Teatime with TT & Heather

Welcome to teatime with TT... Tressie Teegarden.  Today, great-granddaughter, Heather, shares the memories that stand out the most in her mind.  Her top three are as follows:

The box of chocolates on top of the fridge... 

This is a popular memory!  Karri recalled the chocolate box as holding some shells that were used to serve appetizers.

Heather remembers that before these boxes were "repurposed" they were on top of their refrigerator.  It was an older (and shorter) fridge, and she was able to reach up and get the box to choose the chocolate of her choice as a near teen. 

The orange tree in the backyard...

The oranges were plentiful when we would visit in March during spring breaks!  They were easily reachable by the girls, and it was hard to deny them a snack when they requested a healthy snack such as this. 

Teatime... 

TT loved teatime, especially on her patio.  If there were ripe oranges on the tree, they would pick one and enjoy... To be honest though, I'm not sure that she loved the tea more than the "excuse" to have a sweet treat or snack.  I have mentioned before that she had a sweet tooth!  Thus, the box of chocolates that was always on top of the fridge.  And Grandpa was just as bad as Grandma with the sweet tooth. 

Grandma would sometimes enjoy teatime with a few of her china painting friends.  And if they brought a yummy treat to share she would ask for the recipe.  Here's one that she passed on to me, knowing that we had a garden and an abundance of zucchini.

Tressie's handwriting was sometimes hard to read... To save you the time of deciphering exactly what the recipe calls for.

Zucchini Bread ~ Chocolate

makes 2 loaves

3 eggs

1 cup oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups sugar (can cut to 1-1/2 cup)

Beat these ingredients together.

Add 2 squares (baking) chocolate (melted) or 6 tablespoons cocoa

2 cups grated zucchini

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup chopped nuts

Bake at 350° for 1 hour.

Store in refrigerator 

You may recall the mention of TT and her wanderlust as well as her interest in the Royal Family.  With the recent passing of the Queen, I saw an ad for a collectible doll in the likeness of and in honor of Queen Elizabeth II.  My girls and I laughed as we recalled Grandma T's large doll collection (that they helped pack in the big move from Tucson to Colorado) and all three of us feel confident that she would have certainly brought this doll home with her.

Speaking of home... have you started your Noon & Night (log cabin) blocks?  Because of the many moves that Forrest & Tressie had during their life, I thought that a row of little houses was needed.

This BONUS block makes a 3-1/2" block, and you will need 16 to complete the row.

Grab the free pattern and get sewing!  You will find these blocks are beginner friendly, easy to make and come together quickly.

And when you are done with these head over to the Noon & Night story and share a link to your photo of your finished blocks!  Oh, and then celebrate by taking advantage of the 15% discount at Cornerstone Tea Company by using HOME as the code at checkout. (Discount code valid thru October 12)

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

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

Checking Off on the To-do List

Thank goodness I have to-do lists... if not for them I might forget what I am supposed to be doing and what is next!

✔ One row needs to be photographed and two patterns need to be finalized.

✔ I'll be writing another Teatime with Tressie memory - DONE!  Watch for it on Thursday.  This one includes another sweet recipe.

Three outta four ain't bad, right?  Haha!  I didn't get the photos done (yet) and may not since I finalized the bonus pattern and Teatime story that is being released on Thursday.  

I strive for perfection and consistency throughout life, but sometimes I let little things slide... like the photo session of the bonus block.  I have all of the pertinent info and photos in the pattern... it will just look a little less fancy with no purple velvet background. I'm not even beating myself up about it! lol... I am a recovering perfectionist and will not apologize for this slip.

✔   Custom Halloween quilt is under the needle now!  I did a quick story on Friday to show the flimsy finish before we ran off to spend some time in the mountains enjoying the start of the changing leaves.

As I look forward...

I will finish the Halloween quilt and get it ready to deliver to my customer.

I have an order for two small Hand-sewn Hello mug rugs.  This order comes at a perfect time since I have been craving some improv creative time in the studio.  While I am at it, I will probably make a few extra to have on hand to send to a sweet lady from time to time.  She has recently been diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer and has a rough road ahead of her as she begins the battle to beat the disease with 12 weeks of chemo.  Any and all prayers on her behalf would be welcomed and appreciated. 

For my to-do lists I simply use a regular notebook and scribble out my thoughts, ideas and plans... and I have a spreadsheet that I use for the sew alongs.  But I have given some thought to one of the planners designed for quilters.  And then I wonder if I would actually use it... and would it be worth it?  Some of them seem rather pricey.

Do you have and use a planner to track your To-do lists?  

What is YOUR method for staying on task?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Sew & Tell ~ September 26, 2022

It's a short one today... 

I got the Halloween quilt top ready on Friday... just before we left and unplugged. 

Here's what we did and looked at all weekend. 🍂🍁🍂  It's a rough life... but, hey, somebody's gotta do it! 😂

Gadget Gail, um, Quilting Gail showed us her quilt using multiple gadgets..

And Melisa showed her adorable Santa gnomes...

Time for your turn... Sew & Tell ❤

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

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Friday Finish ~ Halloween Quilt

I just wanted to share my sorta finish (flimsy only) of my customer's Halloween quilt... Borders on and ready to be sandwiched and quilted!  Wohoo!

You can read my thoughts of this quilt on yesterday's Thankful Thursday post...

We are headed out for a weekend of rest and rejuvenation... and some leaf peeping!

Are the leaves in your area starting to reveal their beautiful autumn colors yet?  

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

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

Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Thankful Thursday

As the season turns from summer to autumn it is naturally a time that turns many to thinking of all that comes with "Fall".  The turning of the leaves... the final garden harvests... the first freeze and frost on the pumpkins... and let's not forget the Pumpkin Spice!  And many seem to like to focus on Halloween (like my customer who requested a Halloween quilt including all of the "spiderwebs and skeletons and bats and purples and greens, witches, oranges and blacks and then pumpkins are fine but more like spooky Halloween stuff."  

All of the blocks have been pieced and are ready to be sewn together and get borders.  Personally, I prefer the fall/harvest focus.

Harvest season brings an attitude of gratitude, which brings me to Thankful Thursday...

❤  I am happy to fulfill my customer's request and thankful that I finally have another quilt to make!  I have had a slow time of custom anything (the last one was in May) and am ready to get back into the swing of things.  

❤  I find that doing quilting for others has helped me as a quilter... I have been forced out of my comfort zone and have tried color combos and quilting designs and techniques that I wouldn't normally choose to do for myself.  I can look back and see my growth... for this I am thankful! Growth is so important.  It offers the chance to improve skills and figure out what you like and don't like... and it keeps you from becoming stale and stagnant and lethargic... much like the Dead Sea.

❤  I'm thankful for the opportunities to get away and rest and unplug from the craziness of the world.  Rest... we seem to be really bad about resting here at home.  I guess that happens when you have a small business with the shop in the yard.  (Dave gravitates to his shop and if he is in his shop, I am in my studio in the house)  We have learned over the years that if we don't leave home, we don't rest... and... well, we all know that saying about "All work and no play."  So, that's what we will be doing this weekend... resting and playing. :)  With the bonus that we are entering the peak season for leaf peeping!

What are you thankful for?  

Leaf me a comment... I'd love to hear from you! 🍂

Piece Out, 😉

Melva

Linking with:

Thankful Thursday at Brian's Home

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

I Like Thursday at Not Afraid of Color

New To-Do List ~ Fall vs. Halloween

A new week means a new To-do list...

Last week my Babylock Lyric went in for a spa treatment.  It's been a year and I have used a lot... A LOT!  It was time and I missed her.  She has returned, good as new I am guaranteed.  And just in time! But before I get to what I have on the cutting table, I want to take a look at last week's list.

✔ A new story in the Pieces in the Garden Sew Along series.

DONE!  The Noon & Night block accompanies the very short story of the first place that Forrest & Tressie lived.

✔ Instagram's 30-day Photo Challenge and National Sewing Month celebration. 

Days Filled with Joy was chosen as the random winner in the September 17th drawing.  The prize was a gift certificate code valued at $24 for a purchase from Quilting Jetgirl's store.

Need ideas to spur on your own?  Check out #31dayswithcottoncuts

There are two more drawings before the end of the month... join the fun!

Hashtags: #NationalSewingMonth2022 #NationalSewingMonth2022Day1 (change the day’s date each day, ie. #NationalSewingMonth2022Day2 #NationalSewingMonth2022Day3

You can participate in the National Sewing Day 2022 group or on Instagram... your choice but be sure to use the hashtags above to be included in the weekly prize drawings..

✔ Finish writing all of the Pieces in the Garden patterns and get them tested and completed.  

Mostly DONE!  All of the rows of the quilt are complete.  

This leads into the list for this week 

❧ One row needs to be photographed and two patterns need to be finalized.

❧  I'll be writing another Teatime with Tressie memory soon and include another bonus block.

❧  And now that my sewing machine is back, I will be piecing blocks for a custom Halloween quilt.  It will be 60" x 80" and feature all things spooky and scary... ghosts, bats, witches, purples, green, oranges and yellows and jack-o-lanterns!

I'm not much of a Halloween person, but I do love fall.  So I started with a proposal to my customer for a "fall-ish" quilt with a bit of a lean toward Halloween.  My initial idea was shot down and I succumbed to her request.  

I'll be sewing up a storm for the next few days and then I'll be prepping for a weekend of camping.  We'll be back in the San Isabel National Forest (3rd time this season).  This time we'll be alone, and we are hopeful that we will be able to use one particular campsite we have had our eyes on for a few years. 

It is a secluded site with no other sites right next door, has a creek running right next to it and not far from a trail.  The nights here have been getting cool enough to cause the leaves at our elevation to begin turning and we are thinking that we might catch some beautiful fall colors on the mountain. 🍁🍂  And with the highs this weekend only being in the upper 60s and lower 70s, it should be beautiful!

Fall is definitely in the air!  And it is my favorite season... I've gotta run... but before you leave, tell me... 

What is your favorite season?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

  

Rows of the Garden and Sew & Tell ~ Sept 16, 2022

 

I feel like time is moving at break-neck speed, but at the same time I am enjoying all that is taking place.  I feel excitement and joy when I consider the prospects of a new week.  I have loved seeing all of the links from last week...  

Jocelyn told us about how she makes pillowcases when she is lacking inspiration for anything else...  Sounds like a productive time and a good cause!

And Deb shared two finishes.  Here's her zipper quilt...

I've spent more time in my sewing room a little more than the previous week (wow! that was a whirlwind 🌪) and, oh, that time is my studio has been good for my soul. 💓

Here's a little peek at what I did...

I have all of the blocks for the remainder of the Pieces in the Garden Row Quilt pieced, photographed and there is only one row of blocks remaining that needs to be joined together and added to the quilt!

I have two patterns that remain to be written... but I am gaining on it!  All of the remaining blocks are much easier than the Wedding Ring block... THAT one was a bugger!  And maybe the timing of the release in the midst of the summer activities was poor... BUT Patricia was able to get hers complete.  And she did a spectacular job...  Bravo!

If you have fallen behind, please don't fret over it.  This sew along is supposed to be FUN!  And I certainly hope that you have enjoyed it.  I have at least one more "bonus" block that will be shared... I may have more... but you can feel free to leave some rows out or sub in a different block that is more to your liking.  Afterall... we are unique individuals and have different preferences, likes and dislikes and each one of us would plant a garden in a different manner.  Some might leave out peas... ME!  Others might want peas, but no green beans or brussel sprouts. 🤣  

In other sewing... I started two EPP Postcard blocks for our Camping Journal Quilt while we drove to see our daughter and help her can salsa.  It was fun to pass on our tradition of making homemade salsa to her.   

Since I have had time sewing, I have had time to do some additional deep thinking... I seem to do some of my best thinking and processing as I sew and create.  

You may recall that we started a "Sabbatical" in February... we have had time to rest and heal and have been hungry for God's Word and an "alive" corporate worship time... We have visited a few churches and each week we have said it was "okay".  We had considered making a visit back to the church we stepped away from because we had recently heard the news a few weeks ago that the Pastor's wife had received a cancer diagnosis.  We were both (confirmation that it was to be so) led to join them for a Sunday Worship... to pray for Linda as she faces the road to battle the disease.

Of course, we heard the question "Are you guys coming back?"  When I saw this on Instagram, I knew in my heart that it was the answer...

The first four words I read today were these….

-He left that place- and all I could think of was…

That happens.

There are times you will stay and times when you’ll leave.  Times when you’ll remain and times when you’ll realize that where you are is no longer where you should be.

Times when you’ve done what you can do where you are and in order to keep growing and not be held back you’ll need to seek out new land.

There will be times when you leave the flat grasslands to search for a mountain to climb, and a part of you will wonder why. And then you’ll realize it’s because you desperately need to know that you’re still fully alive.  And there will be times when you reach the top.

And times when you don’t but dang you were sure strengthened by the climb.

There will be times when the place you leave has nothing to do with physical soil but instead the state of your soul.

And these times will free you.

You will leave the place of rejection, the place of confusion, the place that just doesn’t feel right.  You will leave ... and come out of hiding trusting that who you are need not remain hidden.  Under a bushel.  Determined and perhaps even singing…I’m gonna LET IT SHINE.

Those bold words just resonated with me! And the highlighted ones... well I just want to sing as we enter a new land.  We will continue to wait, in quiet, for an undetermined length of time to hear that we are "home."  And when we find a new church home, we will sing and shout and rejoice.

Is your sewing time "Therapy" for you as well?  Do you listen to music?  Or maybe books?  Do you watch television and binge shows?

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

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

Pieces in the Garden - Noon & Night - Block #9

 

 “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.

*********************

Won't you get yourself a cup of tea...

Where was your first home together?

We lived in Pueblo in an old theater that had been turned into an apartment house.  We had an apartment on the fourth floor.  We had a fold down bed, a small kitchen and bathroom.

Tressie had a detailed list of all the different places they lived with date, location and addresses... It's like she knew I would need it some day!  However, when the keeper of such info (my Mom) went to locate it, it was not to be found.  From her memory, there were 5 different towns.

Forrest & Tressie moved from their small apartment to a rental house in Pueblo when they started their family, and another (perhaps larger) when their second child (Carol) arrived.  They purchased a house in 1942, but a few years later (1947) returned to Trinidad.  When their children were out of high school they moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and lived there for 5 years and then went to Durango, Colorado for one year and finally to Tucson, Arizona in 1964. They bought their house in 1965 which is where they lived for the longest length of time and is their only home that I have any memory of.

One of my earliest memories is when we flew to Tucson to visit them.  I must have been only about 4... Dad stayed home because he was working.  So Mom was bravely flying alone with me and my brother.  I recall being on the plane and being fascinated with the tray that folded down.  I also remember coloring during the flight and thinking that the flight attendant was very nice. (She may have given me the coloring page and crayons.)  I don't remember much about our visit there.  

Tressie had a cross-stitched sampler that she made before they were married that hung on the wall of their bedroom.  It got me to thinking about the saying "Home Sweet Home" and many other sayings about "home" and just exactly what it is that turns a house into a home...

Is it the furnishings?  The pictures on the walls?  The love, the laughter (and even the tears) that are shared?  Is it because you "own" the place, rather than rent?  This is one quote I found that stood out to me...

What, in your mind, is it that makes your house a "home"?

Tressie's sister, Roberta, talked of the tradition of a housewarming gift.  One that included:

Wine – May you never go thirsty.  A beautiful bottle of sparkling wine is always appreciated.

Bread – May you never be hungry.  A loaf of crusty sourdough is perfect, but if your friend is a foodie, perhaps some gourmet flour could stand in.

Salt – It represents life’s tears, may they always be happy ones. And may life always have flavor.  (You can also use a pinch at threshold of each door and window for good luck.)

Candle – May you always have light.

Coin – May you have good fortune.  An antique or foreign coin is charming, or perhaps a coin minted in the year the house was built or purchased.

Broom – With it, sweep away the evil.  Straw brooms can often be found at Farmer’s markets.

Honey – Represents the sweetness of life.  Local honey is a lovely choice, and often has prettier packaging than commercial choices. 

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear your thoughts on a housewarming gift basket or tell me your thoughts of a house becoming a home.

The log cabin block with a strong contrast in light & dark represent "their times together bright as noon and others dark as night."  I chose to have a red square in the center of the blocks to signify the heart of a home.  You may choose to have a yellow center to symbolize a welcoming home.  Remember, yellow was Tressie's favorite color... so she would encourage that! LOL

This block is easily chain pieced but can also be foundation paper pieced.  You will find the FPP pattern on the last page of the pattern.  Make certain that you print at 100%.  The pattern should measure 4-1/2” square.

Because I was curious... I timed the assembly process of both methods.  It took approximately 15 minutes to complete ONE FPP block.  It took approximately 20 minutes to chain piece FOUR traditionally pieced blocks.

If you struggle with a precise and consistent ¼” seam, you will find the FPP method is the way to go.  BUT you will want to cut your pieces slightly larger (+1/4”) than the dimensions given.  

If you prefer traditional piecing, you can cut the final logs of the block to be ½” wider and trim to 4-1/2” square when finished. 

 

So now is the time to head over to payhip to get the pattern (free through October 12th).  You will then want to head over to Cornerstone Tea Company to take advantage of the special discount being offered...  HOME for 15% off.

 

Be sure you come back when your blocks are complete and link up for the chance to win a generous prize package of yummy teas from Cornerstone Tea!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at true Blue Quilts

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

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

Monday Sew & Tell ~ 9/12/2022

 It's time!  It's time for Sew & Tell...  

Last week was a short week with Monday being a US holiday marking the end of the summer.  We spent the day with our girls... Dave was waaaaaaaaaaay outnumbered again with six of us and he the only male.  However, he handled it well as we visited the FRIENDS Experience that was in Denver.  The other option was to leave him behind with the three little girls while the three big girls went off to play.  Heather (Mom of the 3 little girls) took mercy upon him and thought he would enjoy the day as well.

We laughed as we recalled all the different episodes, one liners and situations.  😂  We discussed the storylines and how humor was brought into every one of them and we stepped into every photo op possible!

When the fun was over it was back to work!  It was the unusual week when I had something - appointments, class, etc.. - that I had to do every single day.  Weeks like make the week feel disjointed and unproductive.  But I did actually manage to get a few things done...  Two more blocks for the Camping Journal Quilt.  Both of these blocks will be for our most recent trip... the sunrise over the valley that lies below the National Forest Campground... 

and a bee "hive" because there a rather large bee's nest in a tall pine tree next to our campsite.

One morning I cut all of the pieces for another row of the Pieces in the Garden Row Quilt and have them ready to assemble ...  any guesses on what sort of blocks these pieces will make?

As I prepped these pieces I started thinking about all that I have on the schedule for this week... a much slower week is welcome.  Though most everything I did last week was fun, I am (at heart) a real homebody.  

So... on this week's To-do list...

❧ A new story will be published in the Pieces in the Garden Sew Along series this week. (You may have noticed {or not} that I skipped Teatime with Tressie because of the Get On Board with Sewing Blog hop... there was just too much to manage with the hop and the photo challenge and I wanted to let each one shine and get their fair attention. 😁)

❧ Continue with September's National Sewing Month celebration on Instagram with the 30-day Photo Challenge.  Karrin Hurd was chosen as the random winner in the September 10th drawing.  Her prize is a free digital pattern from Shannon Fraser Designs.  Participating is simple... The 30-day Photo Challenge is a simple daily posting or sharing of various sewing notions related to that day's number. For example... Day one could be one thimble, or one pair of scissors, or one seam ripper... Day 2 could be two pins/needles, or two pairs of scissors... Day 13 could be 13 spools of thread. Get the idea?

Hashtags: #NationalSewingMonth2022 #NationalSewingMonth2022Day1 (change the day’s date each day, ie. #NationalSewingMonth2022Day2 #NationalSewingMonth2022Day3

You can participate in the National Sewing Day 2022 group or on Instagram... your choice but be sure to use the hashtags above to be included in the weekly prize drawings.

❧ I don't have any custom quilts in house so my full attention will be on the Row Quilt. I need to finish writing all of the patterns and get them tested and completed.

Those three items alone will keep me moving forward so I am leaving the list short.  :)  

Sometimes I just need to remind myself that "It's okay to move slow and steady."  After all, in the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, the Tortoise ended being the winner BUT the Hare may have had more fun chasing squirrels...

Speaking of squirrels... have you had any squirrel projects find their way into your line of sight?  

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter