Wednesday, April 22, 2020

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



12 comments:

  1. Good morning, Melva! Happy Happy Birthday belatedly. I'm sorry I missed it, darn it. Of course, I'm of the frame of mind that you should celebrate all month long! {{Hugs}} I love your little heart mini quilt. It is amazing to me how often quilters are inspired during the overnight hours. Many awake with ideas that they have to get on paper or on actual fabric. It sounds like this was one, and it is a good one. I also awoke with a solution to something I was struggling with yesterday, so I'm anxious to give it a try. {{Hugs}} again. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  2. I love that - a speed limit birthday! You must mean the school zone speed limit! Lovely mini and lovely sentiments. Doing ok here, finally moving on a few stuck things....thats good for all of us!

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  3. I hope you had a very Happy Birthday Melva. I am wishing you many, many more to come.
    What a lovely mini! I think some of our best ideas come to us in the early morning time.If I am trying to figure something out, it usually comes to me before I get completely awake.I have gotten some really great ideas that way.

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  4. Happy birthday, Melva! I didn't realize you were only 35! Your mini-mail is wonderful and ingenious.

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  5. Happy speed limit birthday, Melva. I too will hit a speed limit birthday this summer -- the Sammy Hagar one... I love your cute mini and what you did with the red scraps. Great idea also for the match stick quilting. Yes, our blogs often come in handy for special occasion timelines.

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  6. Happy Belated Birthday....had to laugh...speed limit birthday...lol....of course I wondered if it was the speed limit on country roads, 35; or on the highway, 55; or interstate limit of 70! I'm closer to the latter but not there yet. Love your blog...haven't said "thank you" to you in writing...but I do say it quite often as I read and share your patterns. THANK YOU!!!

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  7. Happy Belated Birthday Melva! Sweet little heart project too!

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  8. Just HAVING a birthday now is time for celebration, so Happy Birthday, Melva! Hearts to you, friend!

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  9. Oh!! THis heart is just perfect = perfect for all the thoughts and prayers you are sharing, and perfect way to commemorate a birthday - Happy Birthday!!

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  10. Happy belated birthday. Some of my best ideas come to me in dreams, then I cant get back to sleep because my thoughts keep building on the dream. Your heart mini is cute. Thank you for linking up to Put your foot down.

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  11. Such a sweet little heart quilt! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.

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  12. Such a sweet heart quilt! Perfect for thoughts of gratefulness and prayers for healing. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.

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