2023 Planning Party

 

It is the time of year that many of us take time to reflect on the previous 12 months, assess, and then make plans for the coming year.

You can catch my review at Best of 2022... since the past several months have been physically challenging for me I long to simply "dip my toes in the waters" and wade in slowly to 2023 rather than doing a polar plunge.  So some first quarter goals are as follows...

We have a January business trip planned as well as making tentative plans for a camping trip in late February/early March. We have reserved the first two Harry Potter books and I am making a few quilty plans as well to be able to pass the time on the road.  I have two EPP Postcard blocks ready to go.  These two blocks will wrap-up the documentation our camping adventures for 2022...

My daughter sent me a fun project idea ~ I Found a Quilted Heart ~ ❤... and this is a perfect project to occupy my hands as we road-trip! 

Here's the story of how it all got started...

The most random thing happened while vacationing in Nevada.   Three sisters and our husbands took a day trip to Valley of Fire State Park.  After an afternoon of hiking, exploring, and soaking in the beauty, it was time to check in for our return flight.  We drove to Rainbow Vista, as it was the only location in the park with cell phone service.   While the three sisters look for just the right place to get that coveted cell service, the husbands searched a cave off in the distance.   Following a deserted trail around the back side of the cave, the most incredible gift was found: a little quilted heart with a tag reading, “I need a home.”

Well, it certainly found a perfect home! We may never know who placed that quilted heart in the desert of Nevada, but we are thankful for it.  This beautiful little heart started a whole new purpose for us; blessing others with the same simple act of kindness.

Have you heard of I Found A Quilted Heart?  

I'd like to hear from you if you have... Have you found a quilted heart?  Did you report the quilted heart?  Have you ever made hearts like this? 

I have enjoyed making smaller, improv mug rugs or postcards over the past few years.  Recently, I was inspired by something I saw on Instagram (Sorry, I don't remember who to credit) but this is one of the first projects I'll be making when I decide it is time to return to the studio.

I have been fiddling around in there with various things... I gave some special attention to the wood flooring the other day and I have it looking shiny and clean again. I cleared the various piles of project remnants that lingered after finished the Dresden Quilt and have my retreat quilt in que for finishing.  I also pulled out an extra jellyroll that I had purchased as an option for the retreat quilt as well as a pattern book that I was gifted a few years ago from one of my daughters.

One of my Christmas gifts this year was a laser light that will attach to my sewing machines.  I am excited to get it set up so that I can try it out.  For years I have had a piece of tape on my sewing table making a center line as well as the 1/4" seam, but this will offer a longer line for larger HST units.  It isn't complicated to attach... just some sticky velcro... but I need to decide on the perfect position on the machine so that it isn't in the way and won't easily be bumped and knocked out of position.

Have you ever used such a tool?  

What are your thoughts?  

I'd love to have some feedback or suggestions.

A little longer range... I'll be working on getting a pattern book for the Pieces of the Trail Quilt printed.  The owner of the quilt shop in Raton, New Mexico is interested in doing another block of the month event.  So, I really need to get my ducks in a row and get a pattern book ready to sell.  I'll be using the same printing company I used for my Pieces From the Past book ~ Blurb.com.  I had considered making or creating a calendar with the patterns, but simply haven't found a good source or program to design something like that without making a big investment and learning how to use a new program... but to be honest... I haven't spent a great deal of time researching it either.  Maybe Snapfish or Shutterfly has something that would work...

I have been considering hosting another sew along for 2023... I am definitely interested but need to take some time off to be able to plan and design with fewer deadlines and pressure than what I put on myself this year.  If nothing else, I have learned from the lesson of caring for my health, which I had apparently taken advantage of this past fall. Be sure to watch for some details to come in the spring!

Thanks for following my thoughts, plans and dreams... I hope that you will continue to be one of my faithful readers! 😘

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Planning Party at Quilting Jetgirl

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts 

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

Thankful Thursday at Brian's Home

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

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

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Year End Review & Best of 2022

What a year!  And each one of you reading this has made it a better year than I had hoped and anticipated.

Last December as I turned my focus to 2022, I saw a blank slate... I had no well-defined goals for the year other than to lead the Pieces From the Past block of the month at Patchwork Phoenix, the LQS in Raton, New Mexico.  I did just that and though the group got smaller as the year continued on, those that hung with it grew as quilters and enjoyed the opportunity to try new techniques.  It was a pleasure watching their confidence grow with each block.  

I sold out of the original 100 copies of the Pieces From the Past books that I published and ordered a second, much smaller quantity so that I can maintain a small inventory of them.  This book contains all of the letters, stories, recipes and pictures that accompanied the original sew-along series that ran here on Melva Loves Scraps from January 2020 through March 2021.

New To Me in 2022...

I hosted a new sew along that told the story of my Maternal Grandparents, Forrest & Tressie Teegarden.  The Pieces in the Garden quilt was a row quilt with each row made up of 3" or 4" blocks and one row of 6" blocks.  While not as popular as the previous sew alongs, it was fun and there were still many of you that enjoyed the stories of their lives despite not making the blocks.

I began hosting a new weekly linky party ~ Monday Morning Sew & Tell.  A place for all of you to share the progress of quilts and DrEAMI or squirrel projects.  It is fun to see what everyone has been up to, despite it being a bit dangerous with the temptations of so much eye candy to admire.

I co-hosted/sponsored (with Brenda from Songbird Designs) the on-line National Sewing Month blog hop and Instagram photo challenge.  The hop was a wonderful event and made the "National" event and "International" event with bloggers from around the world participating.

Top 5 Quilts of the year...

#5 - Camping Journal Quilt - our journeys have continued and as I completed the center portion of this quilt we upgraded to a larger 5th-wheel camper.  I have started piecing the blocks that will make up the borders.

#4 - Hanna's First Year Quilt - a collection of onsies and special holiday outfits... It includes all of the monthly shirts, the newborn hats, two special personalized blankets and more.

Hanna seemed to have liked it... and her Momma was pleased too.  Heather noticed that the binding was from one of the baby blankets and Emma, just 8 years old, commented that she liked how I put all of the smallest blocks together in the middle.  (I think the girl may have an eye for design 😍)

Hanna received some matching pillow covers in her Christmas gift and gave her new little pillow a sweet hug. 

#3 - Pieces Revisited - My cousin's half-sister, Kendra, contacted me to purchase a copy of the Pieces From the Past book. She soon followed up with a request for a custom quilt using two of the blocks from the book, Our Country and Dragonfly.  This quilt was a real joy to make... almost as much as it was to meet her in person to make the delivery!

#2 - Funfetti was a quilt that was inspired when I found a collection of 4-patch pink and green blocks as I cleaned and sorted my fabric stash closet.

#1 - Pieces in the Garden Row Quilt inspired by the story of a Bride's Quilt and the product of this year's sew along...

“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.

From last year::  On a personal note... for the last several years I have had a focus word.  The word that continues to come to me is SUCCESS.  More specifically, from 1 Samuel 18:14... In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him.  I have had an internal argument that it seems prideful... or boastful... I, myself, cannot measure the greatness of success.  Against what do I measure it?  Previous years?  Others?  

In the end, I have accepted the word given to me and know that my success in whatever I endeavor will be ONLY because the Lord will be with me.

Overall, I feel that the year was a success... with the exception of the 4th quarter.  My immune system went a little haywire and I dealt with a case of shingles, and two cold viruses that all knocked me on my hiney.  My quilting slowed to a snail's pace, my writing lacked a certain "zest", the weekly Sew & Tell features were overlooked (though I did make a visit to each link) and any responses to comments and questions here on the blog were slow to go out, or sometimes even ignored.  My apologies for those that I have neglected. 😔 

I think it all went awry when we didn't get in one last camping trip in October... LOL!  "I googled my symptoms and I just needed to go camping!"

I am (planning on) taking a few weeks more for rest & recovery... We'll see how that goes (haha!).  The Sew & Tell party will continue, but my weekly to-do lists will go to the wayside.  I have a few small ideas/projects in mind, but when I will actually execute them remains to be seen.  

How has your year been?

Smooth and completely as planned?

Or, full of surprises?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Best of 2022 at Meadow Mist Designs

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

m

Sew & Tell ~ Christmas Style!

Merry Christmas!  Happy Boxing Day! Or any other holiday celebration that you may be in the midst of celebrating!  

Short and sweet here... I have done NOTHING in my studio or in the quilty realm since last week.  It has been a refreshing break and I will be back at it soon with plans to return to my retreat quilt.

Did you get all of your gifts done?  

Did you receive any great quilty gifts?

Leave a comment, or leave a link (fb or instagram works too).  I'd love to hear from you.

Merry Christmas!

Melva

Linking with:

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt

m

Pieces in the Garden Final Assembly

This post is a bitter-sweet... Here are the final instructions for the finishing of the Garden Row Quilt.  When I was auditioning fabrics for the final border and binding, I tried a wide variety of options.  This quilt with so many small blocks was so busy I had a difficult time finding anything that was acceptable to me... Until I tried the bold, bright solids.  These are not a typical choice of mine, but when I placed them on the design wall my eyes (and mind) were pleased with the "calming effect" that they brought to the blocks.  My eyes were no longer bouncing around, almost freaking out... I was greatly relieved to realize that I would not want to bury this quilt in the closet (or in the garden) because I couldn't stand to look at it.   

I hope that you will be in love with your finished quilt as well. 😍

Cut:     14 horizontal sashing strips, 1-1/2" wide and 48-1/2" long.

            2 vertical strips, 1-1/2" wide and 70-1/2" long (for side borders)

            2 horizontal strips, 1-1/2" wide by 50-1/2" long (for top and bottom borders)

NOTE::  It is important to cut these sashing strips to this specific length to help in keeping the quilt as straight and "square" as possible.  Because of the length of the rows and the varying sizes of the blocks (as well as the size of the pieces making up the blocks), you may notice that some rows will be a little more "springy" than others.  

It is best to choose a fabric that is wider than the standard 42/44" width, to avoid having a seam in the strip (1 yard will be an ample amount of fabric).  OR you can purchase 1-1/2 yards and cut the strips on the length of fabric, 1-1/2" x 48-1/2". 

Mark the center of the sashing strip by folding in half and pressing a crease.  Pin that center crease at the center of the row, pin each end of the strip to the ends of the row.  Easing in, if necessary, pin into place the remainder of the block seams to the strip.  The sashing strip will help to stabilize the rows and help keep everything lying flat when you are ready to sandwich the quilt.

Using the same fabric as you plan to use for the binding, cut 8 strips, 1" wide.  Join the strips together, cut two strips to 70-1/2" long and two to 50-1/2" long.  Press in half.  Using a 1/8" seam sew these flange strips to the outer edges of the borders. 

From border fabric, cut 8 strips 2-1/2" x WOF.  Join two strips together to make four long strips.  Trim two to 70-1/2" long.  Sew borders to the sides of the quilt.  Trim remaining two borders to 54-1/2" long.  Sew to the top and bottom of the quilt.  You are now ready to sandwich your quilt and quilt as desired.

I used a template to trace 5" clamshells onto my quilt.  I found a tutorial that you may be interested in looking at by Kathy Kwylie.  She suggests starting at the top or bottom of the quilt.  I chose to start near the center of the quilt and work my way out in both directions.  It is all a personal preference.

A hanging diamond design would be a good option as well... perhaps placed about 2" apart?  

Binding:  Cut 8 strips, 2-1/2" x WOF.  Join strips together and press in half.  You can find my tips, suggestions and a "tutorial" on a variety of binding options HERE.

The tea party in the garden has come to an end... I thank you for joining me for this sew along as I told the story of my grandparents, Tressie & Forrest Teegarden.  It has been a good time!  But before we say our final good-byes...  

Won't you tell me if you had a favorite block or part of their story?

My favorite block to piece was the Hours block...  And I love the Noon & Night blocks... you can never go wrong with a classic log cabin. 

Least favorite???  No doubt that row of Wedding Ring Day!  What a booger those were!

I have heard from several of you that this quilt has inspired you to start to document the lives of your loved ones. The "Priceless Conversations" document is a wonderful tool to assist you with this.

Thanks again for joining me!  I will have a linky opportunity for you to share your finished quilt tops open until January 15th.  At that time, I will do a drawing for a grand-prize drawing.  The prize will include one final chance to win an assorted tea selection from Cornerstone Tea company as well as a pattern book and a teacup pincushion. 

Let the quilt parade begin!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

PS: If you made some of the blocks, but not enough to complete a quilt like mine you might get some ideas and inspiration from @cynwiestam_nordicquilter and her La Fleur quilt by Kitty Rose Cottage

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts 

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

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

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

m

Sew & Tell ~ December 19, 2022

It is done!  The dresden plate quilt is finished and on its way to the recipient!  Inside I'm doing a little happy dance but am honestly sooooo exhausted I don't have the energy for it.

I'll be resting up after my final push to get this out the door... so now it is your turn to show & tell all of us of your last-minute Christmas projects and gifts.

Keep piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

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

m

Making a Happy Plate

It is not a finish... but I am so close!  I see the end is near and I don't want to lose my momentum, so this is just a really quick update.

Like eating an elephant one bite at a time... slow and steady is how I have managed to get this quilt as far as I have... 

Stitch in the ditch was the first step and then the plates and centers outlined...  followed by the cut lace tablecloth sections being outlined.

Next was the narrow border with leaves and the final border with big feathers...

I have 8 setting half-square triangles and the 4 corners to quilt, and it will be ready for the binding (which has already been cut and pressed and ready to go). Once done, I will have successfully made a happy plate. 😂 

With fingers crossed and my prayers whispered, I believe this will be ready for delivery this weekend!

Gotta run...

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

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

A Holiday Version of Thoughts & Things

As I have been moving slowly, again, yet methodically, I have had so many thoughts... thoughts of gratitude for the times my slow improvement of recovering from viruses... as well as a few times of frustration and determination as I faced setbacks.  I was frustrated when Dave was past the desperate need for cough medicine and lozenges and returned to his shop.  

I, on the other hand, seemed to be getting worse.  At one point (around 3 a.m. Monday morning) I was resigned to the fact that I would be making a visit to the local clinic.  Dave began praying fervently as I finally fell asleep following a horrible coughing fit.  When we opened our eyes a few hours later (after 7 a.m. - which is unheard for me!) I felt as though there had been a great healing in my body.  

As I prepared for the day and stared at the variety of supplements and cough medications I had before me, I opted to skip the cough suppressant and expectorant.  You see... I had noticed a pattern.  After taking that medication I would cough out of control (every time) about 2 hours later.  It was a 12-hour dose that never seemed to make it past about 6 hours... I had even reduced the dosage and upped the frequency, being certain that I did not surpass the suggested dosage.  The pattern continued...

Once I eliminated it completely from the regimen, I began clearing.  My lungs and throat no longer burned, the coughing was minimal, and my mind was clearer.  The thing that was to help me improve was making me worse!

That was when I returned to quilting the Dresden Quilt...  And when I started giving thought to future projects as well as a review of goals met and successes as I've had this year.  I was excited as December began... I have a special love for Advent Calendars.  I love the excitement and anticipation of opening a new pocket or envelope each day brings...

I found a fun on-line Quilter's Advent Calendar at Melanie's Kunstraum.  

Each day brings a new surprise... there may be a free pattern or tutorial, a chance to win a prize or even a game...  like Christmas Bingo...  I have a pathetic looking bingo card at this point, but with our health being restored, we are optimistic that things will improve.  

I have had plenty of time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas and wanted to share this insight that I saw on Instagram the other day.

Joseph and Mary needed to get to the City of Bread…to deliver the Bread of Life…into a FEEDING TROUGH…to be given for all…to nourish and sustain…the Soul.

We pick up our Christmas letter this afternoon and will be addressing envelopes this evening.  If everything goes as planned, we will be making a shopping trip tomorrow, rest on Friday and perhaps on Saturday we will even get our tree out to decorate.  Sunday evening, we should be meeting with our friends with the twin girls for dinner and a trolly tour of the town to view the Christmas lights.  

I have often turned my thoughts to those that have lost loved ones throughout the year and their struggle to find a festive spirit inside of them... and for those that are facing cancer and are in the midst of a treatment that plays havoc on their body... for the couples that face another year without a child... and for so many more.  I lift them in prayer and can only hope that they might be able to look beyond the commercialism that comes with this holiday season and see the real reason, the TRUE reason for season.

May you find some Christmas Peace... and piece... this season.

Melva

Linking with:

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

Thankful Thursday at Brian's Home

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

I Like Thursday at Not Afraid of Color

Sew & Tell ~ Christmas Prep Delay

I should be able to show the progress I made this week... and I have made some, though not what I had hoped for.  I sandwiched and (lightly) pinned (thanks to the fusible batting that is my go to) the dresden quilt.  I have done stitch in the ditch to secure the center of the quilt and am ready to tackle the outlining of the plates.  

I really need to get this done and to my customer so that they can ship it off so that it is received before Christmas.  As I feel extra energized, I will be at the machine

After deciding that I needed to cancel the Pieces from the Past quilt parade on Wednesday, because of a horrible cough that I had developed over the previous few days, I worried about just when I would get there to the store to pick up that fabric I purchased on a blow-out sale...  The cough is a lingering symptom of the recent chest cold Dave and I shared.  After we both improved, he got worse and I followed suit the next day.  *sigh*  Thankfully, I had a special delivery of the backing fabric!

In our effort to finally get over it we plopped ourselves down in chairs (because laying down in bed only made things worse)... we are slowly improving.  I mean s.l.o.w.l.y.!  There has been so much hot tea with honey, decongestant and expectorant as well as lots and lots of vitamins.  We have finally had two nights of better rest... less coughing from both of us and less snoring and "twitchy" sleep from Dave.

But, before we declared ourselves sick couch chair potatoes, I finished two special Christmas ornaments... the First Christmas ornament for Hanna that was missed last year... The second one was because Tyshan, while decorating their tree a few years ago asked Heather where his First Christmas ornament was.  Heather happened to locate one that didn't have a date, name or picture on it and declared it his.

This young teen is adopted by our SIL and, as Dave often states, "came with the marriage", but we love him as our own and I think that giving him a personal ornament with the year he was born will be something super special and appreciated.

We haven't even begun getting Christmas decorations out... Our annual Christmas letter has been delayed (partly because we have been ill, partly because one daughter (who procrastinates EVERY year - shhh... don't tell her that I always set an earlier date of needing the letters than when I really want it...).  We like to get it in the mail by the 10th of December each year...  Our letter is unique in that each one of us writes a section of the letter telling of the details of the events and happenings that stood out in our minds.  So... without her contribution it would be incomplete.  

We still have time to get it to the printer Monday morning and it should be out in the mail by the end of the week.  We discovered a couple years ago that it was the same cost to have someone else print it as it was to do it at home.  It saves me the time and headache of having to sit at the computer desk and monitor the feeding of the paper.  I especially need this time in the studio this year.

Last week Andree shared a project of Mindful Stitching with natural elements...

And Vicki showed off a pair of her fabulous scrappy placemats...

Now it is your turn.  But before you share a link, tell me...

Do you send out Christmas cards or letters?

It is one of our favorite things about the season... hearing the updates from loved one across the country.

Piece on earth,

Melva

Linking with:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

m

Pieces in the Garden - Jacob's Ladder - Block #12

 “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.

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

Grab yourself a cup of tea to enjoy as we hear from Tressie & Forrest and their memories of Christmas Past?

Grandma, tell me how your family celebrated Christmas when you were a child.  Did you hang up a stocking for Santa to fill?

We always had a tree.  I would go with Dad to cut our tree.  We would decorate with tinsel and string cranberries.  We made popcorn balls a lot too.  I never had a special stocking, but we did hang stockings.  

What kind of gifts did you give your parents?  Did you ever receive something very special?

I don't really remember anything special that I gave to Mom and Dad.  I'm sure I made a gift or something in school.  I'm not able to remember what though.

Grandpa, how did your family celebrate Christmas when you were a child?

We always had a Christmas tree that sat in the corner by the fireplace.  I think we probably had turkey for our Christmas dinner.  I never hung a stocking until after I got old.  

Did your mother ever make you something special?

I always got pajamas.  Then she would take the leftover material and make quilts. 

I have my Christmas stocking from my childhood, well, actually, it is a boot... a cowboy boot.  Grandma was the one who made it.  All of our family had Christmas boots because my Dad wore cowboy boots and since Kelvin was the first-born grandchild, Grandma thought he needed a boot... our cousins all got Christmas boots as well.  One year my aunt (I think...) suggested that the "women" of the family needed a fancy Christmas boot.  

They all got fancy "Victorian-style" women's boots in bright pink with fuzzy stuff at the top of the boot.  As we all grew up and got married, the new family member received a Christmas boot to match all of ours.  And if you are wondering... yep, our children also got cowboy boots.  

Each boot is decorated with items that represent each individual... I did not carry on the tradition of making boots as our family expanded... My Dad was gone by that point, and it wasn't anything that the "boys" would have appreciated, and the grands wouldn't have cared about them either. 

So, tell me... Do you have a special Christmas stocking?

Leave a comment... I love hearing from you!

Now is the time to head over the store to get the final pattern ~ Jacob's Ladder.  These 4" blocks are quick and fun to make by strip piecing the 4-patch blocks.  You will need 12 of them and then make sure you return to link up for the final prize package of this sew-along.  Stephanie at Cornerstone Tea Company puts together a generous package of assorted teas... you should check out her store.  She is also offering a discount by using the promo code LADDER.  The 20% discount will be valid through December 31.  I'd love to find a collection from her store in my Christmas stocking or under the tree!

Keep Piecing and Merry Christmas!

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts 

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

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