Holiday Week(end) Sewing ~ Sew & Tell - 12/1/25

I had a calm and relaxing week as I continued sewing and quilting Memory Keeper III. I explained last week about the request for an additional quilt... 

But first! Let's look at the featured quilter from the party.  Sally at Crafts, Cavies & Cooking shared that her king-sized Winter Stars quilt is OFFICIALLY DONE!  This is no small accomplishment... Congratulations Sally!  She stated that "According to my notes, Winter Stars took roughly 180 hours to complete."  

It is a stunning quilt, and you can catch the entire journey of Sally's making and finishing this quilt by following the link above. 

I have never really tracked the hours it takes to make a quilt... oh, sure, I have made table toppers and baby quilts in a day.  But the larger quilts I just make.  At the retreat there were several quilters that couldn't believe how fast I completed the tops I made... I reasoned that I had to learn how to be faster if I ever wanted to "make money" at this.  This was back when I was creating items for holiday fairs and markets.  It was always challenging to guess what people might want to purchase... and something that I have left in the past.  

I now create for the love of creating and a small hope that someone might love something so much that they purchase it.  I have a good selection of items on hand for last minute gifts, if needed. ;)

Have you ever tracked the time it takes to make a quilt?

Since Memory Keeper III is a commissioned quilt, I did try to keep a faster pace... you know the saying... Time is money!

I pieced and quilted as I listened to audio books.  This week I enjoyed a classic, My Friend Flicka.  I don't remember ever reading it as a child.  In fact, I feel like I missed a bunch of "classics" and am slowly going back to all of them.  So far, I have enjoyed Tuck Everlasting and The Secret Garden.  

I've enjoyed watching Charm About You on Instagram as she has created 9-patch blocks to resemble/reflect the cover the books she has read this year.  She has been collecting them throughout the year, and I look forward to seeing how she lays them out and completes the top.  I'll let you know when I see it happen...  It is inspiration for something I am considering in 2026.  Sorry about the rabbit hole...

I had to supplement some jelly roll strips from the roll I won at the quilt retreat (how convenient and perfect timing!) to have enough variety for this quilt.  I also went with a purple print backing and binding instead of green.  I placed an order with Connecting Threads a few weeks ago, during their big $3/yd sale and I am still waiting on that to arrive.  I chose to use something I had on hand instead, with her approval. <3

It is cold, windy out with some moisture in the air... indoor photo shoot!

I love the soft, crinkly look!

 

I just need to add the label and it will be sent off to deliver another hug!

Thanksgiving was a pleasant day as we gathered with our youngest daughter, her husband and his family.  It was a fun day, and the food was good.  

We packed a few to-go boxes and returned home.  I quilted the hexagon color wash quilt as we traveled the 90 miles each way.  I am now starting round #5... 7 to go.

As the Memory Keeper III quilt received its gentle wash and dry, I pulled out the teal/yellow Walk About retreat quilt.  Borders were added and a woven/plaid backing was added.  I even have a few markings to begin the quilting.  The quilting will accentuate the angles of the pieced blocks (I hope), helping to define the design/pattern that became a little lost because of the scrappy blocks.  

I need to decide what to do for the backing of the Wildlife Walk About quilt... I was recently given bags of someone's de-stash fabric with several multiple yard-cut options... one or two with some brown.  I'll continue to consider my options until I find the perfect choice.

We have our Christmas cards waiting in the wings and ready for addressing - maybe this week.  In past years (more that 30 years) we have included a family "newsletter" with each of us writing updates about life and what the highlights of the year were.  Dave and I decided that it was time to "retire" the family letter.  I know many loved receiving it and perhaps even looked forward to it.  It was always entertaining... but it just feels like too much to accomplish.  I guess, honestly, how in the world do you share news of a chasm in the family with one son-in-law, that has kept us from seeing our daughter and grandchildren since February???  That's not fun! ;) So, we are doing what our oldest daughter would do... avoid the topic completely by sending only a card with a few photos from our travels throughout the year.  

Have you started your Holiday/Christmas shopping?

Do you decorate for the season?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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