Happy Thanksgiving!

May your Thanksgiving be stuffed with love, family & friends and bound together with peace.

Melva, Dave & Shelby

We will be celebrating with some friends today as we hike a wildlife area and enjoy the gorgeous land.  
Saturday will be a day with our family and our traditional meal...


What are your plans for today?

The Winner Is...

Well, it is Monday morning and I just finished responding to all of the (the ones I could) comments left on my Pumpkin Log post that was part of the 100 Blocks Road Rally.






I  have done a random drawing for the winners...

Congratulations to Mary O. and Allison, who follows bloglovin'!  As soon as I receive your mailing addresses (I sent you an e-mail), I will be sending you an issue of Volume 16.








I was able to be away for the weekend with some girlfriends and was unplugged for the entire time away.  It was so refreshing.  I am now re-charged with the desire to return to my studio and keep preparing items for the upcoming Christmas Extravaganza. 

So... if you need me, I will be finishing some bowl cozies.

Be blessed,

Melva

Want to see what other quilters are talking about???  Head over to QuilterBlogs

Road Rally Wrap-Up

Hey everyone!  Thanks so much for participating in the 100 Blocks Volume 16 Road Rally!

Hasn't it been great fun seeing all of the blocks from the featured designers and learning some great tips about making them?

If you have not already left a comment on my Pumpkin Log post, you still have time!  

I will be doing a drawing on Monday, November 20th in the morning and making an announcement here about who the winners are.  I will send an official e-mail to you to get your mailing address, and of course, if you are following me here, on Bloglovin' IG or fb you will see the announcement as well.

I am currently "between stories" of the Quilters Through The Generations series... but I will be back!  With the busy season of holidays approaching, I think I will make the return in January... but I may be back early.  We will have to wait and see.

Go on, Sew Happy!

Melva

Did you miss a day?  You can catch up here...

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks - Volume 16 - Block Tour Road Rally - Day 5

Welcome to Melva Love Scraps and the fifth and final day of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks - Volume 16 - Road Rally!

Visit each of the participating designer's blogs to learn about the origin of each block, explore layout options and get some tips and hints to help with the assembly of the blocks.  A complete list with links is at the end of this story.

And while the tour has been taking place all week, I have been keeping busy in my studio with some final touches/repairs of a quilt that needed a little help and in preparation of an upcoming Christmas show.

This quilt is a purchased quilt that was poorly constructed.  The stitches for the piecing of the blocks is approximately 7 stitches per inch and the thread tension of was rather loose.  








The quilting was 6+ inches apart which allowed for a lot of movement or shifting when the quilt was tugged on when being used.  

There were lots and lots of repairs that were not hidden well.



I spent hours on the floor last week seeking them out, fixing them and re-sewing them.  




When I began quilting the feathers I found even more open seams!  Ugh...

Once the quilting was complete I washed it and dried it and then started seeking out the open seams again - easier to see with it freshly laundered - and made more repairs.

It is finally, I think?, ready for delivery.  I have let it "sit" for a few days and have gone back over it and found yet more seams.  AND I had Dave, my husband, look it over.  



While not working on the big quilt, I was in my studio making up some fun Curious George and Beatitude Bear pillow cases ...

and a new stock of Bowl Cozies...

I shared my story of the Pumpkin Log block yesterday, as well as a few yummy pumpkin recipes...  and a chance to win one of two copies of Volume 16!

You still have time to enter!  Leave a comment on yesterday's post (Pumpkin Log) by November 19th, 11:59 pm.

I will be doing a random drawing for the two winners on Monday, November 20th.  Keep in mind, if you are a no-reply blogger, be sure to leave your email address in your comment so that I can contact you should you win.  Good luck!

But for now, just for fun, tell me... 
Do you like perfect pumpkins?
Or pumpkins that are a little "wanky"?

I hope you enjoyed the Road Rally!

Melva



Be sure to visit today's featured designers on the Road Rally!

Block #1553
Designed by: Janice Averill, Iris Quilts & Dyed Fabrics

Block #1511
Designed by: Kathie Beltz, Kathie Beltz Quilt Designs

Block #1562
Designed by: Tina Dillard, Quilting Affection Designs

Block #1563
Designed by: Patty Dudek, Elm Street Quilts

Block #1568
Designed by: Gina Gempesaw, Gem Hill Quilts

Block #1535
Designed by: Tiffany Hayes, Needle in a Hayes Stack

Block #1572
Designed by: Bonnie Hunter, Quiltville

Block #1586
Designed by: Jen Shaffer, Patterns by Jen

Block #1590
Designed by: Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

Block #1593
Designed by: Elaine Theriault

See what other quilters are talking about over at Quilter Blogs

Pumpkin Log - Day 4

Welcome!

Welcome to Melva Loves Scraps. 

Welcome to Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 16 Block Tour Road Rally.
If this is your first visit to my blog, allow me to introduce myself to you over at the "About Me" page...

And welcome to my "Pumpkin Patch".  Today I am not only sharing some tips and hints about my Pumpkin Log Block, but I am sharing with you some of my favorite Pumpkin recipes.

First off, let's take a look at my block...

The idea for this block came to me several years ago... actually around the same time as I created "Pieces of My Heart" - in 2012..

As I developed the idea for this block I was sipping on a cup of chai tea with some homemade pumpkin spiced creamer.  So many of the prepared creamers include ingredients that are hard to pronounce and who really knows what they are???

So, here is a really simple AND yummy recipe to make at home - where you can control the ingredients... 😉

Pumpkin Spice Creamer 

Ingredients
•1 can sweetened condensed milk
•1-1/2 cups skim milk, milk, half and half, or cream (you choose based on the fat content you prefer!)
•3 tablespoons canned pumpkin
•1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
•1/2 – 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, to taste

Instructions:
1.Combine ingredients in a container with a cover. Shake until combined, or use an immersion blender or traditional blender and blend until smooth.
2.Store, covered, in the fridge and shake/stir before using.


While the basics of my block are a log cabin, I used the stitch and flip method on the corners to offer a roundness to the pumpkin... You can see in some of my first pumpkin log blocks that they really needed the roundness added - note the lower block with the square top... not quite right.

And note that on the upper pumpkin the stem looks a little lost being in the orange of the pumpkin, not on top of the the pumpkin, like the lower one...

But this is how we learn, right?  Trial and error are the best teachers!

But of course, all that trial and error made me hungry!  It was time to stop for a break so I pulled out the recipe for some yummy Pumpkin Bars...  This recipe made its way to me via a friend of my sister-in-law Sharon, Denise... Thanks Denise and Sharon 😍

Once I had refueled from all the trial and error stuff and I was satisfied with the final outcome of the pumpkins with the "rounded" corners and the stem on top of the pumpkin, I grew the pumpkin logs into a table runner... just perfect for a fall table.

One other tip... for the final "round" of the pumpkin I cut the strips a 1/4" wider than indicated in the pattern, to allow for a few "imperfect 1/4" seams".  We may try to be precise all of the time, but in reality, while we may try, a little extra allowance is sometimes needed.  When the entire block is pieced, trim to 12-1/2"

More recently, I was playing with some "wanky" pumpkins with some of my scraps.  I mean, not all pumpkins are perfect!

For this table runner that I was recently commissioned to make I played with some "bent" stems and am pleased with the result.

Now with all the pumpkins growing in the pumpkin patch I need one more recipe... And since I am on a restricted diet and am no longer allowed gluten products, among many other things, here is one that falls into my limitations AND still tastes good.  My husband even likes them!

It is from Elana's Pantry...

Nut-Free Pumpkin Crumb Muffins

Serves:8Muffins

Ingredients

• Muffins
• 5 large eggs
• ⅓ cup canned pumpkin puree
• ⅓ cup coconut sugar
• ¼ cup coconut flour
• ⅛ teaspoon celtic sea salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
•  
• Topping
• ⅓ cup palm shortening
• ⅓ cup coconut sugar
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a food processor, combine eggs, pumpkin, and coconut sugar
2. Pulse in coconut flour, salt, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined
3. Divide batter between 8 paper lined muffin cups
4. Rinse out food processor
5. In a food processor, combine shortening and coconut sugar
6. Pulse in coconut flour and cinnamon
7. Sprinkle topping over cupcake batter
8. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes
9. Cool 1 hour
10. Serve

Recently, our grand-children enjoyed a trip to the local pumpkin patch...

The kiddos may be perfect, but just look at that "Wanky Pumpkin" on the right!

I hope that you have enjoyed your visit to my Scrappy Pumpkin Patch and that you will stop by again soon.  You can subscribe, or follow me on Bloglovin', but either way... Do stop by again.  You can also catch me on instagram @MelvaLovesScraps or on Facebook, again, Melva Loves Scraps. 

There are two opportunities to win a copy of Volume 16.  To be entered follow my blog, instagram or fb, and let me know which recipe you might try.

Be sure to stop by Quiltmaker too!  There are daily prizes to be won!  You don't want to miss out!

Happy quilting,

Melva

Here are the rest of the featured designers... 

Block #1559
Designed by: Cynthia Brunz, Cynthia Designs

Block #1560
Designed by: Kate Colleran, Seams Like a Dream

Block #1561
Designed by: Melissa Corry, Happy Quilting

Block #1530
Designed by: Abigail Dolinger

Block #1566
Designed by: Yvonne Fuchs, Quilting Jetgirl

Block #1567
Designed by: Leila Gardunia

Block #1597
Designed by: Anne Wiens, Sweetgrass Creative Designs

Day 3 - Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks - Volume 16 - Block Tour Road Rally

Welcome to Melva Love Scraps and Day Three of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks - Volume 16 - Road Rally!

Be sure to visit Quiltmaker's blog daily for the opportunity to enter to win prizes!

Visit each of the participating designer's blogs to learn about the origin of each block, explore layout options and get some tips and hints to help with the assembly of the blocks.

Block #1523
Designed by: Paige Alexander, Quilted Blooms

Block #1526
Designed by: Emily Breclaw, The Caffeinated Quilter

Block #1527
Designed by: Cheryl Brown, Quilter Chic

Block #1534
Designed by: Meg Hawkey, Crabapple Hill Studio

Block #1538
Designed by: Debby Kratovil, Quilter by Design

Block #1541
Designed by: Sarah Maxwell, Designs by Sarah J

Block #1529
Designed by: Sharon Denney Parcel, Yellow Cat Quilt Designs

Block #1545
Designed by: Jenny Kae Parks, Jenny Kae Quilts

Block #1549
Designed by: Terri Vanden Bosch, Lizard Quilting


Just one more day and I will be sharing my story of the Pumpkin Log block.  I will be sharing a few tips and hints about things I learned along the way as I designed the block.  I'll be sharing a few yummy pumpkin recipes too.  And, don't forget... a chance to win one of two copies of Volume 16!

So, for now, just for fun, tell me... 
What is your favorite road-tripping music?

Enjoy the Road Rally!

Melva

See what other quilters are talking about over at Quilter Blogs