Sew & Tell ~ Day Camp & VBS Done

We survived!  Haha... Actually, the big girls are easy to have around.  They help out when asked without complaint and for the most part have figured out how to get along and know that we don't tolerate their fighting.  

There were popsicle breaks in the afternoons, bedtime stories, and games following dinner.  

Emma enjoyed the embroidery more than Maggie.  Emma finished her towel within a few days and loved the French knots.  

Grandpa got in on the action and helped Emma make the petals on the flower. 

The French knots were a challenge for Maggie, and she didn't like them, but she loved the running stitches and the cross-stitches.  We'll finish her towel in July at our "family camp weekend."

Both girls asked to do some sewing on the machine.  I gave them a choice of pillowcases or a drawstring bag.  Both chose the bag as their project.  They made their selections of fabric, and I made one for baby sister, Hanna... because... well, she can't be left out. ;)

There was fun in the sun at a splash park and at Trinidad Lake, as well as movie time.  Emma had selected the book The Secret Garden at the library.  She didn't get far, but they watched the 2017 version of the movie.  It was very different from the movie I watched when our daughters were young.

Playing at Trinidad Lake with a neighbor boy

We read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at bedtime.  We didn't finish it, but we still enjoyed the movie on Thursday night after a dinner of lasagna and sparkling cider to celebrate the end of the week.

We had a great time with them... and they enjoyed their time here as well.  They stated several times that they wished VBS went all summer and are talking about coming again, not just next year but several years ahead, when Emma would be old enough to be one of the volunteer helpers. 

We love our time with the grands!  But we were wiped out!!! We reminded ourselves several times... this is why we had kids when we were young. ;)

I made very little progress on the Plus Quilt... and this week I will be busy helping with the final details of Mom's move.  It will be happening by the week's end.  After the move is done... we will go camping.  Hmmmm... It may be a few weeks before I get back to it.  Good thing it isn't needed until October!  This is quite the contrast to the 10-year anniversary quilt that I whipped out a couple weeks ago.  😮  Summer activities seem to push quilting to the back burner for many... I see so many talking of gardening, travel, activities with children or grand-children, and many more.

Is this something that happens to you as well?  

What sort of activities/distractions cause your quilting to stall?

Let's take a look at this week's randomly selected Sew & Tell Feature... Congratulations to Gretchen at Gretchen's Little Corner where you can join the celebration of her finishing her Hearts & Wreaths Quilt.

Hearts & Wreaths was put into the quilting frame January 5, 2024 and removed from the frame May 31. I spent last week binding the quilt. I was very enthused about this quilt so the quilting went quickly, 5 months for a short stitched quilt is fast!

Let's get the new party started... What have you been working on?

Keep Piecing,

Melva

PS... Every once in a while, you need to do some "housekeeping" and that is one of the things I have been doing in conjunction with my husband's website. I've added a new tab at the top of my blog so that you can easily find all of the links to the stories of the Pieces of My Life Sew Along. :)  Do you have other suggestions?  I welcome constructive and gentle critiques.

Linking with:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy’s Quilts

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do

Home Matters at Days Filled with Joy

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather at Shabby Art Boutique

Saturday Sparks at Pieced Pastimes

Share Your Style at French Ethereal

To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Put Your Foot Down at The Quiltery 

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

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Sew & Tell ~ Grandparent's Day Camp Plans

 

Welcome!  I am thrilled to have you stop by for Sew & Tell.  The place where you can share your latest creative projects and find inspiration for new projects.

The past week had a relaxed pace for me as I completed the Plus Quilt flimsy.  When I shared on Friday, I was well motivated and ambitious and actually thought I might be able to not only get the quilting done, but the binding as well. 

I plan to do a sort of quilting design that would resemble a healthy heartbeat, with a heart in the middle of each "rhythm".  The name of this quilt will be "My Heart Beats For You."  I need to practice this design on my FMQ jig before I start quilting.  

The "lazies" snuck up on me on Saturday morning and I had no desire to do quilting.  I piddled around with several things... like looking at the furs that we acquired a few months ago.  I purchased some stocking caps on clearance and want to make fur pompoms for them.  But now I can't decide on which one to cut into to begin the repurposing step.  There is one that I would actually wear for a fancy event... The other mink stole could be transformed into a vest but there wouldn't be large enough fur pieces to make a pompom.  The full-length fur will become a large throw but I'm not ready to cut into that one... Such problems! 

So, instead of quilting I gathered some things together for our afternoon "day camp" projects with the girls.  I put together some small embroidery/sewing boxes with pencil boxes (that were mysteriously sent to us last year).  I have included a small embroidery hoop, a few needles, a thimble, pincushion and a notepad.  I will add in some scissors and a pencil and let the girls pick through the embroidery floss from the tin that was my Grandma's embroidery/crewel tin.  (One of the items that followed me home from a down-sizing session at Mom's.)

I will make up a small "corner design" for a dishtowel for them to learn on.  I plan to include running stitches, cross-stitch and a few lazy-daisies and French knots in the design.  Depending on how well they do with that, and if they have a continued interest, we can do another corner or another item like a pillowcase or apron.

The first thing we will do on Monday afternoon is to make a visit to the library to allow them each to choose a book to read.  I need to pick up a second copy of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe for us to take turns as we read aloud.  I have the book on CD as well and will pass the nearly 90-minute drive listening to the book as we drive to Emma's softball game on Tuesday evening.  They can follow along in their books.  Thursday evening will be the last night they will be staying with us, so I have a "movie night" planned to watch the movie.

We hope to spend one afternoon splashing, romping and playing on the shore of Trinidad Lake. Finally, if needed, we will give some tie-dying a try... with a twist by using natural dye made with avocado skins, red cabbage, beets and yellow onion skins.  (Maybe... after reading the process of creating the dyes, it may be easier to buy some Rit Dye and call it good. LOL!)

That's it... there's our "organized" Day-Camp activities.  I think that is enough to keep them busy occupied a good portion of time.  I don't want to over-organize and over-plan their time with us.  Besides... we have plenty of other "stuff" they enjoy playing with when they visit... like the Barbies, Big Girl Dolls, board games and card games, as well as outside stuff too.

Ok, I'll be honest... I don't want to overload ME with the responsibility of coordinating more activities and I feel this is just the right amount. 

Time for the Sew & Tell feature.  This week it is Allison at A Messy House is A Sign of a Happy Quilter. I think this is her first time sharing in Sew & Tell and this is just one of the lovely Moda Blockhead blocks she has. Be sure to visit to see what else she has on display for all of us... and be sure to tell her that I sent you ;)

That's all I have for you this week. :)  Let the party begin!

But before you go... tell me if you ever went to visit your grandparents for a week or more.  What sort of activities did you get to do?

I had this opportunity several times.  The first time I was about 12 years old, and I was so homesick for Mom & Dad.  After a few days I got to talk to them on the phone and then I was good.  Back to my happy, normal self. 

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy’s Quilts

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do

Home Matters at Days Filled with Joy

To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather at Shabby Art Boutique

Saturday Sparks at Pieced Pastimes

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Put Your Foot Down at The Quiltery 

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

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Plus Quilt - A Friday Flimsy Finish

I feel as though I am in an airplane circling the airport, waiting for approval to land... This feeling comes from the fact that I am still waiting for a final move-in date for Mom's apartment. 😧 I had hoped for March... Mom though May would be good... and now, here we are in June. 😐

My phone call to the landlord this week brought the sad news that he had strained his back (while picking up a piece of lint on the floor).  The tile floors have been grouted and sealed and I think the carpet install has been scheduled (though I don't know the date).  A new glass-top stove is on order and he is awaiting the arrival of a replacement faucet since the one he purchased has missing parts. :(

In the meantime, I enjoyed time in my sewing room at a slower pace than last week.  The Plus quilt that will be a wedding gift for a nephew is now a flimsy.  After beginning the layout on the design wall I realized that it was going to end up much larger than I really wanted.  I decided to eliminate a few rows and columns so it will finish at 76" square.

Each one of the fabrics selected for this quilt has flowers on it.  I was told by the Groom's mother that both of them really enjoy flowers and flower gardens.

I made a special trip to the LQS in Raton, NM (a 30-minute drive) on Thursday to pick this backing fabric up. Sadly, the shop is closing due to the owner's husband being diagnosed with lung cancer.  If you care to lift them in prayer as they begin the treatment, I know that they are welcome and appreciated.  If you are looking for any great deals, go check out the website for Patchwork Phoenix.  This was just $5/yard.  Well worth the time and cost of the drive to make the purchase. :)  She is willing to ship as well. 

In other news... If you missed it, I released the next 2 patterns for the Pieces of My Life sew along - A small star and the My Heart blocks.  I mentioned this:

I have "revamped" my email list for the memory pages to include ONLY those that have downloaded any portion of the book.  My list went from nearly 500 down to less than 100.  If you have not received a newsletter with the "private" link to the pages for this section, but would like to, please let me know by sending an email at MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com.  I have made the previous pages available for purchase for a small fee.

I have spent a great deal of time working on this sew along as I have written patterns, tested them and created two quilt layouts... not to mention the pages and memories and stories that I have shared and will continue to share (pages available at no cost if you subscribe to my newsletter)...  and am happy to have you join me.  If you have a deeply appreciative heart and would like to leave me a "tip" or buy me a "ko-fi", I have added in a button below and in the side margins (of the full web page) so that you can do so.  

If you leave an anonymous or no-reply comment saying you would like to receive the pages, I cannot do anything for you.  I must have an email message or you must leave your email address in the comments. It's just the way it is. 🙎

I'll be back on Sunday evening with next week's Sew & Tell Party... hopefully with a final finish of the Plus Quilt. Be sure to join me then too.  If I am slow to respond to comments or emails next week, be patient... we have two grand-daughters that will be visiting to attend VBS in the mornings and then a mini "summer camp" with Grandpa & Grandma. :)  I'll share our plans with the Sew & Tell party.

On another blogspot note... has anyone else been encountering issues with links and highlighting?  All I have to say is that it seems there are some weird things going on and it is a little frustrating.  I've worked through most, but still.  Does it really need to be this hard???

Be Blessed and Keep Piecing,

Melva

Tips are always welcome :)

Linking with:

Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

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

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather at Shabby Art Boutique

Saturday Sparks at Pieced Pastimes

Share Your Style at French Ethereal

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Pieces of My Life ~ Blocks 9 & 10 ~ Small Star & My Heart

Welcome back to Melva Loves Scraps and the Pieces of My Life Sew along. 💙💜

With these blocks ~ a single star and My Heart ~ we transition from our childhood and teen years to the awkward yet exciting time of being a young adult.  Prompts in the Memory Book pages include questions about memories of cancelled school days because of a snowstorm and winter activities to the time that you ventured into the world as an adult...

I recall the excitement of turning 18, graduating high school and dipping my toes into the "adult" world of no parent to answer to at college.  It was freeing yet terrifying all at the same time.  

I only worked a portion of the summer, earning money to pay for college.  I think I had planned to have the entire month of August "off".  During that month, I had plenty of time to hang out with friends and even made a week+ trip to Tucson with one of my besties to stay with my Grandparents.  Karen and I drove Grandma & Grandpa home.  They had wrapped up a big trip of theirs... we were not aware of it but, Grandpa was not well.  But Karen and I thought it was really cool of them to let us do all of the driving.  It was a little like having our own little road trip!

Karen and I generally got along really well... except when we had to share a bed.  After sharing a bed for two nights in Tucson, Grandma & Grandpa gave up their bed (they slept in the camper in the driveway) so that I could get some sleep and Karen and I could be besties again.  We walked all over town.  We wandered around the University of Arizona Campus and enjoyed our time together.  When it was time to go home, we met my parents at the Grand Canyon.

Sidenote:: I think this was the time and location that Grandma said something about me someday writing my memoirs.  She must have known!

It was time for Karen to return back to the HS for her senior year and I prepared to go to Trinidad State.

I remember I was excited to begin my classes.  Move in day was on a Wednesday or Thursday and Registration on Friday.  But I was freaking out because I had to write a check for said classes.  I knew that didn't have enough money in my checking account to cover the cost ($1,050 plus some odd change - Yes, I still have all of the paperwork from registration with classes & cost!) and I didn't know where I was going to find enough to cover it.  Mom assured me that she would put money in the account to cover it.  Thanks MOM!  I did get a work-study job using my secretarial skills that I was learning in my classes for the Basketball Coach.  I was able to reduce the cost of college by getting all of my books through the athletic department.  The job helped me to have enough for the gas expense of going home some most weekends.  I also had a dorm scholarship to help cover the cost of room & board.  

I met Dave on one of the first days on campus and the first weekend on campus was filled with activities.  I attended the Freshman mixer on Saturday night with a group of girls from the dorm.  Dave was also in attendance with a twinkling star look in his eyes.  He was a good dancer and even won a dance contest with another girl.  He strutted back and forth in front of the table we were sitting at.  The other girls were encouraging me to ask him to dance... I was a big ol' chicken and needed some courage to do so.  That courage came in the form of beer that was provided at the dance.

After consuming the proper amount of liquid courage, I did ask him.  He said yes.  I thanked him for the dance with a kiss as we left the dance floor.  I was the one he left the dance with. After the dance we went to some apartment in town where the party continued.  We were pretty much a couple from then on... even though I had a little business to take care of back at home... like break up with a guy that told me to go enjoy "the full college experience".  I found out from Karen shortly after my leaving town that he was see on a date with someone else. We parted ways without much fanfare.

A few pictures from our college years photo album

After being together for just a week or so, Dave told me that he would marry me.  I did not believe him.  In fact, my response was "You're crazy!"  

I guess he knew what he was talking about. (Just like Grandma knew, too) LOL.  By November we had talked about getting married when he was done with the gunsmithing program.  Shortly after, he talked to my Dad about wanting to marry me and for Christmas he gave me a promise ring. 

Bit by bit and piece by piece, Dave captured my attention, my heart and my devotion.  I'm glad he knew... and that he was patient enough to not give up on me.

I have "revamped" my email list for the memory pages to include ONLY those that have downloaded any portion of the book.  My list went from nearly 500 down to less than 100.  If you have not received a newsletter with the "private" link to the pages for this section, but would like to, please let me know by sending an email at MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com.  I have made the previous pages available for purchase for a small fee.

I have spent a great deal of time working on this sew along as I have written patterns, tested them and created two quilt layouts... not to mention the pages and memories and stories that I have shared and will continue to share (pages available at no cost if you subscribe to my newsletter)...  and am happy to have you join me.  If you have a deeply appreciative heart and would like to leave me a "tip" or buy me a "ko-fi", I have I have added in a button below and in the side margins (of the full web page) so that you can do so.  

I have offered all of my sew alongs at no cost to you.  They truly are a labor of love and I get great joy out of creating them.  I find great joy in seeing your creations also.  Sooo... 

It's now time to for you to get your patterns in my payhip store.  Don't forget to come back to bring me some JOY as you share your blocks in the parade of blocks.

But before you go, tell me...

Do you believe in "love at first sight"?

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Put Your Foot Down at The Quiltery 

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather at Shabby Art Boutique

Saturday Sparks at Pieced Pastimes

Share Your Style at French Ethereal

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Tips are always appreciated ;)

Sew & Tell ~10 years Baby

Jessi is a young woman I met about 4 years ago when she was baptized at the small church Dave and I were attending at the time.  Jessi has a little girl that is spunky, feisty and sweet - Jayli.  Jayli loves being outside... she loves all animals, including chickens.  Jayli helps each day to collect the fresh eggs they sell.

When Jessi was pregnant the ladies' group that I was leading at the time held a baby shower for her.  She received many of the typical shower gifts, including all of the adorable little onsies and outfits.  Jayli would have been well dressed from all she received at the shower, but Jessi also had many things from a cousin that had two daughters.

Even though Jayli outgrew the outfits quickly, Jessi, like so many of us Moms, just could not part with those special pieces of clothing.  

Her cousin recently contacted her and asked for a gift idea for his wife for their 10-year wedding anniversary... "What do I buy her?  Ten years is a big deal and she doesn't wear jewelry."  Jessi recommended a memory quilt made of some of the baby clothes that they had passed on for Jayli.  He loved the idea.  Their anniversary is just around the corner, and they will be in here visiting for a week, so she dropped off a bag of clothes (and some eggs) on Monday and I started cutting right away.

My full focus was on that bag of clothes.  By Friday, I had 24 blocks pieced and on the design wall, ready for sashing strips.  I approached this memory quilt a little differently than I do the typical t-shirt quilt.  Since the pieces are much smaller, they needed something different.

These 12" blocks are made up of two 4x6 inch rectangles, one 4x8 rectangle and an 8 inch square.  Most of the smallest onesies were not large enough for the 8" square.  I used coping strips to make up the difference in size.

It is a perfect choice for a scrappy look!

After getting a look at some wedding photos, I went with a pink and purple floral print with a pink background for sashing strips; a light green border will be finished off with a pink binding and a special little label.

Because babies can be a little messy, some of the pieces need a little extra attention to get a few stains out a little less noticeable, I have it soaking with a solution recommended for antique quilts before I wash it. (I'll share pictures once is it sparkling clean and wrinkly.)

I think this is a record finish for me... If your recall, I didn't have any big projects on the horizon.  And certainly not one with such a quick turn-around time.  My head was down, pedal to the metal, and blinders on so that I would avoid any DrEAMI projects. But that didn't keep me from dreaming and planning for the next quilt.

With this anniversary gift complete, I am ready to turn my attention to a wedding gift for a nephew and his wife getting married in October.  

I have p l e n t y of time before we plan to deliver in August when we visit for a 50th anniversary party for one of Dave's sisters.  The wedding shower will be just a week later, but we are unable to stay for it.  I have a "Plus" quilt planned made of floral fabrics.

The design wall will be much needed as I leisurely layout the pieces for this one...

Speaking of florals... Nann at With Strings Attached shared a variety of flowers she saw at a nearby forest preserve as well as a fun and wonky butterfly quilt...

Go check it out!

Time for you Sew & Tell!  Join the party... but not before you tell me...

What is the fastest time that you have made a large throw-sized quilt?

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Wuilts at The Quilting Patch

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy’s Quilts

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do

Home Matters at Days Filled with Joy 

To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

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