All Aboard!
Welcome to the Nifty Novelties blog hop hosted by Marian at Seams to be Sew .
There will be a list of all participating bloggers at the end of this post, as well as details for a give away. Everyone loves a chance to win, right?
This hop is a time to celebrate all of the cute and fun themed fabrics that are out there. Do you want a particular theme? I'm willing to bet you can find it! Bears, cats, dogs, horses, rainbows, music... and so much more!
A few years ago I acquired a fabric stash that had belonged to the mother of one of my friends. {{Everyone needs friends like this! lol...}} And the stash had many, many panels and novelty print fabrics.
To name a few of them... there was Dora the Explorer, hot air balloons, Captain Frog, Beatitude Bears, nautical themed and trains.
I had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use the Thomas the Train fabric. Last year I was asked to donate an item for a silent auction and saw it as the chance.
Thomas and friends was a favorite show of my girls when they were little. And I was certain that some baby boy would be able to enjoy the fruits of my labor... It was a really quick quilt and the photo shoot was one of the first shoots where I tried to up my game and have more that just a quilt. My goal was to capture some background that would relate to the name/theme of the quilt.
I still had yards of fabric left over and it went back into my stash storage closet until this fall. Recently, I have been enjoying some pattern testing and when I saw the Quilt Crush pattern at Patterns By Jen I felt this was another great opportunity to feature Thomas the Train and rail yard fabric.
I fussy cut the center of the squares to feature the various characters on the fabric...
I recruited a friend for the photography and I think she captured the theme perfectly! When I explained that it was a train quilt and I wanted to use some of the local train setting areas she was on board. (see what I just did there? 😉 )
It was a bit gusty that day and we may have stopped the traffic because we were standing in the middle of road to get a shot...
One visitor near the above engine snapped a few photos with his phone as he carefully passed us. We got a good laugh as we said "be sure to mention Melva Loves Scraps when you post it on social media!"
Look! Even Mr. Conductor made it in the photos!
Jen's pattern makes up very quickly. The blocks are big and would be excellent for a beginning quilter.
But I have to admit that the thing I overlooked was the placement of the half-square triangles...
Oh the pictures here look fine.
But take a peek at the photo below ↓
I noticed the error of my ways before I quilted it... I tried to ignore it. I tried to convince myself that it was fine... but my conscience would not let it go! I ripped out the misplaced blocks and turned them to make the correction.
And I felt so much better! And the change really did make it more interesting.
My stop on this hop is just a brief one... but don't jump off the fun train yet!
Be sure to visit all of the stops on the tour! There are different prizes available at each blog... and you will not want to miss out on the opportunity these prizes!
So, how do you enter??? Well, let's see...
Tell me about a train museum or train trip that you have enjoyed...
Simple as that... Leave a comment by November 4th!
But don't forget to leave behind an email address if you are an anonymous or no-reply reader... Like this >>> MelvaLovesScraps(at)NolanQualityCustoms(dot)com It would be very sad to select a winner and have no way of contacting them.
Oh, and by the way, Marian has done an amazing job at acquiring the FQ prize bundles for this hop but has noted that the cost of mailing the prizes will be $4. Where else can you get 10 fat quarters for just 4 bucks???
Thursday, October 24
Friday, October 25
Monday, October 28
Melva
To enter click here>>> a Rafflecopter giveaway
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
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique
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
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Thank you so much for sharing your story and your lovely projects. Thomas the Train is one of my favorites also.
ReplyDeleteMy best train trip ever was probably also the shortest one I've been on - travelling from New Jersey to New York. I was travelling with my parents at the time and my dad refused to drive in New York. A train trip and yellow cab got us to the airport. :-)
Best email to reach me currently is: Ronelle.Serfontein@ubank.co.za
Although in South Africa, I do have US address (should I be the lucky one to win).
Great job on the quilt! It'll be a lucky silent auction winner who gets it.
ReplyDeleteGreat pattern! It looked good with all the dark on one side, but I am with you. I like the finished way better. And I know how you feel. I've been there several times myself. It looks good design wise, but isn't what it was supposed to be so I'd start ripping.
ReplyDeleteSuper cute! Love the finished project!
ReplyDeleteI like Thomas. Neat use of the fabric, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great idea!! I love your usage and the way you placed your final blocks. I have never had the pleasure of taking a train trip, but it is on my bucket list!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I went north on a train trip to view the fall colours. Temagami, Ontario - it was such a wonderful day trip with a fiddler on the train.
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt. Never ridden on a train.
ReplyDeleteFun quilt! I love the Railway Museum in York England...so many huge trains!
ReplyDeleteI commented at Melva Loves Scraps.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a train buff so we have taken many, many train rides. We have been to the Durbin Rocket, Tygart Flyer and Cass Scenic Railroads (all in West Virginia), the Essex Steam train in Connecticut, and the Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville, Tennessee just to name a few.
ReplyDeleteWhenever we travel we try to find a tourist train. . . it is kind of like a "busman's holiday" but my husband gets to talk to other train people. Since he volunteers on a tourist train he is always looing to see how other trains operate.
I love how your quilt turned out. I also did a testing for Jen. . . but I used oriental themed fabrics.
When I was 19 I took a train ride from Edmonton Alberta to Truro Nova Scotia. I rode couch so sat up for the whole trip (5 days and 4 nights). A very scenic ride.
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt - used to travel by train in the Rockies - beautiful scenery!!
ReplyDeleteCute quilt and a fun project. One lucky winner for sure.
ReplyDeleteMy son loved trains as a child, so one winter we took the "Snow Train" , also known as the Algoma, from Sault Ste Marie in the upper peninsula of Michigan into northern Ontario. It was very cold and a snowy day but the views were awesome!
ReplyDeleteNow my grandson loves Thomas and his buddies so I made him an I Spy quilt with Thomas fabric.
This QAL looks like fun! I still have a lot of kids fabrics.
What a great photo shoot! I'm a train lover from way back into childhood ... when people could actually travel the entire country by train! My favorite thing Paul and I did was train chasing, usually the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad between Chama, NM, and Antonito, CO. We liked it better than the Durango train, which is also very nice, but not so good for chasing, in our opinion.
ReplyDeleteI love trains so this was fun. I am entering at melva loves scraps.
ReplyDeleteLove, love the quilt, and the photo shoot just makes it even more adorable!
ReplyDeleteHi Melva, I love your train quilt. I saw the error but since you were consistent, it could have passed :-) When we were kids, we used to go to a little park in a neighbouring town that had a cool train structure. We spent a lot of time playing there. I also love riding trains.
ReplyDeleteEntering at Melva Loves Scraps. My first train ride was from Everett, Wa to Portland, Or to visit with my grandkids. It is the only way to go! Just recently sent my daughter and granddaughter on the same trip. They thoroughly enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI went on a train trip in eastern Nevada, from the little town of Ely to a mine with a bunch of educators when I was at a Nevada Gem and Minerals Society conference. It was so much fun to sip wine and enjoy the vast, untouched land of eastern Nevada...miles and miles with no sign of human habitation. I've also ridden a train from Nevada to Nebraska when I was 5, but my memories of that are very dim. I love that train track run through the farm where I live...when I'm out riding my horse and wave at them, they will honk at us.
ReplyDeleteEntered at " Melva Loves Scraps" We took a cool train ride in Sugar Creek, Ohio in the Fall of 1994. It was Gorgeous with changing leaves & all. We plan to go again sometime.. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm entering at Melva Loves Scraps. About seven years ago some of my husbands' siblings, along with our oldest daughter plus ourselves travelled to London, England to visit & celebrate their Aunts' 80th birthday. The smartest thing we did was purchase transit passes & we toured the sights of the city easily. We also purchased train tickets to get to Skegness where our Aunt lives & then on to Edinburgh, Scotland. Great sights were seen & relatively stress free as compared to being in a rental car in Scotland whilst hubby drove & daughter navigated!
ReplyDeleteThis summer we went to the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum in Capreal, Ontario Canada. It is a small town but well worth the visit.
ReplyDeleteJust a few weeks ago my daughter and husband took their 3-year old to Strasburg, PA to the train museum to see Thomas and his friends!! He was so excited!! :-) When out children were young we took them there and stayed in a caboose motel! Great fun!! Thanks for the chance to win!!
ReplyDeleteThe Western Development Museum in Saskatoon, Sask has a train inside the museum. Awesome looking.
ReplyDeleteWe have an old train depot as a museum in our small town--it has many interesting exhibits of times gone by including clothing, photos, kitchen items, beautiful glassware etc, machinery, an old windmill head and so much more!barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)
ReplyDeleteI am entering at Melva Loves Scraps--I previously commented about the old depot that is a wonderful museum in our town,
ReplyDeletebarbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)
We had the pleasure of visiting the Agawa Canyon in northern Ontario by rail in the fall. On my bucket list is a Rocky Mountaineer trip through the Rocky Mountains! Entering at Melva Loves Scraps.
ReplyDeletebasaran.family (at) rogers (dot) com
Melva Loves Scraps. My Grandpa worked for Wabash RR. He would get passes and take us to Chicago for the day. I loved riding in the Dome car. For a young child, it was almost like flying!
ReplyDeleteHope your girls enjoyed your quilting train journey as well!
ReplyDeleteThomas the train is a cute quilt.
ReplyDeleteWe visited the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer NC, which is the site of the original Spencer Shops where they repaired steam locomotives. They have a roundhouse, which is pretty neat to watch in operation. Entering at Melva Loves Scraps. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy boys too both loved Thomas the Tank when they were kids. Your quilt is sweet! We traveled to many place to see trains and I remember the museum in Sacramento, Ca. It was fun and I think even more so now as I believe it’s expanded quit a bit!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute quilt, love rhe layout!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable couple of quilts and what a fun place for a photo shoot. Your friends eye for things make for fabulous photos. Great post!
ReplyDeleteWonderful quilts! I took the kiddos to ride the train around Stone Mountain in Georgia! Thank you, Susan
ReplyDeleteCommenting on Melva Loves Scraps! Yay! Took the kiddos to ride the old train around Stone Mountain, Georgia! Thank you, Susan
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun quilt!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melva for sharing such a cute project and great photos. Except for rides at the zoo and the south shore between South Bend and Chicago, I've not been on a train but it looks like it would be such fun! So glad to have been able to visit your blog!
ReplyDeleteEntering from Melva Love Scraps. I love novelty prints too. I've made many quilts using them. Yours are really cute.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is lovely, and the placement of the blocks (after a slight adjustment) is very effective. Someone got extremely lucky at that silent auction.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite train trip was a number of years back, my mother and I drove down from Ontario, Canada to Florida, and we stopped in Dollywood. I wore white jeans, and we took the train up in the Smokies - and it was run by coal - needless to say, don't touch your jeans was the order of the day. I did stay looking white, and we had a wonderful day in Tennesee.
Entered at Melva Loves Scraps. I love the Quilt Crush that you made. Nancy A: SewingGranda@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteEntry for Melva loves Scraps. I have not been on a train but someday would like to ride across the Pacific Northwest! Thank you for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI know a little guy who would love the Thomas the Train quilt!
ReplyDeleteI love trains! I was raised in Chicago and my mother let me ride the Rock Island line to downtown from when I was 12 years old. I would spend hours roaming through Marshall Field's Department store. Such wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteMelva Loves Scraps! Very cute quilt! Looks fast and easy which is what I like. I have never been to a train museum but my hubby used to make models for his train sets. He was very particular with them, even to putting worn marks and peeling paint on buildings, broken down cars and trash in areas etc. He ended up donating most of his stuff to a club as he didn't have time to spend on it.
ReplyDeleteWe took our young grandsons to local train depot just to watch the trains. Cheap fun for all!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great. It's been years since I have visited the transportation museum near me, like grade school. Thank you for linking up to Put your foot down and the memories.
ReplyDeleteSoooo cute! My son would have loved this when he was little and into Thomas! Thanks for sharing xx
ReplyDeleteVery cute, and perfect for this hop! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute quilt! And what a fun way to photograph it. Thank you linking up to Creative Compulsions!
ReplyDeleteThomas and Friends: The Endearing World of Railway Adventures
ReplyDeleteIn the world of children's entertainment, few characters have captured the hearts of kids and parents alike as effectively as Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. With their vibrant personalities and timeless stories, these lovable locomotives have been a source of joy and inspiration for generations. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of "Thomas and Friends," exploring its history, characters, educational value, and enduring popularity.
The Origins of Thomas and Friends
The story of Thomas the Tank Engine began over seven decades ago when the Reverend W. Awdry created the character for his son. Little did he know that this humble start would lead to a global phenomenon. Thomas first chugged onto the literary scene in 1945 in a book titled "The Railway Series," introducing readers to a world where trains had personalities and feelings.
The Beloved Characters
1. Thomas
Thomas, the cheeky blue tank engine, is the star of the show. With his can-do attitude and adventurous spirit, he teaches kids valuable lessons about determination and teamwork.
2. Percy
Percy is a small, green engine with a big heart. His shyness and willingness to help others make him a favorite among young viewers.
3. James
James, the bright red engine, may be a bit vain, but he learns important lessons about humility and friendship throughout the series.
4. Emily
Emily, a strong and independent female engine, challenges stereotypes and encourages girls to pursue their dreams.
The Educational Value
"Thomas and Friends" is more than just entertainment; it's a valuable educational tool. Through the adventures of these lovable trains, children learn about important life lessons such as friendship, problem-solving, and the value of hard work. The show also introduces kids to basic concepts of mathematics, geography, and science, all while fostering their creativity and imagination.
The Enduring Popularity
One might wonder how a series about talking trains has managed to stay relevant for so long. The answer lies in its timeless storytelling and relatable characters. Parents who grew up with Thomas are now sharing the adventures of these beloved locomotives with their own children, creating a multigenerational fanbase. Additionally, the show's commitment to evolving with the times has kept it fresh and engaging for new audiences.
Thomas and Friends Merchandise
The appeal of Thomas and his friends extends beyond the screen and books. The franchise has a vast array of merchandise, from toys and clothing to bedding and accessories. This merchandise allows children to bring the magic of Sodor Island into their everyday lives.
The Global Reach
"Thomas and Friends" has transcended cultural boundaries, enchanting children worldwide. The show has been translated into numerous languages, making it accessible to a diverse audience. Its universal themes of friendship and teamwork resonate with children from all walks of life.
Conclusion
In a world filled with fleeting trends, "Thomas and Friends" stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the capacity for beloved characters to leave a lasting impact. With its educational value, heartwarming stories, and diverse cast of characters, this beloved series continues to bring joy and valuable life lessons to children and parents alike.
Thomas and Friends