Orange RSC & Rambling Thoughts - Sew & Tell ~ 6/9/25

How was your week?  I had another relaxing week with no emergencies, urgencies or tragedies.  

It was a good week!  Perhaps the color orange has something to do with it... It evokes energy, warmth and enthusiasm and the scent of orange is energizing.  "The color orange is made of two primary colors: red, which is often associated with passion and power, as well as yellow, which is often associated with joy and confidence.  Orange reflects creativity and enthusiasm.  

Who wouldn't like the ability to turn any emotion, situation, or perception and form something new and exciting out of it?

I'll take it!  Cutie Patootie was finished with a woven border and free-motion quilted loops and twirls.  It is soft, cuddly and light-weight and would be a great baby quilt for a summer baby.  

I used the disappearing 9-patch block alternated with disappearing 4-patch blocks.  The 4-patch units started with 6" squares and then cut into 3 equal sections and flipping the center sections (but not the middle piece!) and then sewn together again.  The 9-patch units were made with 4" squares and cut into quarters, turning two alternating corner sections.  The units were a unique size, which I don't remember what they were exactly, and then trimmed to 10" squares.

RSC #2 came from the scrap bin... 

I saw somewhere on social media the saying...

There's no such thing as a fabric scraps - only unmade quilts.  LOL!

I love this statement... so RSC #2 came from the unmade quilt bin.

I had help from our daughter in selecting the strips of fabric for this one. 

She had surgery several weeks ago and has been off on medical leave.  She came for a surprise visit before she returns to work.  We had such fun together.  

This string-pieced star was made on 8-1/2" paper foundations.  To ease the removal of the paper after trimming, I only sewed through the paper on the center seam.  I pieced the HST units in the same manner.  

This one is mesmerizing!  I could stare at it for hours.  The varying shades of orange remind me of a campfire at the end of an evening... the way the bed of coals shimmer and glow.  This one may be dubbed "Starry Glow".

Rebecca saw my orange hexagons sitting out and asked about them.  I happily pulled the project out for her to see.  We talked about the different fabrics that she recalled seeing over the years... the scrubs that I made for her and Heather from the seasonal fabrics my Mom had purchased... Pajama shorts, quilts, the 21-year-old fabric from Hawaii, assorted fabrics that were included in a stained-glass quilt that I made for our church... The worship book covers from many Chrysalis youth weekends and Emmaus retreats... and so many more.

I figure that this project is approximately 1/2 done... the year is nearly have gone, too... So, I guess I am right on track!

This week I will be making some bowl cozies for a customer and getting some of the RSC quilts listed for sale... and getting ready to go camping! Whoop, Whoop!

I'll be taking my red scrappy quilt from March with me to hand-quilt.  I started the quilting on Friday as we drove to pick up the new glass to replace the broken window that occurred in March while on our way to Crystal Beach.

I am doing a sort of square-in-squarex3 design in the snowball blocks. Seven of the 12 blocks are finished... and then I will start the log cabin blocks.  I'll be doing a simple "square spiral" in them.

I'll also be making some plans/notes for a Christmas in July "party" or hop... No hard and fast rules or requirements... 

And I haven't forgotten about the Virtual Cookie Exchange hop for December... Maybe the Christmas in July party/hop could feature a favorite dessert recipe?  

A Walk in the Prairie Collection

I also have some ideas rolling around in my head about revisiting one of my sew along events...  You see, I purchased a fat-quarter bundle from Modern Prairie, a company that was started by Melissa Gilbert.  It is a bundle designed by Riley Blake Designs and I thought it might be fun to use in either the Pieces From the Past or Pieces of The Santa Fe Trail quilts.  What do you think?  Or maybe a new Sew Along???  Something connected to the "Little House" books??? Chime in with your opinion.

It's time for the Sew & Tell feature.  This last party was filled with plenty of eye-candy and inspiration but Melisa at Pinker & Punkin Quilting is the randomly selected feature.  She shared some of her travel adventures as well as progress on her RSC project - Around the Garden.  She will be adding in her green blocks soon.  Be sure to give her a visit and tell her hello. ;)

We look forward to getting away for a few days every few weeks this summer - short trips of 2-3 nights at nearby locations... and that has me thinking...

Do you have any summer travel plans?  

Will be staying close to home?  Perhaps a "stay-cation?"

Or do you have a longer trip planned?

Or maybe you're planning on being a home-body... And that's okay too!

 

Leave a comment... regarding any of the questions I have asked... I'd love to hear from you!

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

Home Matters at Days Filled with Joy

To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt

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Cutie-Patootie & No Guilt::Go Quilt

As you probably already noticed, the cost of everything is on the rise.  As my supply of meats in our freezer has been depleting, my interest in spending time creating dinner from scratch each night also decreased.  I had been quite content coming up with new meal combos and utilizing our oven.  Even using the oven to slow-roast a whole chicken or other types of dishes like Loaded Chicken & Potatoes.  The low temp of the oven (around 250*) helped to offer warmth in the kitchen throughout the afternoon, offering a cozy and comfortable feel by the time the sun was set and dinner was ready.  

With summer slowly arriving, I decided (while piecing the mini orange quilt ~ Cutie-Patootie ~) that it was time to bring back my freezer meals for easy on the mind dinner prep.  I can pull the freezer meal out in the morning, allow it to thaw for several hours and then prepare it in our instant-pot... reducing the amount of heat generated in the kitchen by the slow-cooker allllll day.... But still have a meal that is easy to prepare and tastes delicious.

I mentioned last post that I needed to begin restocking the camper for a trip... the first thing I needed for that task was to make up the various seasoning blends I use.  It just so happens that I needed the Ranch Seasoning blend for the Paleo Mississippi Roast... I thought to myself, "Self, you should save time and do a double batch.  That way you have what you need for the recipe AND for the camper."

I replied... "You are so smart!"  But first I discovered that I didn't have any dried parsley on hand.  So, I needed to gather some parsley for the Ranch Seasoning blend.  I had the Mississippi roast in the slow-cooker, and I could use fresh parsley instead of the dried that the recipe called for.  I then proceeded to dry the remainder of the parsley from my herb garden and add what I needed to the jar when it was dried.

With the Ranch Seasoning and the Taco Seasoning done, I only needed to make the Seasoning Salt blend.  That only took a few minutes.  

2 Tablespoons of:  Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika

1 Tablespoon:  Chili Powder, Parsley, Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes

I like to save repurpose glass seasoning jars for blends like this.  Making my own seasoning blends allows me to use my own herbs and choose the brand of others that I may need.  I can also eliminate those we may not like... or add extra of some of our favorites. 

I can also ensure that there is no corn, gluten or soy-based ingredients in there.  It is ridiculous how they sneak them in!

While at the store where I purchased my roast, I found several packages of chicken breast on sale, I put together two Dijon Chicken meals and a Cool Ranch Shredded Chicken and got them in the freezer.  (You'll notice that the Dijon Chicken recipe is actually for the oven, but I use the crock.)

I'm ready now for several days of uninterrupted quilting/sewing/studio time finishing that little Cutie-Patootie! You know where to find me... ;)

OH, and be sure to join the Sew & Tell party.  You can find it here!

Have you ever made your own spice/seasoning blends?  

What are your favorites?  

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do

To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Creatively Crafty at Creatively Beth

Put Your Foot Down at The Quiltery 

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

Thankful Thursday at Brian's Home

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

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

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather at Shabby Art Boutique

Home Matters at Days Filled with Joy

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch 

Saturday Sparks at Pieced Pastimes

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Embroidery, Quilting and the Rainbow - Sew & Tell ~ June 2, 2025

We've turned the calendar page to a new month! And I am ready for some new adventures. :)  Last week was an easy-going week and I had lots of creative time.  I enjoyed several of the Making Zen workshops.  Though I didn't make any of the projects I learned plenty and used inspiration from the workshops to implement some ideas as I improved the condition of two pairs of jeans. 

Close up of the buttonhole stitched patches...

And here's a shot of the finished embroidery showing the before and after... The very bad repair looks so much better!

I finished the CSU-Pueblo quilt for Heather... You can get the full story on the TGIFF party story.

With a new month comes a new color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Orange is the color.  I don't tend to quilt much with orange.  With the exception of Denver Bronco t-shirt quilts or Fall/Halloween quilts, it just isn't a color that I navigate towards.  I was surprised at the amount of scraps I located between the scrap bins and the (smallest pile of fabric) from the stash closet.

"Big Dreams"

As I picked through the scraps for some of the smallest strips for my Korner Kabin Blocks, I (re)discovered a few small pieces of a "word" fabric.  I was excited to include some all of it in these blocks.  I loved it so much that it even warranted a need for a bonus 5th block.

As I added them to the collection of other Korner Kabin Blocks, I decided that I wanted to see how all of the blocks might layout together.... 😍

Of course, it will change a little as I add in a few more colors, but I am excited for the potential of this project!

Quilt the rainbow!

Next up... I'll be prepping orange hexagons.

With the holiday weekend in the rearview mirror, we are ready to kick-off our summer camping adventures, and the hexagons will be a good project to take along.

We hope to be a little more intentional about short getaways than we were last year.  But then again... we did have the major move and down-sizing for Mom.  I am more than pleased that she has no regrets about it and (while not necessarily liking the fact that she has neighbors) she does LIKE who her neighbors are and enjoys having visits with them.  We have lots of National Forest campgrounds within two hours... we simply need to pick one!  AND GO!!!  Maybe if I start restocking the camper Dave will pick up on the hint ;) 

It is time for the weekly feature... This week it is Diann at Little Penguin Quilts.  She and Gwyned have been working on finishing their 2024 RSC quilts.  

She is using the Quilt-as-you-go method and will join her rows together when they are all done.  

She also shared her progress on an orange peel QAL that she is doing and using Kaffe Fassett charms.  It's lovely!  Head over there and take a peek.  

I love that she is using the information and skill learned in the Pieces of My Life sew along (QAYG) and using it again!

Have you ever used the QAYG method?

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

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

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch 

To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Creatively Crafty at Creatively Beth

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CSU-Pueblo Memory Quilt ~ TGIFF Party

Welcome to Thank Goodness it's Finished Friday!  And welcome to Melva Loves Scraps... where I like to share not just my quilts, but the stories and thoughts as I make them.  I try to make your visits enjoyable and entertaining.  Grab a cup of coffee or tea... or your favorite beverage (and maybe a snack) and settle in.

When you're done reading feel free to link up your finish.  I'd love to have you join the party. 🎉

When I pulled this UFO out of the closet a few months ago, I did a quick assessment and then put it back.  It was started by my oldest daughter, Heather about 13 years ago.  Her plan was to make it large enough to fit her full-sized bed with plenty of drop on the sides, that quite honestly would have probably ended up fitting a king bed. 

She was engaged a short time later, and then married and had started a family.  Two years ago she did a deep clean of her house because they were running out of space... 4 children, two adults and two dogs and all that is necessary for life began to stress her out.  

She ordered a large dumpster to be delivered to their house during spring break.  She spent a week cleaning closets, attics and every nook and cranny they had.  The bin that contained all of these 18-inch blocks were sent home with me to finish "someday."   

Wellllll.... Today is that day!  Rather than include all of the blocks on the front of the quilt, I placed a few in the pieced back.

Despite making the quilt top smaller, it was still a challenge to quilt.  The fusible stabilizer she used was a heavier weight of interfacing than I use.  It added extra weight as well as thickness.  Some of the screen-printing products making up the t-shirt graphics caused the thread to break easily, as did the extra thickness of the seams.  

At long last, I reached the end of the quilting grid, and I rejoiced!  Woohoo!  As I looked over the blocks as I quilted, I realized that she graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree, with an emphasis in Medical Technology and a double minor in Chemistry and Leadership Studies 15 years ago... There was a short text conversation with both daughters about how time has passed by.

Since Rebecca had also graduated the same year with an Associate's degree, we celebrated with a trip to Las Vegas.  It was shortly after the trip to Vegas that Dave and I became empty nesters. :)  2010 was a monumental year!  In addition to the graduations, Dave and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, and my Mom & Dad celebrated their 50th.

Getting there was a journey.  When Heather was a senior in high school, she was undecided and unsure about what to study.  We assured her that it was ok... But we also stated that if she had no idea of the direction of her studies, she was going to begin here in Trinidad at the junior college.  (She has always been a strong-willed person and has never liked being told what she must or must not do.)

Attending college in Trinidad was completely unacceptable to her and amazingly, just a few weeks later she discovered/announced that she wanted to become a Medical Lab Technologist.  This is not a common field of study, but there were two colleges in Colorado that offered the program, in addition to Oklahoma... which is where one of her best friends (at the time) was attending.

We and she did some additional research and started applying to these schools.  We explained that the final decision was going to come down to the bottom line and what the schools were able to offer in financial aid and scholarships.  Pueblo came through with the best offer.  She was active in the President's Leadership Program all four years and enjoyed the opportunity to help plan and lead various activities that were planned for students on campus.

Fifteen years later, she continues to use/hone the leadership skills as she is now the head of the blood bank at the hospital where she completed her MLT internship.

I'm sure she'll have a flood of memories as she covers up with this quilt as she has the opportunity.  And when that happens, she will be wrapped in the love and prayers from her Momma.

Memories are some of the best things... and having a quilt that helps to preserve the memories is bonus!

Do you have a special memory quilt?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at The Quiltery 

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather at Shabby Art Boutique

Home Matters at Days Filled with Joy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch 

Favorite Finishes Monthly Linkup at Quilting Jetgirl ~ 

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RSC Summary ~ Sew & Tell - 5/26/2025

May draws closer to the final days of the month and I have tuck away the green scrap bins.  It seems that summer is suddenly upon us with the unofficial beginning as the US celebrates Memorial Day.

This celebration is not just a weekend of BBQs, swimming and parties. Memorial Day became an official holiday in 1868. It commemorates the end of the Civil War. Freed slaves and Union troops held the earliest Memorial Day celebrations in May 1865 – just a few weeks after the fighting ended.  Union war hero General John A. Logan organized the first Memorial Day and designated May 30, 1868, as the first official celebration.  You can learn many other bits of information if you follow the link above which will take you to a post from 4 years ago.

I used a good amount of scraps and chunks of green fabrics this month on three quilted projects - a table topper (or a tummy time quilt) and two crib sized quilts... by my estimation, at least 8 or 9 yards between the tops and backs of all of them. :)

Fractured Emeralds is my favorite, but the Sweet Pea quilt is a strong rival.  I continued using the tropical print squares in my first green RSC project - the smallest of the 3 quilts.  So far, the tropical squares have been paired with pink, yellow, (teal) and red... and now green.  Blue is the only monthly color choice they sat out on. They probably will not make an appearance with orange or purple but would play very well with browns.  What color is on tap for June???

After tucking away the green scraps I pulled out my daughter's UFO college t-shirt quilt from storage. I decided it was time to move it along. She had made larger blocks (18" and lots of them!) and it was going to be huge (king size) if I included them all on the front.  

I made the executive decision to make it smaller and use some blocks on the back.  To better incorporate several smaller blocks, I chose to applique them onto some of her "filler" blocks.  

I will be playing hostess of this week's TGIFF party and plan to show it off in its full glory then.  Be sure to come back!

In other "news"... I pulled out another vintage quilt from the cedar chest for use display on our guest bed.  This Hearts & Flowers quilt was made by my Grandma T in the 1980s and quilted by a group of ladies in La Junta, CO.  There is a "sister" quilt of this one is made in purple.  

 

After getting encouragement from Leanna at Not Afraid of Color, I signed up for the Making Zen workshop.  I don't have any specific project or workshop that I am looking at, but in general, I have already been inspired to add some stitching to two pairs of jeans that needed a little attention and repair... 

The first is one (on the right) I had added a flower to hide a small hole that had started.  It then got ripped on the knee... I plan to add a second flower to mask that really bad repair that I made.  

They since have required a little more attention on the other leg.  My repair was much neater, and I refuse to let them go just yet... They happen to be one of my most favorite pair of jeans.  Some variegated embroidery thread with blues, purples and a little green will create a nice spiral.

The second pair is another favorite that I am adding a few patches to.  The patches will serve to cover over two crease worn holes on the side seams and will be stitched down with a buttonhole stitch.

In addition to all the activities in my studio, I had a lovely and well overdue in-person visit with our youngest daughter and celebrated a few HS graduations for "kids" that we have enjoyed watching grow up and become some wonderful young adults.  Both grads have been given a gift certificate for a personal memory quilt.  Not all grads that we have given gift certificates to have redeemed them.  I am hopeful that these two will follow through.

It's now time for the feature from last week's party... Vicki at Vicki's Crafts and Quilting showed off a beautiful and cheerful red tulip table runner.  Tulips are a sure sign that spring has arrived, and Vicki confirmed this fact with hers.  That red gingham seals the deal and could brighten any coffee break!

She had a second table runner ready for applique too.   Maybe she will be sharing the progress of that one this week.

As Memorial Day weekend is celebrated remember to offer gratitude to the families of fallen soldiers... All gave some - Some gave ALL.

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch 
Saturday Sparks at Pieced Pastimes

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

Home Matters at Days Filled with Joy

To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Share Your Style at French Ethereal

Creatively Crafty at Creatively Beth

Put Your Foot Down at The Quiltery 

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather at Shabby Art Boutique

Home Matters at Days Filled with Joy

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Friendship & Thoughts

I've had a great deal of time to think... this isn't always a good thing.  You can get all caught up in your thoughts, self-talk and self-analysis... trying to figure out where you went wrong, or if what you said was proper or helpful... or was it just mean and misdirected.

I've had friends that I've trusted with my life and able to offer an honest opinion or view of a situation.  And they felt the same.  As Anne Shirley said... "bosom friends" and "kindred spirits".

I have heard from several cyber-friends who are struggling in relationships.  It takes time to process a situation and determine whether a relationship is one you want to salvage or let go.

Friendships used to come so easily!  Friendships developed with co-workers.  Though that changes when you or they move on to a different place of employment or place of worship... As Dave and I have processed over the last several years, we came to realize that many of those we considered our closest friends was more of a relationship of convenience that centered around our children or our jobs.  Some of them were good, healthy friendships, but a few we realized were not.  While we are better off in having let some of them go, it doesn't mean that we aren't longing for face-to-face time with people on a regular basis... on a deeper level.

As empty nesters of 13 years, we still see some of our "friends" but have grown tired of being the ones to always reach out and arrange a get together. Sooooo... what do we do???  

I joked in response to a reader's comment, that I've considered taking out a "wanted" ad.  Just for fun... think SWF, looking for a companion who enjoys... 

What would an ad look like????  Would/Should I place age limitations? Interests? What sort of characteristics/expectations would you include 

Just for fun... help me out!  Leave a comment... 

WANTED:  ISO a bosom friend.

All these thoughts as I worked with more green fabrics.  These are bigger "chunks" of fabric - the largest is 6-1/2" x 9-1/2"... the rest are only 4 inches wide, but varying lengths.

Fabric is a little like friendships... you need some contrast for the best results, helping each other to shine.  Too close in shade and the effect can be lost.  Sometimes it takes a third or fourth participant to tone down that one that stands out and to help everyone blend in the best way.  

I thought the peas in a pod fabric was really cute and I had three fat quarters.  I mixed in a few other prints to fulfill the requirements of the top as needed.

Perfect?  No, but some sweet baby or toddler will not mind and probably won't notice. ;)  

Those 2 pinks together were troublesome, and I only noticed them after having the blocks all sewn together.  Some friends are simply inseparable! ;)  

I recall a time when my bestie and I (once inseparable) would excitedly send our kids off on the school bus and then drive to Pueblo for a day of shopping.  The first stop on our agenda was the always Barnes & Noble bookstore.  On one particular trip I picked up a book by one of my all-time favorite authors, Laura Ingalls Wilder ~ A Family Collection.  It was comprised of articles she had originally written for the Missouri Ruralist between 1911 and 1918.

One story struck me then... and still resonates.  This is just a small excerpt...  LIW described a situation where several local women judged another woman for her unkept house and the need for the daughter to manage the household chores while the mother seemed to idle away her time... when, in fact, the woman was writing for papers to earn money to buy the daughter's new winter outfit.

I read a little verse a few years ago entitled, "If We Only Understood," and the refrain was:

"We would love each other better, if we only understood."

I have forgotten the author and lost the verse, but the refrain has remained in my memory and comes to my mind every now and then when I hear unkind remarks made about people.

The things that people do would look so differently to us if we only understood the reason for their actions, nor would we blame them so much for their faults if we knew all the circumstances of their lives.  Even their sins might not look so hideous if we could feel what pressure and perhaps suffering had caused them.  The safest course is to be as understanding as possible and where our understanding fails, call charity to its aid.  Learn to distinguish between persons and the things they do, and while we may not always approve of their actions, have a sympathy and feeling of kindness for the persons themselves.

It may even be that what we consider faults and weaknesses in others are only prejudices on our own part.  Some of us would like to see everybody fitted to our own pattern and what a tiresome world this would be if that were done.  We should be willing to allow others the freedom we demand for ourselves.  Everyone has the right to self-expression

If we keep this genial attitude toward the world and the people in it, we will keep our own minds and feelings healthy and clean.  Even the vigilance necessary to guard our thoughts this way will bring us rewards in better disciplined minds and happier dispositions.

It seems that in the current age we have lost the ability to be more understanding... Words of hate have been spewed via the internet (words that would likely never be spoken when face to face) over political stances, opinions and rights.  Friendships lost and families broken and divided... the very strategy of the enemy!  Separation... Isolation... loneliness... 

We must not let the enemy win!  Why can't we offer understanding and charity... But on the other hand, what if only we could be brave and honest with our situations.  

How much pain and judgement could the woman and her daughter been spared if they had been open with others about the reason the daughter was responsible for the household chores???

Perhaps neither the mother nor daughter felt they had a friend they could confide in... Perhaps, had they shared the situation, other women would have stepped forward to assist... forming deep and meaningful friendships.  Perhaps??? Yes, perhaps, indeed.

Ok, so back to my "Friend Wanted" ad...  won't you chime in?  I'll be in my studio quilting this "Sweet Pea - Cute as a Button" quilt with some large hanging diamonds. :)

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Share Your Style at French Ethereal

Creatively Crafty at Creatively Beth

Put Your Foot Down at The Quiltery 

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

Thankful Thursday at Brian's Home

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

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

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather at Shabby Art Boutique

Home Matters at Days Filled with Joy

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch 

Saturday Sparks at Pieced Pastimes

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Fractured Emeralds Finish ~ Sew & Tell - May 19, 2025

Welcome back to Melva Loves Scraps and this week's installation of Sew & Tell!  I don't have much to share in progress or completion of quilts...

You see, I was knocked flat on my rumpuss with allergies.  Not just a day or two... Nooooo.  Four days!  I had been doing SO well!  In fact, I had spent time outside on Saturday AND Sunday planting flower seeds and actually enjoying easy weeding since the ground had been well saturated after several days of rain.  

I don't do much gardening, but I planted flower mats I purchased to support my granddaughters and an assortment of old seeds that were kept around at Mom's house. Some were very out of date. 🤷‍♀️ Sweet peas from 1969! Holly Hocks from 2008! And several others from the 20teens. 🤣

I am counting on a little help from my dad who could make anything grow. 😁

Dave and I trimmed up a tree near the back of the property that had been damaged in November when we had 42 inches of snow.  It was so pleasant!

And then... WHAMO!  Monday morning, I had burning and watery eyes and nose and my throat felt on fire.  An allergy pill helped some... temporarily. On Tuesday it had progressed, and the allergy meds didn't seem to be helping.  I was fortunate blessed to be able to snag an appointment that morning for a laser treatment and allergy clearing.  Said treatment and other natural remedies did help... It did indeed move on through the various stages but at rapid speed in comparison to what I have experienced for years.  

I was out of commission for 2 days and eventually felt well enough to begin adding green hexagons to my RSC project.  As I sat and allowed my body to rest and heal, I listened to several audio books.  One was the Museum of Lost Quilts.  I enjoyed reading it earlier this year and lucky enough to get it on the Libby app just as I began to crash.  It was comforting to listen to as I snoozed on occasion as the story played.  

I listened to a few other books, but nothing spectacular, in my opinion.  

Since I had finished Fractured Emeralds Tuesday morning, I had plenty of time to sit and ponder the significance of that name as well as the beauty of how each scrap worked with the others to "shine".  I recalled lots of happy memories as I looked at the scraps... I recalled the stuffed Christmas trees Grandma T made for each of her kids and grandkids.  I remembered the excitement I felt as I announced and kicked off the Pieces From the Past sew along as I looked at some of the depression era reproduction fabrics... and the civil war reproduction fabrics I used in my Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail sew along...

My friend Connie who had cleared out her Mom's fabric stash and gave it all to me... Heather as I giggled about the monkey fabric she had selected for me to make her some scrubs as she started her career in the hospital lab.  And my brother's wife who passed away last summer as the binding fabric came from strips of fabric she would use to crochet assorted baskets and such with.

I was reminded that with each memory, life is not always roses and rainbows.  There have been losses and fractured relationships.  And then... I remembered Anne of Green Gables and her flair for drama... "This is the most tragical thing that has ever happened to me!"  **back of hand on forehead with your head tipped back as it is said** If Anne could recover time and time again... so could I!  So SHOULD I!

I reminded myself that it is often in the times spent in the valley that we notice, as we look back, the most growth.  It doesn't mean it is easy, but it IS possible.  For, with God, ALL things are possible.  We must endure the thorns and the rainstorms... and we don't have to do it alone.

I've pulled up my big-girl pants and am moving forward... in just a bit ;)

I saw a thing about Mother's Day and how to avoid having a "bad" one.  It said to tell your children or spouse exactly what you want when they ask you... Ok... thing is, I don't get asked. That's the reason I decided to give myself a gift, exactly what I wanted... and a tradition that I'll continue, thank you very much.  I do appreciate the kind thoughts and comments recently.  My pity party is truly over. 😁  NOW, I will move forward.

This week's party attendance was down. :( I could speculate about why, but I don't have the energy or desire to do so...  

This week's feature is Donna Lee Q.  She shared some great bargains from JoAnn Fabric as they approach the end of the going out of business sales, including this storage unit.  Head over to her blog to see what else she found!

The closest JoAnn Store is 80 miles... if I lived closer, I would certainly be making frequent visits. ;)

Have you taken advantage of any of liquidation sales?

Leave a comment telling me what you picked up!  I'd love to hear from you.

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

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

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