Thursday, October 2, 2025

Quarter 3 Quilting Check-in


The other day I saw a mention that Christmas was X weeks away.  I don't remember the number, but it was alarmingly close and for a moment... I had a bit of panic.  And then put it out of my mind... thus the reason I cannot remember the number stated. ;) Hahaha.  

Do I care?  Yes... From a business standpoint, so that I am not dealing with last minute orders.  I would appreciate my customers to be well prepared and plan ahead.  

From a personal standpoint?  Not really.  It does seem that the summer zipped by.  And suddenly, here we are firmly in the fall season, and I am loving the days.  I have been relishing the moderate temperatures of the days, the cooler temps of early morning and evening, and I cannot forget the brilliant colors that those cool temps bring. I am making every effort to be fully present in every day/moment/conversation so that I am not missing the small blessings that are sprinkled into the ordinary of life.


As I turned the page of the calendar, I realized we are now in the 4th quarter and that it was time to review my list of goals I had...

 Taking my Story Telling Quilts program on the road.  Two new quilts on the "Art Wall" at the local library in March to celebrate World Quilting Month.


Again, I have not pursued this as aggressively as I could... I have my excuses... reasons... Basically, I don't want to travel alone and Dave's commitment to the water system that serves our community has not allowed for travel plans.  BUT!

I am still open to offering my Storytelling Quilts program to quilters - whether just a group or a formal guild. I'd like to keep the travel to within a 3-4 hour drive but could happily try to work out something via the web.  I am in southeastern Colorado and would consider travel to the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, New Mexico, Kansas and the Denver-metro area, possibly southern Wyoming or western Nebraska.  We I will simply make it work.  Hit me up!

I am on the schedule at the library to have a display of quilts on the "Art Wall" next year in March.  Plans for what quilts to display is still mulling in my mind, but I'm thinking of "Table Scraps" or "Table Talk."  Use your imagination to guess what it might include.


Continue with my custom quilting and t-shirt quilts... I will also continue leaving a trail of love from my quilted hearts.

I've not had many custom orders this year... but it hasn't kept me from quilting and creating.  A small trail of quilted hearts has been made as we have traveled with our 5th wheel camper.    

Continue my weekly Sew & Tell party

Sew & Tell is going strong and offers inspiration and creativity continually and I have enjoyed developing friendships with many participants and readers.

The Christmas in July blog hop was a fun event with 7 quilters joining the fun.  I had plans to host the Virtual Cookie Exchange hop, but the original hosts are bringing that, and the Halloween hop, back.  I've joined the list of bloggers for the "Out of the Dark" hop. I have my project ready to go and am excited to share with everyone!  Stop by on Tuesday, October 21st.

With our Camping Journal Quilt complete, I am thinking of taking up a hexie project for some of my hand-stitching.  I've printed and cut 3" tall hexies.  These large hexies could easily become a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project.  But I haven't settled on that yet.  TBD

My color wash hexagon project is completely laid out!  

Now begins the task of getting them stitched together.  I will do this by columns, starting at the far left (above - below it is the bottom row), getting about 1/3 of the total unit together and then piece in the stragglers.


Compile the stories from our camping adventures into a book.

DONE! I ended up have it printed at the local copy store and placed the pages in plastic protector sleeves.

Compile patterns and memory book pages from the Pieces of My Life quilt and get them in a published format as well.  

 NOT DONE... Maybe in the 3rd 4th quarter. ;)

  Above all, I want to make certain that I am creating and finding joy in life through my quilting projects.


I continue to embrace the shortage of custom quilt/ quilting orders and joined the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I completed 15 or 16 quilts from my scrap bin (also known as the unmade quilt bin).  

Each month of the RSC I made four or five 6" blocks that I am calling Korner Kabin blocks.  When I started this project, I was unsure how I would place them all together in one quilt... the quilt is finished and will soon be gifted to a dear friend! 

I was recently chosen to become a Connecting Threads Ambassador.  Connecting Threads is the place that I purchase the Hobbs Heirloom Fusible Batting. It is my preferred batting to use.  I choose the fusible batting over spray basting every time!  They often have sales and if you want to make a purchase from them you can use the code ACTMelvaLovesScraps which is valid for 15% off sitewide.

Given the speed of which three-quarters of 2025 has passed by, I have started making a list of goals for 2026.  I'll let them gel for a while... I have time. ;)  

Self-assessment is a good way to review goals and priorities, and I feel comfortable with what I have accomplished.  As I learned years ago... that which you spend your time, money and thoughts are your priorities.  I also learned that if you really want to do it, you WILL make time for it.  So, I'll leave you with something to consider...

Do YOU set your priorities?
Or do you allow others or the world set them for you?

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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