2019 Color Challenge - May - Lime Green

Jen at Patterns By Jen chose lime green as the color of the month.  Her inspiration for the color came from the Spider Mum.

When I headed to my fabric closet I quickly learned that I had a very limited supply of lime green fabric... and NONE with large enough pieces to get 7" squares cut from them.  I vowed to NOT purchase fabric for this challenge, so I set the pattern aside for a week... 

maybe in hopes that some would just reveal itself??? 

... or maybe in hopes that I would receive a random gifting of fabric from someone cleaning out a closet or stash of their own. It has happened a few times now, so it isn't completely out of the question.

As I finished some  other projects and blocks of the month, Jen's pattern soon arrived back at the top of the pile again.

I once again headed to my stash of lime greens... Nothing new had come forward, but as I looked at them I thought of the All About Strings blog hop that I participated in back in March.... and the inspiration hit me!  Like a coconut on the head!  String piece the blocks! 

As I prepped my 7" string pieced blocks, making two light and two dark, I had the silly little song pop into my head... 🎵You put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up 🎶

When our girls were teenagers and involved in youth group they had some very creative and energetic youth leaders who would plan fun activities like scavenger hunts.

They once did a photo scavenger hunt where they had a list of things to photograph and a disposable camera.  They were to find as many things on the list, snap a picture and then drop off the camera to the local photo developing place for one-hour developing.  

Another time they did a video scavenger hunt with similar rules of having a list and a time limit.  When everyone had returned to the church they watched each team's videos to determine which team successfully filmed the list items.

The teams had to be really creative... I mean, how do you capture John 3:16 in a photograph?  Well, the team with the youth named Jon had it easy... they placed him in front of a store front with the address of 316.  

How do you film a re-enactment of a miracle as told in the Bible?  You look for a shallow puddle and have one of the youth members walk in it.... giving the appearance of walking on water!  Lol!

The team that Dave and I chaperoned had three girls and two guys and they were quite a hoot!  In between all of the stops of the video scavenger hunt they were singing...  any guesses???

🎵You put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up 🎶

My hunt for lime green fabrics was a little like that youth scavenger hunt... I had to find the appropriate shades... AND I think it really captures the narrow petals of the flower.

Now, the idea of lime and coconut together does not sound appealing to me...  Key Lime pie sounds good... and Coconut Cream pie sounds good as well.  

And if you google the meaning of the lyrics you get quite a colorful, as well as a variety of meanings and descriptions.  One stated that in Jamaica the combination is used to lower blood pressure!  Who knew???

But, the scavenger hunt thing got me thinking about how fun a Quilter's Scavenger Hunt would be during a shop hop or even a guild meeting.  

Now, since my community doesn't have a guild and the LQS is Wally-World,  it isn't really something that I would be able to participate in.  And I have seen some scavenger hunts in a few magazines where you visit assigned websites and search for a particular item...  it just doesn't seem as much fun as participating in a hunt with friends and other quilters in person.

Have you participated in a Quilter's Scavenger Hunt?  

What sort of items would you include in the hunt list?

Let me live vicariously through you... leave a comment telling me about your scavenger hunt fun!

Piece Happy!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with:

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag

No Guilt::Go Quilt - Breakfast - May Flower Baskets

I am rarely in my studio after 5 pm... I am not a late night person by any means!  I am much more of a morning person and I have been known to go in there very early... like 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. or earlier if Dave happens to be gone overnight... and I tend to "get lost" in there and won't emerge until around 10 or 10:30 to head to the shower.

If you happen to be a late-night owl and quilt away until you realize it is way too late, before you head off to lay your head down on your pillow for some Zzzzz's, you should wander into your kitchen and throw together an overnight crockpot breakfast that will be ready for you when rise.

Or, if you are an early riser like me, you can do as I do and sneak to your kitchen and do the same.  The cook time and temp are the only things that would change and are indicated at the bottom of the recipe...

As is normal, I modify the recipe to fit to my restrictions... You can substitute turkey bacon (affectionately referred to as Facon in our house 😉 ) or turkey sausage for the ham... and almond milk for the whole milk.  No need to bother with the need to saute the Jalapenos... You can use diced green chilis or just toss them in raw.

We had a house guest recently.  And when I got up to start the coffee I pulled together some breakfast in the crockpot since I wanted to be able to grab an hour or so in my studio first thing in the morning and knock out the May blocks for the A Time for All Seasons BOM.  The May block was designed by Joan at Moosestash Quilting.

The floral print in the star points reminded me of May Baskets and the May Pole Dance.

I have fond memories of making the small cone shaped baskets out of construction paper with a pipe cleaner handle and filling them with flowers at school.  Sadly, because of the remote location of our house, I was never able to leave the basket on a neighbor's door... 

As a child, I loved watching the patterns being revealed as the different colored ribbons were woven in and out and up and down in the May Pole Dance.... 💓  much like the 4-patch blocks cris-crossing the block.

The official start of Spring is in March... however, from the brief history lesson I had as I searched the origin and meaning of the May Day celebration, it seems evident that many celebrate the start of Spring a little later than March.  As a Colorado girl, I know better than to plant outside until after Mother's Day... though I say Memorial Day, because I have lost too many plants and flowers to a late frost.  Yes, even after Mother's Day!  

Mother's Day can be challenging for so many... It is a "holiday" that ranks up there with Valentine's Day in my mind... it is very much a "Hallmark" holiday.  I strive to love my family and friends every day and let them know that they are loved and thought of every day... So, why do I need a special day marked on the calendar to tell me to do that?

Hmmmm.... Maybe I sound a bit scrooge-ish... None the less, these are my honest feelings. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms -- wannabe moms, birth moms, stepmoms, bonus moms, adoptive moms, mentor moms and spiritual moms. And especially to friends for whom this holiday will be hard. Friends who will be standing by gravesites this Mother’s Day. Friends whose moms haven’t been a part of their lives in many years. And those who have challenging relationships with their moms who try to navigate Mother’s Day with grace but some necessary distance. Have a blessed day

The month of May is typically full of celebrations... May Day, Mother's Day, Graduations, Weddings, Memorial Day, last day of school and more!  

What will you be celebrating this May?  

Please share by leaving a comment... I love to hear from my readers.

Happy May!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with:

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Scrap Dance Minuet - Mystery Quilt

I have recently been reading a series called Patchwork Mysteries that were published in the 1990's and focuses on Sarah, who happens to be a quilter and has a penchant for mysteries.  Some of the story lines tend to focus more on the mystery and her searching for some lost items or missing piece of history or "puzzle" than on the quilting and quilt restoration that she does.  But, despite this, I have enjoyed the books... actual books.  

For the last several years I had been reading books on my nook.  It was convenient and I had access to many free books from a variety of genres for my reading pleasure.

In the most recent Patchwork Mystery, the lead character, Sarah had finished restoring a "delicate rose and lace Fan bed quilt that was over fifty years old."  

"Some of the lace and and stitching had torn loose" Sarah explained to her friend that was admiring the quilt.  The friend looked closely and said "I can't even tell where the old stitching stops and where you repaired it."  

Sarah explained "I had to yellow the thread using tea.  The lace was bit harder to match.  If you look closely, the pattern is slightly off."

When Sarah was asked why she did it, she replied with "I enjoy restoring someone else's handicraft.  I hate to see beauty and history lost."  This is something I can totally relate to.

One of the things I enjoy most about this series is that there are small bits of tips and suggestions on how to restore quilts... how to wash and handle them, how to match fabrics and threads, etc.  Like how she colored the thread with tea to match.  In another book she tea stained fabric to age it a little.

Ah, but I ramble... 

A few months ago as I was looking for some block of the months to participate in I stumbled upon Carole's blog From My Carolina Home.   As I spent some time looking around her blog I discovered that Carole has a love for repairing well loved quilts like Sarah... and myself.   That is when I saw her announcement for a Scrap Dance Minuet Mystery Quilt Along.  

I have never done a mystery quilt and thought that it would be fun.  And at a leisurely pace with just one clue per month, published the second Friday of the month.

I pulled out my scrap bin and started cutting and piecing according to the directions provided by Carole...

The only stipulation I had for the fabrics were that they had some sort of floral print on them... and that they were big enough to get the necessary size cut from them.

One comment about my selection of fabrics was "You have some interesting fabrics choices."  Well... yes.  Yes, I do.  It is a scrap quilt.  So, in my mind it doesn't need to be all matchy-matchy and perfectly complimenting each other.  In fact it shouldn't be. 

It is a mystery quilt and I have no idea what the layout will be.  I am just trusting that it will all work out.

I am ready for clue #4!  If you think you might want to join in on the fun just follow the link above.  And unless you decide to make a queen or king-sized quilt, you can catch up quickly... but even then, it would not be impossible to catch up... it would just require a day or so.  I am making a throw size.  (Carole is providing 7 different sizes, from table runner to king.)

Have you ever done a mystery quilt?  

Were you happy with the finished quilt?

Did you finish the quilt?  Or did it end up as UFO?

Leave a comment letting me know your experience... I'd love to hear from you!

Piece happily,

Melva 

Melva Loves Scraps - home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with:

What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

Colour & Inspiration Tuesday at The Clever Chameleon
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Needle Case Tutorial & Give Away

The Lenten season and Easter have come and gone and we have turned the page of the calendars to another new month and it would appear that we are well into Spring.  But I would have to say... I would not be one bit surprised if we have another snow storm.




At the beginning of Lent  in March I set out to create simple needle cases that would be  included in our church's Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes that will be filled in November.

I mentioned then that I would be creating a tutorial.

The original pattern for the cover included a pieced cover, which was very cute, but not necessary as I have an abundance of scrap fabrics that were large enough with no need to piece.

Cut two pieces of fabric (4-1/2" x 6-1/2"), one for the cover, one for the inside.  

Cut batting 4" x 6".  Layer right sides together; stitch 1/4" from outside edge.  Leave an opening to turn piece right sides out, with batting inside.  

Sew a 1/8" from the edge to finish, being careful to stitch the opening closed.  Quilt as desired.

Place 3"x 5" piece of wool or felt in the center and stitch down the center.

Just how many did I get completed?  38!  With the supplies cut and ready for 2 more... so, 40.  The same as the number of days in Lent.  

BUT, I think I will make one extra needle case... This happens to be my 400th blog post and it deserves to be shared and celebrated with you.  Therefore, I will give one needle case away! details below...

Here is a sampling of the cases and how I did the "quilting as desired".  

I did an 'X' on some, and then vertical quilting and horizontal stitching.  

I have most of the supplies to be included (straight pins, needles and buttons) in them and will begin filling them in the evenings as we watch tv.  The supplies were graciously shared with me by the friend of my sister-in-law as the friend and her mother clean out her grandmother's stuff.  

The grandmother was quite the seamstress!  You can read a bit about her over on the Patchwork Mysteries post.  None the less, I feel good knowing that there are 40 young ladies that will be receiving these needle cases and supplies so that they can make some necessary repairs to their clothes... or perhaps make alterations or even make something new. 💓

I feel for my children and grand children when it is time to clear out my stuff!  Not just my fabric closet, but all of the other nooks and crannies that I have stuff squirreled away!

This box of goodies contained pins, thread, safety pins, snaps and hook & eye sets and so much more (like dresser scarves, hand embroidered pillow cases, bias tape and embroidery hoops)!

Unless the love for "crafting" has been passed on to loved ones, they often don't know some things are.  Tell me...

What are some of the things your family will find in your "stuff" when you are gone?

Will they use them or will they give them away?

Leave a comment before May 10th for an opportunity to win a cute little needle case.  Be sure to include your email address if you are a no-reply or anonymous reader. 


Stay Piece-ful!

Melva

Linking with:

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

The Adventure Quilt - Final Frontier

The Adventure Quilt Along of the Road Trip Quilt has been a fun journey.  Kate and Tammy did an amazing job with selecting the blocks, pattern instructions and placement.  The only detours I faced were because of my own inability to read and follow directions clearly... 





I failed in reading the instructions carefully back on block 10, the trees, when I carefully trimmed the blocks to the finished size, not the unfinished size, allowing for the seams.  **sigh**  I did the same thing on all three trees, but because of the placement of them, I was able to add an extra 1/2" on the side and/or bottom of the blocks without messing with the look of them.  So... I only needed to remake one block.  Yay!  Just a minor detour due to a road block. LOL!

The Final Frontier assembly instructions clearly stated which block and what size blocks went where... 

However, because I am more of a visual person, the pictures (that I greatly appreciated) weren't always enough for me to follow.

Like when I grabbed an 8"  block instead of the 9" block as stated in the written instructions.























<<< It caused such a fuss!  











I decided it was best to put the quilt in a time-out while I dealt with the laundry that had piled up over 10 days as I waited for a new washer and dryer to arrive.

When I returned to my studio the next morning the 8-inch block (the green and orange block) stepped forward and admitted to impersonating the 9-inch block (the blue and yellow block)that had been distracted when I asked for it!  And because of that error there was a disruption in the 9 patch block placed next to it.  

Jack and and I had a visit and after he left, I was able to calmly get all of the blocks back in their proper place and complete the top.  Woohoo!  It was time for sandwiching!

Last year I had purchased some quilting templates to be able to learn some stippling.  I have struggled with the timing and spacing of the technique and thought that the template would help me to learn the skill.  

I felt like a kid with training wheels on my bike and I felt ready to take those wheels off and give free-motion stippling a try!  I was very pleased with it!  Like, over the moon excited!

I love this quilt and I have enjoyed the journey that it has taken me on.  

More than once I was reminded that life is a journey... it is not a race or competition and it is not just the destination that should be focused on... it is the fact that the journey should be enjoyed.

I appreciate the fact that many of you and traveled along with me with each block as I shared about...

The log cabin blocks and the thoughts of getting ready for a road trip, the various mile markers (of life) and the spring break trip that reminded me of poppies in Arizona.  I shared my dream and what to do when facing a great divide.  You were there with me as I was thinking of the traveler with wanderlust and the tumble weeds in panhandle of Texas...

I'm sure some of you giggled as I shared about our first experience with a round about in Gettysburg... before GPS devices (lol) and our California beach vacation with the Ocean Waves blocks... and our interest in navigating the roads less traveled.  I recalled some childhood memories with the Woods at my elementary school and about the open spaces we passed by when we moved to Colorado. 

As I wrap up this adventure, I am ready to take a big next step in a new adventure...  I am preparing to announce and advertise for doing custom quilting for others.  

If you have some quilt tops hanging around in a closet that need to be finished, why don't you shoot me an e-mail with a couple photos and dimensions... 

MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com

I'd be happy to discuss your project with you!  

I will soon have more details on a new tab at the top of the blog, but until then... wish me luck!

Have you done quilting for hire?  

Do you have any tips or suggestions in avoiding some pitfalls?  

Please share by leaving a comment or send me an e-mail message... I would greatly appreciate it!

Remember... enjoy the journey,

Melva

Linking with:

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Pinwheels - Bonus Block - A Time for All Seasons

I didn't do any of the bonus blocks in last year Sew Incredibly Crazy Friends "It's A Wild Life" BOM.  Because the designers are being so gracious in offering two blocks - one pieced and one appliqued -this year, I am sticking with the pieced blocks, two of each.

This first bonus block is an easy to piece block that features two pinwheels designed by Carla at Creatin' In The Sticks.

My first thought when I saw the block was of the Walk to Remember in 2011.  My Dad had Alzheimer's and was a resident at a nearby nursing home for 4-1/2 years.  

While his diagnosis was Alzheimer's, I'm not sure it was accurate... he definitely had dementia and memory loss.  He eventually lost the ability to communicate along with his mobility.  But he always knew who we were when we visited him.  The look of recognition and joy in his eyes were all we needed to see to know that he knew us.  We never experienced the vacant stare or angry outburst from him, that so many others have to endure.

So, why do pinwheels remind me of him?  





He was like a big kid and loved to play like a kid with our girls when they were young.  He would unashamedly blow bubbles with and for them (even after they lost interest) or blow at a pinwheel to make it go around causing them to squeal with delight. 

In 2011 our entire family participated in the Alzheimer's fundraising event, A Walk to Remember.

At this particular event they gave everyone a flower/pinwheel of a specific color, based on our relationship to the mind altering disease.  Those that lived with it got a blue one... Family and loved ones that supported or cared for ALZ patients still living with the disease got a yellow one.  If you lost a family member to ALZ you were given a purple one.

My Dad had a blue one (there is a small glimpse of it on the side of his wheel chair), while the rest of us had yellow flower/pinwheels.  He held his flower for a portion of the walk as we all took turns pushing him.  Sadly, he was one of the few residents that attended the event, but he loved it and would let you know if you were going to hit a bump in the trail or wave and say "hey", his hello, to others as we passed them.

In his memory, I made a purple and a yellow pinwheel.  

He passed away in April of 2013... It is sometimes difficult to realize he has been gone for 6 years... he celebrated his 81st birthday on April 29th... the nurses took a cupcake into his room and sang Happy Birthday to him.  He opened his eyes and smiled his ornery toothless grin and went to sleep... 

I am certain that the celebration in heaven when he arrived was glorious!

Happy Birthday Daddy! 🎶🎵🎶


My apologies for such a melancholy post... But from Ecclesiastes 3

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

     a time to be born and a time to die, ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh, 
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Quilt on...

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking With:

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Colour & Inspiration at The Clever Chameleon

2019 Color Challenge - Glory of the Snow

Jen's April block of the 2019 Monthly Color Challenge is inspired by the Glory of the snow flower...

Glory-of-the-Snow is so-named because in some climates it blooms early enough that it pokes its little bright blue six-petaled flowers right out of the snow.  The star-shaped flowers appear above linear, mid-green, basal leaves. In milder climates, they bloom earlier than in their native habitats, in early spring.  And are natives of western Turkey, and were first described in 1877.

It seems to happen every year... spring peeks out.  The grass starts to turn green, the bulbs that have been hibernating all winter bravely poke their little noses out and then Mother Nature says "not yet."  But the snow doesn't scare these little flowers!  (The flowers in the picture below are actually daffodils... but they are pretty tough flowers as well)

So... on a snowy day in April I enjoyed making my April block.  I had a variety of blues to choose from but with the bright blue to pop against the blue-grey background... just like the blue flowers pop against the grey, gloom of a snow storm!

You may know that a Snow Day at my house means a Sew Day!  And guilt free because I used one of my crockpot meals.  No Guilt::Go Quilt!

We enjoyed Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings...

Ingredients

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons butter
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 onion, finely diced
2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces

Directions:
Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.


Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. 

About 30 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.

With my dietary restrictions, it takes a little time to modify the recipe, but it is so worth it!  We like it to be more like a chicken pot pie with more veggies like potatoes, carrots, celery and green beans... Enjoy!

If you might be interested in having my fully-modified recipe, leave a comment letting me know (WITH an e-mail address so that I can get back to you).

Happy Spring!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with:

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

BOMs Away at What a Hoot Quilts
2019 Color Challenge at Patterns by Jen
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney

Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter