Sunday, April 5, 2026

Bookish Catch up and Pink RSC ~ Sew & Tell - 4/5/2026


We have turned the calendar page to a new month and seemingly a new season.  March marched out with an attitude and the blustery winds continue.  *sigh*  None the less, it is my birthday month and I'm going to celebrate it as often as I get a chance!  Sixty some years ago I arrived on Easter Sunday, and I am celebrating by getting ready to go camping.  While my birthday is later in the month, I still celebrate on Easter.  I hope that your Easter-Resurrection Day is blessed.


But before I get into talking about our trip let's take a look at this week's Sew & Tell feature - Linda at Texas Quilt Gal showed off her Stay At Home Round Robin flimsy.  It was clever to make the squares in pairs for the various prompts and using the same block for the corners.  Turning them on point with two different fabrics for the inside and outside helps to frame the center panel just perfectly.  Be sure to visit Linda's blog to get all of the details.


It seems that it has been forever since I've offered an update on my bookish journal blocks... But, really, it has only been two weeks!  

Send for me was a historical fiction that moved between Germany on the eve of WWII and present-day Wisconsin.

The story explored the relationships of mothers and daughters and the duty and obligation for them both and how they shape one's personality and the way they handle change.

Honestly, the story was a little uninteresting to me until the young woman, Clare, named for her grandmother, stumbles upon a trove of her grandmother's letters from Germany... that had been stored in some old purses.

Funny thing... the letters from the former German POWs that were sent to my grandparents were stored in an old purse!  That was the turning point for me.  Clare had to have the letters translated in order to learn of the messages they held.  I also needed to have letters translated...

Through the letters she sees the history of her family's sacrifices in a new light and is suddenly faced with an impossible choice:  the past, or her future.

Christmas at Carnton was an enjoyable Christmas romance that unfolded amid the Civil War and tells the story of hope renewed and faith restored.  It was set against the backdrop and history of the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, TN.  I'm not sure if it was a prequel to With this Pledge, or a sequel.  There were familiar characters in addition to the setting.

Up next was A Clearing in the Wild.  A Christian fiction about a young woman (Emma) from a Bethel community in Missouri, her new husband who is actually nearly old enough to be her father and their journey on the Oregon Trail in the 1850s.

Emma was a passionate and independent thinker and finds it difficult to rein in her tongue when speaking with her husband and the other leaders of the community.

There were times I couldn't believe she spoke out and others that I thought she was right for doing so.  I enjoyed hearing/seeing how she had matured and how some of the other leaders grew to respect her opinion.


By the Shores of Silver Lake was a sort of "homework" assignment for me.  I always enjoy a book from the LIW series.  It was a short listen... just 6 hours.... which I enjoyed as I quilted my Ribbons quilt from the retreat.

I quilted 1/4" from the ribbon seams, as well as the individual blocks.  The effect was a lovely plaid design.

While the colors and style are outside of my comfort zone I do like the quilt.  It's not one that I feel I need to keep for myself but am happy with it.  It is bright and cheery and makes me smile. 


While at the retreat one quilter showed us how she was making a unique disappearing 9-patch.  Rather than cutting the 9-patch in four straight quarter sections they were cut on both diagonals.

Since I had time and had extra 10-inch blocks I gave it a try.  

Joella and I messed around with a layout but were not impressed with any of them.  

After getting home I pulled out the extra jelly roll strips I had from the same fabric collection and started laying everything out.  It's a very different backing... But I like it!  I like it nearly more than the front.  It's a "modern" look... the fabrics, the layout, the lines, the colors and prints.  All of it is so "Modern."  


I have attached a black-ish/grey flanged binding and will be sewing it down as we travel for our spring camping trip.  I'm still not sure if I will be using black thread for this or if I want to use a variegated cotton thread that is pink/orange.

This beauty will have the opportunity for its photo shoot to take place in and/or around Moab.  Watch for them.

Since we're in a new month, this means that there is a new color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  It is pink!  I have a good supply of pink scraps... light pink, bright pink, darker pinks that begin to tip toward reddish-brown. 

Positive and negative wonky scrappy star blocks are completed... 

One last photo... here are all of the Bookish Journal blocks for the first quarter of the year... 30 to date.

That's all for this week.  Time to get serious about packing the camper.  Woohoo!  I'll be doing laundry and planning meals.  It is somewhat challenging to be able to pack enough food for 2 weeks, but by staying flexible and sticking with some meals already prepared and frozen, it makes it easier.  If we find that we need something... there are always grocery stores to be found.

We'll be exploring Arches and Canyonlands and probably Dead Horse State Park while around the Moab area... and who knows where else!  It has been far too long since our last camping trip. 

Are there any quilt shops on the path of our tour?  
Pagosa Springs, Durango, Cortez, Moab and Grand Junction?

If you know of any, let me know... I'd love to be able to stop by, if time permits and they are open.  Party on!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m


Thursday, April 2, 2026

Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along ~ Rails - Block #5


Thanks for coming back for another chapter of the Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along!  This chapter of the sew along is all about the book By the Shores of Silver Lake.

The Ingalls family had many challenges while in Plum Creek, Minnesota.  They were in debt because of the grasshopper invasion destroying their crops. Mary was now blind.  Pa had to leave his family for work in Dakota Territory where he could make as much as $50 a month.  He sent for his family.  They traveled by train to meet him.  They became the first settlers in the new town of De Smet.  


I have chosen the Rails Block to represent this fifth book in the Little House series.  This is a "new" block for me... meaning, it has not been a part of any previous sew along.

The Rails block is another beginner friendly block and will be pieced quickly.  

The math calculation is simple. Remember, the finished block is to be 6" square.  


The Rails block is made up of four equal units that will measure 3" square (finished).  Each unit is made of up 3 strips... this means that each finished strip will measure 1" wide by 3" long.  

Be sure to add your seam allowance of 1/2".  This means... your will be cutting strips 1-1/2" wide.

You can strip piece this block and then sub cut the four units.  


Color/value placement may play a part in your fabric selection.  Since I wanted the units to reflect the railroad, I wanted the outer strips of the unit to be darker... ultimately, I planned on using the same fabric for both rails.

However, when I laid out the 4 units I ended up with a very defined swastika design.  I certainly did not want that!  So, I switched out one of the fabrics... it was better.

4 units
Join your units together and then add the log cabin frame.


It was a special treat and memory for Laura and the family to be able to travel by train.  A mode of transportation that was so much faster than she had experienced in a wagon.

I recall riding the train from Durango to Silverton, CO as a child.  It was all of the family.  My family, my grandparents as well as my aunt & uncle and three cousins.  I remember the cinders from the engine getting in my eye and my cousin pushing me off of my Grandma's lap.  Not much else. LOL!

I also remember taking the Southwest Chief from Chicago to La Junta after Christmas in 1987.  We were brand new parents traveling with a 6-week-old baby.  We were in a lower-level compartment and had our baby laying on the floor between Dave and I as we faced each other.  She slept the majority of the way!  I don't recall much about the return trip...


Another special train ride that I remember is from just a few years ago when we took the grand daughters from Trinidad to Raton, NM.  Also on the Southwest Chief.  Two of the three were very nervous and didn't know what to think.  The 3rd had the time of her life!

Do you have a train trip that is memorable?

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

The time has come for you to head to Payhip to get the Rails block pattern.  When you have the Rails block pieced be sure to come back and share in the block party.  

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Quilt Retreat Fun ~ Sew & Tell - 3/29/26


I have just returned from the quilt retreat.  Several asked where it was held... It was held in the "Competitor's Housing" at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM.  The accommodations are nice.  There is a large space where the machines are set up and three different wings where you find the bathroom, kitchen and five 2-bed rooms.  They keep them clean and well maintained.  We use the facility during their "off season."  For this reason, I think there is a discount... the cost is $75 for two nights.

I'll get to the quilts that were made and the "quilt show" that was such a treat.  But first... Let's look at last week's feature.  Karen showed us her Hexie project - Jigsaw Puzzle.  I love the designs that can be made with such a small, simple piece!  It takes the "flower garden" block to a new level!  Be sure to visit her blog to show her some love.  You'll find an update on spring and her garden, as well as the hand-quilting on another hexagon project. :)



Back to the retreat... The project for the weekend was a pattern called "Ribbons."  It was fairly simple pattern.  The pieced squares with the narrow strips were done quickly... and then people were in need of a design wall for laying them out.  

We had only one design wall and it wasn't really shared very well.  Alas, I went to my room and laid it out on the floor Friday evening.

The corner pieces were trickly to get placed correctly without the design wall... I wasn't the only one that had to find the seam ripper multiple times. LOL!  That was when I decided it was time for sleep and I would deal with it in the morning with less distractions and interruptions. ;)

By the time breakfast was ready on Saturday I had the top together and ready for the borders.  There was lots of trimming needed before adding the border and for the diamond border.  A cutting station was set up in one of the kitchen areas where there was plenty of counter space for a large cutting mat and rulers.

The pieced diamond border was a time-consuming part of the quilt... I misread the pattern and only got seven units on each border.  The side borders were supposed to have nine.  Oh well... I considered it a design option. Hahaha.


I found out on Thursday that I was going to have a single room and was going to be required to pay for both beds... It doesn't seem quite fair.  But I decided to reach out to a young lady, 17 years old, and an excellent quilter, at the last minute.  She was free for the weekend, so I treated her to the weekend and had several opportunities to help her with her 4-H quilt project for fair.  

You can see her stack of pineapples on the floor at the bottom edge of the quilt in the photo above.  She had 42 blocks that she needed to finish.  All of the bodies were pieced and ready to be trimmed, and about 1/2 of the pineapple tops needed to be finished and trimmed.  She worked her way through the stack with great attention to matching seams and watching the trimming so that the points of the pineapple top wouldn't be cut off.


She had fun. I had fun. And the other ladies welcomed her and offered a great deal of praise for her work.  They are even open to having her attend again in the future... which really excited her. 💗

The show & tell portion of the day was inspiring... here are some pictures.  I have more stories... but what happens at quilt retreat stays at quilt retreat!  

It's time to kick off the Sew & Tell party.  But before you go... 

How often do you attend a quilt retreat each year?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m


Thursday, March 26, 2026

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

I mentioned at the beginning of the week that I was in process of making some Easter goodie bags... I made and filled three bunny goodie bags and one carrot.  They turned out just adorable!


And... as promised, I am sharing the links for the patterns!

I made hair scrunchies to hold the bag shut.  The pattern (which is available in three sizes) suggested ribbon.  I had some strips of Easter fabric in the stash that was given to me by a friend about 10 years ago.

After making the bunnies (medium sized bag), I searched for a carrot bag pattern, which I found for free at Connecting Threads, I discovered they also had a bunny bag pattern.  Alas, I didn't need it.  Maybe another year...

With the bags finished, I needed goodies to fill them.  I wanted to go a bit healthier... the kids will receive plenty of sugary treats like peeps and chocolate eggs.  I selected small bags of sour gummies (a favorite of Emma's)... they were on sale and touted "less sugar".  Dave wanted to give them a chocolate and peanut butter egg, as they are his favorites... I caved at that.  I included an extra scrunchie in the bags for the girls.

The carrot was a little trickier to fill... I finally settled on a shorter beef stick and a beef and cheese stick snack.  I recommend taking the bag with you to fill to ensure that the snack will fit. ;)

Peter Cottontail hopped on down to the post office and got the gift box sent on its way.  

I am not hopping off to my studio to get ready for the quilt retreat.  I gave my machine a mini-pedi in preparation for it.  

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m




Sunday, March 22, 2026

Picking Up Pieces ~ Sew & Tell - 3/23/2026


Mother Nature seems to have lost her temper... or mind... or is drunk... off her meds???  Something!  At the beginning of this week, we saw a low of 7 degrees, and we saw a high in the low 90s by the weekend.  It is dry, dry, dry!  The humidity levels in Southern CO are in the single digits.  Fires are popping up in the region and evacuation orders have been issued for at least 1 area.  Pray for rain!  
Dave and I have not only prayed for rain, I did the quilter's rain dance by pulling out a pretty spring quilt for the guest bed, but as an extra insurance... we washed windows.  LOL!  'Nuf 'bout the weather...


This week's feature is a vintage repair by Melisa at Pinker 'n' Punkin' Quilting.  Melisa acquired this quilt in Texas in 2024 as a sweet little reminder of their vacation in the area.  One block had some deteriorated pieces.  She found a reproduction fabric that had Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf and Grandma's house on it.  

You can read all about the process she used by following the link above.

I have used the exact same method on a quilt in 2019 and before that in 2016.  In 2019, in addition to appliqueing a new piece into place, I used a fine tulle netting and clear nylon thread over several tears to keep them from advancing.  Well done, Melisa!  You did a top-notch job in fixing your quilt and keeping memories of your trip alive.

This week, as the spring and summer-like weather abounded, I was in the studio revisiting the vintage patterns from my Grandma Schleich that made up the Pieces From the Past quilt back in 2020.  The vintage newspaper patterns (and a collection of vintage fabrics) were in collection of items that came from an aunt after she passed away.   

Using the garden themed fabric that I purchased from Azure Standard, I enjoyed making 15 of the blocks from the series (so far).  All of the blocks will be 12-inch blocks this time, some of them slightly different from the original blocks.


As I pieced these blocks, I listened to My Friends, written by Fredrik Backman.  Throughout the book there were references to art and artists and how they feel the art, rather than just paint it, quilt it or create it.  The focus of the story was about a circle of friends formed by 4 teens.  It resonated with me... and for those that have read it... It's a long story.  LOL.  What didn't resonate was with me was some language.

I couldn't help but think of the men, the former German POWs, that wrote the letters (also a part of the series) to my grandparents and how they viewed them as their trusted friends.  

One of the Scripture readings I had this past week from Mark 2 featured the story of how a paralyzed man was carried by four men, four friends, that lowered him down through an opening in the roof so that the man could get close enough to Jesus to be healed.  We all need to have friends like that man... We all need to have friends that will go the extra mile for you in a time of need.  Friends that will help to carry you closer to Jesus.

Thirteen years ago, Dave and I were just stepping into the midst of a very difficult time of our life.  He was faced with a major change in his career and my Dad was in the final days of his life on earth.  We had a few friends that surrounded us... and surprisingly, we found that several that we had thought would be there to support us... were not. :(

Together we clung to Jesus and weathered the season as we walked in a deep valley.  That's all life is, really... a journey of time spent in a valley and eventually climbing up out of those valleys so that we can enjoy the views once again.  There's a saying, "Everyone is either entering a time of trial, in the middle of a trial or coming out of a trial."  

The Rose Code was the next listen as I continued piecing together some Past Pieces... "A heart-stopping WWII story of three female code breakers and a spy that must be rooted out after the war.  An apropos book to listen to as I pieced blocks that tell the story of German POWs held at Camp Trinidad during WWII. 

At week's end, I realized that Easter is just a few weeks away!  For several years I have thought I would make some cute little candy bags for the grands... THIS is the year!  I found two free patterns... one for a bunny bag and one for a carrot bag.  Three bunnies have been cut out and one carrot (3 girls, 1 boy).  I'll get them made up and then filled and sent off this week, fingers crossed.  Check back later in the week.  I'll share photos of the finished bags as well as the links for the patterns.  

I have less than a week before quilt retreat.  I'm looking forward to seeing the quilters again and possibly meeting some new friends. The coordinator asked for suggestions for an activity or game to be played.  I was thinking about Quilter's Bingo. 

What sort of game have you played at a retreat?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m


Thursday, March 19, 2026

Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along ~ Shoo Fly - Block #4

 

Welcome back to the fourth "chapter" of the Little House Sampler Sew Along!  The 4th book in the Little House series is On the Banks of Plum Creek.  When the Ingalls family was forced to move from the prairies of Kansas they headed north to Minnesota. 


They first lived in a sod house until Pas was able to build a clean new house beside Plum Creek. Pa purchased the materials on credit with the intention of paying off the credit with the fall wheat harvest.

Just before the harvest, a strange glittering cloud suddenly blocked out the sun.  Millions of grasshoppers descended over the countryside... destroying all of the crops in the area.

The Shoo Fly block represents this book in the series.  While not a grasshopper, you can be certain that the pioneers were saying Shoo! Shoo! to the pesty creatures.

I originally used this pattern in the Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail quilt.  The pattern made a 12" block.  I had to pull out the paper, pencil and calculator and reduce the block by 50%.  Finished unit sizes were 4" square.  Cutting instructions for the original block were as follows:

From Light fabric cut:  
4 – 4-1/2” Squares
2 – 5” Squares
From Dark fabric cut:  
1 – 4-1/2” Square
2 – 5” Squares

Always work with the finished unit size, make the adjustment and then add your 1/4" seam allowances (two seam allowances - one each on opposite sides of the block = 1/2").

4-1/2" minus the seam allowances of 1/2" = 4" (Finished unit size). 
Multiply 4 x 50% = 2 ~ 4 minus 2 = 2"
Add 1/2" for seam allowances = 2-1/2"
Cut 2-1/2" square units 

The half-square triangles... We now know that the finished unit size in the smaller block is 2" so we add 1" to the finished unit size (2")
Cut the units for the HSTs 3" square.  After making the HST units, trim to 2-1/2" square.  The resized cutting instructions are as follows:

From Light fabric cut:  
4 – 2-1/2” Squares
2 – 3” Squares
From Dark fabric cut:  
1 – 2-1/2” Square
2 – 3” Squares

This block is a beginner friendly block and will piece together quickly.  Before you know it, you will be ready to add the log cabin frame.  When finished, be sure to come back to join the block party for a chance to win a fat quarter (US mailing address only).


Only one knew the answer to the trivia question
(thanks to a little help from the internet) I asked with the Harvest Basket pattern... Almonzo won first prize at the country fair for a pumpkin.  Almonzo waited for the dark of the moon in May to plant his pumpkin seeds.  He may have had a few "feeding" tricks to help the pumpkin grow as well. ;)

Farmers were known to plant (or butcher, schedule surgeries or even cut their hair) by the sign of the moon as well as follow many other "wives' tales".  My own Dad used such methods... Do they really work?  I can't say that I've ever seen solid evidence, but I certainly will not argue with anyone who chooses to use or follow them.  Afterall, the Farmer's Almanac was a trusted publication for years... and for more than weather predictions. ;)

Have you ever used or referred to a Farmer's Almanac?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!  Now, grab your pattern and get sewing!  I look forward to seeing your blocks!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Sew & Tell - 3/16/2026


I saw that Alycia was doing the quilter's rain dance the other day... she swapped out the Christmas quilt for a Spring quilt and washed her car as an extra insurance that it would indeed rain.


Here in southern Colorado, we are so very dry.  The fire danger is already high, and the spring winds are making it worse.  Nebraska has numerous fires they have been dealing with... 

So... I decided to join her in the Quilter's Rain Dance.  I changed the red and white vintage quilt on the guest bed to a very spring-like vintage pink Irish Chain quilt made by my great grandma, Lala Teegarden in the 1930s.  It is hand quilted and excellent condition for being 90+ years old.  No worries about it being exposed to sun... I only opened the window blind to take the photo. ;)


This week's feature is LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color.  She shared her Project Quilting piece...  
The Project Quilting's prompt was opposite colors on the color wheel. 

She started with one plan, but creativity took her in a different direction.  The embellishments of various embroidery stitches and the quilting brought the piece to life and the border and binding made it sing!  Visit her blog to see close up details and read about each step she took to bring it to a stunning finish.  


I had a finish last week... A t-shirt quilt for a 21-year-old.  You can read all the details here.  He is the grandson of a HS classmate so it was fun to see several of the shirts that he and his wife would have purchased for him. 

All the while of making this quilt I was listening to books.  I enjoyed two medically themed stories; one a memoir, the other a Christian fiction.


 

After completing the label on the birthday quilt, I had a clean cutting table and empty design wall.  A clean slate!  

I had thought that a 16-patch block might be a good way to distinguish between the audio books and slow reads in the Bookish Journal quilt.  I picked apart the 9-patch to make the 16-patch... I didn't like the end result.


I tossed that block into the spare parts pile and made a new 9-patch.  My final block is the lower left. 

Let me tell you, Call the Midwife was an interesting book... though NOT as family friendly/filtered as the BBC produced show.  There were some scenes described that were shocking (I skipped that part) and others that were so well described in detail that I was repulsed by the sight and smell.  It was well done, but very graphic.

I needed something a little different After Jenny's tales and settled on A Measure of Mercy.  The Christian fiction, also about the lead character being in the medical field, this time as a doctor rather than a midwife.  Still some graphic description as they had a few surgeries that required amputations, but brief in comparison. It is the first of a series.

Here's a look at all of the blocks I have made, including one for the current listen, My Friends by Fredrik Backman.


I'm unsure how I will lay them out, but this is in order of finishing.  I'm glad I decided to pull the 16-patch, slow-read block.  In the end, it doesn't really matter, I guess. ;)


Since I had an empty design wall and cutting table again, I talked myself into cleaning house.  I contemplated my next project.  As I pulled out the vacuum (stored in the same closet as my stash) I saw the small pile of fabrics I acquired from Azure Standard in February.  


I knew I wanted to explore a second Pieces From the Past quilt using these fabrics.  I've made two blocks so far... I'm unsure if I will make it exactly as the first (sampler, row quilt) or if I want to make one more of a traditional sampler quilt using only 12" blocks.  I'll see what sort of direction I am led.  So far... I am really liking the coordination between the prints and solids.  The quality of the fabrics, while claiming to be "quilter's cloth" is a little disappointing.  It certainly is not top of the line but would consider most of it to be of similar weight as a custom order from Spoonflower.


Later this week (Thursday, 3/19) I will be releasing block #4 of the Little House Sampler Quilt.  The 4th book in the series is On the Banks of Plum Creek.  There is still plenty of time to get block #3, the Harvest Basket made and linked up for a chance to win a fat quarter.  I've seen an increase on activity in the pattern store... I hope to see more blocks join the party, it's not too late!  You'll only need about an hour to get it made.

I will be prepping for a quilt retreat at the end of the month.  The pattern we are using is called Ribbons and uses a layer cake set of pre-cut fabrics.  I've never purchased a layer cake was excited to find one in the clearance section of the Connecting Threads site.  Along with some credit I earned as an ambassador participating in their monthly prompts, I scored a great deal. ;)  They are offering 25% off site-wide with the code 3QUILT26 at check out if you have any needs this month - National Quilting Month.  I was too slow in purchasing the fusible batting that I use so much.  Oh, well... 

How are you celebrating National Quilting Month?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m