Sew & Tell ~ April 14, 2025

 

I'm still off galivanting around... we've had a few challenges along the way, but we are still enjoying our time exploring together ❤️ 

We finally made it to our destination and thought our time was going to be cut short due to a death in the family. Turns out the service will not take place until after Easter.  While saddened to hear the news of our brother-in-law's passing, he had fought a long battle with cancer (3 years), and he is now pain free.  It is a little unfair that we are left here grieving the absence of his presence... but, we meet again, dear brother.

We have continued our adventures...  I'll pick up where I left off.

It's been fun... but it is time to head home. I'll catch up with everyone soon.

Keep piecing,

Melva

A Time For All Seasons Finish

My most recent finish was the block of the month from Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends...  A Time For All Seasons.









I had a layout but I was in a quandary about how to finish it... sashing strips or not???  Seasonal fabrics?  Just a neutral fabric?  Checkerboard? 

And then I was in the shower thinking of what I might do in the studio when I got out... and an idea hit me!  

I had a batik charm pack and there was just enough to be able to make sashing strips and make it a gradual transition in colors to the next row...

You may notice that some how I managed to get a few out of order... Ooops!

The purple, orange and green on the left got mixed up, but I put them in their proper places before it was quilted.  

Life (well, house projects actually) got busy and crazy with a need to (my husband's need) paint the master bedroom... 

But in between needing my help, I did find some celebratory fabric (in my stash) that featured balloons.  I thought it would great!  Despite auditioning the fabric as a border... when I had a 4" border on the top, I hated it!  **Ugh**  

I cut it down to 2" and placed a soft blue as an outer border.  All better... it toned it down and calmed it down like magic... Whew! 

I did my "go-to, no-brainer" free-motion loops for the quilting and fell in love with it even more with every loop completed as I grew closer to it being completed.

I had thought (several months ago) "what  fun to use seasonal fabrics as the binding."  I pulled out scraps from the many seasonal scrub tops that I made my daughter and found all that I needed.

I had snow flakes, hearts, shamrocks and more!



And then I called one of my besties who has a skillful eye and a love for photography.

It was a COLD snow covered morning but we bravely headed to the public library and she snapped away!


Just look at some of the shots she captured!  






This one is my absolute favorite 💓

We had such fun driving all over town looking for brightly colored/playful back drops...  It was nearly as fun as all the random thoughts and memories I recalled when making the blocks!  

Thoughts of conversation hearts for Valentines day, the shenanigans that my hubby and his brothers pull when together and topsy turvey Easter baskets when our girls were little...  the poignant memories of pinwheels at the Alzheimer walks in honor of my Dad, fun in the sun as we camped at the Great Sand Dunes... and so many more!

Dave and I enjoyed a few nights of sleep under this beauty since we slept in the guest room while we had our room torn apart.  She is well broken in and I can attest to her warmth and comfort.  😉

What do you do when you are less than thrilled with the look of a border that you think "would be perfect", but isn't?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear your tips and suggestions.

Quilt Happy!

Melva

Have you grabbed your copy of the first block in the Pieces From The Past sew along?

Linking with:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

BOMS Away at Katie Mae Quilts

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique

A Time For All Seasons - January

The final blocks of the "A Time For All Seasons" BOM offered by Amy Warner at Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends captured January perfectly!

The pine trees were fun and reminded me of our ponderosa pines that we have in our yard.  

We have nurtured and cared for these trees for more years than I can remember and they (most) are finally about 6 feet tall.

One block is scrappy style and the other is a little more matchy-matchy...

Since I opted out of the applique this year, I made a few improv snowmen.  They look a little funky but were a welcome break from the pattern writing I have been doing lately for the upcoming sew along - Pieces From The Past - that kicks off with the first pattern release on January 23.

These snowmen actually remind me of a giant storm that happened in our part of the state 14 years ago.  Five feet... FIVE! FEET! of snow in about three days... It was crazy.  

It was while we were all home on Christmas/winter break.  Our girls were 19 and 16... while it was snowing Dave spent a great amount of time outside with the snowblower trying to keep ahead of the snow so that, should an emergency come up, we could get out.  He even had the snowblower on the roof because he was concerned about the weight of the snow.

We stayed inside drinking hot chocolate, tea and the marathon of marathons watching Grey's Anatomy... I means seasons!  The girls had received the dvd's for Christmas and we binged... 

I had finally convinced them to make a change and turn off the tv to play a game when Dave came in and wanted to join us.   **sigh**  Seriously???  (If you are a grey's fan, you will get that 😉)  So, we sat down and watched some more...

Once it finally quit snowing and the plows got out to clear the road the plow driver saw Dave out in the driveway with it completely cleared and very kindly turned the blade of the plow so it wouldn't block the drive that he had worked so hard at clearing.  NICE!  

We all bundled up and headed out... we had a blast!

And you know that "in case of emergency" statement?  Yep we had one... my Grandma who was in assisted living ended up being taken by ambulance to the hospital on January 1.  Dave put the chains on the truck and we headed out to pick up my parents to get them so that they could meet up at the hospital...  we couldn't make it up their driveway so Dave had to walk up and escort them across the highway... 

Oh, and Heather, our oldest daughter, dressed up the best she could to make it to a wedding that had been postponed from December 31 because of the storm.  The poor bride, Brittany... their wedding cake wasn't going to be ready because the baker couldn't get to the bakery to make it... so on New Year's Eve she was at home baking cakes from scratch and decorating them so that they had a cake to cut.  Her skills learned in 4-H baking paid off!

I still needed a few more blocks so I made a pieced Christmas present and a sunflower star (since I had only made one sunflower in September) that includes some of the hand-dyed fabric from my Eco-printing experience.










Now that all of my blocks are complete I need to figure out a layout... sashing strips or not???  Seasonal fabrics?  Just a neutral fabric?  Checkerboard?  I will need to ponder this for a bit...

I hope that you have enjoyed the journey with me throughout the year and the seasons.  I have enjoyed the blocks and the memories and thoughts they evoked in my mind.

I think I have mentioned in previous posts about a memory book that my father-in-law filled out for our girls... ahem... me.  It is filled with a variety of questions about different topics such as family holidays, favorite family recipes, school memories, and many more.  

Recently I shared one of his memories with the larger portion of the Nolan family...

"Tell me about the biggest winter storm you experienced."

"It was the year the Parish Priest was our guest. We had a tremendous ice storm, and lost our power early in the day. Thank God we had a gas stove. We existed with candles and blankets."

"Did you ever go sledding or ice skating?"


"Yes. In grade school we sledded in the street with friends. We also went to ???(can't read his hand writing) Ryan Woods and sledded down a huge hill. I built snowmen and snow forts many times."

Paul's memory spurred some conversation and we enjoyed hearing from Paul's siblings about their memory of the storm... AND we learned that their Mom, Mary (Chisholm) Nolan played the piano.  Dave never recalled this, though he did remember that they did have a piano...

From his Aunt Maureen... "I remember that storm it was a bad one! We had hurricane lamps for light! Rest of block in most cases were dark except for candles. We had 2 parish priests over Fr Garren and Fr Marcincus! Don’t know how they got to our house as roads were very icy and the church, St Christina’s was a good Six blocks away. We did have a gas stove and mom was a very good cook. The priests came over quite a lot. Dad was active as an usher and was a Knight of Columbus! When they came over mom would play the piano and we would all sing. We did this on that ice storm day too. They probably walked people were more adventurous back then. I must have been about 10 and Paul would have been 12."

What sort of memories do you have from a big winter storm?

Leave a comment... I always enjoy hearing from my readers.

Quilt Happy!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Pieces From The Past Sew Along

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
A Time For All Seasons at Sew Incredibly Crazy
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

A Time For All Seasons - December Blocks

December is a month of celebrations, family and gifts.  And Carol over at Just Let Me Quilt offered up some really cute blocks...

I mean that singing angel is adorable!  But I have been skipping over the applique blocks of this BOM and doing two of the pieced blocks.  The gift block does have piecing, but there is still the bow that is required applique.  

She graciously offered an entirely pieced block for those like me that prefer them.  I made two of them... one yellow and one with a very light blue.






The star is a significant part of the Christmas season... in Scripture it lead the shepherd and wise men to the manger where Jesus was born.  

Jesus, the light of the world...

I couldn't help but recall the song from a children's Christmas program.  You probably know it yourself.

Do you see what I see? 

A star, a star, shining in the night with a tail as big as a kite... with a tail as big as a kite.

A star tops many a Christmas tree as a reminder to us all to be a light in the world.

There was a bonus block this month again, also applique 😔

But as I wasted  spent time on social media I saw a red mitten pattern tutorial from Kelli Fannin.  It was for an 8 inch block, but with a little math I made it a 10 inch block.  And I LOVE it!

I recalled the time (years ago!) when I made a "garland" with 24 red mittens as an Advent Activity calendar.  I cut the shape of the mittens out, I had our oldest daughter, Heather, color them and then I wrote a different activity on each mitten... one for each day.

The activities included baking cookies, decorating cookies, hanging the Christmas stockings, putting up the tree, etc.

It took some careful planning to make sure that the activity wouldn't conflict with other things that had to happen... like pre-school and play-dates. lol!

I had another idea that was rolling around in my mind for a sort of "charlie brown tree" and I could not ignore the calling!  I pulled out the graph paper and pencil and got to work.

It is really simple...  start with 1-1/2 inch strips and sub-cut to the various sizes...

From white cut:

8 strips -  5"

4 - 4-1/2"

2 - 3-1/2"

2 - 2-1/2"

2 - 1-1/2" square 

From Brown cut one 2-1/2 rectangle

from Green 1-1/2" strips cut:  

1 - 10-1/2"

1 - 8-1/2"

1 - 6-1/2"

1 - 4-1/2"

1 - 2-1/2"

4 - 1-1/2" squares

Now that these blocks are complete, let's take a look at the collection of blocks all together!

Lookin' Good!

With two January blocks, I see that I will need to fill in a few blanks... Probably some sort of "sunflower" block for September since I only made one of them... and another pinwheel block.

As Christmas approaches (quickly!), we are preparing our annual Christmas letter and I thought that what Dave had to share was a good reflection...

"Well Melva, Shelby and I seem to be finding a very quiet rhythm here in old Trinidad, CO.  We used to be involved in so much around town, TSJC, and with the kids and just building our home and life here and up and down the Front Range with all of our Christian friends, many that we consider part of our extended family.  

     But over the last couple of years many of those activities have come to an end, much like the seasons change, it almost happens and you don’t realize it’s going on until one day you’re going wow where did all that business go." 

A time for all seasons...  from Ecclesiastes 3... 

  There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

         a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

         a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

          a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

          a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

          a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

          a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

          a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

Are you making time, in this busy season, for the important things?

What special, important time are you going to make happen?  

Maybe it is a visit with a long, lost friend, or a great-aunt that you have seen in years... maybe it is just slowing down long enough to read a special bed-time story to your child... or grand-child...  or taking a special dinner to an elderly neighbor...

Whatever it might be... DO IT!

Merry Quiltmas!

Melva

Plan to join me for a fun sew along that will feature vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!  Fabric requirements coming soon!

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique
BOMS Away at Katie Mae Quilts

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
A Time For All Seasons at Sew Incredibly Crazy

A Time For All Seasons - November

This month's A Time For All Seasons block from Joan at Moosestash Quilting captures the fall/Thanksgiving theme so wonderfully...
















I did one colorful block that reminds me of Indian Corn...  and a fall wreath that I made with the girls one year for Thanksgiving.  It is looking a little tired but I love the little corn husk dolls that are on it and I simply cannot bear to part with it yet. 💓

We made the wreath with grape vines that grew on the property when we lived in Illinois (25 years ago!) and then made those little corn husk dolls when I introduced them to Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" books.  

Sadly, the books never captured their attention like they did mine.  But they both have a love for reading so it isn't all bad. 😉

And while winter has attempted to poke its nose into the business of autumn, it has been short lived.  

So last weekend when my husband had the opportunity to go elk hunting with a friend I took advantage of the beautiful "Indian Summer" and enjoyed a walk at the state park not far from my home.













The landscape, along with the thought of the "Little House" books fresh in my mind, I was inspired to make a second block...  This one featuring some calico and some of the hand-dyed eco-printed fabric that I have recently added to my stash.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner we are planning to go camping.  Yes... one last time until next February/March.  Our children will be celebrating on Thursday with their respective in-laws and everyone will come together for a relaxing day on the following Saturday.  (You know, I love that the girls are married and our family has grown, but one of the hardest adjustments I have had is the fact that we have to "share" them when it comes to holidays.)

Our menu will consist of turkey (of course!), dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, a vegetable side dish (green beans or carrots) and fruit salad.  Oh, and don't forget the cranberries!  

Cranberries are probably my favorite side... a little tart, a little sweet.  I recall as a kid my Mom making them by following the directions on the package.  My  Dad must have asked her to try making them... they were his favorite as well.  They were yummy, but they didn't set or gel... The next day she was on the phone with my Aunt Clara (Dad's sister) asking "What's the secret was to getting cranberries to thicken as they cool?" 

That secret was a package of orange gelatin!  There you have it!  Follow the recipe on the package and when they are done cooking, stir in a package of orange jell-o.

What is your favorite side dish to a Thanksgiving (or turkey) meal?

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

Quilt Happy,

Melva

Plan to join me for a fun sew along that will feature vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts