Sunday, August 31, 2025

August Summary and Sew & Tell ~ 9/1/25


What a month August was!  So much happened and yet, in a sense, time stood still.  We had guests and played tour guide.  We "unplugged" for several days for a respite from work.  We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary.  

And I made quilts! Four quilts were completed and 5th "topped" it off as I am ready to get it sandwiched and quilted.

A quick review...


I kicked off the start of August with Madam Butterfly and her photo shoot...  Purple was the color of the month in July.


The color of the month for August was aqua... Using larger chunks of scrap fabric, I created the Aqua (Viridian's) Chain quilt.  


It was closely followed by the finish of my Teal/Red Hawaiian print quilt that I started hand-quilting several months ago.  The backing of this quilt added a fun pop to the quilt.


Quilt #4 is my Aqua Star (my favorite finish of the month) - an aqua and white string-pieced quilt with a splash of yellow that makes it glow!

With the completion of Aqua Star, I pulled out my collection of RSC Korner Kabin blocks and placed them on the design wall.  Once pleased with a layout of color flow that pleased me, I joined the rows.  I was unsure of what sort of border it needed... the idea of scrappy4-patch blocks with colors coordinated to their neighboring blocks came to mind.  I contemplated it as I did laundry and cleaned house and decided that my idea would, indeed, work.

I drug out my large bin of small scraps and started digging.  It took all afternoon to get the pieces cut and placed on the wall.  With each square it was like an archaeological dig... "oh, this was from a scrub top I made for Heather.  I made pajama pants for Rebecca with this fabric... and so on, and so forth."  And several times I said, "I didn't realize there was anything left from making that quilt!"  Hahaha.  I really do believe that fabric scraps are like rabbits and continually multiply and grow!


With the 4-patch border on the Korner Kabin quilt, it still asked for more.  I pulled out the bag of fabric strips that came from my SIL and the era of when she did crochet fabric items such as bathmats and Christmas tree skirts.  The bag of strips that I have are a large floral print with cabbage roses.  After auditioning on the wall, I added a border which gave the eyes relief with a solid, not-pieced, border, and still had colors that blended with the blocks.  A solid fabric border looked out of place and the bold/bright rainbow stripe didn't look right either... a pastel stripe would have been perfect but did not exist in my stash.  Make do with what I have is the mantra lately.

Last week we received two emails informing us that our insurance premiums would be increased.  Homeowners insurance was going to increase nearly $650/year... and our medical insurance was going up as well - $50/month.  OUCH!

I/we wallowed in the dismal news for a few hours... I then gathered information required to search for new options and we made phone calls.  We found a good option for the homeowners and were able to make an adjustment in our medical deductible so that we can save a few some money and afford a few other necessities of life... like food!  (And a new garage door.) 

I digress... I'll soon be sandwiching and then marking for quilting.  I have planned for a large Baptist fan design... a representation of a rainbow. 🌈  This quilting task will have to wait for a day because I need to go help install our 40th anniversary gift to each other... a new garage door!  
This is exciting stuff! LOL!  Though it is not a traditional gift of rubies, it is something that we have needed for some time.  Like when we bought this house 30+ years ago.  Dave has held it together and kept it rolling safely... and he has said for the past 10 summers... we are going to replace that garage door this summer. Hahaha!  Two years ago, we actually ordered one on-line but then received notice that the order was cancelled.  I don't remember what the reason was... possibly that delivery to our area was not available... but we took it as a sign that it was not to happen. This year when Dave said it again, we ordered on-line in July... it was delivered just before our anniversary on the 10th. 

We know many people that have a garage but seldom use it for parking their cars because it is so full of "stuff".  We have lots of stuff too... but we have strong, sturdy storage shelves to hold all of it. ;)  We are slowly clearing out the "stuff" that was so important to keep.  Like all of the baby stuff for the girls.  Remember, I made a quilt for Rebecca?  We have bins full of 5mm home movies (and projector) that have all been converted to VHS and then digitized.  Why do we keep the originals???

I am reminded, once again, that holding on to "stuff" is not best.  From Matthew 6...

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Ok... Wow, I am all over the place!  Rabbit holes are funny, right?  You start on one topic and somehow end up on a completely unrelated one.  Thanks for tagging along on mine.  

It is time to take a look at this week's feature... Melisa at Pinker 'n' Punkin Quilting shared progress on several quilty projects... including her hexagon flowers.  Aren't they cheerful and happy looking?  head over to her blog to see what other projects she has in the works.

I've been digging in some of the original flour sack fabrics that I have from my Grandma S. and have some plans for small flowers to be appliqued onto a few more shirts... and maybe some tiny pincushions. 

I'm not sure why my brain is bouncing all over the place... most of the time I am more focused and don't really like the bouncing. But when creative ideas come calling, I have learned to make notes and save pictures in my creative inspiration folders... and hang on tight!  It's usually a fun ride.

Are you a focused, one project at a time kind of quilter?

Or do you have many projects going at once... like a circus juggler or plate spinner?

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

Time to party!  Be sure to invite your friends to join too. :)

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Sunday, August 24, 2025

Mountainside Sewing - Sew & Tell - 8/25/25


There wasn't a whole lot of sewing going on last week... the mountains were calling and we responded.  Bright and early on Sunday morning, we jumped in the truck with camper in-tow and headed about two hours north-west of our home to one of our most favorite locations to camp - The Alvarado campground located in the San Isabel National Forest near Westcliffe, CO.

As we did in June, we attended worship in town and then settled into our campsite.  We were blessed to be able to claim a spot next to a creek.  




Dave had hopes of hiking one of the trails on Monday morning.  I consented to his crazy idea, thinking "it's 3 miles (one way)... I can do that.  We ate breakfast and packed lunch and headed out of the campsite at 7:35 a.m.


We went up, up and up... there were switchbacks... and some long, gentle inclines along the side of the mountain and more switchbacks.  We hiked a long, long ways... like 3 miles UP with a 2,600ish feet increase in elevation.  More than once I thought I was going to die! Our original destination was Commanche Lake. 

We did not make it. We went up, and up and up for 4 hours 15 minutes. When I could go no further, we sat and had lunch as we looked at the backside of this mountain where the arrow points... 

By Dave's calculation after returning home, we had another mile to go before getting to the lake. 

This was about 1/2 way back down... 
It doesn't show the actual fatigue and pain I felt

It took 2 hours to get back down. I slipped on rocks and landed on my bum in the last 1/2 mile. (I'm fine other than a bruise... that I will not show you. ;) )  When we got back to our site, we grabbed our water sandals and a couple glasses of water and sat in the cold mountain creek until our feet went numb.  We eventually took showers to wash all the dust and sweat away and then had a simple dinner.


I sewed and worked on hexies the next day.  My legs hurt so bad that I didn't want to do anything else... End of story. 🤣

We did take a few short walks around the campground and headed to town to see if Dave's phone problems could be resolved with better service.  

No such luck... though it did begin working again long enough to get caught up with family messages and he even answered a phone call... twenty minutes later he had no service of any sort and it remained that way until we got home and he was able to purchase a new sim card.  Technology!

Anyway... Here's what I did with my little hexie flower.

I did a simple running stitch in black embroidery thread to applique it onto the shirt. 

I want to pull out some 30s reproduction fabrics to make a pink and green flower for a pastel pink shirt that I have.

And the teal hexies... they have been added to the main project...


I'm feeling a little anxious about how I am going to get this all filled out and complete... I guess time will tell.  I have tried to not duplicate fabrics, though it has happened a few times, I will not go back and replace them.  Live and let live... 


Last week's party was a fun one!  So many pretty projects.  Gretchen shared the progress of her Stonefield's Blocks.  Her applique is just lovely! Head over to Gretchen's Little Corner to see all of the blocks that she featured.  

She was supposed to make two blocks like this but felt that all of those points on the stars were just too much for her... make a visit to see what she chose to do instead.  It is still just as lovely!

I look forward to seeing how her quilt will layout.

I have slowly recovered from the strenuous hike and am over the trauma of it all... The laundry has been managed, and I am ready to return to the studio.  What will I make???  I have no idea!

Since there is one more week remaining August, I will probably pull out my teal/aqua scraps and see what I can create.  I'll likely pull up the folder on my phone for design ideas and see what strikes my fancy.

Do you have a folder or source of inspiration that you turn to?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Sunday, August 17, 2025

Back to School Season ~ Sew & Tell - 8/18/25


Welcome back to Melva Loves Scraps and Back-to-School season... Families across the US are getting children ready to go back to school... teachers are ready to welcome them back (mostly with open arms and excitement) with their plans in place and hopes to make a difference in the lives of those they teach... not just in school topics, but in life lessons and examples shown to them.  Remember!  Actions speak louder than words.

My stock photo of the file holders

With classes resuming at the local college, I have been in my studio making the tool holders/rolls that I make each semester.  I had a limited amount of denim and have only been able to make six this time.  I'll be ordering another bolt of denim soon and get more made.

I'll take a look at my local fabric option - walmart - to see if I can find anything... maybe a "bargain bin" find.

I'm afraid I will need to increase the price again, as the cost of the denim continues to increase. :(  Thus is the situation for everything lately, right?



Last week, if you missed it, I had two finishes - The aqua Viridian's Chain quilt (with pieced back see that backing here!) had her photo shoot and looked lovely with some of my morning glories.

Scrappy Hawaiian

I also finished the hand quilting on the scrappy red quilt that I made in April.  This quilt has a fun corn on the cob backing and would be a fun addition to a Labor Day picnic table.



With a connection to my childhood, the back-to-school season also meant it was time for the Colorado State Fair (which runs through Labor Day Weekend).  As a member of a 4-H club, I had several projects qualify for state fair at the local fair.  It was quite a big deal!  We always made the special trip to Pueblo to be able to see whatever project it may have been, on display.  I had a few knitting and crochet projects earn the trip there and actually did quite well.  I remember a Reserve Grand Champion ribbon and a Grand Champion ribbon.  I had them proudly on display on a bulletin board in my bedroom.

Just the other day, I was looking up information about some of the State Fair events and was pleased to see our littlest grand daughter on their website.

This photo is now 3 years old, and she is still just as darling!  

I have rambled enough... I need to get packing.  Yep!  We are heading out with our 5th-wheel camper.  At least 2 nights, maybe 3 and if we are lucky, we'll get our favorite little spot next to the creek.  

  






Thanks for stopping by!  I hope that you will join the Sew & Tell party.

It's open for social media posts as well as blogs.

But before you go... Tell me about a random act of kindness you have extended or been on the receiving end of.  How did it impact you?  

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Thursday, August 14, 2025

On a Roll With TWO Finishes

It's been a productive week again!  I tidied up after my SIL left Monday morning and I settled in with the aqua Viridian's Chain quilt under the needle on my Babylock Jazz.

I had a brief detour as the machine became sluggish and the motor was straining.  I've experienced this twice before and both times I gave a small drop of oil in a few key spots.  It didn't seem to help this time.  Hmmmm.... 

I moved to my piecing machine - the Babylock Lyric - and quilted a few lines.  It was working out just fine, but I kept thinking of my Jazz.  That's when I decided I needed to get the case opened up.

It is not the first time that I have done this... but I didn't really want to...  But since Dave and I have done this together a few times, I was confident about where the issue was.  Also, since the Jazz is a fully mechanical machine with no computer to be concerned about, I reasoned that it was no different than working on my mechanical Kenmore that I had for 20+ years.

I found the issue, cleaned up some ugliness from excess lubrication from a previous cleaning/oiling session, and carefully/sparingly oiled the problem area.  I put her back together and we were back in business with her humming quietly as I quilted and the motor was not straining.  

Woohoo!  By the end of the day I not only had the quilting complete, but the binding as well!


This quilt, sans the orange "confetti" that I had auditioned, is calming and reminds me of an ocean breeze. Follow the link to learn about the orange. 

I was on my way out the door to do some much needed grocery shopping on Wednesday, when I noticed that I had morning glories in bloom.  I ran back in the house to grab the quilt and snap a few pictures while the morning sun was "glowing" on the flower bed.  Sadly, that glow was caused by the heavy amount of smoke in the air. :(  The smoke is from wildfires burning in the western portion of Colorado and some in New Mexico

It was well worth the pause in the start to my day, even if I did happen to get three mosquito bites as I accomplished the task that took less than 5 minutes!  I was quickly off to my morning errands.

After shopping I returned to the morning glories to snap a few more shots, specifically, the pieced backing.


Back in April, I was confused about the "color of the month" and had started with teal.  Mid-month, I switched to Red and this is what I made...  Since it has aqua in the Hawaiian fabric, I'll count it for August as well. ;)


I finished the hand-quilting as I enjoyed a slow-moving morning... sipping and savoring my tea as I stitched down the scrappy binding.

You can see the smokey haze in the air.  For those of us with allergies the smoke is aggravating!  I don't have asthma, but I feel for those that are struggling with the air quality.

One last close up of my hand quilting...



I got three more mosquito bites while taking photos again!  I'm ready for a heavy freeze to take care of those buggers.  You may think I am making a big deal about the mosquito bites... well, I am.  I have always suffered from the mosquito bites with severe itching and swelling and they bother me for weeks.  Yes!  WEEKS!  They weep and itch and make me weep.

Earlier this summer, Dave was working with and listening to a friend about how his wife suffers from mosquito bites but found a laser light that zaps them and she no longer suffers for weeks.  

Dave didn't immediately tell the guy that I experience the same thing, but did eventually get the info on the light "thingy."  We ordered one and it has been a game changer for me.  If you suffer like me... get this thing!  You will not regret it.

That's all I have for now...

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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Monday, August 11, 2025

Viridian's Chain in Aqua - Part II

Part I & the Sew & Tell party are HERE...

Part II::


After I pulled my main fabrics... and tried to sprinkle in a few colors of pop or "confetti". The confetti colors were based on some of the scrappy fabrics I had pulled... I wanted to include yellow, purple and orange.  I then started to layout on the design wall...

Those orange blocks were disruptive
and HAD to go...















After pulling the orange out, everyone was content with those that joined the confetti party.  As I pieced the blocks together, I added in the sashing strips and cornerstones.  It asked for a border, so I obliged...

It also asked for a pieced backing... again, I obliged. :)

I will be quilting it with an all-over grid on point.


Round#2 of guests, (Dave's sister) left this morning.  We had to make an urgent visit to my cousin's cabin after seeing/hearing of large hail causing damage not far from where the family cabin is.  Thankfully, there was no damage, aside from pine needles knocked from the pine trees.  

Barring any other interruptions... check back with me for the finish of this quilt by the end of the week.

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m

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Sunday, August 10, 2025

Viridian's Chain in Aqua ~ Sew & Tell - 8/11/25

Welcome back to Melva Loves Scraps and the weekly Sew & Tell party where friends gather to share progress on projects, finishes and perhaps even some thoughtful words of wisdom.

This week was a warm one as we prepared for our second guest - Dave's sister, Sharon.  This is her first trip as a widow.  She had several stops before reaching us and has stated that she is feeling pampered and well cared for at each stop.  She has visited here before, so we didn't need to pack in as many tourist-y things for her.  

I continue with the RSC color - Teal or Aqua - I pulled out some bigger chunks of scrap fabric and decided I would try to make a quilt using Viridian's Chain Block.  Viridian shared her unique block several weeks ago and with a little encouragement from some of us, she offered a tutorial for us! Thanks Viridian! 💖

I pulled my main fabrics... and tried to sprinkle in a few colors of pop or "confetti".

Hold that thought...

Part II (the rest of the story) is HERE

I have not managed my time well. 😏

We are celebrating our 40th anniversary today (Sunday, Aug 10)...

I'll be back Monday morning to finish this story...  In the mean time... here's my Aqua Viridian's Chain Block! 



Let's start the party...

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m


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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Madam Butterfly Finish

Hey there!  I am making a quick stop with a mid-week check-in and to say that Madam Butterfly is ready to take flight to her new home.  This project was the result of finding a list of "Creative Quilting" ideas... you can find that list here.

Here are a few glamor shots from her photo session...  (I used a new location - the beautiful garden at my Mom's apartment complex.  


At the beginning of the summer the landlords/owners invited the other residents to purchase a few plants/flowers to fill the garden beds.  I love that they invited them to do this... allowing them to take a bit of "ownership" of the project.

My Mom selected a few plants like she had at her house... a rosebush with a deep red-ish-maroon color, a few rose moss plants and 2 tomato plants.  She has been sharing the fruits of the tomato plants with others and all are enjoying them.  She likes to spend some time sitting out in the garden area.  She told me that she enjoys being outside, thought it felt strange to not have to be weeding or "working" in the yard.  

Have I mentioned that I am SO happy that she no longer has the burden of the house and yard? ;)




Madam Butterfly finishes at 40-inches square.

The all-over medium stippling was all free-motion quilted with no templates and I am pleased with how it looks.

close up of texture


I didn't experience thread breakage and only a few skipped stitches.  

It is a win that I will celebrate.  I have narrowed down the issues of thread breakage and skipped stitches to what sort of thread I am using.  

My machine is happiest with Aurifil 50 wt. thread.

The general sewing thread I have been using is 30 wt.  I have the worst problem with it... even in straight line quilting.  

I have some connecting threads spools that are 50 wt. and plan to try them on my machine for FMQ.

What brand and weight of thread do you use?

I'm feeling brave after this quilt!  I may consider feathers again! Oh, and here's a peek at the pieced backing ;)


Keep Piecing,

Melva

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