Introducing:: Pieces in the Garden - 2022 Sew Along

 

Welcome to the Pieces in the Garden Sew Along!

I am excited to be sharing another sew along event... my third.  If you have never joined me for a sew along, you will find that I design and create quilts that tell a story.  Grab a cup of tea and join me as I introduce myself and my Grandparents, Tressie and Forrest Teegarden...

My first sew along, Pieces from the Past, told the story of my paternal grandparents, Phillip & Katie Schleich, and how their lives cross paths with German men held as POWs at Camp Trinidad during WWII.

Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail told the story of Marion Sloan Russell who first travelled the trail at age 7, met and fell in love with her husband, Richard Russell.

Pieces in the Garden will tell the story of my maternal grandmother, Tressie Teegarden.  Given her married name, and her and Grandpa's love for tea, the fabric I will be using will reflect the flowers often found on vintage tea sets.  It will be a row quilt, because... well, gardens are planted in rows!  The blocks chosen are based on the story of a Bride-to-be and the many quilts she would have made as she waited for her special day...

In olden days, it was traditional for young girls to make a “Baker’s Dozen” (13) quilts by their wedding day.  The patterns, often handed down from generation to generation, were usually planned when the girl was very young; and, as soon as she could hold a needle, she would start sewing her first quilt.  The last (or 13th) quilt was the fanciest of all.  After a girl became engaged, she would invite her friends to a party to quilt the top of this “Bride’s Quilt”… and in this way she would announce her engagement.

The twelve patterns in this “Bride’s Quilt" have been chosen to tell the following story…

“Bride’s Quilt”

Once upon a time, there was a little girl, who wore a bow in her hair.  When she grew up, she began a friendship with a young bachelor.  As the hours and days passed, they began to look at each other with stars in their eyes, and as their love grew, they thought about taking steps to the altar.  So, the young girl got out her spools of thread and made clothes to get ready for their wedding ring day.

After they are married, some of their times together will be bright as noon and others will be dark as night.  But they will try to share their happiness, their miseries and their chores – she grabbing a wrench to help with household repairs and he grabbing a towel to help with the dishes.  Sometimes they will have broken dishes but they will try to remember that “things” can be replaced, whereas harsh words, possibly spoken about the broken dishes, could chip away love.  They will try to follow the Golden Rule as they are learning to communicate openly with each other.

They will also try to keep in mind the symbolism of Jacob’s ladder – “steps of communication” between themselves on earth and God in heaven.

Block sizes will vary, being either 3", 4" or 6" blocks.  Given the size of the pieces, this will be an excellent opportunity to work on the ever important "scant 1/4 inch" seams.  Pattern releases will happen every four weeks and the dates are as follows:

February 3 - Row 1 ~ Bow Block

March 3 - Row 2 ~ Friendship Star

March 31 - Row 3 ~ Bachelor Block

April 28 - Row 4 ~ Hours Block

May 26 - Row 5 ~ Stars Block

June 23 - Row 6~ Steps to the Altar Block

July 21 - Row 7

August 18 - Row 8

September 15 - Row 9

October 13 - Row 10

November 10 - Row 11

December 8 - Row 12

I will be using fabrics solely from my stash and scrap bins and will not be calculating fabric needs.  If you don't have much in the way of a scrap bin or stash, a pre-cut set of jelly roll strips or a layer cake set would be a great place to start since the pieces in the blocks are small.  I will, like my other sew alongs, have a linky party so that you have an opportunity to show off your finished blocks.  And I will have the chance to win a prize each month...  this time I am partnering with Cornerstone Tea Company.  Each month a randomly selected winner will be chosen to receive a 1 ounce package of loose leaf tea.  (Once again, US mailing address required.  My apologies to my international participants.)  

I am able to share the memories of Tressie (& Forrest) Teegarden from a set of books that I had gifted to them in 1998.  Their memories have become priceless to me.  The questions in these books were similar to the questions in the free Priceless Memories document I have available in my payhip store.  (The payhip store is the same place you can find all of the block patterns for my previous two sew along events.)

It is my hope that you may become inspired to document your life story for your loved ones... you may think "what does it matter?"  But trust me!  It will matter to those closest to you and they will be cherished for years to come.  I understand that family genealogy is not for everyone... But sharing your personal story of life is totally different.  Bring your stories to life!  

So, with that, before you go... 

Are you a tea lover?  

What is your favorite blend/brand/flavor?

I love Chai teas... hot or cold... with or with out cream... I haven't met one that I didn't like!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

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

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