I pondered life in general, but more specifically I was pondering the digital quilting community. Through this blog, as well as social media (fb, instagram and bloglovin') I have met so many wonderful and talented quilters.
And with my current Pieces From The Past Sew Along that community has grown even more. If you are not familiar with the sew along, it features vintage Kansas City Star patterns that my Grandma had collected and letters that were written to my Grandparents from former German Prisoners of War that were housed at Camp Trinidad from 1943 to 1946. With each letter and pattern there is a brief story or memory from one of my cousins, a recipe that Grandma may have used, or a tidbit of history that is connected to the letter.
Along with each pattern there is an opportunity to link a photo of your finished block to be entered for a chance to win a free fat-quarter. No need to be a blogger or even to be on social media. Email me a picture of your finished block and I will make it all happen!
In order to make linky opportunity available for the sew along I have a one-year subscription with link-up provider. BUT because the sew along is scheduled to run more than just 12 months (and a need to renew extend the subscription for another year) I don't want to let the remainder of the subscription to go unused. So..... that is where the brainstorming comes into play.
I am looking for ideas for link up opportunities, again with no need to be a blog writer.
One idea that I have considered is a weekly "Throwback Thursday" party... We work so diligently on our quilts, photo shoots and posts and then move on. Why not revisit some of our favorite projects and show them some love and attention again. Each link up will likely have a "theme" or subject matter... such as most challenging quilt or the various techniques (applique, paper pieced, hand-quilted, etc.) or featured colors.
But enough of my pondering... Did I meet my two Tuesday goals?
✔ Borders and sandwiching the king-sized quilt
✔ And if all goes well, start quilting said quilt!
I DID! Woo hoo!
Here's a better shot of the quilt with borders.
My two things to complete before next Tuesday will be to:
❧ Finish quilting this quilt...
❧ Bind the quilt.
Don't forget to leave an idea for future linky parties! I am ready to hear all of the ideas. :)
Piece Out,
Melva
Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Pieces From The Past Sew Along
that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!
Linking with:
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
To Do Tuesday at Home Sewn By Us
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
Hi Melva! Hmmm. I don't have an idea for a new linky party but I'll think on it. The commissioned quilt turned out really nicely - that's the first photo I recall seeing it all together. Your customer is going to be so happy and excited if they see this picture! Thanks for linking up today. ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteHi, Melva! I'm considering starting a new linky party soon, too, but mine would focus on long arm machine quilting. My reasoning is that I feel like there are a lot of quilters out there in the same boat I am, having splurged on a long arm machine and now we are all alone in our studios with the Beast, trying to learn how to use it all by ourselves... Unlike when we're trying to learn piecing or appliqué, most of us don't know very many other quilters locally who are also long arming, so it's harder to find those relationships of mutual support and encouragement around Long Arm Learning than it is with other aspects of quilting.
ReplyDeleteI know that someone else used to run a quilting linky party similar to what you're thinking of with Throwbacks -- I think hers was called Archives something or other. Like you're thinking of doing, she also had a theme for each linky party. I liked the blogger who was hosting it and enjoyed seeing her posts and the other posts that were linked up, but I found that more often than not I just did not have any old posts or projects that went with her themes, so I usually could not participate. Like maybe it was "heart quilts" or "I Spy quilts," or "Log Cabin" or whatever. If you never made one of those, you can't participate. I think that's why her linky party petered out and disappeared, because after people try to participate for a couple of weeks but they don't have anything that fits the criteria, they stop checking back.
You know what I would LOVE to see for your next linky party? There are so many linky parties that are about showing off fabulous finished projects, but so many of us get stuck along the way and end up abandoning a project because we hit a road block. What if the theme of your new linky party was themed like a Dear Abby for Quilters (you could call it Dear Melva Monday), or Trouble Shooting Tuesday, or something like that? You would encourage people to link up a post showing something they are having trouble with right now, or a solution they found to a problem they were facing. And then when we all visit each other's posts, we can give each other suggestions for how to solve their quilting problem the way we would do if we were all in a gigantic, worldwide quilting bee together? I would be linking up with that party for sure... Because when I get discouraged about something that isn't working for me, not only is it great to reach out to other quilters who might be able to help me, but when I am able to help someone ELSE with a problem, that is the best feeling of all! :-)
That is a gorgeous quilt!
ReplyDeleteThe "Throw Back Thursday" idea is wonderful! It seems a shame when we leave behind our treasured projects.
ReplyDeleteI like Rebecca's idea of a trouble-shooting/problem solving link up. I miss the Tips & Tutorials Tuesday link up.
ReplyDeleteThrowback! Yes, let's look at where we began and later some of our progress since then!
ReplyDeleteWow, your quilt is finishing up well. Good luck with your goals, and the pondering. Linkys are such fickle things.... lots of people one week, so few the next, but at the moment connectedness is so important that whatever you decide will be a blessing to someone. Thanks for linking to the Chameleon's Colour & Inspiration party. :)
ReplyDeleteLove, love your commissioned quilt! I hope you get it quilted soon and bound because I know that will be a great feeling. Thanks for linking up to Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt! A Throwback party is a good idea!
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