Sunbonnet Sue Finish

According to The Classic Sewing Magazine Sun Bonnet Sue is known by many names including Dutch Doll, Bonnie Bonnet, “Sun Bonnet Baby,” and undoubtedly others, and is a textile image that has been popular for centuries. Widely portrayed in quilts, she is most often-depicted working, playing, and sometimes getting into trouble.

While Sunbonnet-clad little girls existed in quilt patterns of the 1800s, Sunbonnet Sue’s rise to folk image fame began in the early 1900s. Bertha Corbett Melcher published a book, “The Sunbonnet Babies,” in the year 1900, in which she depicted young girls with their faces hidden by bonnets.

In the published applique patterns that followed, Sue is typically shown in profile, wearing a large bonnet and an over-sized pinafore dress, similar to the illustrations in Bertha’s books.

Ladies Art Patterns was reportedly one of the first to issue Sunbonnet Sue appliques in 1900, and they later became available in catalogues. McCall’s pattern company also issued a version of Sue, available until the 1930s.

Sewists were enamored with the simple, happy scenes of Sue’s life, shadowed by her ever-present bonnet. During the years of the Great Depression, Sue’s popularity reportedly skyrocketed as people yearned for reminders of simpler times.

These blocks came to me via one of my husband's Aunts.  The blocks had been machine appliqued and then outlined by a running stitch - most likely by Dave's Great-Grandmother, Mary Chisholm.

As I considered how to set the blocks I thought that the outer border area needed something... but what???  I had time to ponder the options since I first I needed to applique one last Sue...




I'll be honest, I was glad that all of the girls had been machine appliqued onto the blocks... it made it fast and easy!  I had pulled a piece of vintage muslin that had come from a small collection of vintage fabrics I had received from my Dad's sister... she had gotten the fabrics from her mother (my paternal grandmother).  

I then sat down with some black embroidery thread to do the outlining, as Mary Chisholm did.  I had the dress and done and was ready to do the bow on the bonnet when I realized that she had "marked" the stitching line with some basting stitches.

On Mother's Day weekend I had pulled out some remnants of a vintage quilt repair that I had done a few years ago... I have reason to believe that it was a quilt done by the local Christian Church Ladies, including my Great-Grandmother, Lala Teegarden.  With the vintage piece I created a small wall hanging with a sweet message done in primitive lettering.  

I had a few more of these blocks left so I counted out how many hearts there were and I had JUST enough for a heart on each HST setting square and corners.  It was like it was meant to be!

To match the the girls, I did outline stitching on the hearts.  And because I wanted the girls and hearts to be the focus of the quilt, rather than any quilting, I did stitch in the ditch and simple outline stitching.  To finish it off, I chose a soft yellow for the binding

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this project.  When I work on such projects I feel a special connection to the past... to family members that I never had an opportunity to meet and get to know.

A connection to a time of life that was so simple, yet satisfying.  Times when family and neighbors would gather in the evening to enjoy conversation, a radio show, a cup of coffee or a glass of tea.  I am not saying that living during the Great Depression (or before the Depression) was a walk in the park... not at all!

This quilt took me back in time and had me thinking of the simpler times of my ancestors... but was it really a simpler time?  Work was a challenge!  Life was a challenge!

They worked so hard for what they had... They lived off of farm animals they raised and food from a garden. They sold crops to earn money. They worked as seamstresses. They sold eggs. They honored the word of a neighbor and knew them by name and would enjoy a sit on the front porch... Maybe life was just less complicated a hundred years ago.

The advancement of machinery and technology have evolved and changed our lives in ways that our ancestors would never have imagined.  What would the maker of this quilt think of today's time?  (Mary Magdalene Graf Chisholm lived from 1871 to 1977) A time where phones are not only wireless, but go everywhere with us?  Would she understand that they are mini computers with access to information that used to be available only in encyclopedias or news papers... AND used as cameras, maps and compasses and more...  

Shoot, my Dad's parents were farmers... would they understand the modern farm equipment with GPS to let them know if the rows are straight and able to offer the best production for the field?  The special feed that is fed to the cows and chickens so that they produce more milk or eggs? Probably not... 

What did your ancestors do in life? 

Leave a comment to let me know... I love to hear from my readers.  Be sure to leave an email address if you are a an anonymous or no-reply reader.

One last photo... I happened to step behind the quilt when I was taking a pictures and had a pleasant surprise!  

Sometimes a look back can be beautiful, yet a little foggy... details of the past can be lost or forgotten or blurred.  Don't lose the memories of your family!  They can be precious and a rare connection to the past... a part of the past that has made you who you are now.

Piece Happy!

Melva

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

Are you a member of a family of quilters?  

I would love to share your story!

Email me at MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com and let me know you are interested in being part of the series. 

Linking with:

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

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
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
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting

Break Away!

Last Tuesday Dave came in the house and said...

"We're going camping tomorrow.  I just can't do it any longer... I am tired and need a few days away."

Okay... It caught me off guard a little because we had planned on getting away, but I thought I had one more day.

There was so much I needed to do!  Where to start...  First things first, I finished the quilting on the vintage Grandmother's Flower Garden that I had been working on and then got the binding on the Sunbonnet Sue quilt ready for hand-stitching while we were gone.

I did a quick meal plan and fortunately didn't need to go to the store for anything!  Win!  That is one of the reasons I love my freezer meals so much.  They not only make meals easy at home, the leftovers are great as well! Most of the recipes offer three meals for us.

Wednesday morning we grabbed our clothes, food, reading materials and quilting project and hit the road!  We headed over Raton Pass and headed for Sugarite Canyon.  It was just a short 30-40 minute drive from our house.

In 2011 the area had been part of the Track Fire and suffered some serious devastation.  Large Ponderosa Pine forests and Aspen groves were destroyed. 

We enjoyed a 4-mile hike and took in the beauty of the area... yes, despite the scars left by the fire, there was new growth and the trees that did survive the fire looked healthy, strong and clean from the recent rain/snow storms that have been in the area.  Wild flowers carpeted some of the meadows.  There were wild iris, tiny daisies and small yellow and purple flowers... 

Birds were singing happily...  Hummingbirds were zipping around and I happened to see one land on a tree branch right next to the trail.  Turns out it was protecting its nest!  (I marked it with the red arrow.)

Upon our return to our campsite we enjoyed a quiet happy hour...

Don't worry I didn't forget about the quilt binding that was waiting for me. 😉

I worked on the binding of the Sun Bonnet Sue quilt after dinner... until I could no longer see well and threading the needle was a challenge with the limited lighting.

The next morning we were a little disappointed that it was cool, overcast and a little damp... but we returned to the same trailhead as the day before with plans to go the other direction and make the large loop - 6 miles.   




We hiked up to the top of Little Horse Mesa.  It was a short .25 mile, up and back trail off of the main trail, a strenuous 300-foot climb.  The view would have been spectacular if we had been able to see farther than 1/4 of a mile!

While we were somewhat bear aware, we were a little lackadaisical because we had not seen large wildlife the day before because it was warm and mid-afternoon.  It was shortly after the climb to the top of the mesa that we startled a bear!  We had not been particularly quiet, but we certainly were not making an abundance of noise either...

I was in front and I suddenly heard some loud crashing through the brush... all I saw was a large bear butt that had crossed the trail, running toward the rock wall to our right.  Dave quickly grabbed me by the shoulders to put himself between me and the bear...  we listened carefully to assess whether there was other activity... like bear cubs!  The LAST thing we wanted to do was get between a momma bear and her cubs!  We could hear the bear that was attached to that big butt and he was NOT happy.  When we were certain that there was no further danger immediately in front of us on the trail, we walked as quick as we could (without running) to put some distance between us and that angry bear... calling out "YO Bear!"  and "MARCO" "POLO" so that we wouldn't startle any other dangerous wildlife...  Whew...

After making it to the lake we enjoyed lunch and continued on... without any further excitement!  Until...

We had about one more mile to go, but I was getting tired!  I needed more frequent stops to rest and water.  We stopped near the top of the last hill, near where these burned out trees were...

I was feeling as hollow as these trees... despite the copious amount of water that I had been drinking!  I sat and watched a busy little bumble bee that was buzzing around the tree stump there...  Dave was making observations of the area around us.  He spotted another bear near the rim rock of the mesa.  

He lost sight of him and knowing that the trail would take us even closer to the bear he decided that we needed to hike down a ravine through the woods to the road below...  He was moving fast... faster than I felt like I was really wanting to go safely... I was tripping over stumps and branches and was growing weaker... We startled some deer.  At least it wasn't a bear!  I would have been a goner!

Long story short... we made it back to the campsite safely.  I consumed great amounts of water and we took a nap.

I was sore for days after that exciting hike!  But we are already planning our next... It will be to the Great Sand Dunes.  Trust me... we will be better prepared for any wildlife encounters!

Here's a peek at the finished quilt... I'll be sharing its story with you soon. 

Do you take quilty projects with you when you break away from your everyday routine?  

What sort of projects?

Leave a comment... I love to hear from my readers. :)  

Piece Happy!

Melva

Linking with:
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Colour & Inspiration Tuesday at Clever Chameleon Quilting
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

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

Scrap Dance Minuet Mystery Quilt Continues

Carole at From My Carolina Home released step four of the Minuet Mystery Quilt and I made quick work of it...  

It involved connecting the flying geese units and the light/print bricks.


The piecing of the mystery quilt is so similar to life... we don't always know what the end result of a situation will be.  We simply trust the designer of life.  In the quilting world, we trust that the designer of the quilt pattern.

In book 11 of the Patchwork Mysteries, Squared Away, the lead character reflects on a similar topic...

"Sarah thought about how life was often like a quilt.  One piece may not go exactly the way she hoped, but in the end God had a way of pulling all the disparate pieces together and creating a story that brought Him glory."

"As she studied it, she realized it was a great example of what God did in her life.  He took the beautiful things he had created, then added in scraps and pieces here and there to complete the picture.  And what he worked was always beautiful, even if it was not exactly what she had in mind.  

A smile creased her lips as she considered the quilt.  Would anyone else see the story woven into the mix of squares?  Unlikely.  But she knew.  And today that was enough."

This has become the primary purpose of my blog... to share the stories of the quilts I make.  To answer the why's of my choices... of fabric, color, patterns, etc.  And, on occasion, I answer the how's with a tutorial... or how I organize my life to allow for more quilting time with freezer meals and quick prep meals.

In just a short time the next clue of the mystery quilt will be revealed and will probably reveal whether or not my fabric choices were acceptable or not... but then again, when can you really go wrong with scrappy??? 😉

Do your quilts tell a story?  

Will your family or the recipients of your quilts know the story?  Your story?

Leave a comment and let me know how you record your stories... I'd love to hear from you!

Piece Out,

Melva

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

Are you a member of a family of quilters?  

I would love to share your story!

Email me at MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com and let me know you are interested in being part of the series. 

Linking with:

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts

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

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

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

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
Color Challenge by Patterns By Jen

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