A World of Hearts

Saturday was my birthday... a speed limit birthday.  I had honestly forgotten what day it was - I'm pretty sure everyone is in the same boat since the days of the last month+ have all become a big ol' blur.  I was reminded when I sat down and signed into facebook.  The birthday greetings were awesome!

As my mind was waking up at 5 a.m. I had a quilt idea in my head.  it would be a tiny quilt... I'm not sure what my obsession with tiny hand-sewn hello 5" x 7" quilts are lately, but it was an idea that would not go ignored!  

As I wandered to the kitchen to start our morning routine... let Shelby out, make coffee, pour juice, bring Shelby back in and feed her... I looked forward to some time in my studio.

Time spent in my studio recently has been spent scrapbooking and mask making.  I've been working on documenting our life's activities in 2017... Rebecca's and David's wedding was the big event 2017.  It was also the year we  purchased our truck camper and enjoyed a 10-day camping trip... all in all, a good trip down memory lane.

I realized that having this blog is a great tool... it offers a timeline of quilts and events as well as photos and all the details.  It helps to speed up the process. 

On Saturday morning I snuck in to my happy place and grabbed a few pieces of muslin, fusible batting and some red batik to implement my idea...  The whole project didn't require much... small scraps were suffice.

I needed a two inch square of red that I quickly cut into strips and then cut again, cross-wise to create some "confetti".  I carefully sprinkled that red confetti onto the prepared muslin sandwich in the shape of a heart.  I then covered the heart shape with some ivory tulle.  I did some free-motion heart-shaped quilting with transparent thread to secure the pieces into place.

The look of matchstick quilting has always appealed to me but the more traditional looking, scrappy projects that I tend to make doesn't really lend itself to the modern look of matchstick quilting.  This was my opportunity!

I had the hand-sewn hello ready to be trimmed and for binding in less than 30 minutes.

As our time of "social distancing" due to the threat of the corona virus draws to a close I have seen reports of how the earth and the atmosphere has been healing.  For so many that have been driven by productivity or over-filled schedules of meetings and activities, this may have been a time for healing as well.  

For some, not having the opportunity to get away from toxic relationships or atmospheres, it has been dangerous, perhaps both physically and mentally.  For those in such a situation, my prayers go out to you.

For some, it will not be "safe" to return to their "normal" activities, possibly for months... For those, I will pray for your safety and protection.

For all the parents that are suddenly forced into a "home-school" situation... I feel for you and will pray for you and your children.  

I am naturally a social introvert and staying at home is usually one of my favorite things to do... the social distancing hasn't really affected our lives... for this I offer gratitude! But sometimes the two-year-old inside of me wants to rebel just because I have been told "no."  If there are others out there that feel the same... I'll pray us.

As our hearts join together, as we navigate the next steps in our current world remember to let your heart speak to others' hearts.  

Blessings!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Pieces From The Past Sew Along

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

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
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
Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Masks, Fishes and Loaves

Like so many other quilters and sewist around the world, I have been making masks to be used during this current health crisis.  I have mixed feeling about the virus that I will not go into... but when asked by others if I can make them masks, I have done so.

The first batch, which consumed all of my elastic supply (or so I thought).  Shortly after I had a friend ask if I had any to spare... I checked in the back of the drawer in my sewing table and found some more laying loose back there!  I shared... depleting my supply again... or so I thought.














Last week the Colorado Governor announced that everyone should wear a mask when going out... I was asked by two more friends if I would be able to help them.  I went back to that same drawer and pulled out a storage bag and found even more elastic. At the same time I was asked by another friend if I had any to spare.  I shared a portion and used the rest for masks... depleting my supply once again... Yep!  Or so I thought!

I had only 3/8" elastic... and then I looked in a box under my cutting table that I had received from my sister-in-love more than a year ago.  Guess what?!?!?

I found more elastic...

During this very challenging week and the anticipated news of peak cases of COVID-19 and deaths that happens to come during Holy Week I am reminded that Jesus fed the multitudes... TWICE!  And both times when everyone had their fill, the disciples gathered up what was leftover... YES!  Leftover!  

I have not dug any deeper than necessary in this little box of treasures...  I don't need to right now.  I have all that I need.  Will I need more elastic??? Time will tell...

As I was cutting fabric for the masks I had a bit left over of this sweet birds and flower fabric and the passage from Matthew 6 came to mind... "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

I had to make a tiny quilt to remind me... I will always be taken care of... and we will have MORE than enough.

The free-motion script is a little primitive, but it was a welcome break at times that I really needed it.  And that super tiny binding (overall width was just 1 inch) was found in a stash of other items passed on to me from a friend or family member cleaning out a loved one's sewing supplies.

After finishing another small order of masks this morning I sat and enjoyed some "big stitching" that wasn't really big stitches at all... Using a double strand of regular coats & clark thread (also from someone else's sewing stash) I sat and soaked in some quiet time.  

What are you doing to keep your creativity and positive thoughts flowing?  

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

Quilt Happy!

Melva

Linking with:

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
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
Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts