Tuesday Check-in

 I see the light at the end of the tunnel!  And I am confident that it IS NOT a train coming to run me down. 😁

✔  The wedding quilt had its own personal photo shoot!  I met my One Month Goal for September and have it linked up.  You can see some details about it over on "Love Grows Here"

✔  The Softball T's top has been sandwiched and marked and ready for quilting!

✔ The Butterfly Garden quilt is also sandwiched, marked and ready to quilt! 

I am still dealing with final details of the book publishing and grants but I am hopeful that by the end of the day I will have those properly submitted to their respective homes and can turn my full focus back to quilting... at least for a short time.

❧  I hope to have these two quilts with binding ready for finishing by Friday.  I will then make the decision at that time whether I hand sew the binding or machine finish them.

Dave and I have discussed plans to sneak away and go camping after church on Sunday at a small national forest campground not far from us.  If this actually happens I will take them along as my hand-sewing projects.  The colors of the aspen leaves should be at their peak and I can almost feel the chill in the air (and my blood pressure coming down) as we relax.

We both realized after his return from his hunting (rifle-hiking) trip just exactly how tired and burned out we were... though I saw it and felt it leading up to his time away.  I recalled stating to him and to my friends "I feel like there is something terribly off in me, but I don't know what to do about it or how to fix it!"  

The problem was revealed with an appointment to my naturopath.  I had a deficiency of magnesium and the solution was a simple adjustment to my supplements!  In my brief research about such a deficiency, I discovered that I had been experiencing 8 out of 12 symptoms for weeks.  After just 48 hours on the new supplements I felt like a new woman! AHHHH-mazing!

❧  I'll be planning out the program for the Trinidad Historical Society featuring the POW letters and history of Camp Trinidad as well... but still guarding my newly re-established boundaries of "work"... but sometimes I have a hard time turning off my brain.  My plan to protect the boundaries is to simply make brief notes as thoughts come to mind and then set it aside.  I'll have Dave as my captive audience on our road trip to the wedding in Illinois is a few weeks so I can bounce ideas off of him then as I try to put everything into an order that makes sense.

❧  I need to get the next portion of the Santa Fe Trail Sew Along ready to go.  It is a difficult to fathom that this series is two-thirds done!  I have enjoyed seeing everyone's blocks.  Do you have a favorite so far? 

Tell me what you have been doing lately!  

I'd love to hear from you...

Stay Calm and Keep Quilting,

Melva

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Love Grows Here

 My September One Month Goal was to finish the wedding quilt for our niece Janna. 

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  1 Corinthians 13:4-7

It takes the effort of both individuals to foster, nurture and grow a marriage with these attributes.  And I believe that Janna and Justin are just the perfect couple to do this.  

When I began considering a design for their quilt I chose a heart... the symbol of love.  Janna and Justin had dated for a period of time, had gone their separate ways but continued to see each other within their circle of friends.  Eventually they were a couple again... with a stronger relationship with the Lord and with each other.

One of my favorite memories of Janna is from when she was just a toddler.  It was in the summer of 1995 when we had been in Illinois to assist with the cleaning out of my mother-in-law's condo after her passing away a few month earlier.

We were outside and there were some flower pots along their driveway. Janna found a green caterpillar.  She was excitedly telling us about how she found this "geen worm".  We asked "what did you do with the geen worm?"  She replied in her little toddler voice "I pud id in da pants."  With wide eyes we responded with "you put in your pants?  Why did you put the worm in your pants?"  

She emphatically stated "not my pants... the pants!" pointing to a flower pot sitting on the edge of the driveway.  "Oh!  The plants!"    

She is now a beautiful young woman, a follower of Christ and a student of law... ready to become a loving wife.

The words of wisdom I offer is "Do not view the wedding ceremony as the finish line of the relationship.  It is the just the beginning!"  

I had my fair share of challenges as I tried to finish this gift, though I pressed on despite them.  This quilt has my blood, sweat, tears and prayers stitched into every square inch!  (Don't worry... the blood washed out!)  I forgot to switch thread colors, not just once, but twice!  But it didn't really matter in the end...  

I went in search of a flower garden for the photo shoot and am in love with what I got.  This particular shot captured the detail of the feathers as well as the vines and leaves...

What words of wisdom would you offer to a couple about to marry?

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

Stay Pieceful,

Melva

Linking with:

One Month Goal at Elm Street Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

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

Favorite Finish at Meadow Mist Designs

Pieces Coming Together

Slowly... ever so slowly, the pieces for my book are coming together and with each step I am crossing things off on my list.

The pages were resized, but that caused problems with the layout.  The document went from 116 pages to 140+.  **Sigh**  I made all of the necessary adjustment and followed the steps to embed the fonts and convert to a .PDF document.  However... something did not work correctly **Grrrrr** and I have yet to upload the file.  One more appointment made with my "lifeline" for the tech support with this problem has been made.  Keep your fingers crossed and whisper a little prayer with me for success Tuesday afternoon.  

The girlfriends arrived on Thursday afternoon... Sue and I were discussing some of our favorite Netflix shows and decided to introduce Julie to Virgin River.  She's hooked!  She went home and MADE her husband and daughter watch the first episode and now they are hooked as well.  LOL!

✔  Finish quilting the borders and binding of the wedding quilt.

❧The quilt is has been laundered and is ready for a photo shoot!

We toured around town and enjoyed a few gift shops.

On Friday night we enjoyed an evening out at the local theatre.  "Murder on Main Street" was a fun murder-mystery that the audience got to participate by asking suspects questions and then solve the murder. 

We didn't solve the case correctly, but the director of the play/event was impressed with Julie's detailed answer and suggested she "help with the next one".  Haha!

Dave returned home safely, tired and empty-handed.  He and his hunting partner didn't see a single elk, only three deer and 30+ hunting camps in the area.  No wonder they didn't see anything!  None the less, I was happy to have him home and the girls didn't mind that he returned early.  The timing was actually for the better as Jules wasn't feeling up to par and Sue had a family member that needed her help a day earlier than she had planned.  All's well that ends well. 💗

✔  Start the t-shirt memory quilt for the college softball coach.  All blocks have been trimmed to size and on the design wall.  I have all of the fabric needed for the sashing strips, border, binding and backing.  

❧  I will get the top completed and sandwiched this week.  But the quilting of it will wait until I ❧ get at least one of the two quilt tops for my favorite and best customer. 

In my time alone and time in conversation with my friends as well as the current Bible Devotion/Study I am doing I have realized that some of my priorities had become a bit mixed up and out of order and I think that has been a large part of the problem with my messy melt-downs, frustrations and mood swings.  I've been overwhelmed... and simply kept trying harder and harder.  Like the little engine that could... "I think I can, I think I can."  Yet the harder I tried, the more frustrated I felt as challenge after challenge has come at me.  I was feeling defeated, tired, frustrated, angry, unworthy and like a failure.  The fun in life had been sucked out of me.

I am resetting the boundaries of "work" and setting weekends aside for creating and quilting for me.  I am also reducing the amount of time spent on the computer/tablet.  Dave is making a similar reset.  It will be a challenge since both of us have used social media for our business, but not impossible.  Prayers appreciated as we do this!

What tips and suggestions do you have to help make such adjustments in life?

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

Stay Calm and Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

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

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch

Thankful Thursday

I have shared how the last few weeks have been a bit stressful and chaotic but I am here to say that I have been reminded multiple times of just how blessed I am.  Here's what I am thankful for...

Good Friends:  In the previous post (Tests in Patience) I told you about how I had friends that joined me on Friday (the day Dave was supposed to have left for hunting) for breakfast and some at-home pedicures.  The conversation was good for my mind, heart and soul.

Check-ins:  The thoughts, prayers and messages from those checking in on me while home alone have meant so much to me!  Some bonus and unexpected messages that came through were from Dave.  On Monday night I got the best one!  It had an incredible amount of love and sentiment behind it... "Here are some flowers for you."  Sadly, it was shortly followed by one that said "The picture won't send."  

He was finally successful when he sent the picture on Wednesday morning. 🎕  

Produce:  While I was picking up the truck from the repair shop I made a detour to a local produce market for some tomatoes and chilies to make home-made salsa.  This is something that Dave and I have done together for a bunch of years.  In fact, it was how we spent our first anniversary!  He will be missed, but once again... I have friends backing me up!  

With the help of Laura and Joella the produce was diced lickety split and simmering before we knew it!  Start to finish, including clean up, it took only two hours to create 15 pints.  YUM!  

Dave doesn't have to worry though... He hasn't missed all of the fun since I only picked up a small portion of what we usually get.

BTW, the repair shop found nothing wrong with the truck.  No sign of electrical issues in the codes they collected in the diagnosis.  🤦

Book and Technical Support: I will be converting my document for the Pieces From The Past book into the .PDF file WITH embedded fonts and the correct page size this morning.  I am thinking that once it is properly uploaded and an order placed, the entire world will hear the news because I will whooping and hollering and dancing in the streets!  

Little Things:  Perhaps, after all, our best thoughts come when we are alone. It is good to listen, not to voices but to the wind blowing, to the brook running cool over polished stones, to bees drowsy with the weight of pollen. If we attend to the music of the earth, we reach serenity. And then, in some unexplained way, we share it with others.  ~ Gladys Taber

These are some of the things I have so desperately missed by not getting away... the sound of water rushing over stones... the whisper of the wind in the pine needles...

But now I am filled with peace and serenity after spending a few special days with plenty of time by myself yet totally surrounded by friends and loved ones who believe in me, supported me and reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for.  And this week that has been filled with blessings still isn't over!  I have more girlfriends that will be arriving tomorrow.  I'll be doing some big-stitch binding on the wedding quilt as we visit.

What are some of your favorite calming sounds?

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

Stay Piece-ful,

Melva

 Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

  

Tests in Patience

Finally!  Finally... 60 hours later than had been originally planned. Two hunters pulled out of the driveway on their way for the muzzle loading season.  Delay after delay and change in plans after change in plans.  From a total cancellation to a salvage.  Is it it on?  Is it off?  Are you going? Are you not?  When?  What's the plan?  Are you taking the camper?  Are you going to be hiking in to camp? And the answer from Dave, which I grew very tired of hearing, was always "I don't know."  And every time I heard it my anxiety escalated. 

My mind and heart were immediately at ease when I finally got an answer other than I don't know.  The answer was I am loading the camper...  I snapped this picture as he was asking "are you happy now?"  I don't think he really understood what I was feeling... I even managed to get through our good bye without tears!  YES!  I am happier  now. 

The group went from five hunters down to two for a variety of reasons.  The one "left standing" had electrical issues with his truck that turned a 13+ hour drive into a 24 hour journey.  But finally... 60 hours later two great white hunters headed out.  

❧  And finally... I am ready to settle in and have a few quiet days before some friends come for a visit.  I am looking forward to some "therapy time" and the opportunity to finish the borders and binding of the wedding quilt.  

✔  But first, I had to get the truck into the shop for the electrical repair while they are out in the great wild.

Not much has changed since last week...

Before the chaos of the trip plans (or lack of plans) hit last week I did make some progress in the grant application.  I also had success in getting the "fatal errors" repaired in the .PDF file for the book.  Even though I will need to do it again since my proof-reader returned the rough draft but now I know where to go and how to do it.  I'll be working on the suggested changes and corrections, creating the index page and cover and getting the final touches on everything before uploading for printing.  This is SO exciting!  I'll keep you posted on the progress.

❧  I still need to start the t-shirt memory quilt for the college softball coach who recently lost his sister.  I did figure out the layout so when I am ready to start cutting out the graphics for the blocks I can roll quickly.

❧  Still in queue are two more quilt tops for my favorite and best customer. 

While I was trying my very best to enjoy the extra time I got with my guy because of the delays and hold myself together I had a great circle of support helping me keep it together.  Just as elephants can sense stress and reach out to comfort and caress the elephant in distress, I had friends spend a few hours with me to enjoy breakfast and at-home pedicures.

And I have another circle of friends that will be with me later this week.  

Just where would I be with out my friends???  I'm pretty sure I would be a puddle of mush probably sitting in a corner with the movie Message In A Bottle on replay for days on end. 

How about you?  

How do you help out a friend in distress?

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

Keep piecing and stay peaceful,

Melva

Linking with:

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

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch

Pieces of the Past Has a Life of Its Own

Why, oh why, do I do this to myself???  And what exactly have I gotten myself into???  What started out as a fun project that would bring my love for quilting and some letters from some former German Prisoners of War written to my Grandparents is taking on, what I consider, a life of its own!

The sew along was great fun.  The research of history and collecting of personal family stories that I shared with the release of each of the vintage patterns collected by my Grandma was interesting and fun as well.  The writing and development of those vintage patterns was fun too!  The opportunity to hear from others around the world as I shared the letters, history, recipes and stories was priceless!

Oh, let me start over... My Mom is a local history lover - probably where I get my love for it as well.  She is a member of the local Historical Society and they hold an annual dinner that features a speaker that presents a program on some local site or major event. The dinner this year is November 5th and I was invited by the Society to offer a program about the Trinidad POW Camp and share the letters and history that I published here on Melva Loves Scraps during the sew along.  All in all, not a big deal.  They would like for me to have a book for sale at the event.  

I'll admit, when I wrote the letter requesting permission to use the Kansas City Star Journal patterns the idea of a published quilting book was exciting.  Though, I never really thought I would have much to do with it because it would be "handled" by the publisher.  And... I did create a book on Shutterfly this year.  It includes all of the content I shared, except for the patterns.  (I was granted permission by C&T Publishing to share the patterns on-line, but they were very clear that they had to be offered at no cost.)  

The book that I created on Shutterfly is a special keepsake that I had wanted to create, but it was far from cheap but worth every penny in my mind.  Just as the finished quilt is invaluable to me.

The Historical Society has used a local copy shop to print and bind smaller books at a very reasonable price.  The proof-reading copy of my book was not as reasonable as I had hoped ($40+) and it was the content only.  No cover.  No index.  No reference citation pages. No binding.  I have a lead on a new source that looks like it has great potential with very reasonable costs (less than $30).  All I have to do is simply upload the .PDF file.  

At least I won't break the bank getting an initial printing done.  Of course, there is the question, "How many do I print?"  

Things are looking good!  Ummmm.... NOPE!  The error message I got indicated that "The Fatal Errors" need to be corrected... and there are A LOT OF THEM!  Mostly issues with fonts that are not recognizable, but seriously... WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO??? 

It was suggested that I apply for a grant with a private foundation that provides support to local communities and service organizations of the Purgatoire Valley and they have assisted with similar projects for the Historical Society.  Now for sure I won't break the bank getting the initial printing done!  All is good... but the deadline is September 30.  My grant application must be submitted under a current 501(c)3... the Historical Society has one... they don't meet until September 29.  I have been assured that there is time to get the necessary vote for allowing me to use their Non-profit status, and receive the needed documentation from the Society so that I can submit all of the requested and necessary information in by the deadline.

I have two months before the dinner and presentation but only about a month to get everything figured out.

As I sort out all of the details for the book and the program, I'm going to be in serious need of some quilting therapy!  I am fortunate that I have plenty of that to do too.  

❧The wedding quilt will be quilted this week... I'll get the fabric for the binding on order.  There's a whole story about this one, but I have rambled on long enough about the book thing so I will wait to share when it is done.

❧I will then start a t-shirt memory quilt for the college softball coach who recently lost his sister.  She was one of his biggest supporters and he wants a quilt containing the various softball shirts she wore whenever she attended the games in support of him.

❧Also in queue are two more quilt tops for my favorite and best customer. 

Have you ever printed a book?  

Do you have any suggestions or pit-falls that I need to know about?

Would you be interested in a copy of the book?

Leave a comment.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Stay calm and keep quilting,

Melva

Linking with: 

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

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

Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Tuesday's To-Do Time Out

Last week was going along fine... until it wasn't.  

✔  I was pleased with the progress of the "Love Grows Here" quilt that is a wedding gift for a niece.

I had filled in the blanks spaces and had the blocks joined together to form the rows, paying close attention to the placement of the blocks.  On Saturday I sewed the rows together, again paying close attention to make sure that I didn't get one out of place.  I had three rows left... I was so close!

As I was sewing I noticed that the stitching wasn't as nice and even as I expected, and the fabric was not feeding through properly.  I pushed my way through it, got all of the rows attached and held it up.  **Ugh**

There was a problem.  What was supposed to be the last row ended up as the third row from the bottom.  Off I went with Jack.  Ripping out is never fun, but when the stitching isn't quite right it is even less fun.  

My husband came in to invite me for a walk and then saw me with seam ripper and asked, "is now not a good time?"  I threw the top and Jack down and went for a walk.  I resumed the ripping when dinner was done.

Sunday morning I had decided I would "quickly" go sew those last rows back on.  Again, struggling through the feeding and stitching issue, I finished and held it up...

NNNOOOOOOOOO!  I did it again!  

The tears came flooding out along with so many other emotions and feelings tied to so much more than this quilt...  

I threw the top onto my studio table and walked out.  Dave didn't understand and didn't know what to say or do.  All I needed was to be held.

I was overwhelmed.  I was tired.  I was angry. I was hurt. I was... the list goes on and on.  But it really came down to I had reached the point of burn out.

I had not had any time away or "off" since our week in July... and It. Was. Time.  it was overdue...

We left on Sunday after lunch and returned Tuesday afternoon.  It wasn't long enough, and I knew that it wouldn't be, but the time was sweet and it restful.  

I sat down with Jack upon our return, between loads of laundry.  We both apologized and then went to work.  When Dave saw me with Jack again, he said "Before you sew anything else together, I will look at it with you."  I love this guy!

❧  I need a border, probably a white muslin, the same size as the blocks, and then I'll be sandwiching and quilting it.  I am thinking free-motion feathers in the white hearts and stippling everywhere else.

Finishing this wedding quilt is my One Month Goal. :)

✔  Summer Camp Sewing Challenges...

Another block that will be part of the sew any 10 blocks.

I won't be pushing myself much this week.  Well, let's be honest... the week is half gone already!  

I have two more tops to quilt from my best customer, but she too is taking a bit of a break so she is understanding in the fact that it may be a few weeks before they are done.  

Maybe the summer heat has gotten to both of us.  Whatever it may be, I know I am not alone in being ready for a nice long fall!  

Fall is probably my favorite season.  Spring follows closely behind, but I struggle more with allergy symptoms then.  Summer is too hot and winter is too cold... Are you ready for fall too?

What is your favorite season? And why?

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

Stay Piece-ful,

Melva

PS - Block #8 of the Santa Fe Trail Sew Along is released tomorrow!  Are you ready?

Linking with:

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

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

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

TGIFFFriday

One Month Goal at Elm Street Quilts