Repairs & Scars - Sew & Tell ~ 6/30/25

After the "heatwave" last weekend a cool front was welcomed with wide open windows at the beginning of the week.  Our highs during the heatwave were in the mid 90s... in comparison to what many others saw, our temperatures were mild... but it was still hot.  We were tempted to cave to the heat and install the window AC units.  SO tempted!

We held out and survived. It really isn't the warm daytime temps that get to us.  It is the slow to cool evening temps.  If we could leave all of the windows open all night long, the house would sufficiently cool since the overnight temps dip into the low 60s.  What gets us is that we have to shut down windows due to the wildlife (specifically bears!) that are known to roam the neighborhood... we've been told that a mountain lion is around as well. Yikes!

As I said... we held out and we survived the two poor warm nights of sleep.  The reward was the three days in the low to mid 70s!  It was glorious!  I enjoyed ample time in the kitchen messing with some new recipes... particularly GF sourdough recipes.  I prepared muffins, tortillas, pizza crusts, bread and more.  If you are interested in these recipes, I suggest you head over to Homestead on the Hill to see what she has available for free... but even more than that, check out her recipe books. :)

Since I was busy baking, I didn't spend much time in the studio.  Between mixing and baking on Day 1, I tidied up my orange scraps and put them away.  I wonder what the color of the month will be in July???  

I pulled out the Hearts & Flowers quilt that the Irish Chain Quilt replaced in the guest room.

When I took it off the guest bed, I noticed that there was a block that looked rather dirty... it must have been the spot on the bed that my Dad would sit (with dirty lawn care jeans) to change his clothes.  (It is the gold-ish block - far left edge, middle block.)  I noticed that the block above it had a few small tears.  I decided that washing it (on a delicate cycle) was necessary.  After a gentle bath, the dirty block looks about the same, but the block that had a few small tears had become a mess!

It didn't help that the batting in this quilt was a high-loft polyester batting that gives the very poofy look in the quilting.  To make the repair, I used a fine white tulle "webbing".  I pinned it into place and then, using invisible thread, I pulled the open tears together, much like a doctor would stitch closed a wound.  I ran a line of running stitches to hold down the tulle a 1/2-inch or so out from the repair and then trimmed any excess tulle off.  I used this same process to repair a quilt in 2019.

Close up of the repairs

It is a good analogy of life... we live, sometimes really hard and fast, and we can end up with injuries.  Physically we can heal, but the scars remain... the scars from some injuries are more noticeable than others... and at times the scar tissue can be sensitive.  

I could ramble on about various thoughts that have rolled around in my head, but I won't drag you down that crazy rabbit hole with me. ;)

Instead, I will take you back to my studio. If you are a regular reader/follower, you will have noticed that I was busy writing blog stories/posts - I was quite chatty. ;) I did a mid-year review, and I announced the Christmas in July blog hop.

After I had enough fun playing in the kitchen and cleaning house (bleh), I returned to the studio for some creative time.  As hostess of the Christmas in July hop, I figured that I better make something to share!  I won't preview my project but will offer a hint that it involved green & white strings for a scrappy Christmas-y table topper.  It is a subtle nod to Christmas, but not screaming Christmas, and will allow it to be used year-round.  Ok, ok... maybe just a little peek. ;)

That's all I have for the week... I'm all "talked out" so let's kick off the Sew & Tell party with the feature of the week. 

Terry at On Going Projects shared a finished top that was made with items from her "parts" department... Terry's honesty about her SHIB going on (Squirrels Hiding In Bags) brought a smile to my face as she and Gertie (her inner squirrel) argued back and forth about what was needed to complete her 1500 piece puzzle.  Jump over to her blog to read the whole story of how this piece transcended. ;)  Terry referred to this process as "dancing with the wall".  

I often dance with the wall... in fact, I danced with the wall as I pieced my "Christmas in July" project.  I kept wanting it to be bigger. I wanted to treat it as a round robin sort of project... It didn't want to dance with me!  It wanted what it wanted, and it was not going to accept any of my offers.  I almost felt as though I was at a Jr. High dance!  LOL... I finally submitted and listened to what it really wanted... for less to be more.

Do you dance with your wall?

Do you use kits and patterns?

Or are you a "free-stylist"?

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

Don't forget... if you want to join the Christmas in July Blog Hop leave a comment or send me an email!  MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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