Sunday, February 22, 2026

This, That & the Other ~ Sew & Tell - 2/23/26


Welcome back!  I say that to my readers and participants of the Sew & Tell party, but also to Dave, the mighty hunter camper, has returned and I am so happy. 💓 He returned empty-handed of any game but filled with stories and memories to share.

But before I get to my week of This, That & the Other... let's take a look at this week's feature.  Leeanna at Not Afraid of Color has been participating in the Stay At Home Round Robin challenge and shared her interpretation/creation for the "curves" prompt.  I've enjoyed reading about and seeing all of the various responses to the prompts in the challenge, but Leeanna has a knack for some amazing art quilts.  She has not disappointed me with this water lily in the lower left corner of the photo.  She shows us all the steps she took (and thought process) to get to her finished block... go check it out! 


I don't do much with art quilts... but I often go through a similar process with most of my quilts.  Sometimes the end result is so very different from what my initial thought or plan may have been.  Just like last week when I was working with the vintage linens.  I had thought a small crazy quilt wall hanging was my intention.  

When I realized that I didn't have enough embroidered pieces to do that I started adding in some of the crocheted edges... but then the blocks needed something more.  As I woke early one morning, I knew exactly what they needed... alternating 16-patch blocks!  But I was short enough linens.  I decided to dig a little deeper and found some vintage aprons (1960s?) from my Mom.  

I mixed them in with 3-1/2" linen squares and smiled.  The colors are washed out a bit at the bottom of the photo... indoor lighting. :(  This top is ready for borders but will wait for the delivery of the fabric I purchased from Connecting Threads with my monthly ambassador credit.  My machine was in serious need of a quick pedicure since the linens produced so. much. lint!  Follow the highlighted to link to see just how much.

As I pieced and pressed and rearranged blocks on the design wall, I listened to books... uninterrupted since I was the only one in the house.  

When I was satisfied with the layout of the linens I moved into cleaning mode and finished two books over 3 days as I sorted and reorganized my fabric stash and thoroughly cleaned my kitchen... top to bottom!

The Girl in the Blue Coat was a WWII story. After listening to that historical fiction and serious topic, I needed something a little more familiar and lighter... Mary Poppins was just the ticket... though I was surprised at how different it was from the movie. 🤷‍♀️


The next morning, I started three different books before settling on The Restoration of Celia Fairchild. I love the way Marie Bostwick can bring humor into her stories while revealing serious subjects and events.  I will say I shed a few tears for Celia but cheered as her friends gathered around her in support... Celia was indeed restored in the end.  I'm a sucker for a happy ending!


By mid-week, I was tired of the quiet.  I switched things up and pulled out all of the photos from 2021 and the beginning of 2022.  I gathered together my scrapbooking supplies and literature I had saved and set up a table in the living room.  I enjoyed reliving our travels and events of just a few years ago as I moved onto the book The Names.  It was a difficult book to listen to.  Domestic violence was in the forefront as three different storylines were told... all based on the mother's decision on registering a child's name.  Two names were against the father's (the abuser's) wishes and the third revealed their lives when she registered the name she had been told to use.  

Not only was the topic an uncomfortable one, but I also found it difficult to follow as the three stories were told in chapters that paralleled the same time by name - Bear, Julian and Gordon.  I would have had an easier time of following along had the entire story of one character at a time had been the format.  None the less... I finished the book and the block. ;)  I had discovered the floral print as I sorted my stash by color and knew immediately that it was destined for this book cover block.

If you missed it... The second block of the Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along was released - Native Star.  You can find the link to the post that includes a math lesson and photos of the block as well as the link to the pattern... HERE.

Linda, Texas Quilt Gal was the randomly selected winner of the Little House Maple block draw.  The link for the maple leaf block is still open and will remain open until the end of the sew along.  

I have another fat quarter to be given away with the Native Star link up.  Get your pattern and join the fun!  No blog? No social media?  No problem!  Send me an email with a photo of your finished block and I will get you entered.

I picked up some new garden/farm themed fabrics this week...  which has me longing for spring. The duck print has small packets of seeds on it and is so cute!

You may recall that I don't do much gardening, but I do have a small area in front of Dave's shop that has parsley and oregano growing in it.  I harvest several times each summer and enjoy the leftovers of when my daughter Heather wanted to have a small garden during her college summers.  She definitely has her Grandpa's green thumb!  She has a container garden at her home and has it set up with an auto root watering system that she built.  It's really impressive!  

I want to start in on a new Pieces From The Past quilt, but that will need to wait until I get a commissioned baby quilt made.  My customer has requested that it be in greens.  How convenient that it happens to be the color of the month in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  💚

That's all I have for now... but before you go...

Have you started thinking toward starting your garden?
Do you start from seeds?  
Or do you start your garden with small plants?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Thursday, February 19, 2026

Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along ~ Native Star - Block #2


Welcome back to Melva Loves Scraps and the Little House Sampler Sew Along.  The second book of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House series is probably the most popular, favorite and familiar to LIW fans, thanks the television series... Little House on the Prairie.

The adventures of the Ingalls family continue as they leave the little house in the big woods of Wisconsin and set out for the big skies of Kansas Territory.  They were feeling settled with the completion of a cabin and small barn. They were planting and plowing, hunting wildlife and gathering grass for the animals... and then they had a visit from the Natives while Pa was out hunting.

They indicated they wanted something to eat so Ma carefully and calmly pulled cornbread from the fire and offered it to the men.  They ate every morsel and crumb and then turned and left (with Pa's tobacco) as silently as they had entered the house.  

And now you know the inspiration for the second block of the sampler quilt!  The original pattern "Indian Star" is from Pieces from the Past and a 12" block.  In the photo below clockwise: Upper left the block in my first LH Sampler quilt; 2nd LH Sampler quilt; 2-color Native Star (my favorite!); and finally, the original Indian Star block from Pieces from the Past.  


All four blocks are from the same pattern.  By going with just 2 colors and adjusting the color placement you get a quarter star block which, I think, resembles the feathers on the Native's heads. (Picture from my vintage book, illustrated by Garth Williams.)

I have left the pattern as the original was written requiring the three colors, but you can probably figure out what you need to make the 2-color block on your own. 

Time for the math lesson. 😁 This one is easy...  We are reducing the block size by 50% or dividing the unit size in 1/2.

The original pattern block pieces for a 12-inch block were cut to 3-1/2" and 4" squares.

First up, the 3-1/2" squares unfinished have a finished size of 3". 
3 divided by 2 is 1-1/2", add your seam allowances (1/2") = 2 inches.

When making Half-Square Triangle units, you need to know your finished unit size - which in this case is 1-1/2"... add 1" = 2-1/2".  For a more precisely sized unit, many will add 7/8".  I prefer to use the oversized method because it allows me to square up the unit when trimming and the end result is a proper sized finished block.  Remember, you get two HST units from each set... so you would need 4 sets to make the 2-color version of Native Star.

Whew! The math lesson is complete...  I need a break.  Won't you join me for some tea or coffee and a few Prairie-inspired biscuits?  These are a slightly sweet biscuit and the crunch from the chopped pecans and a dab of butter melted on top make them a special treat.

It's now time to hop over to Payhip to get the Native Star pattern.  If you didn't get the log cabin frame pattern yet, you can get that one as well.  The patterns are free for the duration of the sew along.

Before you go... tell me which version you will be piecing.

Will you choose the original 3-color block?
or will you choose the 2-color block?

When your block is finished, be sure to come back and link your blog or social media post for a chance to win a prize.  (Must have a US mailing address.)  No blog or social media?  No problem.  Send an email with your photo attached and I will link you up. (Please note that a social media link must be made public so that everyone can enjoy the block.) MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m

Please NOTE:  This linky party is for Little House Sampler Quilt blocks only. ;)


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Sunday, February 15, 2026

Books, Vintage Linens & Sew & Tell - 2/16/2026


The house is quiet... after the frenzy of Dave preparing to leave on a hunting camping trip with three other guys.  Preparation for a trip can be busy, and he gets a little overwhelmed with trying to focus on what needs to be done and what he would rather be doing. We both suffer from that syndrome.  LOL! Technically it is a hunting trip.  He paid for a license and is taking all that he needs to take along.

I, admittedly, was a little disappointed that he left with the camper without me.  He did politely invite me, saying I could be the camp cook.  I politely declined guessing that at least two of the four would not be pleased to have a woman in-tow.  I would grow tired of their antics and language as well.  So... the house is pleasantly quiet for 1 week. :)


I enjoyed seeing everyone's items shared in the Sew & Tell party as well as the visits to each link as I read the thoughts and stories from the various authors.  This week's feature is from Cheree at Lively Latte.  Cheree has jumped onto the Patriotic-250th USA Birthday Celebration wagon.  

Her Star Spangled quilt is just the first she has planned for the year.  I love the colors and fabrics that give it a rustic and traditional look.  You can visit her blog to see what she has planned for the next patriotic quilt.


As Dave was in a frenzy and distracted mode I was in my own little world as I listened to Caddie Woodlawn.  It is a childhood classic and Newberry Medal winner.  The story of a young girl in the late 1800s as she was allowed to run with her brothers and be a tomboy to her heart's content.  I enjoyed the stories of her adventures and mishaps with her brothers.  As well as a gentle turn toward the end as she decided that behaving as a girl might not be so bad.  Sorry if I give way too much... but I loved that her brothers decided that learning some girl stuff, like cooking, cleaning and even quilting wasn't so bad and still afforded them time with their sister that they loved so much.  It is based on the life of the author's grandmother (maybe great grand?)... perhaps that is why I enjoyed it so much!

Hurricane Season was the story of two sisters... one a single mom, the other with no children because of the painful journey of infertility.  It was about taking the time in life to find the correct path in life for YOU... not always taking the path that would please others.  It was about healing and it was about reconciliation... it was about communication and honesty and understanding.

I thought I had the storyline figured out very early in the book... the sister with children dropped her children off at the farm of the sister with no children... for just 2 weeks.  which then turned into 8 weeks!  Given the title of the book, I thought someone was going to die during a hurricane or that the mother of the children was going to end up abandoning her children to follow her dream career... 

I'm glad I had mis-assumed the scenarios that I had conjured up!  I enjoyed the book and had fun (once again) selecting fabrics for the block.


As I enjoyed these books I puttered away in the studio.  I tried a few more variations on the mini-heart blocks that I shared last week in my Wordy Wednesday post.  None were stellar, but worth the effort to see what works and what does not.  I have several weeks before I need to have that finalized pattern worked up for the Little House Sampler Sew Along.  

But that star block???  That one is worth keeping and happens to be coming up later this week with the release on the 19th for the second pattern that accompanies the Little House on the Prairie book.  

I finished my second LH Sampler quilt a few weeks ago... is it too late to replace the star block in the sampler quilt with this star?  I'll ponder this and let you know what I decide.  It certainly wouldn't be the first time I've done such a crazy thing!  

Have you seen the Maple leaf blocks from some of the LH Sampler participants?  You still have time to get the block pieced and linked up!  The pattern is free for a few more days. The pattern will be $2 beginning the 19th.  Go grab it now and join the fun!  You will find the link for the pattern when you click the link above in this paragraph.

No blog or social media account to link up?  Send me an email and I will get you linked.  MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com

Remember there is a chance to win prizes with each finished block. (US mailing address only, sorry.)


I eventually grew tired (frustrated) of messing with those hearts and set them aside.  That was when I pulled out a few vintage linens out of the Vintage-Things-I-Keep box.  Then I pulled out of storage a pattern and templates for a crazy quilt and just played.  

I found the pillowcases I was searching for last week(mentioned here)... some of them. I found the little kittens, but there is still another set that had pink and black embroidery on them.  Those are still MIA.  But here's what I have so far.  I have NO idea of what I will do with them.  I'll figure it out eventually... probably add some 16-patch blocks made with leftovers of these CQ blocks and some old aprons from my Mom.  Just how big is that box, you ask?  LOL!


When I shared my crazy dream with you last week, I had I showed you that I had a winter panel ready for quilting... Ta-da!  One of the main reasons I chose it was to be able to practice the FMQ feathers. I didn't want to lose that skill again.

I did some FMQ in the scene, outlined the picket fence, made scallops on the peak of the house, stippling around the ivy, did a twisted ribbon on the vine of the ivy and the narrow border in addition to the peak & valley or zigzag quilting in the frame around the scene.

It was quick, it was easy and an excellent refresher for my FMQ skills.
Don't forget the label!


With Dave gone for the entire week I plan to get some scrapbooking done this week.  I have pictures from 2021 and about 1/2 of 2022.  I'll work on that in the evenings when I can spread everything out in the living room as I enjoy the Olympics. :)

What will I be doing in the quiet of the day?  In the studio?  I don't quite know yet... I have a short list that includes reorganizing and sorting fabric and scraps in the guestroom closet and continuing with the vintage linen blocks... and give my machine a little mani/pedi since the linens seem to create excessive lint.

What are your plans for the week?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m



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Friday, February 13, 2026

Vintage Becomes New


A few months ago, I saw this cute little crazy quilt block on Kelly Cline Quilting (fb) that included an embroidered piece. I love the block, and I was pretty certain that I had a pillowcase with one of these kittens on it somewhere in my "vintage items to keep" box.  

This "VITK" box lives under my sewing table...

I kept thinking about it as I pieced my scrappy green wonky star blocks for my RSC (rainbow scrap challenge) quilt.  I made a few dark, I made a few light... positive and negative.  I was pleased with how they look. 💚 (why am I mentioning this project again?  Keep reading ;))


It was as I was digging for the embroidered pillowcases that I found a collection of green blocks that came from another quilter a few years ago.  The blocks were pieced so that they were a little (quite) imperfect but had lovely greens.  I sat down with my good friend, Jaqueline and started to part them out... in the end, I added two more lovely RSC blocks to my collection... left side top and middle.

While I did not find the pillowcases I was in search of, I did find lots of other treasures... some linen hand towels stitched by my Grandma T - Tressie - and a crocheted pansy doily.

Grandma was born February 16, 1915.  She loved the color yellow.  The two pieces looked like they belonged together and the vintage pieces quickly became something new... in her honor!

I marked the centers of both pieces (by pressing creases with a hot iron), made my quilt sandwich using Hobbs fusible batting (being careful to leave the center crease marks) and then pinned the doily into place.


I machine stitched the outer edges of the white portion of the doily down and then quilted the center star, following the wider lines.  

I pushed the pansies to the center so that they were out of the way and marked my quilting lines to reflect the scalloped edge of the center of the doily.  

The pansies were then pressed back into place, pinned.  I then hand-stitched the outer edges.


The binding matches the backing from Connecting Threads - Swallowtail Grove.  I sewed the binding to the front and then hand-stitched the binding to the back with an exposed running stitch.  I made sure I added in two labels.  One to show I had made it... and one was just for fun!

If you are interested in making a purchase from Connecting Threads, you can use the code ACTMelvaLovesScraps to receive 15% off, including sale items.



This was a fun and quick project and I love the result.


Here's one final look at the piece all washed and ready for its new home. 💜💛


I wanted to offer a brief update about the grandson's basketball game... He only had a few minutes of playing time in each quarter, but each time he scored!  His skills have improved since we last watched him in December and he was happy to see us.  


Heather dropped him off at the game and was picking him up but did not stay.  While disappointed, we made the most of our time with Ty.  I was able to use him as a courier for the valentine's cards I had with us.  I had fun making these up and Mom had fun as we made the stained-glass cards from her.
For those that offered up prayers for our time together... Thank you! 💗

Now... where did I see those embroidered pillowcases???

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m



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Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Dreams... My latest Wordy Wednesday

I've been having some strange dreams lately... 

Most recently, I was in the studio quilting and considering some of the prompts for the Connecting Threads ambassador program.  Among them... Valentines Day (duh) and Team USA.

In my dream I was using two of the patterns that are to be included in the Little House Sampler quilt.  I had the first block finished (My Heart) in red and white... and I loved it!  And then I realized that I could combine it with the Indian Star block in blues and I loved it even more!

This is where the dream gets a little weird... I was getting ready to press the red/white heart block and my left hand, sitting on top of the block didn't/wouldn't move and the iron went onto the back of my hand.  I felt the burn from the iron and no matter how I moved my arm, the iron would not get off of my hand!  I was screeching out in pain, and I knocked the ironing board over...

And then I woke up but was able to get back to sleep right away.  I know... weird!  I think my arm had fallen asleep and that was the reason I couldn't move it.  It was strange.  When mentioned the dream to Dave, he cautioned me to be careful when using the iron.  Yes sir!

But since I was so impressed with the blocks in my dream, I just HAD to give it a try...  I was to alternate the r/w strips in each row...

Not what I had dreamed.   LOL!  Maybe if I used navy or a blue fabric as the background pieces (triangles and the corner square) that shape the heart. Hmmmm...

I have another idea using a chimney & cornerstone sort of layout... stay tuned! 



No great loss.  I tried a second block, this time using red and blue.

Much better.  

Now I need to give the star block a remake for this project.


I recently saw this meme, and it reminded me of a dream I had almost 10 years ago...

I was working at a quilt shop named "The Quilty Conscience".  I was having a great time! 

When I shared the dream with my friends on fb, I asked who wanted to open a shop and hire me. LOL

In response many of them encouraged me to open a shop myself.  Hahaha.

I do remember that the dream occurred shortly after I had been given a huge collection of fabric that came from the mother of a friend.  Bolts and bolts of fabric.  Many of them were panels for wall hangings and baby quilts.  I think I still have a few of them... time to clear a few more items out of the stash closet!


This panel is under the needle and will be ready for binding very soon!

Tell me what you would name your quilt shop... I'd love to hear from you!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Sunday, February 8, 2026

Bookish Journal - Chapter 2 ~ Sew & Tell - 2/9/26


Welcome back!  I've been busily and happily content in the studio lately.  I've been playing in my scrap bins making RSC blocks - blues and greens so far... 

I've also been re-writing and re-testing a few block patterns for the Little House Sampler Quilter Sew Along... All as I listen to audio books.

BTW, if you missed it, the first LH Sampler block pattern has been released!  You can find it here.  NOTE:: There has been a correction made to the log cabin frame pattern.  I think I notified everyone that had downloaded the original (incorrect) pattern.  The cutting instructions were off by 1/4" in length of 6 strips.  No biggie... and you may not have noticed it.  Thanks to Karen W. for catching that!


Before I ramble on about part of my week, let's take a look at the randomly selected feature for the week.  Nancy at Grace & Peace Quilting shared two baby quilts that will be donated to a charity that provide a bundle of baby items to families in need with newborns.  Both quilts have their beauty enhanced by her choice of quilting and the backings.  Two families will certainly be blessed by receiving these quilts that are not only lovely but filled with her love and prayers.  Be sure to take a side tour to her blog to see the closeup shots of the quilting, backings and bindings.

If you missed the fact that I decided to document my book journey by piecing one 9-patch block for each book read or listened to.  In January I completed 8 books...  I've included a few links to the previous books and my thoughts on them above.


Since I last shared... Breaking Free was a story of redemption... Maggie Roberts found herself in prison after a tragic accident killed her son.  While serving her 10-year sentence, she had the opportunity to work with horses and found a renewed purpose in life. 

Charlotte's Web... Short, sweet and familiar. I loved it!

The Things We Leave Unfinished was an interesting book focused on the risks we take for love, the scars too deep to heal and accepting endings that are unexpected.

I'm having such fun making each block
to reflect the cover of the book

I skipped a few portions because of "mature themes."  Hahaha.  That's what the description included!  I felt like I was reading a harlequin romance novel!  Overall, the sex scenes were "fluff" to the story and not necessary to the storyline.  

Essentially, a book manuscript telling the love story and life story of the original author was left behind, unfinished, and another author was asked to finish it.  

It reminded me of the various UFOs I have been given to finish.  Most recently, the vintage rose quilt blocks.  I could relate to the fact that to be most successful at finishing it (whatever "it" may be) in a way that would honor the original maker or writer, you need to get to know them in the best way that you can... Study previous work, ask family members about their personalities, their likes and dislikes, what were they knowledgeable in and what were their hobbies.

The ending certainly surprised me! 

My next read was What You are Looking for is at the Library.  The librarian had an uncanny knack of making book suggestions for patrons of the community library that were seemingly unrelated to what they had asked for.  It was fun to follow the characters as they found the answers to what they were looking for in unexpected ways, and how their lives connected.


The most recent book was The War Outside.  

This historical fiction takes place during WWII - one of my favorite historical periods to read about - and loosely based on actual events.  

I have been aware of the fact that there were camps for Americans of Japanese descent.  There was one not far from the town I grew up in.  But this story takes place in Crystal City, TX and was a "family camp" for both Japanese and German Americans.  (And Italians, but there were no Italian characters in this story.)

I was shocked to learn that the US Government had done the same thing they did to the American-Japanese citizens, to other nationalities.  My Mom was unaware of it as well.  I realized then that my story/life could have turned out very different had my paternal grandparents been among those sent to an internment camp.  

Had that happened, they never would have been on the receiving end of the letters from former German POWs that worked on their farm... The very foundation of the Pieces from The Past Sew Along that I hosted in 2020.  The likelihood of not ever meeting Dave... the likelihood that my parents would not have met and married... WOW! I recently made all of the stories from this sew along available again on the blog. :)  More to come regarding that.  

I realize this is a nightmare for some living in similar situations right now in the US.  It saddens me... It breaks my heart, really.  It also overwhelms me.  What can I do to change their stories?

I can pray... That's what I can do... That's what I will do.  I want to do a little more research into this topic.  But right now, I need something a little lighter to listen to and enjoy.  I've got a childhood classic and Newberry Medal winner ready to go!  Caddie Woodlawn.  

I've having a grand time selecting the fabrics from my stash for the blocks... digging through the stacks in search of the "perfect" piece for each cover.  As I started The War Outside I had a fabric in mind for those two girls... And I may have squealed when I saw the scrap that I used for the barbed wire.  LOL.  I don't know if I'm gaining more joy out of all the books, or in making the block!  Doesn't really matter... I am joy filled!

Thanks for tagging along with me on this Bookish Journal.  And thanks for joining the Sew & Tell party.

I've got my long list of book suggestions from all of you in January, and I look forward to each one!  Thanks!

Before you go... tell me...

What is bringing joy to your life lately?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m


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