Thursday, April 9, 2020

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




16 comments:

  1. Bonnie Hunter is using t-shirt fabric cut in 1" widths and stretched until it rolls. Can use as ties or cut short and ear loops.

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  2. I just love that...the perfect verse, and one I have heard frequently during this time!! Be safe!

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  3. Amen, Melva! Such a great reminder that He will keep us during this difficult time. Still trying to get over the pain and discomfort of these shingles, but I made masks for my grands, a pink kitty, a green kitty and an orange dog! Hopefully today I can make some for us and my daughter and SIL. Our pastor and his wife delivered us communion kits yesterday and will deliver some today as well, for Sunday service that will be streaming on FaceBook, YouTube and our church website. This will be a very different Easter, but satan cannot stop us from celebrating our Savior's resurrection!

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  4. Your mini is very cute and so appropriate during these trying times. What a great way to remind you to kept your focus on the Lord!

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  5. Your new little mini quilt is SEW sweet!!

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  6. Who knew that elastic would become a prized commodity? I love your little quilt with such an appropriate saying.
    Happy Easter!

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  7. That's a pretty little project, and inspiring

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  8. This is one of my favourite passages. "His eye is on the sparrow" This is very nice, Melva. Thanks, btw, for the embroidery pattern.

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  9. I loved your story of the neverending flow of elastic from your stash. A perfect analogy for the love of our Savior for each of us. I often quote that verse to my husband in his moments of discouragement.

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  10. I love the words in your tiny quilt from scripture. It was a great pick me up today!

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  11. The elastic story is so great - and appropriate for this time of year! Stay healthy!!

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  12. It is funny how us quilters/sewists also seem to find just a bit more lurking somewhere in the sewing room. Well done on the free motion writing.

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  13. Can't believe you kept finding elastic. Talk about the loaves and fishes...

    I hope you are well my friend. Keep sewing and seeking solace. It will come. Thanks for linking up to Wednesday Wait Loss.

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  14. I like your masks, Melva. And I love the story about the elastic masking the 5,000. 😉 Sweet mini! Happy Easter!!!

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  15. Loaves and fish, or in this case elastic, I love your mini and will be treasured for years to come. Thank you so much for linking up to Put your foot down last week. Sorry about the delay, lots of sewing going on around here.

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  16. Love you keep looking and voila you find another hunk of it. I've been making masks for my neighbors and an ambulance company and most importantly, my family. Stay safe and sew on.

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