we can heal, but the scars remain... the scars from some injuries are more noticeable than others... and at times the scar tissue can be sensitive.  

I could ramble on about various thoughts that have rolled around in my head, but I won't drag you down that crazy rabbit hole with me. ;)

Instead, I will take you back to my studio. If you are a regular reader/follower, you will have noticed that I was busy writing blog stories/posts - I was quite chatty. ;) I did a mid-year review, and I announced the Christmas in July blog hop.

After I had enough fun playing in the kitchen and cleaning house (bleh), I returned to the studio for some creative time.  As hostess of the Christmas in July hop, I figured that I better make something to share!  I won't preview my project but will offer a hint that it involved green & white strings for a scrappy Christmas-y table topper.  It is a subtle nod to Christmas, but not screaming Christmas, and will allow it to be used year-round.  Ok, ok... maybe just a little peek. ;)

That's all I have for the week... I'm all "talked out" so let's kick off the Sew & Tell party with the feature of the week. 

Terry at On Going Projects shared a finished top that was made with items from her "parts" department... Terry's honesty about her SHIB going on (Squirrels Hiding In Bags) brought a smile to my face as she and Gertie (her inner squirrel) argued back and forth about what was needed to complete her 1500 piece puzzle.  Jump over to her blog to read the whole story of how this piece transcended. ;)  Terry referred to this process as "dancing with the wall".  

I often dance with the wall... in fact, I danced with the wall as I pieced my "Christmas in July" project.  I kept wanting it to be bigger. I wanted to treat it as a round robin sort of project... It didn't want to dance with me!  It wanted what it wanted, and it was not going to accept any of my offers.  I almost felt as though I was at a Jr. High dance!  LOL... I finally submitted and listened to what it really wanted... for less to be more.

Do you dance with your wall?
Do you use kits and patterns?
Or are you a "free-stylist"?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you.

Don't forget... if you want to join the Christmas in July Blog Hop leave a comment or send me an email!  MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com
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Thursday, June 26, 2025

Christmas in July Blog Hop Announcement


Sign-ups are open for my Christmas in July Blog Hop.  

The hop will be held July 24-27.  The rules requirements for participation are easy... share a Christmas project!  

It could be a Christmas gift or a Christmas themed project.  
Large or small... simple or more challenging... 
Be Creative!  Have FUN!

Maybe you want to include a special holiday recipe?  Feel free!  

Want to offer a give-away?  Feel free!

My favorite Christmas in July story can be found here.

Send me an e-mail at
MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com
letting me know you want to be on the "official" list.
If there are enough interested, I'll split the list up into smaller groups for each day.

Keep Piecing,

Melva
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Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Mid-Year Check In


Yvonne over at Quilting Jetgirl hosts an annual planning party as well as quarterly check-ins.  I'm really bad about doing quarterly "check-ins". Not that I forget my goals for the year, rather, they are at the back of my mind, and I make the assessments mentally and for myself.

As a reminder to myself and you, my fellow quilters/supporters/readers here's what I had hoped for, followed with the progress and advancement of the planned item.

❧ Taking my Story Telling Quilts program on the road.  Two new quilts on the "Art Wall" at the local library in March to celebrate World Quilting Month.

I enjoyed having my quilts on display for the month of March.  I gave an "artist's talk" to a small group of library patrons.  They enjoyed hearing the stories I shared about various blocks in my Camping Journal Quilt, as well as the Pieces of My Life quilt that was displayed.

Admittedly, I have not pursued this as aggressively as I could... BUT!

I am still open to offering my Storytelling Quilts program to quilters - whether just a group or a formal guild. I'd like to keep the travel to within a 3-4 hour drive but could happily try to work out something via the web.  I am in southeastern Colorado and would consider travel to the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, New Mexico, Kansas and the Denver-metro area, possibly southern Wyoming or western Nebraska.
 
❧ Continue with my custom quilting and t-shirt quilts... I will also continue leaving a trail of love from my quilted hearts.

I've not had many custom orders this year... but it hasn't kept me from quilting and creating.  A small trail of quilted hearts has been made as we have traveled with our 5th wheel camper.  Read on to learn what I've been keeping busy with.  


❧ Continue my weekly Sew & Tell party

Sew &Tell is 3 years old!  The party has grown from just four participants in the first party to nearly 20 each week.  To those that have been faithful participants over the years I offer a heartfelt THANK YOU!  Each entry is appreciated.  I've enjoyed getting to know so many of you as you share your life journey through your quilts.  Your support and love for me as we go through the ups and downs of life is felt with every comment and party entry.


I am planning for a special Christmas in July blog hop.  The rules requirements for participation will be easy... share a Christmas project.  It could be a Christmas gift or a Christmas themed project.  One of my favorite Christmas in July stories can be found here.  Leave a comment or send me an email if you want to participate in the hop. 

Watch for details about the virtual cookie exchange blog hop...
 
❧ With our Camping Journal Quilt complete (you can see it in the library picture above), I am thinking of taking up a hexie project for some of my hand-stitching.  I've printed and cut 3" tall hexies.  These large hexies could easily become a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project.  But I haven't settled on that yet.  TBD
No need for an explanation ;)

❧ Compile the stories from our camping adventures into a book.
DONE! I ended up have it printed at the local copy store and placed the pages in plastic protector sleeves.

Compile patterns and memory book pages from the Pieces of My Life quilt and get them in a published format as well.  

NOT DONE... Maybe in the 3rd quarter. ;)
 
❧ Above all, I want to make certain that I am creating and finding joy in life through my quilting projects.

I have embraced the lack of custom quilt/ quilting orders and joined the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  

I have completed 14 small quilts from my scrap bin (also known as the unmade quilt bin).  

Each month of the RSC I have made four 6" blocks that I am calling Korner Kabin blocks.  When I started this project, I was unsure how I would place them all together in one quilt... So far, I am pleased with the potential! 


As I reviewed my plans for 2025 that I shared in December, I also gathered some other data... Melva Loves Scraps was started in February 2013.  Since then, I have shared just over 1,000 stories/posts, had 843,000 views and more than 8,000 comments have been left.  

Only 970 of the stories are available to the general public.  I pulled (unpublished) the individual stories of the Pieces from the Past and Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail sew along events.  The stories are now only available with the purchase of a book.  Patterns are still available in my Payhip store - Pieces From the Past and Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail.

BUT... with a recent purchase of a Riley Blake Designs fat-quarter bundle I am considering hosting a "re-run" of one of the sew alongs.  Or maybe a new "story" quilt is needed... stay tuned!  

Do you have a preference or "story" suggestion?

How are your plans for 2025 playing out? 
On track?  Or do you need to realign?  

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

Keep piecing,

Melva

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Sunday, June 22, 2025

Orange Blossoms - Sew & Tell ~ 6/23/2025


We, in the northern hemisphere, have welcomed summer. Summer is not my favorite season for various reasons, but I will not dwell on them. I do like that summer seems to have a more relaxed feel for people. Children are out of school and vacation season and travels commence.

When I finished my daughter's memory quilt I returned to the orange bin of "unmade quilts". Using some larger chunks of orange fabric, I created a quilt I am calling Orange Blossoms.


The FMQ is a large stippling and happens to be one of the faster designs, moderately spaced, and allows the quilt to be soft and drapey. Not to mention that it requires less thread. The pumpkin binding offers a bright "pop" setting the final "boundaries" of the orange orchard. ;)

I've mentioned before, how I love working with the fabrics from the scrap bin.

Somewhere on the world-wide web, someone so eloquently put words to my feelings...


She doesn’t just sew fabric… she stitches memories. 🧵💕
Every afternoon, when the house quiets down, she sits in that old wooden chair and turns on her sewing machine. The hum of the motor is music to her soul — like a hug from the mother who once taught her how to sew.
Each piece of fabric holds a memory:
🌸 the pink dress her little girl used to wear,
🌿 the green curtains from her grandmother’s kitchen,
💙 the blue sheet that wrapped her baby through sleepless nights.
She doesn’t quilt for show. She quilts for love. Because every stitch is a way to remember who she is — and to make sure no one forgets.
Sometimes the stitches go crooked, just like life. But she breathes, undoes, and begins again. Because sewing is also a way to start over.
She sews to warm, to remember, to love. And in the silence between stitches, she leaves behind a little piece of her heart.
🪡
And you?
Do you feel that sewing is more than creating...
— it’s healing?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!


But first, let's take a look at this week's featured selection... Viridian shared a scrappy block that she designed.  

She asked if anyone had seen it before... The center of the block is similar to the "potato chip" block I saw earlier this year, named as such because "you can't just make one".  Hahaha.

It uses a variety of sizes for the squares and could be a great scrap buster.

One suggestion for the names was Viridian's Chain... I think the name is perfect, as did several others that left comments.  Head over there and show her some love.  Maybe she will offer a tutorial or breakdown of the sizes of squares she used for block.

Time for the party to begin!

Keep Piecing,

Melva
PS... I have additional glamor shots over on Instagram and Facebook.
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Friday, June 20, 2025

God's Making a Quilt

I subscribe to several on-line devotionals and this one, in particular, struck a chord with me.  I hope that you will enjoy the read.  I've included the link for the source at the end of the message.

As I have processed and navigated the changes within our family in the past several months, I have, without a doubt, felt as though we are in a season of pruning.  And in the words of a dear friend from years ago... "I'm tired of being pruned.  I feel like nothing but a bloody stump!"  She eventually waded, wandered and plodded through that painful season, and I am confident that we will too!

*******************

Let Me make you a quilt filled with color and memory. There are pieces of fabric you don’t want stitched into the quilt, but my stitches are beautiful. What I make from the varied fabrics — some pristine and others sullied — is beautiful. For my hand is kind and skilled, and my stitches are measured and sure.


Faithful One, the idea of being pruned by God — the experience of God cutting away what isn’t good in our hearts to grow closer to Him — might feel uncomfortable. After all, it is hard to give up our feeling of control, even if it is for the sake of greater intimacy.


For this week’s Encounter, Holy Spirit invites us into a conversation about the pruning He’d like to do in our lives. Interestingly, He compares this pruning to the work of a quilter, who knows the beautiful result of the quilt He is making. He knows what fabric remnants to use and what remnants to reject to make the quilt what it is supposed to be.


Sometimes, the pieces of fabric that seem wonderful — the perfect texture and color — are not what the quilt needs. And sometimes, the pieces of fabric with history — tears and mars — can be stitched together so that when the quilt is finished, it is clear the pieces perfectly belong. At first, it isn’t always obvious what the quilt needs to be beautiful. But the quilter sees. And He chooses perfectly. Sometimes, we have to trust Him to get rid of some pieces to make room for others the quilt, as a whole, needs.


What does God want to remove from your heart so you can engage with Him even more deeply? What beautiful quilt does He want you to see?


Want to find out?  I do.  Will you join me?
***********************
As I made and finished Rebecca's quilt from some of her special childhood clothes, I realized that I really should have done the same with the stuff I had saved for Heather. I don't think that any of her girls wore the items I had saved. Hmmmm... That realization was the reason for some of the content and subject of "Don't save... Today IS special" as well as the poem I included in Memory Lane.  You will find pictures of Rebecca in several of the outfits included in this quilt if you follow the link I have in the previous sentence. =D


The back of the quilt with the label

There are certainly some sullied and stained pieces, as well as some pristine items that are in the quilt.  That Peter Rabbit block was from a beautifully woven blanket that was used just once or twice... it happens to match the baby book that had been gifted to us.

I adore this quilt! All of the little details... the ribbons and lace from dresses... the buttons from the overalls that she wore so often as she played in the sandbox. She agreed with me when I told her I needed to be sure to include them.  And those bunny ears! I asked Dave if I should tack them down or leave them floppy. He said to "leave them floppy... it adds the cuteness of it."

Those stains add to the charm and character of the quilt and fully reflect her childhood.  They are the perfect addition to this quilt that God wanted me to see!  That label should include God's signature! ;)  I'm sure that my Becca-Boo knows that God had His hand in this as much as I did.  She also knows that He loves her like no other... not even her Momma.

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Mid-week Check-in and Musings

We are home again after a much needed and restful time away.  Our escape began as the sun rose on Sunday morning.  We packed all of the necessities on Saturday and hit the road bright and early!  We made the 2-hour drive to a quaint little town that we have watched grow over the past 26 years - Westcliffe, CO.  

We had friends that introduced us to the Alvarado Campground located in the San Isabel National Forest in 2020.  A short time after that they made the move to the Westcliffe area.  We have continued to camp at Alvarado over the years, and until this year, we would connect with them (they made a move from Westcliffe to Ecuador last fall).  These same friends were the ones that introduced us to the Sangre de Cristo Fellowship.  

We will specifically plan our camping trips to the area around an opportunity to attend worship at this church.  This was the reason for our early morning departure on Sunday.  We arrived ready to worship.  And we were not disappointed!  The fellowship has grown over the past 3 years that we have visited there.  Trust me!  If it were feasible (mom is still here and will continue to need increasingly additional assistance) and financially possible... we would move... in a heartbeat!  I'm getting a little off track.


Worship... the songs the worship team selects and leads are of a style we really like and well presented... the music is so inviting and welcoming.  While Dave and I were worship leaders we would often invite and encourage those at the service to join in and remind them that worship is participatory event.  Meaning that you needed to engage and Christ would meet you there.  Dave and I have longed for a deep and engaging worship service for months, and it has been a long, dry season.

As one song was sung, the words quickly became a vision in my mind.  The song (I don't know the title of the song, or the exact words) was about being baptized in the river... going down dirty in sin and arising washed clean.

In my vision I saw myself beneath the water and the sound of music/worship being muffled and indistinguishable.  As I was rising up out of the water with my hands raised far above my head and Jesus drawing me out by my hand into an embrace, the music was beautiful and there were saints all around.  Tears were flowing and I felt like I was HOME!  Oh, it was a blessed and refreshing time.

Following worship, we drove to the campground and got settled into our favorite campsite, the one with a creek right next to it.

I pulled out my current read, The World's Fair Quilt.  I enjoyed the extended time with all of the characters of the book.  It has been my "night-time read" for the last several weeks.  The story of Sylvia and her sister, Claudia, making their Chain of Progress quilt as an entry in the Sears & Roebuck sponsored competition at the 1933 World's Fair was delightful.  These two sisters were only teens and had big dreams of winning big cash prizes that were being offered to the winners.

Without giving away the entire story, I will state that they won the local contest and advanced to the regional judging.  Because they won at the local level, they received a check for $10, and their quilt had the honor of being on display for the public to view and enjoy.  The entire family made the trip to see the display.  

As the family explored the exhibit, Sylvia remembered to "keep her face expressionless" if she passed one she did not care for, because "one never knows if the quiltmaker or her best friend stood nearby, heart sinking at every frown or dismissive word."  Her mother had taught her to be courteous at quilt shows, to say aloud nothing that she would not want someone to declare about her own quilt.  Those things could be discussed when in private company, away from the public.

What great advice!  Suzy Quilts had a great article somewhat related to this topic - Be Kind to Your Quilts.  This article has little to do with the care or treatment of a quilt, rather, it encourages us, as quilters making quilts for the sheer enjoyment of creating to be kind rather than critical and pointing out each flaw or mistake...  Here are her five points...

*Avoid seeking perfection
*Embrace growth
*Recognize unfair comparisons
*How you talk matters to others
*Be your own cheerleader

While there is a place for constructive critiques when entering a competition, we would do ourselves a favor to be gentle with the criticisms.  It is unrealistic to think that "my first quilt is going to be as spectacular as the 100th quilt made by So'n'So."  By all means, if you are entering a contest, you should do all you can to make it the very best quilt you have ever made... and bear in mind that the judges' opinions will vary in personal preferences and dislikes... and be open and willing to learn and grow from any comments the judges may offer.  

In the story of The World's Fair Quilt, the judges noted that the quilting stitches were inconsistent.  This was in part because they were still teens.  Yes, they had been taught quilting at very young ages... but their hand-quilting skills still had room for improvement.  The other reason for the inconsistent stitches was because their aunts helped them complete the quilting in order to meet the entry deadline. 


I've entered one quilt for a contest... I did not win anything, nor did I receive any sort of judges' comments.  I do still have the quilt that I designed to reflect a photo that was taken at a niece's wedding.  It was a photo of the couple with a full moon reflecting on the water of the Bay in California where their wedding was held.  The quilt was amateurish and simply quilted, but it did not diminish the thought and effort that I put into it.

I had this quilt displayed on a wall in my studio for a while and I think of Jessie & Jon (and their two children) whenever I see it. **happy sigh**

I've rambled on enough for today... though I have many more thoughts to share in the coming days.  Until then, tell me...

Have you ever been brave enough to enter a quilt competition?
How did you do?
What did you learn?  

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you.

Keep piecing,

Melva

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