Picking Up Pieces ~ Sew & Tell - 3/23/2026

Mother Nature seems to have lost her temper... or mind... or is drunk... off her meds???  Something!  At the beginning of this week, we saw a low of 7 degrees, and we saw a high in the low 90s by the weekend.  It is dry, dry, dry!  The humidity levels in Southern CO are in the single digits.  Fires are popping up in the region and evacuation orders have been issued for at least 1 area.  Pray for rain!  Dave and I have not only prayed for rain, I did the quilter's rain dance by pulling out a pretty spring quilt for the guest bed, but as an extra insurance... we washed windows.  LOL!  'Nuf 'bout the weather...

This week's feature is a vintage repair by Melisa at Pinker 'n' Punkin' Quilting.  Melisa acquired this quilt in Texas in 2024 as a sweet little reminder of their vacation in the area.  One block had some deteriorated pieces.  She found a reproduction fabric that had Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf and Grandma's house on it.  

You can read all about the process she used by following the link above.

I have used the exact same method on a quilt in 2019 and before that in 2016.  In 2019, in addition to appliqueing a new piece into place, I used a fine tulle netting and clear nylon thread over several tears to keep them from advancing.  Well done, Melisa!  You did a top-notch job in fixing your quilt and keeping memories of your trip alive.

This week, as the spring and summer-like weather abounded, I was in the studio revisiting the vintage patterns from my Grandma Schleich that made up the Pieces From the Past quilt back in 2020.  The vintage newspaper patterns (and a collection of vintage fabrics) were in collection of items that came from an aunt after she passed away.   

Using the garden themed fabric that I purchased from Azure Standard, I enjoyed making 15 of the blocks from the series (so far).  All of the blocks will be 12-inch blocks this time, some of them slightly different from the original blocks.

As I pieced these blocks, I listened to My Friends, written by Fredrik Backman.  Throughout the book there were references to art and artists and how they feel the art, rather than just paint it, quilt it or create it.  The focus of the story was about a circle of friends formed by 4 teens.  It resonated with me... and for those that have read it... It's a long story.  LOL.  What didn't resonate was with me was some language.

I couldn't help but think of the men, the former German POWs, that wrote the letters (also a part of the series) to my grandparents and how they viewed them as their trusted friends.  

One of the Scripture readings I had this past week from Mark 2 featured the story of how a paralyzed man was carried by four men, four friends, that lowered him down through an opening in the roof so that the man could get close enough to Jesus to be healed.  We all need to have friends like that man... We all need to have friends that will go the extra mile for you in a time of need.  Friends that will help to carry you closer to Jesus.

Thirteen years ago, Dave and I were just stepping into the midst of a very difficult time of our life.  He was faced with a major change in his career and my Dad was in the final days of his life on earth.  We had a few friends that surrounded us... and surprisingly, we found that several that we had thought would be there to support us... were not. :(

Together we clung to Jesus and weathered the season as we walked in a deep valley.  That's all life is, really... a journey of time spent in a valley and eventually climbing up out of those valleys so that we can enjoy the views once again.  There's a saying, "Everyone is either entering a time of trial, in the middle of a trial or coming out of a trial."  

The Rose Code was the next listen as I continued piecing together some Past Pieces... "A heart-stopping WWII story of three female code breakers and a spy that must be rooted out after the war.  An apropos book to listen to as I pieced blocks that tell the story of German POWs held at Camp Trinidad during WWII. 

At week's end, I realized that Easter is just a few weeks away!  For several years I have thought I would make some cute little candy bags for the grands... THIS is the year!  I found two free patterns... one for a bunny bag and one for a carrot bag.  Three bunnies have been cut out and one carrot (3 girls, 1 boy).  I'll get them made up and then filled and sent off this week, fingers crossed.  Check back later in the week.  I'll share photos of the finished bags as well as the links for the patterns.  

I have less than a week before quilt retreat.  I'm looking forward to seeing the quilters again and possibly meeting some new friends. The coordinator asked for suggestions for an activity or game to be played.  I was thinking about Quilter's Bingo. 

What sort of game have you played at a retreat?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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