Tuesday, January 28, 2025

The Great Scrap Bin Phenomenon

YOUR BLOG NAME Like most quilters, I have marveled at the phenomenon of a scrap bin... I joined the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year and for this month of January, I have been "in the pink."
How the scrap bin looked at the beginning...

For four weeks I have been making use of pink scraps... I started with some 3" hexagons... moved on to some scrappy "Korner Kabin" blocks and then a baby quilt... and then, my latest finish, another baby quilt.


With all the scraps I have used, one would think that the bin would be looking a little empty...  I can assure you that that is not the case!  Why in the world is it not empty???  By my estimation, there are 2-1/2 yards (total fabric) used in these baby quilts.  

And then, today, as I was finishing up my second scrappy pink baby quilt, I grabbed a few pieces that were cut-offs from the border and binding.  Ah-HA!  Yes, I have used up scraps... but in the process, I have also created more.  🙈

So, you see... it is like doing laundry... (bear with me) Unless you do the laundry completely naked, you will always have more laundry to do... because those clothes you're wearing right now while doing laundry... they will need to washed tomorrow sometime too. ;)

For quilters... unless you use only pieces from the scrap bin for the entire quilt, you will end up with additional scraps.  Hahaha!  I'll be looking for more creative ways to finish up scrappy quilts that will not create more scraps... or at least keep them to a minimum. ;)

Have you experienced this same phenomenon?

That's all... Carry on and...

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Sunday, January 26, 2025

In The Pink ~ Sew & Tell - January 27, 2025

 

Welcome to Melva Loves Scraps and the weekly Sew & Tell party!

I finished up the Red Skies quilt last week!  I am so very pleased with it.  In case you missed it, you can see some additional glamor shots that I shared HERE.


Since the design wall empty, I returned to my pink scraps.  It was in my dreams (again) that I was quilting... This time I saw that I was using bigger pieces of pink and a stack of fabric squares that were purchased in Hawaii in 2004 when our daughters earned and made a 2-week trip with the Girl Scout Troop they were active with.


First up is this big block baby quilt.  After working with 2-1/2" blocks for Red Skies 6-1/2" seemed huge. ;) The larger blocks and the smaller in size project, helped to make this scrappy "In the Pink" quilt come together super, duper fast - less than 2 days start to finish. The Hawaiian blocks are cut to 6-7/8", perfect for a 6-1/2-inch half-square triangle.  

This quilt will be sent to young woman that was one of the other scouts that made the trip in 2004.  Here's the story:  A few years after the trip (in the fall of 2008), she and her Mom hit a very difficult time in their relationship.  Grace was a good kid and only asked that her Mom be (and act like) a "parent".  At the time, Grace found herself to be more responsible in guiding and caring for her younger sisters.  Grace's Mom had reached a point of frustration and stated that it was just too much for her and they both needed a little "space."

Grace asked if she might be able to come stay with us for a while.  (The timing was interesting because just 6 months prior I heard the Lord telling me I was going to be serving as His hands and feet (arms?) as I held and loved on some children at an orphanage in Romania.  Turns out we didn't need to go anywhere! God delivered the one that needed that attention and love to our front steps.)  We welcomed her with open arms stating that she was welcome for as long as she needed a place. While with us I made her a quilt for Christmas.  I have searched through all of the photo albums and archived photos and cannot find a single picture of her or the quilt I made her... Ack!  It was a quilt made of denim - pockets and all - and fabric with shades of pink printed all over it with large paisley shapes, from pastel to bright.  I called the quilt the Traveling Pants quilt... The books/movies were popular at that time.  And I wanted her to remember that she would always be welcome at our house and that love was tucked into each pocket, wherever she might go... and that her phone could be as well.  She may have lost misplaced her cell phone several times while with us. LOL!

As I pieced this quilt, I had many memories of the time Grace was with us.  One memory in particular... I recalled hearing quiet voices coming from the room Rebecca and Grace were sharing late one night.  I was all prepared to offer a scolding to both of the girls, despite the fact that our Rebecca was in college... When I opened the door, I found them both sitting there with their Bibles open having a conversation about what a particular Scripture passage meant.  Ugh... I hated to bring an end to that, but it was late, and they needed to be up early the next day to get to classes.  

She and her Mom were able to reconcile after a few months.  Grace graduated from HS, went off to college, became an Occupational Therapist and got married. She and her husband will soon welcome a baby girl.  And that little gal can grow up hearing the story of how Grace once visited Hawaii... and so many more stories and adventures that Grace has had in her life.  So... there's my Sew & Tell for the week. 

I'll be found in my studio this week laying out and piecing the other two scrappy pink quilts that I made in my dreams. ;)  But first, let's take a quick look at the randomly selected feature for the week...


Gretchen at Gretchen's Little Corner showed off block #10 of 25 of her Elegant Garden quilt.  Looking lovely, Gretchen!

Be sure to give her a quick visit to see the other nine blocks. :)

Quilters are some of the most generous and kind people out there and often involved in some sort of community outreach.  But tell me...

Have you ever been on a mission trip?

I've not been on an actual mission trip, but that time with Grace was a mission trip brought to me. ;)

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Thursday, January 23, 2025

Red Skies Finish

It's been in the works for 19 days... It felt as though it was slow going as I cut the many, many 2-1/2" squares that make up the various units of this quilt.  I admit that I was whining in the beginning...

Was it totally worth it?  I answer that with a resounding YES!  

Amanda's Golden Afternoon pattern was well written and worth every cent that I paid for it as I made a donation for the hurricane Helene relief to Samaritan's Purse.  This scrappy Red Skies version of it is attention grabbing and has received comments ranging from beautiful, stunning and gorgeous.

The backing, as you can see from the flipped over corner, is red gingham... I've had it in my stash for years and have looked at it for years wondering if I would ever use it... or should I give it away to someone?  I'm sure glad I didn't give it away!  It seemed befitting that the small checks reflect the assorted, scrappy 2-inch blocks that are used throughout the quilt.  In fact, this entire quilt was made from stash!  

The serpentine chains that pass through the Irish chain units felt natural to me... and then the chain around the stars added interest.  But then there was the star.  I was stumped as to how I needed to quilt it.  As I slept, I dreamt of the solution (it came to me around 3 a.m.).  I thought once I had the plan I would get back to sleep quickly.  Not so... Ok, I fell asleep, but all I did was dream that I was quilting it.  I woke up at 6 a.m. exhausted! 

No rest for me though... I got to quilting those stars lickedy split! Those pointy loops within the star points did exactly what I had hoped.  They fill the star and reflect the shape of the chains surrounding it.  


I'm not generally a big fan of red... but it happens to be the team color of my granddaughter's softball team, the Pueblo Heat. I have stitched this quilt up as an opportunity for her team to use it as a fundraiser.  You see... they have big plans.  They were given free entry to participate in the Triple Crown Tournament in Oklahoma City, OK.

The coach is especially excited because it takes place at the same time as the Women's NCAA softball championship.  

However, this also means additional fundraising events for the team to get there.  It is my hope that the girls see what it takes to grow as an athlete... not just physically, but financially as well.  I hope, too, that they have a little bit of fun along the way.

Here are a few more "glamor shots"... 







Dave and I plan to travel to OKC to watch her play and cheer the team on.  We'll be taking our camper, of course. ;)

We are slowly coming out the polar vortex that has gripped most of the US this week and look forward to camping season coming soon!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Sunday, January 19, 2025

Sew & Tell ~ Red Skies Flimsy ~ January 20, 2025


Welcome to Melva Loves Scraps and another session of Sew & Tell... the party where everyone gets to share the progress of their projects... or, in some cases, the lack of progress. ;)  It happens... and that is ok, because sometimes life happens.

I made lots of progress, little by little, this week with the Golden Afternoon quilt that I have renamed Red Skies.  This scrappy red and white(ish) quilt graduated to finished flimsy on a cold FRIGID and snowy Saturday. (I am contemplating a border of some sort... Hmmm...)

Does it need one??? 

Yes, it needed it.  Though I am not 100% in love with the grey border.  I will trim the border down a little and a red binding will help me get over that.

The next question is... how do I quilt it?

We, like so many others across the US, are in the middle of a polar vortex weather system.  I am thankful that the furnace is working properly and that we can afford the propane and electricity to keep it that way. 


As I chain pieced this together, I contemplated many things. I thought of the many colorful, reddish, sunrises and sunsets that we have.  This is just one example... and decided that the name "Red Skies" was an appropriate name for the quilt.  I mean, there is not a hint of gold in this one! ;)


As I chain pieced the many components of Red Skies, I used some pink scraps as a leader/ender project to create a few RSC challenge blocks.  Korner Kabin (my name, I don't know a real name...) is my block of choice for this challenge.  A variation of the Log Cabin block, this will not require as many neutral scraps, which is a good thing since my supply of neutrals is greatly depleted after Red Skies... 

The little star block was an orphan that I discovered in the stack of pink scraps.  It is a little wonky, but it deserves a home too, just because it was a discarded test block from the Pieces in the Garden quilt doesn't mean that it doesn't deserve a forever home. ;)

It is just how I feel about any abandoned UFO quilt project... like the Bride's Quilt that I shared in the TGIFF story.  I was vague about so much in that story because I was respecting the privacy of my brother and sister-in-law's family.  It's been nagging at me and after much prayer, I have decided that that quilt deserves the attention and acknowledgement of the maker's story.  Nothing more than what was shared at Loressa's funeral.  


She had much to deal with all of her life... Her story/life started with the fact that her mother died from complications of childbirth when Loressa was just days old.  Her dad, Leland, was overcome with grief and the responsibility of raising her as a single dad in 1965.  Loressa refused a bottle.  Leland's brother and his wife had recently had a baby girl and stepped in and raised Loressa as one of their own.  Colleen was just a few months old and was being breastfed but easily accepted her meals from a bottle and Loressa was happy to be at the breast. 

Loressa became a teenage mom and struggled in her marriage.  After her first marriage ended, her son Shawn lived with his dad.  Loressa was a very loving Mom on a very tight budget but always made plans for something fun to do with her son.  

As her brother-in-law told at her service, Loressa was a loner, even from a young age.  While in school, she would often get home, grab a snack and her homework and head to a tractor by the barn.  She sought out solitude, and despite coming from a large family, did not like gatherings... whether family or not.


It was one of the reasons we never really got the chance to know her after she married my brother, Kelvin.  Our interactions with her were always brief.  She was very pleasant and a joy, but our encounters were always brief.  Through the years, she kept making her circle of interaction with others smaller and smaller... and eventually even cut out my brother.  Her sisters and brothers were upset with her for that choice.  Her son was upset as well.

Perhaps it went back to a sense of abandonment when her father couldn't care for her... Perhaps it was a genetic mental illness, as her father had.  Perhaps it was that she felt unworthy of love.  We can't ever really know or understand, but we were all reminded at her funeral service that it was understandable that most present didn't agree with the lifestyle that she was living... but we are not called to judge... we are called to love.  Loressa expressed her love through creating in her crafts.  And this Bride's Quilt was just that... an expression of her love from to Kelvin.

Loressa had made amends with Kelvin, of sorts, as she moved to Omaha a few years ago for a job. Kelvin expressed his love and forgiveness to her in having me make a quilt for her for Christmas, 2022 from clothes that she left behind when she moved out.  In the end she had reconciled with her family as well.  With the finish of the Bride's Quilt, Kelvin can have the chance to feel her loving embrace as he covers up with it.  As Gail says, "Anyone who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!"


Oh, I feel so much better now.  If you have made it this far... thanks for the "listening ear."  Now for the randomly selected feature from last week's Sew & Tell party! 🎉  Nann at With Strings Attached shared her RSC projects... Pink galore!

Who's ready for a warm up?  Me, ME, ME!  We are just entering the coldest part of the cold snap that will be in place until Tuesday... Keep repeating "This too will pass. This too will pass... this too will pass." 🥶

Do you suppose that's what the dinosaurs thought about the ice age???  lol

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Thursday, January 16, 2025

TGIFF - Another Bride's Quilt


Welcome to Melva Loves Scraps and this week's edition of Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  I hope that you enjoy the story of the quilt I share and that you'll join the party with a recent finish of your own. :)

For the past two years my Sew along events - Pieces of the Garden and Pieces of My Life - have been centered around the story of the "Bride's Quilt... (Patterns for both of these sew alongs are still available.  Simply follow the links provided to find out where.)


The story came from a crafting magazine (in about 1985) that featured a needle-point pattern and the story.  This is the needlepoint I made for my Grandparents' 50th Anniversary. (I'm certain that Kelvin & Loressa - brother & SIL - had been gifted one, which inspired her idea of an actual quilt.)

In olden days, it was traditional for young girls to make a “Baker’s Dozen” (13) quilts by their wedding day.  The patterns, often handed down from generation to generation, were usually planned when the girl was very young; and, as soon as she could hold a needle, she would start sewing her first quilt.  The last (or 13th) quilt was the fanciest of all.  After a girl became engaged, she would invite her friends to a party to quilt the top of this “Bride’s Quilt”… and in this way she would announce her engagement.

The twelve patterns were chosen to tell the following story…

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.


My brother's wife passed away in July following a very short battle with cancer.  She was a crafter for much of their married life and she enjoyed a variety of activities... cross-stitch, scrapbooking, home decor and much more.

As my brother has been slowly sorting through her items, he found this quilt.  Loressa had made the blocks and used a quilt-as-you-go method and had them all joined together.  Kelvin thought this might be a nice sized throw quilt for the back of his couch.


As I examined it, I saw that it was imperfect, with points missing, but it doesn't matter... I am not the quilt police!  She made it with love, and that is all that matters and it deserved to be finished.

Since there was no fabric in the bin that it resided, I skipped any kind of border.  I used some large sashing strips to cover the raw seams on the back of the quilt.  I went with pink... I had it, and it matched pretty well.

I enjoyed a few days of slow-stitching and watching a new (to me) show "Wind At My Back." The arrangement of the sashing strips on the back reflect the quilting she used on the blocks.

I thought the timing of this quilt finding its way to me was interesting... 

When a particular word, topic or subject appears to me repeatedly, I stop to consider just what it means to me... more specifically, "what does the Lord want me to see in this?"

For this quilt and in this particular situation, I believe it is the message and idea that Loressa did love Kelvin, despite the fact that they had been separated for a bunch of years... Who am I to judge their marriage/relationship?  I need be only concerned with my own... a stay in your own lane message. LOL

It's time to get the TGIFF party started.

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Sunday, January 12, 2025

Sew & Tell ~ January 13, 2025 ~ RSC & Golden Afternoon


As the snow came down on two separate days last week, I stayed tucked away in my studio making slow but steady progress on the scrappy red Golden Afternoon. 

There are lots of pieces in each unit... and because I am working with scraps, strip piecing for the 4-patch units didn't really happen.

Here's what I have so far...


I need 13 of the star units and 16 of the chain units. I need many more low volume 4-patches... many many more.  

On Friday I shared some thoughts about the losses our family experienced in 2024... three members of my family tree of quilters...


I also mentioned that I would begin my Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. I ended up with 25 pink hexies as I sewed as we traveled to my Uncle's service.  It was a sweet time as family remembered him and stories were shared.  Mom thoroughly enjoyed the trip. (front row, on the left)

That's all I have for now...


This week's Sew & Tell feature is Melisa at Pinker Punkin Quilting.  She showed us the progress she made on her Merry Little Winter quilt.  She shared several cute little snowmen.  Go check it out!

Let's get this party started! 🥳 

Keep Piecing, 

Melva

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Friday, January 10, 2025

Flashback Friday - Quilters Through The Generations

As I have spent time this week going between housework, studio time and doing year-end (monkey) business, I have been contemplating some of the "hard" that Dave & I experienced in the last half of 2024.

There were multiple losses... not all of them were shared here at MLS.  Individually, not that big of a deal... The cycle of life continues.  The news in our family Christmas letter revealed that we, along with both of our daughters lost some beloved furry friends.  Three households and three dogs crossed the rainbow bridge. :'( In August I shared in a Pieces of My Life story (newsletter, possibly?) that a grandchild had been lost through a miscarriage.  


In July I did share with you about the passing of a quilty cousin - Diane.  In November, my Uncle Forrie, slipped away peacefully and in December another quilting cousin, Mae passed away.  All three of these family members had feature stories about their love for quilts and quilting in my Quilters Through the Generations series.  

As I prepped 3" hexies for hand-stitching to pass the time during our trip to my Uncle's celebration of life service, I thought of all of these losses... and how I have been blessed by their presence in my life - for it is in the valley that we suffer, but also the place that we can see the most growth.  I offered thanks and experienced deep gratitude for the fact that I preserved some of their personal thoughts about quilting and what it meant to them.


As I sorted through an old collection of scraps and "chunks" of pink that came out of deep storage for my RSC hexies it was like revisiting some old friends!

Fabrics that were used in many baby girl quilts... and purses.

The colors of pink range from light pinks, deep fuchsia, puce, and dusty roses... some of the scraps lean toward a lavender.  Some are playful with polka dots and multi-colored.


All this to say... 

Tell those that you love how you feel.... make sure they know.  And tell them often!

Find joy in each and every day... even if it only for a small, seemingly insignificant thing.  I started a blessing jar on January 1... one small note of paper with a blessing that made the day special.

Pet the fabric and make beautiful things!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Sunday, January 5, 2025

Sew & Tell ~ January 6, 2025 - A Grand Finale


Happy New Year! 🎉We welcomed 2025 with little fanfare or celebration... it was simply "another day."  Though we did "take the day off" of our regular work.  As we watched the Rose parade, the Christmas tree came down and all decorations were packed away until mid-December, when we will repeat the traditions.  Our tree is so big... and it takes up so much space in our living room.  **sigh** It cramps my style for sandwiching quilts!  (I'd love to get one not so broad but that won't happen until Dave is unable to get the boxes {yes, plural...boxes} in and out of the crawlspace.)  

I was forced to use a different space in the living room to sandwich the Camping Journal quilt... and do it in sections.  I had promised you that there would be no mention of this quilt until it was complete.  And... D.O.N.E., it is!  **insert happy dance **

I finished the binding by noon on December 31.  I washed it and dried it to get the full effect of the squished up, wrinkly, well-loved look that the Heirloom batting that is 80% cotton offers. Ta-da!!!!!  

I had planned on getting it placed on the camper bed as proof that it was done... and then after lunch, this happened.

Dave and I have discussed the need to replace the flooring in the 5th-wheel for months... since Shelby is no longer with us. :(  The camper is 30 years old... which means the carpet is also 30 years old.  Bleh!  I know how much dirt, mud, sand and spills happened in just the 2 years we have owned it.  And carpet in any bathroom is just gross!

We have vinyl plank to install throughout the entire "lower level".  Did you know that when campers like this are built that they start from the bottom up?  Meaning, the flooring goes down first and then the walls and cabinets are set over it.  The carpet was heavily stapled along ALL of the edges.  Neither of us anticipated the challenge it would be to get the carpet out.  There was a horrible squeak in the stairs that Dave wanted to fix while there.  We have decided to redesign the stairs so that we can use the "empty space" for additional storage.  It's a brilliant idea!  

The weather forecasters are calling for a snowstorm to come in on Monday night... this will stall our advancement and progress in the camper.  Not to worry though!


I have a list of projects waiting in the wings... 

First up is this quilt that was started by my brother's wife. She passed away in July. My brother, Kelvin, has been slowly going through some of her things and this was among them.  

I'll share the whole story of this quilt with you when I host the TGIFF party in a few weeks. 

When I finish hand-stitching the strips on the back of the quilt to cover the seams, I will do the binding.  

It will then be returned to Kelvin for him to display on the back of his couch. :)


Next up will be a scrappy red quilt using the Golden Afternoon pattern by Amanda Woodruff at Westwood Acres Fabric.  This was the quilt that inspired the 50th Anniversary quilt that I made last year.

Amanda has a few patterns available, but the only way to acquire this pattern was to purchase a kit.  At the time that I wanted to make the anniversary quilt, the kits were out of stock.  You may remember, I made up my own design/pattern loosely based on her quilt.

After Hurricane Helene, Amanda offered a few copies (less than 10) of the pattern for "free" if you offered proof that you made a $50 donation to one of the specified charitable organizations she selected, in support of the hurricane recovery.  I took advantage of the opportunity.  I felt it was well worth it.  My red version of Golden Afternoon will be used as a fundraising opportunity for our grand-daughter's softball team.  

What other items are "waiting in the wings", you ask? Two t-shirt quilts - one to finish for our oldest daughter.  She started it 12 years ago... I just need to decide on a layout and join the blocks together.  The second t-shirt quilt is for a friend.  Gina had been in a "purging mode" and sent them to me (along with others but stated that she was in no hurry for this quilt).  I have trimmed all the blocks and prepped them with the fusible stabilizer.  I even have the fabric selected for the sashing strips.  I just need to get them on the wall.  Both t-shirt collections are from the same university.  What a coincidence!

And lastly... I have an empty bin ready to gather all of my pink scraps for a RSC project.  I am still undecided about what sort of blocks I'll be making.  Three-inch hexies or scrappy/wonky log cabins.  The hexies lend themselves more for a traveling project.  The log cabin blocks would be perfect leader/ender sewing.  Hmmmmm...


Rather than continue to sit and ponder this decision and take up your time with my reasonings for one or the other (or something completely different), it is now time for this week's Sew & Tell feature... Maggie at Making a Lather has a unique method for making progress in completing her UFOs.  I try to work on these 5 quilts until they are done. Their turn in the UFO closet is over, and they need to be finished one way or another. 

Maggie's finish of her Midnight Flight, pattern by Bonnie Hunter, is stunning!

Follow the link above and see what other projects she has on her list.

I have never made participated in one of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts... I am intimidated by the small pieces - more specifically, the number of small pieces required.

Have you ever done one of Bonnie's quilts?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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