The Adventure Quilt - Final Frontier

The Adventure Quilt Along of the Road Trip Quilt has been a fun journey.  Kate and Tammy did an amazing job with selecting the blocks, pattern instructions and placement.  The only detours I faced were because of my own inability to read and follow directions clearly... 





I failed in reading the instructions carefully back on block 10, the trees, when I carefully trimmed the blocks to the finished size, not the unfinished size, allowing for the seams.  **sigh**  I did the same thing on all three trees, but because of the placement of them, I was able to add an extra 1/2" on the side and/or bottom of the blocks without messing with the look of them.  So... I only needed to remake one block.  Yay!  Just a minor detour due to a road block. LOL!

The Final Frontier assembly instructions clearly stated which block and what size blocks went where... 

However, because I am more of a visual person, the pictures (that I greatly appreciated) weren't always enough for me to follow.

Like when I grabbed an 8"  block instead of the 9" block as stated in the written instructions.























<<< It caused such a fuss!  











I decided it was best to put the quilt in a time-out while I dealt with the laundry that had piled up over 10 days as I waited for a new washer and dryer to arrive.

When I returned to my studio the next morning the 8-inch block (the green and orange block) stepped forward and admitted to impersonating the 9-inch block (the blue and yellow block)that had been distracted when I asked for it!  And because of that error there was a disruption in the 9 patch block placed next to it.  

Jack and and I had a visit and after he left, I was able to calmly get all of the blocks back in their proper place and complete the top.  Woohoo!  It was time for sandwiching!

Last year I had purchased some quilting templates to be able to learn some stippling.  I have struggled with the timing and spacing of the technique and thought that the template would help me to learn the skill.  

I felt like a kid with training wheels on my bike and I felt ready to take those wheels off and give free-motion stippling a try!  I was very pleased with it!  Like, over the moon excited!

I love this quilt and I have enjoyed the journey that it has taken me on.  

More than once I was reminded that life is a journey... it is not a race or competition and it is not just the destination that should be focused on... it is the fact that the journey should be enjoyed.

I appreciate the fact that many of you and traveled along with me with each block as I shared about...

The log cabin blocks and the thoughts of getting ready for a road trip, the various mile markers (of life) and the spring break trip that reminded me of poppies in Arizona.  I shared my dream and what to do when facing a great divide.  You were there with me as I was thinking of the traveler with wanderlust and the tumble weeds in panhandle of Texas...

I'm sure some of you giggled as I shared about our first experience with a round about in Gettysburg... before GPS devices (lol) and our California beach vacation with the Ocean Waves blocks... and our interest in navigating the roads less traveled.  I recalled some childhood memories with the Woods at my elementary school and about the open spaces we passed by when we moved to Colorado. 

As I wrap up this adventure, I am ready to take a big next step in a new adventure...  I am preparing to announce and advertise for doing custom quilting for others.  

If you have some quilt tops hanging around in a closet that need to be finished, why don't you shoot me an e-mail with a couple photos and dimensions... 

MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com

I'd be happy to discuss your project with you!  

I will soon have more details on a new tab at the top of the blog, but until then... wish me luck!

Have you done quilting for hire?  

Do you have any tips or suggestions in avoiding some pitfalls?  

Please share by leaving a comment or send me an e-mail message... I would greatly appreciate it!

Remember... enjoy the journey,

Melva

Linking with:

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

The Adventure Quilt - Open Spaces

As I pieced these final filler blocks for the Adventure Quilt hosted by Kate & Tammy I could not help but have the once popular song by Dixie Chicks running through my head... Wide Open Spaces

It is a song that I could hear coming from my girls rooms as they got ready for school in the mornings.  

I always thought it was about getting out of the city and heading to less populated areas... 

But as I listened closely to the lyrics I realize now that it is really a "coming of age" song that speaks of a young girl's desire to move away from home and have the "space" to make a few mistakes without the watchful eye of the parental units.  Lol!  How naive I was... 

I recall having those very feelings as I went away to college... ready to spread my wings and find a life of my own.

None the less... there really is something about getting away from busy-ness of life... to a place where you can shut out the noise of the world... a place to unplug from life... 

When we made the big move from Chicago-land to Southern Colorado in December 1994 we traveled west on I-80... as you cross over the state line from Nebraska to Colorado the majestic views are breath taking.  And as we turned south onto CO71, a two-lane highway at Brush, CO you could actually see Fishers Peak... the flat-top mountain that graces our view from the front yard.

Now we are talking about wide open spaces...  That's nearly 250 miles!  

The open space between Brush and Trinidad is prairie so I went with some muted and light greens representing the grass and shrubs that grow there...

Where do you go when you need some space?

Leave a comment... I love hearing your thoughts. :)

Next week will be the final frontier.  Woohoo!  I am ready to assemble this Adventure quilt.   

Remember, life is a journey... enjoy the ride!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag

Oh Scrap! At Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting

What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney

The Adventure Quilt - Into the Woods

Kate & Tammy have taken us to the woods with block 10 Road Trip Quilt...  and I gladly went and played along!














I have to admit though, that beyond the instructions for the tree trunk, I really didn't follow the directions that called for 2-1/2" strips that make up the tree... nor did I use the special ruler...  I opted for a method similar to string piecing.  I didn't measure the widths of the "pine branches"... Nope, not a single one.  

I was too busy recalling my elementary grade school - North La Junta School - located in La Junta, CO.  It was a small school that housed grades 1-4 with just seven small classrooms and an auditorium.  The school may have gone through 8th grade at one time, 6th grade for sure for a time.

(The photo below was taken after a flood in 1965... the year I was born!)

The playground had all of the fun and dangerous equipment... you know, the metal slides that were HOT, slick and fast; the merry-go-round that you could fall and break an arm trying to get off... or puke your guts out because you got dizzy (especially after lunch), monkey bars and a jungle gym, swings and teeter-totters.  

There was a section beyond the playground that was called "the woods".  Hide & seek, chase and fort building were among the activities that were most popular there.

For me, "the woods" reminded me of Winnie the Pooh and the hundred acre woods.  The imaginations of my 1st and 2nd grade bestie, Georgia, and myself would be creating houses with small sticks, beds and couches out of leaves, etc.

Miss Elliott was the first grade teacher... she seemed ancient to this little 6 year old!  Sadly, one of my most vivid memories of Miss Elliott is not a pleasant one.  She was a short-tempered teacher and probably should have been retired... and by today's standards, would have been fired and possibly spent some time in jail... 😖  I distinctly remember her pulling one student out of her chair and shaking her!  Oh my... you did not want to cross her.  

But, thanks to my cousin, I was often in her sights.  The students in the class were seated alphabetically, since we shared the same last name and M came before R, he was right behind me.  In his boyish ways, it seemed that he was forever pulling my hair, stealing one of my hair ribbons, poking me with his pencil or pushing his desk up against my chair.  I tried to ignore him, like Mom told me to, but would eventually lose my patience with him and end up being the one in trouble.

There must have been a note sent home to my parents... or it was brought up in a parent-teacher conference... that I was being disruptive.  Let me tell you... my Mom was quick to defend me and asked Miss Elliott (maybe demanded) that she change the seating arrangement.  Miss Elliott quickly discovered that it didn't matter who my cousin sat next to, behind or around... there was a raucous!  I believe my Mom got an apology. :)

When it was recess time the kids would burst out of the classrooms and run down the steps, out the front door to the playground and the woods.  

In the spring time there were large lilac bushes  In the picture you can see the large arbors to the left of the building.  The girls were forever picking stems full of lilac blossoms for the teachers.  My eyes would swell and itch and I would be miserable!  MiSeRaBLE!  

I promise, not all of my memories from grade school are bad... There were plenty of good ones too!  Playing four-square with my friends, playing on the swings and seeing who could go the highest... and then jump out of the swings!  Playing on the teeter-totters with friends and figuring out which way it had to be moved so that it was evenly balanced (physics in grade school!), tether ball...  Standing in line in the lunch room... and then bartering with friends for food that I would eat (it wasn't much... I was a picky eater!)...

What are some of your grade school memories that stand out?

Leave a comment... I love to hear from my readers. 💓

Piece Peacefully,

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

The Adventure Quilt - Navigation

Kate & Tammy are doing a great job with the Adventure Quilt Along and Road Trip Quilt...

This week's block (#9 of 12) has us direct our eyes toward the skies as travelers in the past used the stars to navigate their journey.

They offered plenty of options for the construction of these blocks - four in total.  They included special rulers, templates and foundation paper piecing.

I chose paper-piecing since my head has been a bit foggy lately as a result of an allergy flare up.  I haven't felt this bad in four years!  

The other day Dave came running in the house to tell me to look outside... only to discover a cloud of pollen rising in the air from all the cedar and pinon trees budding!

The paper-piecing didn't require me to over-think anything or be too concerned about points needing to match up perfectly, or the need to trim over-sized blocks to the correct size.

Our friends that have the Lazy J Goat Farm in Texas love to enjoy evenings outside under the stars... 

The stars at night are big and bright

Deep in the heart of Texas.

Yes, well, maybe... but I'm not sure they have had the opportunity to view the stars from the Colorado mountains!

John Denver understood...

But the Colorado rocky mountain high

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullabye

Rocky mountain high (Colorado)

Either way...  whether on the plains of a prairie, or the peaks of a mountain... if you have the opportunity to gaze at the stars and understand the magnitude of the awesomeness of the universe and the Creator... of the stars and the promise made to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and the sand on the seashore... whisper a little thank you.

I'm thankful that I don't need to rely on the stars for navigation!  (And so much more!)  I prefer an atlas.  :)  

What are you thankful for?

Leave a comment... I love to hear from my readers.  You can sign up for e-mail notifications in the sidebar or follow me on bloglovin'.  Did you know I am on other platforms of social media???  You can find me on facebook and on Instagram as well.  

I do my best to not be too repetitive with the content of my posts, so you never really know what you might find there.  Sometimes a funny post, sometimes an inspirational post and other times I might feature a sneak peek at some of my latest projects.

Thanks for stopping by!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with:
BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

The Adventure Quilt - Road Less Traveled

Block 8 in the Adventure Quilt quilt along hosted by Kate and Tammy is all about the Road Less Traveled.

After Dave made a career change six years ago and became self-employed, we worked long and hard to get his business up and running.  It required a lot of physical labor to do upgrades and improvements to our property and the shop, as well as learning new skills to be able to create and launch a professional web-site and learn marketing tricks to grow our business.

We worked tirelessly for two+ years before we had the opportunity to enjoy a vacation.  Things were still a little tight financially, and to take a week to 10 days off and not continue to complete the work he had in-house to keep generating income was a little concerning.  However, thanks to the growth in our faith and the generous offer from a good friend to let us use a condo in Sun Valley, ID we scheduled some time away.  We made it a point to avoid inter-states whenever possible, both to and from the Valley.  

You can read about the entire story  (4 parts)of our journey to and visit in Sun Valley, ID, but one of my favorite days was when a local art gallery manager suggested we take a two-lane dirt road out of town through a National Forest and joined up with a back highway.

We made a detour when we saw a point of interest sign pointing to a fissure that was caused by an earthquake in 1983.

We had no clue what we were actually looking for, but we trusted our road atlas (no gps device or app again).  Amazingly, the little county road was on our map and we continued to follow it until we came upon a highway that followed the Salmon River and led us back to Sun Valley.  

We enjoyed a picnic lunch along one of the farms...

It really was an adventure on a road less traveled!  Ever since that trip we now prefer to take a slower pace and take two-lane highways.  You never know what you might find!

Now, not every trip can allow the luxury of no time lines or destination deadlines.  As we have learned in our (ahem...) maturity, sometimes it really is okay to take time to smell the roses... even extend our stay for a day or so.  

When need to get away from the crazies of the world, where do you go?  

What road less traveled to you navigate to?  

Maybe it is just an escape to your sewing room... maybe it is a mountain cabin... or a beach cottage...

Leave a comment, with your email address.  I really enjoy conversations with my readers.

Sew Piecefully,

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with:

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
UFO Busting at Tish's Wonderland
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

The Adventure Quilt - Ocean Waves

Kate & Tammy's  great Adventure and Road Trip quilt continues!  This week's block takes us to the ocean... Ocean waves!

And almost exactly 21 years ago our family ventured to California for spring break.  We were able to stay with a friend in San Juan Capistrano, explore the area and spent a day at Disneyland.  

So of course we spent an afternoon at the beach.  Bearing in mind it was March and a little cooler... so the beach that Renee took us to wasn't busy at all.  I don't recall anyone else... AT ALL!

It was the first ocean beach experience for Dave and the girls.  

We cautioned them that it would be a little cool and asked that they only go up to their knees... "don't get your clothes wet" is what I stated (I think)....

Oh well!  Never mind...  The squeals of delight were worth it.

I had been once about 4 years before when I made the trip solo for Renee's wedding.  There is just something about the power of the waves... the sound... the energy.  It can be mesmerizing.   

Renee and I enjoyed from the waves from a distance.  Besides... she had a baby in the belly that I got to feel move!

The Pacific Ocean is the only ocean I have seen in person.  We have made several trips back to Southern California since then for weddings and we dream of making a trip up the coast to Oregon and Washington state.

I have experienced several other large lakes, like the Great Lakes... where you can't see the other side of the lake.  It might as well be the ocean.  I would like to see the Atlantic (much rougher I am told) as well as the Gulf Coast.  Add these to my "bucket list" of places to visit!

I don't think that I could live there... too much wind.  We get plenty of wind here and the coast wind is so different - more of a breeze, but constant.  I think the wind and the sound would eventually wear me down and cause an off mood.  But I love to visit!  The sand between my toes...

I have spring fever bad!  Dave does too... and we are aching (say that with angst... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAching) to get away with our truck and camper!

Tell me, do you have or get spring fever?  

What do you do to combat this feeling?  

Leave a comment because I love to see what my readers have to say.  Be sure to leave your email address so I can respond. :)

Piece Out,

Melva 

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with:

Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
Works In Progress at Silly Mama Quilts
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WOW at Esther's Blog
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

The Adventure Quilt - Round About

In the summer of 2005 we took a family vacation across the country.  We had a weekend stop in Michigan to enjoy time with Dave's family at the family cottage in Southern Michigan and then continued east... a first for all four of us!

Our first stop was in Gettysburg, PA... and this was our first experience with a round about.  Thankfully, I was not driving - I was simply the navigator reading the map.  It was before smart phones and GPS thingys, though I may have printed out some directions to get us to our hotels since I had done reservations on-line.

We were a little stunned as we entered the round about... Our girls had been quizzed on round about rules during the tests to get their driver's license, but NONE of us and actually traveled THROUGH one.  

I think we may have gone around the crazy thing a few times before we figured out which "exit" we wanted.  LOL!

A few years later, our tiny little town got its very own round about!  The entire town was anticipating the opening of the round about.  There were many citizens of the community that were very vocal and let the city officials know they were not happy about it!  One friend of our's happens to be employed by the City even took his lunch break at one of the fast-food places near the area so that he could be entertained by the confused drivers.  

Years have passed and, for the most part, most of the residents have adjusted and know what to do there.  Though, (whispering...) my Mom still avoids the intersection... shhhhh... don't tell 😉

This block was primarily paper pieced.  I tried to do a shortcut for the four blocks that are like fence rails... I ended up doing them paper-pieced in the long run.  So much for saving time!

Kate and Tammy will have this block available for just a short time more... head over there and grab yours!

I love that they included a paper pieced block.  While I don't prefer paper pieced... thus my attempt at a "short cut", I am not afraid of it.  

How about you?  

Do you like foundation paper piecing?  

Or will you avoid a block because of it?  

What is your favorite piecing technique?

Leave a comment and let me know your feelings?  I'd love to hear from you!

Quilt happy!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with:

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrap Bag

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Works In Progress at Silly Mama Quilts

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

The Adventure Quilt - Traveler

Block #5 of the road trip quilt from Kate & Tammy represents the traveler...

Kate stated that is often referred to as the Mississippi Star that has been tweaked a little...


It reminds me of a spurs on a boot and tumbleweeds.

We have made the trip from Southern Colorado to Amarillo (and continued to Seymour or Dallas/Fort Worth area) numerous times and it seems like we encounter wind, dust storms and the great tumble weed migration on our return trip between Dumas, TX and Clayton, NM... every. time.

The star could easily be representative of the individual with wanderlust... My grandparents were lovers of traveling.  It may have skipped a generation because my Mom doesn't seem to have the travel bug... But I do!  Now don't get me wrong... I love being at home and could easily become a bit of a hermit... but I dream of traveling world-wide.  

Maybe when we retire we will take up residency on cruise ships!  Travel the world to our heart's content... we'd have access to medical care, someone would prepare all of the meals, clean the room, change out sheets and towels... I could do that!

Oh, I suppose we might tire of it eventually, but until then we would experience the variety of cultures and society and cuisine world wide!

What sort of retirement dreams and plans do you have?  

Or maybe you are already living your retirement dream... Good for you!  What does a typical day look like?

Leave a comment - I love to hear from my readers.

Quilt happy!

Melva

Melva Loves Scraps - Home of the Quilters Through The Generations series

Linking with:

UFO Busting at Tish's Adventures in Wonderland
BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

WOW at Esther's Quilt Blog

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts