Showing posts with label Bookish Journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bookish Journal. Show all posts

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Bookish Review ~ Sew & Tell - 5/31/26

 
Another month has passed by, and we are turning our calendar pages to a new chapter.

Dave and I are attending a wedding out of town, so this party is pre-recorded. ;)  Therefore, I am skipping the Sew & Tell feature.

Since we're starting the 6th chapter of the book of 2026 and I'm here to show off the bookish blocks I have made to represent each book that I have completed during May.

A Spool of Blue Thread was nothing that I expected it to be (but good)... And Every Breath was all that I had hoped for and expected!  There's a mailbox, a beach and romance.  I'd love to see a movie made from it.

Anna Kerenina... a classic novel that takes place in Russia in the late 1800s... and way too long (in my opinion). I envisioned my grandparents' families longing to leave there and make their move to America.

It was coincidental timing that I worked on my Pieces From the Past II quilt as I listened.

Next up was The Last Bookshop in London, another WWII book that I enjoyed as I worked on the quilt made with blocks that represent the various letters from former WWII POWs that worked on my grandparents' farm in the 1940s.

Meet the Newmans was a 1960s story of a television family that, on the surface, reflected their home life as well.  I was well entertained.

A quote from the book struck me in reference to the women of that era finding fulfillment in life.  It was called the Patchwork method... where one takes little pieces of time to write, paint, or dance (whatever expression of creativity you choose) and before you know it you've cobbled something together like a patchwork quilt.  Some give up quickly.  Some forget about their dreams.  Some use excuses to justify why they don't try anymore.

Like the Book Club for Troublesome Women, the husband reveals that he feels as though he was in prison and forced to do work he no longer wanted to do. 

Ironically, my next book, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, had a similar theme.  A junior high diary contained a list of life goals, and the author of the list realized 20 years later that she had not reached a single goal on that list.  She posed the question, "What does "having it all" really mean?"  She is given three opportunities to live one day in a life that might have been hers had circumstances been different or she had made different choices.  What does she realize?


I have 45 9-patch blocks complete!

Just looking at these blocks on the design wall gives me such joy.

What brings you joy lately?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m

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Sunday, May 24, 2026

Sew & Tell - 5/25/26

Here we are nearing the end of the 5th month of year... the informal kick-off to the summer season.  Schools are wrapping up their year of education, and teachers and kids alike are looking forward to the time off.  Gardeners are busy with flowers and plants and some already harvesting some early produce.

I remember the times of having a (LARGE) home garden and the bounty that it produced.  Those times are long in the past since we moved to Colorado and the growing season is so short and overnight temps cool.  But I do have fond memories and am quite pleased that our oldest daughter has had success with a bucket garden and continues the tradition of canning homemade salsa and tomato sauce.

First, let's take a look this week's feature, Turid at Den Syende Himmel who shared a sample piece of Sashiko stitching.  She learned the technique in a Kate Ward workshop.

I've never done Sashiko before though I have seen it featured in several free workshops of late.  

You can develop many different designs and patterns... It reminds me of "chicken scratch", another style of embroidery and my years doing cross-stich.  Turid tends to make small quilts and projects and always has something fun and interesting to see.  Be sure to give her a visit.  Thanks for sharing, Turid! 


While we celebrate Memorial Day Weekend in the United States, we need to remember that it is much more than just a kick-off to summer.  It is a weekend (day) to remember the fallen soldiers that have defended the US and our freedom.  All gave some... Some gave all.  Learn more interesting details here.

I used some scraps to make up a quick improv flag and then used reverse applique to put it on a plain t-shirt.  It's a little wonky... but I won't mind.  Just pretend it is waving in a breeze. ;)


This shirt was a quick project as I took a break from working on my Pieces from the Past II quilt.  In the spirit of don't waste anything... I pieced together batting to use in this quilt.  

I pieced the backing as well.  I wanted to include the adorable goose print fabric.  The use of this fabric helped to make the blue flower print feel more comfortable in joining the party.
The garden theme is perfect!

I chose a traditional scroll design for the blocks.  My mind was stuck on a traditional design since the blocks are from vintage Kansas City Star Newspapers.

I considered something a little faster but really wanted to honor the history and family stories that this quilt represents.

I am nearly done with the design in each block and will be ready to quilt the sashing strips and borders.  Whether or not I am able to get the design idea from my head onto the quilt remains to be seen.  Fingers crossed that I am successful.


As I stitched I (of course) listened to some audio books. Anna Karenina was finished just before the expiration of my borrowing period.  Diann asked me if I was glad that I finished... The final chapter was filled with many deep and philosophical questions to ponder.  Was it worth it???  Well, I don't have any regrets, but I also question why the book needed to be so long just to get there.  If there is an abridged version, I'd choose that one. ;)

I enjoyed The Last Bookshop in London.  This historical WWII fiction showed how an individual can make a difference even when they don't feel that they can.

I'll need to pull out all of my Bookish Journey blocks and see how many I have.  We turn the page of the calendar in just 1 week...  A new chapter in the journey of 2026!

Other things that took place during the week... 

Block #9 of the Little House Sampler Quilt was released last week.  Missed it?  Prairie Rose can be found here.

The final post of the sew along will be published June 4th.  Details of the layout, borders and binding will be offered.


I assisted Dave as he applied the first layer of cement/stucco finish to the old window opening in the garage.  We've spent a fair number of Memorial Day weekends in the past working on the house... this one was no different.  In the guestroom, my Color Wash quilt was hung.

She's beautiful!  The guestroom will soon be occupied for a few days when our youngest daughter comes for a visit.  I'm looking forward to several days with her. 💗

Dave has been noticeably more intentional of not working on the weekends... at least not doing his "real" work in the shop.  He's always busy doing something around the house or yard.  

Being more aware of this, I keep reminding myself that I, too, can slow down and enjoy the entire process of quilting this Pieces From the Past revisited quilt since it is for me, I don't have anything new calling out for my attention and I don't have a deadline.  Sometimes it is difficult to change the mindset of "Go, go, go! Gotta get it done!"

How do you get yourself to slow down and enjoy the journey (not just the destination)?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m


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Sunday, May 3, 2026

Bookish Journey Continues ~ Sew & Tell - 5/4/2026


It was quiet in the studio this past week.  Since we started the "window" project in the guestroom last weekend and I was waiting for a quilt kit to arrive, I did spent time in the kitchen and doing some spring cleaning in the rest of the house. 


First though... let's take a look at this week's feature.  Gwyned shared her story of how a package took a 2-week scenic tour around the country as well as her latest block in the Butterfly Sanctuary BOM.

This block had 71 pieces in it! It is beautiful.  Head over to her blog to find out why the block is not square.  She shares the link for the BOM, in case you are curious enough to want more details.

I did a HUGE shopping trip purchasing all of the necessary ingredients for 14 No Guilt::Go Quilt freezer meals.  Some of my favorites are tucked away in the freezer and ready to go!  It is a gratifying feeling when I spend about 4 hours of prep work and know that the time spent will be time saved later.

Follow the link above to find all of the stories tagged that have the recipes in them.

I pulled one meal straight from the freezer on Friday afternoon and popped it in the insta-pot with a stainless-steel pot and pressed start.  After the initial cooking cycle, I switched it to the slow cook setting to let it simmer until we were ready to eat a few hours later.  YUM!


Backing up one day... Monday evening was an enjoyable time at the softball game.  Hanna opened a birthday gift of a polaroid-like camera from Aunt Beck and Uncle DD and had a ball with it!  

I laminated the best of the photos into a photo booth strip and have it proudly displayed on the fridge. <3 

Thank you for the prayers! 
Emma hit an infield home run during the game, and it was fun to cheer her on as she rounded third base heading for home. Whoop! Whoop!

Another day was a much-needed day of dusting and vacuuming.  When Shelby was still with us, I was much more diligent about cleaning... I decided that I had neglected the deep cleaning chores for long enough.  Still waiting on the quilt kit... I wasn't too terribly distracted. LOL!

One final day was in the kitchen as I baked assorted muffins and cookies.  I am restocked in the snack department. ;)


FINALLY... I wandered to the studio to play with the fabric pull I had for the April Audio books I enjoyed.

I won't review each one here, but would be happy to share my thoughts on any of them you might be interested in.  Just leave a comment (with your email address) and I'll send you an email and my thoughts.

Map of my Heart by Susan Wiggs was my 15-minutes before bed slow-read.  And The Chilbury Ladies Choir was finished on May 1.

A sweet friend recently sent me a book by Sandra Dallas from his mother's collection ~ A Quilt for Christmas.

I nearly forgot that block #7 of the Little House Sampler Sew Along was published!  You can find the story with the link to the pattern here.  Only two more blocks... and both of them will be released this month.  :)



That sums up my week.  The wait for the quilt kit is finally over.  I need to have this baby quilt to my customer by the end of the month.

I don't usually use kits for quilts... this one was just what the customer was looking for.  Her grandson's nursery is in a safari theme, and this was perfect!

You know where I can be found.

Before you go, tell me...

Do you like using quilt kits?

Or, are you more of a "curate your own kit" quilter?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m

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Sunday, March 1, 2026

That's A Wrap ~ Sew & Tell - March 2, 2026


Another month gone.  Poof! 💥 Just like that February is gone! I'll give a quick review and to wrap it up, I'll tie a pretty little bow on it. ;)  But first, let's take a look at this week's feature.  Nan at With Strings Attached shared a picture of a few placemats she made... 


"we Rotarians cooked, assembled, and delivered 130 spaghetti dinners for area seniors/shut-ins.   
This is the service project for which I made placemats all last year.  I don't know how the recipients reacted, but Rotarians liked them!  Admiration is great encouragement.  I've decided I'll make placemats for 2027. " 

It sounds like a great service project as well as an opportunity to empty those scrap bins I have!  I think the local senior center might appreciate some.  

In this second chapter of 2026, ten blocks were pieced to represent the second chapter of my reading journal. Ten books finished... some better than others, but isn't that part of life?  You have to try different things to help determine what you like and dislike... And just because you may not like something doesn't mean that it isn't important.  

The most challenging read was The Names.  It addressed domestic violence... not a topic many really want to delve into.  Does domestic violence need to end?  YES!  But much like alcoholics, the abused needs to make the decision to make it end and leave.  I've never been in such a situation, so I'll stop right there.


 

Some of the more enjoyable books I listened to were Hurricane Season, by Lauren K. Denton and Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink; Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse and the Restoration of Celia Fairchild by Marie Bostwick.  The two latest listens were A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor a story of children saved from the streets of London in the late 1800s and early 1900s; and Smitten which is a collection of short stories about four friends trying to turn Smitten, Vermont into the most romantic town in America.  Cheesy, goofy, predictable stories with the four friends eventually falling in love and admitting their love for four different guys.  The stories did address some serious topics such as overcoming the emotional trauma of an abortion, learning to trust others despite previous hurts and breaking free from the emotional control and manipulation of others (people pleasing)... All the makings of a light-hearted Hallmark-style love story that saves a town.  As goofy as it was... I liked it. What can I say???  LOL!


I finished four quilts this month... The quilted panel, the vintage doily and this scrappy green baby quilt for a customer which will be delivered at the end of this week.

And my vintage linens quilt!  It is my favorite.  💗

What started out as a whim and no real plan has turned out beautiful!


I am so pleased with the finish that includes linens stitched by hand by my Grandma, Tressie Teegarden.  (You can learn more about in the Pieces in the Garden posts.  Follow the link on her name or click the Pieces in the Garden tab at the top of the page.)

According to a note she left pinned to them (click the link to see a photo of it), she and her friend Alice would sit and sew together, making samplers, pillowcases and other items for their hope chest. Since she married in 1935, at age 20, some of these pieces are approaching 100 years old.

I backed some pieces with fusible interfacing to keep them from going all willy-nilly. The alternating 16-patch blocks include linens and fabric from vintage aprons my Mom used to wear... most from the 1960s.


The backing matches the binding and the small border. Both the print and the vintage looking linen colored border are from @connectingthreads Perfect for this finish! 

As promised... here's the pretty little bow 


It is a new month... which means a new color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, which is red.  Red is not one of my go-to colors for projects, but I'm sure I will be able to make several blocks of my scrappy, wonky star blocks in positive and negative... I even have some new red scraps from the Linen Quilt Border. ;)

While Dave was away with the guys, I sorted my stash... It should be fairly easy to pull out what I want.  How long will it stay so nicely organized?

How do you sort/store your stash and fabrics?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m


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Sunday, February 22, 2026

This, That & the Other ~ Sew & Tell - 2/23/26


Welcome back!  I say that to my readers and participants of the Sew & Tell party, but also to Dave, the mighty hunter camper, has returned and I am so happy. 💓 He returned empty-handed of any game but filled with stories and memories to share.

But before I get to my week of This, That & the Other... let's take a look at this week's feature.  Leeanna at Not Afraid of Color has been participating in the Stay At Home Round Robin challenge and shared her interpretation/creation for the "curves" prompt.  I've enjoyed reading about and seeing all of the various responses to the prompts in the challenge, but Leeanna has a knack for some amazing art quilts.  She has not disappointed me with this water lily in the lower left corner of the photo.  She shows us all the steps she took (and thought process) to get to her finished block... go check it out! 


I don't do much with art quilts... but I often go through a similar process with most of my quilts.  Sometimes the end result is so very different from what my initial thought or plan may have been.  Just like last week when I was working with the vintage linens.  I had thought a small crazy quilt wall hanging was my intention.  

When I realized that I didn't have enough embroidered pieces to do that I started adding in some of the crocheted edges... but then the blocks needed something more.  As I woke early one morning, I knew exactly what they needed... alternating 16-patch blocks!  But I was short enough linens.  I decided to dig a little deeper and found some vintage aprons (1960s?) from my Mom.  

I mixed them in with 3-1/2" linen squares and smiled.  The colors are washed out a bit at the bottom of the photo... indoor lighting. :(  This top is ready for borders but will wait for the delivery of the fabric I purchased from Connecting Threads with my monthly ambassador credit.  My machine was in serious need of a quick pedicure since the linens produced so. much. lint!  Follow the highlighted to link to see just how much.

As I pieced and pressed and rearranged blocks on the design wall, I listened to books... uninterrupted since I was the only one in the house.  

When I was satisfied with the layout of the linens I moved into cleaning mode and finished two books over 3 days as I sorted and reorganized my fabric stash and thoroughly cleaned my kitchen... top to bottom!

The Girl in the Blue Coat was a WWII story. After listening to that historical fiction and serious topic, I needed something a little more familiar and lighter... Mary Poppins was just the ticket... though I was surprised at how different it was from the movie. 🤷‍♀️


The next morning, I started three different books before settling on The Restoration of Celia Fairchild. I love the way Marie Bostwick can bring humor into her stories while revealing serious subjects and events.  I will say I shed a few tears for Celia but cheered as her friends gathered around her in support... Celia was indeed restored in the end.  I'm a sucker for a happy ending!


By mid-week, I was tired of the quiet.  I switched things up and pulled out all of the photos from 2021 and the beginning of 2022.  I gathered together my scrapbooking supplies and literature I had saved and set up a table in the living room.  I enjoyed reliving our travels and events of just a few years ago as I moved onto the book The Names.  It was a difficult book to listen to.  Domestic violence was in the forefront as three different storylines were told... all based on the mother's decision on registering a child's name.  Two names were against the father's (the abuser's) wishes and the third revealed their lives when she registered the name she had been told to use.  

Not only was the topic an uncomfortable one, but I also found it difficult to follow as the three stories were told in chapters that paralleled the same time by name - Bear, Julian and Gordon.  I would have had an easier time of following along had the entire story of one character at a time had been the format.  None the less... I finished the book and the block. ;)  I had discovered the floral print as I sorted my stash by color and knew immediately that it was destined for this book cover block.

If you missed it... The second block of the Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along was released - Native Star.  You can find the link to the post that includes a math lesson and photos of the block as well as the link to the pattern... HERE.

Linda, Texas Quilt Gal was the randomly selected winner of the Little House Maple block draw.  The link for the maple leaf block is still open and will remain open until the end of the sew along.  

I have another fat quarter to be given away with the Native Star link up.  Get your pattern and join the fun!  No blog? No social media?  No problem!  Send me an email with a photo of your finished block and I will get you entered.

I picked up some new garden/farm themed fabrics this week...  which has me longing for spring. The duck print has small packets of seeds on it and is so cute!

You may recall that I don't do much gardening, but I do have a small area in front of Dave's shop that has parsley and oregano growing in it.  I harvest several times each summer and enjoy the leftovers of when my daughter Heather wanted to have a small garden during her college summers.  She definitely has her Grandpa's green thumb!  She has a container garden at her home and has it set up with an auto root watering system that she built.  It's really impressive!  

I want to start in on a new Pieces From The Past quilt, but that will need to wait until I get a commissioned baby quilt made.  My customer has requested that it be in greens.  How convenient that it happens to be the color of the month in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  💚

That's all I have for now... but before you go...

Have you started thinking toward starting your garden?
Do you start from seeds?  
Or do you start your garden with small plants?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m

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Sunday, February 8, 2026

Bookish Journal - Chapter 2 ~ Sew & Tell - 2/9/26


Welcome back!  I've been busily and happily content in the studio lately.  I've been playing in my scrap bins making RSC blocks - blues and greens so far... 

I've also been re-writing and re-testing a few block patterns for the Little House Sampler Quilter Sew Along... All as I listen to audio books.

BTW, if you missed it, the first LH Sampler block pattern has been released!  You can find it here.  NOTE:: There has been a correction made to the log cabin frame pattern.  I think I notified everyone that had downloaded the original (incorrect) pattern.  The cutting instructions were off by 1/4" in length of 6 strips.  No biggie... and you may not have noticed it.  Thanks to Karen W. for catching that!


Before I ramble on about part of my week, let's take a look at the randomly selected feature for the week.  Nancy at Grace & Peace Quilting shared two baby quilts that will be donated to a charity that provide a bundle of baby items to families in need with newborns.  Both quilts have their beauty enhanced by her choice of quilting and the backings.  Two families will certainly be blessed by receiving these quilts that are not only lovely but filled with her love and prayers.  Be sure to take a side tour to her blog to see the closeup shots of the quilting, backings and bindings.

If you missed the fact that I decided to document my book journey by piecing one 9-patch block for each book read or listened to.  In January I completed 8 books...  I've included a few links to the previous books and my thoughts on them above.


Since I last shared... Breaking Free was a story of redemption... Maggie Roberts found herself in prison after a tragic accident killed her son.  While serving her 10-year sentence, she had the opportunity to work with horses and found a renewed purpose in life. 

Charlotte's Web... Short, sweet and familiar. I loved it!

The Things We Leave Unfinished was an interesting book focused on the risks we take for love, the scars too deep to heal and accepting endings that are unexpected.

I'm having such fun making each block
to reflect the cover of the book

I skipped a few portions because of "mature themes."  Hahaha.  That's what the description included!  I felt like I was reading a harlequin romance novel!  Overall, the sex scenes were "fluff" to the story and not necessary to the storyline.  

Essentially, a book manuscript telling the love story and life story of the original author was left behind, unfinished, and another author was asked to finish it.  

It reminded me of the various UFOs I have been given to finish.  Most recently, the vintage rose quilt blocks.  I could relate to the fact that to be most successful at finishing it (whatever "it" may be) in a way that would honor the original maker or writer, you need to get to know them in the best way that you can... Study previous work, ask family members about their personalities, their likes and dislikes, what were they knowledgeable in and what were their hobbies.

The ending certainly surprised me! 

My next read was What You are Looking for is at the Library.  The librarian had an uncanny knack of making book suggestions for patrons of the community library that were seemingly unrelated to what they had asked for.  It was fun to follow the characters as they found the answers to what they were looking for in unexpected ways, and how their lives connected.


The most recent book was The War Outside.  

This historical fiction takes place during WWII - one of my favorite historical periods to read about - and loosely based on actual events.  

I have been aware of the fact that there were camps for Americans of Japanese descent.  There was one not far from the town I grew up in.  But this story takes place in Crystal City, TX and was a "family camp" for both Japanese and German Americans.  (And Italians, but there were no Italian characters in this story.)

I was shocked to learn that the US Government had done the same thing they did to the American-Japanese citizens, to other nationalities.  My Mom was unaware of it as well.  I realized then that my story/life could have turned out very different had my paternal grandparents been among those sent to an internment camp.  

Had that happened, they never would have been on the receiving end of the letters from former German POWs that worked on their farm... The very foundation of the Pieces from The Past Sew Along that I hosted in 2020.  The likelihood of not ever meeting Dave... the likelihood that my parents would not have met and married... WOW! I recently made all of the stories from this sew along available again on the blog. :)  More to come regarding that.  

I realize this is a nightmare for some living in similar situations right now in the US.  It saddens me... It breaks my heart, really.  It also overwhelms me.  What can I do to change their stories?

I can pray... That's what I can do... That's what I will do.  I want to do a little more research into this topic.  But right now, I need something a little lighter to listen to and enjoy.  I've got a childhood classic and Newberry Medal winner ready to go!  Caddie Woodlawn.  

I've having a grand time selecting the fabrics from my stash for the blocks... digging through the stacks in search of the "perfect" piece for each cover.  As I started The War Outside I had a fabric in mind for those two girls... And I may have squealed when I saw the scrap that I used for the barbed wire.  LOL.  I don't know if I'm gaining more joy out of all the books, or in making the block!  Doesn't really matter... I am joy filled!

Thanks for tagging along with me on this Bookish Journal.  And thanks for joining the Sew & Tell party.

I've got my long list of book suggestions from all of you in January, and I look forward to each one!  Thanks!

Before you go... tell me...

What is bringing joy to your life lately?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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m


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