Purple Charm Quilt

Am I the only one that recalls the "chain letters" that were ever so popular in the 70's?  There were many that were for recipes or hand or dish towels.  And then in the 90's, just as I had a growing interest in quilting, I had received one for purple fabric squares.

I did as the letter requested and sent off the the proper number of purple squares but got nothing back.  And that is the very reason I have passed on the "secret sister" things that were oh so popular in November and December on facebook.

Now, here I am in the "roaring 20s" and I got another request for purple squares.  This one from our friend in Nebraska.  I actually received it in November... the letter states that if I want to participate I should follow through with all the instructions within a week.  Ooops... my bad!

Perhaps the problem with these "chain letters" ("quilt tree" as the letter called it) is that the recipients of the letters are not asked if they want to participate.  So I bring this question to you...

Do YOU want to be a part of a quilt tree with the potential of receiving 72 six-inch squares?

 

I am in search of four quilting friends that are willing to participate.  You will need a total of ten 6-inch squares of purple fabric to send off, as well as five envelopes and stamps.  Here's my selection of purple squares.  They are actually 7" square (pre-cut and part of a "souvenir" that my girls brought back from their  Hawaiian Girl Scout Trip. {17 years ago??? no way!})

If one really does receive 72 squares, you can make a quilt that is 8 blocks wide by 9 blocks long and will measure 44x49-1/2 inches.  With a border added, it would be a small lap quilt or a great baby quilt.  It would be a great charity quilt...  purple is the "color" for Alzheimer's... and since my Dad spent 4-1/2 years in the nursing home because of it, that is where my quilt would go. 💜

If you were to make a charity quilt with the blocks you receive, where would your donation go to?

Interested in participating?  Send me an email with subject line of "Purple Quilt" and your US mailing address in the body of the message to me at MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com

One of the primary reasons I have chosen to be a part of this activity is because of who the request was from.  Our friend Susan was married to my husband's college room-mate.  Though we were never really all that close through the years, she reached out to us when her husband, also named Dave, passed away unexpectedly nearly two years ago from a heart attack.  

She doesn't do much with technology or social media, but she is a GREAT letter writer.  In fact she and her husband wrote letters to each other for months before ever meeting in person.

Last fall when I had participated in the postcard swap, I sent her one of my extra postcards.  She was excited to be the recipient of one and had stated that she had just heard of quilted postcards at one of her jobs ~ JoAnn Fabrics.  Just a few weeks ago, just prior to Valentines Day, we received one of her creations.  Isn't it great?

It is time to send her a hand-written note so that we continue to stay in touch.  In this electronic age, getting "real mail" is a treat!  You should surprise someone with a special note...

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear of the organizations other support with charity quilts.

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Two To Bind

I did it!  The commissioned t-shirt quilts are ready for binding... and I thought I was going to be hand-sewing them in the car on the way to our friends in Texas...  I am giving up.  

Once again, postponed, this time because the weekend was just too much fun with the grand-daughters.

The day of sledding (well, two hours of actual time at Cuchara Mountain Park) wore the girls out!  

We were lucky enough to find snow pants and boots in the right sizes and sleds at the local thrift shop, all for $21.  They made good use of them as they played in the snow on Friday after arriving at our house and again on Saturday at the mountain park.  They even ventured out again for a short time on Sunday afternoon.  

There were giggles and squeals and a few wipe outs and then laughter again.  There was some huffing and puffing on all our parts as we we hoofed it up the hill and some whining by the littles.  We just encouraged them to stop and catch their breath and that it wasn't a race to get to the top.

They were happily reunited with their Mom last night after her 12-hour shift at work and we returned home to the quiet that was nearly deafening, yet so pleasant.  Dave and I laugh all the time about how wonderful it is to see them arrive for a visit, but also nearly as wonderful to see them leave.

As I catch up with cleaning and finding all the little hidden treasures that were left out (tiny barbie shoes and accessories) and laundry, I look forward to binge watching one of my favorite Netflix shows and some much deserved slow stitching time.

What are some of your shows to watch while stitching?

There is a significant difference in the weight of these two quilts.  The two-sided, with light-weight denim is 5-3/4 pounds!  The pink/grey "dance" quilt is only 3-1/4 pounds!  I am glad I went with the flannel sheet in the two-sided quilt.  It was still heavy, but I no issues with tension while quilting it. :)

Leave a comment... you know I love to hear from you!

Stay calm and piece out,

Melva

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

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Final block will be released on February 24th!

Linking with:

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

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 Chris Knits & Sews

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch

Tuesday To-Do Update

February is a short month and always seems to fly by... and here we are with the month 1/2 gone!  Most of the United States is in the fierce grip of an severe cold front and no doubt dreaming of warmer temps and spring.  I know we are!

However, because the cold temps have kept us from getting away (I mean even the south is cold!) I have been secluded away in my studio working diligently on the two commissioned t-shirt quilts.  

The first of the two, the two-sided quilt is awaiting fabric for a border on side two and the binding.  

So that extra bulk of the seams wouldn't be an issue, I made the blocks for the back only 12-inch blocks rather than the 14-inch blocks like the front.

Also, I have flannel fabric on order to use in the sandwich, rather than batting.  I think I will be very happy in making this decision.

Since I am in a holding pattern for this quilt, I pulled out the second quilt... this one is only the top only and it is sandwiched and ready for quilting.

The progress on both of these quilts are "ahead of schedule" since a second cancellation of our trip to Texas to visit our friends happened.  In case you haven't heard... the US in in the tight grip of winter and, while we would have gladly gone to help with breaking ice, caring for the nanny goats that are close to dropping kids and keeping track of the chickens and baby chicks they have.  I had actually volunteered to be their personal chef, head bottle washer and housekeeper, but still... it would have been lots of hard work on our part, we were willing... yet, they suggested that because the mood might not would not be light, cheery and fun-filled we postpone.  

No problem.  We will just wait until the 21st (and warmer weather)... and then we then got a request from our daughter about having the girls for a weekend visit since she and her husband are both working.  Sure!  This means that *sigh* we don't leave the 21st...  what is with this???  LOL!  

However, with the delays, I am almost guaranteed to have two quilts that will need the binding hand-stitched. 😁

Goals for the coming week?

❧  Get both quilts quilted and the binding attached and ready for hand-sewing.

❧ I'll be doing a little more research on Marion Sloan Russell's journeys on the Santa Fe Trail and begin writing cutting and assembly instructions for the block patterns and finalizing a schedule.

It is tempting to toss in another fun project on my to-do list.  One of my readers so kindly sent a set of Moda's "Flat Dolls" ~ like paper dolls, but better.  You don't have to worry about the cardstock dolls or paper clothing getting torn.  They are a little larger than most of the paper dolls I have seen too.  Perfect!  Thanks so much for sharing Kathleen. 😍

Speaking of goals and Tuesday To-Do's... did you hear that there is a new host for the linky party?

Chris, from Chris Knits & Sews will take over the linky party this week. 

Having a plan and setting goals is something I find helpful in keeping me on task.  It prevents me from picking up too many squirrel projects.  I'm not one that struggles with UFOs but I do tend to take some detours.  LOL!

How about you?  

Do you have a tendency for UFOs?  

Or are you more like me and find distractions?  Or, maybe you are well disciplined and don't have either of these issues.

Either way, leave a comment and let me know what your tendencies are... you know I love the brief visits from each of you.

Keep piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

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 Chris Knits

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

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

Slow to Go

The time in my studio has been a little short and my schedule has been full.  This is not the ideal situation for me and, thankfully, not typical.

After enjoying a two-hour lunch with a few of my closest "sisters" last week (failed to take a picture), it was evident to me that the love language of four of us is clearly gift giving.   Three of us arrived bearing small gifts, the fourth certainly would have, if she had a little more notice of the get-together.

My bookmarks, filled with love, were well received 💗 

The Paper doll quilts have dolls ready to fuse to their blocks.  The next step with them will be to give them some underwear, hair and facial features.  At that point the blocks will be ready to sew together, get borders and then be quilted.  

"Dressing" them will be a fun-filled time and I have many ideas for clothing options.  A ballerina, a farmer, a basketball player, super hero... and more!

But... I should get the t-shirt quilts finished first. Fabric was purchased for the girl's quilt last week when I met my friends, and the boy's quilt had all of the t-shirts cut and prepped for window pane borders.  I spent one afternoon over the weekend framing blocks for the top.  There are more that are to be the back of the quilt.  I haven't quite decided how I will handle this.  I need to either make the blocks a different size, and/or the window pane fames a different width and wider outside border, to avoid having super bulky seams to quilt over.  

What are your thoughts?  Have you done a two-sided quilt?  Was quilting over bulky seams a problem?

Leave a comment... you know I love to hear from you. 

In other news... my request to use patterns from the Kansas City Star Sampler book from C&T Publishing with my next sew along was denied.  Hmmm... I will not let this deter me from my project.  There are many free blocks out there in the world and some blocks are published with multiple names.  Yes, I will find a way around this hurdle.  Watch for an announcement about the schedule and fabric requirements.

Keep the Piece,

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

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

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

Pieces From The Past - The Blockade

Willi Baruschke Berlin-Tempelhof Nov 10, 1948

Berlin-Tempelhof

Friedrick-Wilhelm Street 88

To: Schleich Family

Trinidad-Model (Colorado) USA

Very honored Schleich family:

Can you remember the group of German POW officers, who in the summer of 1945 worked on your sugar beet farm?  It was the group who, at the end of the work, presented you a small picture as a Thank You and a memento.  I am one of that group.  

I have often thought back to the lovely days spent in your family circle.  Unfortunately, only just now am I able to write to you, because then, as we left Trinidad in January 1946, the journey did not lead, as I hoped, to my home and family, but rather on the road to Russian-held Berlin and then deep into Russia in the Caucasus to the toughest work camp.  Only now have I come back, very sick.  And as for being able to recover my health, the first need is good food.  But as you have well heard, I am sitting here in Berlin, a blockaded city, in which rations at this time are very, very scarce.    

Then I think back to your words back then, if any of us is in need, that we should contact you.  And that is what I am doing now, with the big request of if you can perhaps spare a small care package for a sick survivor of a Russian POW camp now in blockaded Berlin.  I can pay you back by sending you other things by return package that would please you over there.  Very honored Schleich family, in the hopes that this request is met, I wish you all the best and send you my warmest regards, your Willi Baruschke.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Willi Baruschke

handwritten ~ And to you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

From History.com - "Following World War II, Germany was divided into occupation zones. The United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and, eventually, France, were given specific zones to occupy in which they were to accept the surrender of Nazi forces and restore order. The Soviet Union occupied most of eastern Germany, while the other Allied nations occupied western Germany. 

The German capital of Berlin was similarly divided into four zones of occupation. Almost immediately, differences between the United States and the Soviet Union surfaced. The Soviets sought huge reparations from Germany in the form of money, industrial equipment, and resources. The Russians also made it clear that they desired a neutral and disarmed Germany." 

With this letter from Mr. Baruschke, we hear again of an unfortunate German soldier who only wanted to return home, yet fell into the poor conditions of a POW camp controlled by the Russians and released only because of his failing health.

"On June 22, 1948, negotiations between the Soviets, Americans, and British broke down. On June 24, Soviet forces blocked the roads and railroad lines into West Berlin."

"For a few tense days, the world waited to see whether the United States and Soviet Union would come to blows. In West Berlin, panic began to set in as its population worried about shortages of food, water, and medical aid. The United States response came just two days after the Soviets began their blockade. A massive airlift of supplies into West Berlin was undertaken...  Russia looked like an international bully that was trying to starve men, women, and children into submission...  On May 12, 1949, the Soviets officially ended the blockade."

Willi Baruschke included two sweet postcards, probably for the boys, but possibly as a small "down payment" of his promise to "return packages that would please you".  

Handwritten on the back of each card were well wishes to the family.

Because of the Russian Blockade told of in the letter, this beginner block, The Blockade, is the pattern I selected to accompany this story.  I had a bit of a challenge in writing the pattern for this block since the printed templates included mis-sized pieces.  Errors happen, I get that.  But I cannot help but wonder how many "beginner quilters" got frustrated with this pattern in 1938?

Rest assured, the final pattern has been tested by myself several times, as well as a few pattern testers that have been a joy to work with.  

Now is the time to download the pattern for free - link is above (highlighted name).  Don't forget to come back when your block is complete to link up for the opportunity to win a free fat quarter.  Be sure to use the hashtag #PiecesFromThePastSewAlong and tag me on IG - @MelvaLovesScraps or on fb at Melva Loves Scraps.  I love seeing all of your blocks!

With the completion of this block, you can assemble row #2.  You will need four 2-3/4" x 9-1/2" sashing strips to be sewn into place between the blocks.  You can also add a sashing strip 2-1/2" x 54" to the bottom of the row, and join row 2 to row 1.  Oooooooooh!  We are getting SO close!  Just one block left!  I can feel the excitement... Can YOU?

Now, before you run off, leave a comment telling me...

What was a stand out item in this letter?

Piece Happy!

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

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

BOMS Away at Katie Mae Quilts

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

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

Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch

Ground Hog Day

And here we sit, suddenly it is February!  We turned the page to a new month in anticipation and hope that THIS may be the time that life returns to "normal".

It could be like the scenes from the movie, Ground Hog Day.  The day keeps getting repeated over, and over and over, until the character finally makes a change.  At times it might be nice to have a "do over".  But in all reality... with each new day, we DO get a new chance.

A year ago Dave and I were blissfully planning for a trip to the beaches of Texas.  News stories were just ramping up with the doom, gloom and fear of the Corona Virus, not to mention the political mud-slinging that was going on.

On Valentines Day we made the decision to turn. off. the. TV.  Ok, well, maybe not turn off the TV, but turn off the NEWS!  We packed up our stuff and flew the coop.  We drove south to Texas... much of the time was "unplugged".  At first, it was a challenge... and then we settled in.  Cell service was in and out as we approached our destination.  But with "No Service" at all on the beach of Padre Island National Seashore, we sat and watched the surf.  We watched the birds, we walked and biked along the shore. We talked, we read, I quilted...  we collected shells, we watched the sunrises and sunsets with awe.

All this to say... I don't know what "normal" is.  Does anybody???  Erma Bombeck said it was a setting on a washing machine. LOL!  I say "Normal" is a setting on the dryer as well.

So as I review what I had on my (late) To Do List from last week I feel a bit like Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day...

❧  Paper Doll Quilt

❧  Commissioned T-shirt Quilts

I have made little progress on the Paper Doll Quilts... I have cut the background squares, but am awaiting the arrival of assorted skin color layer cake squares for the dolls, as well as fusible adhesive.  

I decided to make the dolls in two different sizes.  The one to the right are on 12 inch squares with the dolls being about 10 inches tall.  This one will be for Emma who will be 7 this summer.  

The one above is for Maggie.  She will be 5 this summer and I thought that it might be a little easier and more functional for her to have something not so tiny.  She has a collection of Barbie Dolls that live naked because she just cannot manage dressing them.  Each quilt will have a pocket to hold the clothes (encouraging organization) and while the same, they are different and there should not be any fights over outfits because they are different sizes and not interchangeable.  (That's the plan anyway 🤣)

I also am awaiting the arrival of the T-shirts from my customer.

I had determined on Friday afternoon, once I realized I was in a holding pattern, that I would write that final post for the Pieces From The Past Sew Along... only to awake on Saturday morning and find that our internet service was out.  The outage was area wide... Ok... but that wasn't going to stop me!  I resorted to MS Word and started typing.  I got a good portion of it written.  And when the wi-fi was restored, I was able to insert pictures and links as necessary.  I will let it rest for now, until it is time for a final review.

Speaking of Pieces... Block #19 will be released on Thursday!  Which means there is still time to get the pattern for The Double T Block and link up for the chance to win a free fat quarter.  Who doesn't need free fabric for their stash?!?

And because I wrote that post I rewarded myself by opening the Civil War reproduction fabric that I had purchased for my next sew along.

Progress is coming along with the planning.  The schedule of the sew along has been made.  I have 12 blocks selected (13 actually, because one will be the label for the quilt), and I have been reading the Memoirs of Marian Sloan Russell and taking notes.  There is plenty of "administrative stuff" to be done, but I won't bore you with those details.

❧  A few small final projects I'll be making this week are "Galentines Day" gifts for some close girlfriends.  We will be meeting for lunch on Thursday (fingers crossed that the weather is good) and it has far too long since we have been together.  I'll be making them as bookmarks, rather than key chains.

With that... I better get moving!

Keep Piecing!

Melva

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

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

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

Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch