It's been a calm and productive week in the studio of Melva Loves Scraps and I am relishing the quieter routine of winter and the presence and prevalence of Shalom. But before I get into that let's take a look at this week's randomly selected feature... Alycia at Alycia Quilts showed off her January Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks. She calls them Chunky Churndashes. They're fun and bright! And I am guessing that they will be paired with some red blocks to become a Quilt of Valor. I mean, Alycia is the QUEEN of QOV, at least in my eyes. ;)
Head over to her blog to learn about the pattern and read about her scrap organization method. It seems much more organized than my big scrap bin of bits and pieces just tossed in. LOL!
I mused about the author's worldly travels and asked myself if I would ever be brave enough to travel by myself... World travel? Probably not. Though I do think I would be brave enough (if something happened to Dave tomorrow) to buy myself a campervan and do some traveling within the US. I'd start with some closer-to-home destinations first and then venture just a bit further.
My college roomie has a group of ladies that have done international travel... that is something I could be interested in. Group travel... sign me up! ;)
When I finished listening to Eat, Pray, Love I started looking in the scrap bin and stash for fabrics to represent my block for the Bookish Journal. I knew what I had in mind, but I also knew I didn't have any fabric that had spaghetti on it. LOL! I also couldn't find the specific fabric I wanted for "Pray".
Fruit for the Eat, a stained glass look for Pray as it represents, in my mind, a sanctuary and roses and hearts for Love. That was fun!
Though technically not IN the studio, I've spent time on the computer creating the Little House Sew Along logo and began writing out the first patterns. It can be a tedious process. I've used most of the blocks in previous sew alongs but they need to be re-sized for this sampler quilt. I'm writing out some of the math lessons as I go.
I'm not able to listen to books when I am writing but I did enjoy a lighthearted book by Melody Carlson entitled The Christmas Tree Farm as I sewed on the hanging sleeves for the Color Wash Quilt. I sewed one at the top edge and then I sewed on small sections in the middle. the pockets on the edges have the ends sewn shut and I have taped the dowels together in the middle so that they can't slip or push in which causes the widest point to sag.
The Christmas Tree Farm was a short book and just what I needed to get out of my head and overthinking life. I recently saw a meme that had someone saying to a person with their head in a book... "You spend so much time reading that you are going to lose touch with reality." The response was, "Have you seen reality lately?" Hahaha. Sometimes we need to escape!
Some people travel, some read, some sew or quilt or craft... Do you remember the Calgon commercial? "Calgon, take me away!" Now I'm just dating myself. LOL!
When the world gets a little too real for you, how do you "escape"?
Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!
By, the way... Thank you for all of the book recommendations last week! I have a list a mile long and will begin making my journey through them.
Keep Piecing,
Melva
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Your RSC blocks are really fun. That's a project that's on my bucket list. I'd get to it if I'd finish my quilt alongs. Probably not happening at this rate. Enjoy your reading and stitching this week.
ReplyDeleteI love how you're making those book blocks, Melva! What a fun idea! I definitely do need to escape from reality on a regular basis, and reading is how I do it. I love getting into a story and feeling like I am there with the characters! Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteYour RSC blocks are beautiful. I made 16-patch stars for a past RSC and really loved the outcome. Love the Little House logo - very catchy! When things get me down, I like to go find my Rosie and pet her. She starts purring as soon as she sees me, and she never tires of letting me pet her. She gives me joy.
ReplyDeletecamping by myself, yes (im 63 and a little alone time is great), gardening, and reading every night before bed to "reset my brain" from the day. very much looking foreword to another of your wonderful storied quilt alongs
ReplyDeleteChunky Churn Dash was one of the first Bonnie Hunter blocks I made. I was in a couple of swaps for CCDs, too. I can escape with a good long forest preserve walk.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I am traveling solo now, but with Road Scholar groups. They're most accommodating to single travelers. I have three trips scheduled for 2026 and I'm on the wait list for a fourth.
ReplyDeleteI like your blue blocks. Smart solution to hanging your color wash hexagon quilt! I like to listen to books and stitch to relax and to "take me away!" --TerryK@OnGoingProjects
ReplyDeleteI like yours and Alycia's RSC blocks. My escape is quilting and audio books.
ReplyDeleteYour RSC Blocks are too much fun Melva. Color Wash is perfect and I like the way you finished hanging her. Thank you for hosting, for sharing on To Do Tuesday,and the new QAL. I have done some international travel solo and know that I just might do so again one day. Just not right now 🙏🏻
ReplyDeleteAnd the last anonymous comment was me. Sorry
ReplyDeleteAww thanks for thinking I am a Queen ;-) I really like your idea of a bookish quilt, fun to find fabrics to go with that one. World travel - sometimes interests me and sometimes not, I've been to a few countries, but I love exploring our USA ;-)
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you! Alycia's blocks are lovely and bright. It's perfect timing for me as I'm fixing to start stitching some blocks with one print and one and one background fabric. I have traveled to New Orleans for a teachers' conference. It was absolutely, positively wonderful! Your hexagon quilt is so pretty!!! I love how it came together!
ReplyDeleteLately, I find my escape in naps. Before it would be machine sewing, reading and walking. I hope Calgon takes you away to a beautiful place. :)
Your RSC blocks are sew cute, Melva. I need to dig out some blues and join the fun! Thanks for the linky party! And thanks for joining us at Monday Musings. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteSo many wonderful projects going on. Those Wonky Stars always catch my eye.
ReplyDeleteYour starry blocks are lovely! Fun pattern for the RSC. Thank you for sharing and linking up!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently listening to Don't Look Back from this years United Woman of Faith reading list. It is very good and very sad.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about RSC!!! Love your rainbow color wash quilt - it turned out just beautiful! I also like the idea of a book block... might need to add that to my list too! Thanks for joining in on Home Matters Linky Party! I will be featuring your post this week! #HomeMattersParty xx
ReplyDeleteI remember "Calgon, take me away!" Some days I say it out loud. Lol! Reading, sewing, knitting ... all good ways to "get away". I'd love to travel too but I'm not sure I'd be a good camper gal. Mom & I did a bus trip to the Biltmore and we really enjoyed that. I'd do another bus trip, for sure! Hope you're having a great week!
ReplyDeleteHi Melva, I'm glad that you're QAL is going well. When I need to escape, I listen to audio books, play solitaire on my phone and of course quilt or do embroidery. Escaping is the best part of retirement - I can do that mostly full time :-) Thanks for linking up to I Quilted This!
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