To-do List and Thoughts

I have been waiting patiently (mostly) to hear back from the grandson of one of the POWs that had written to my grandparents, Phillip & Katie Schleich.  He has written twice that he needed to process the fact that Gotthart Hauswold had written, but also that there were two other letters on his behalf... He was still processing the idea that the letters had been saved and still exist 76 years later.

I read an Easter devotion that had a fictitious conversation between a few of Jesus' disciples after the resurrection...

I struggle to take this in, but eventually ask, “How is that even possible?”

“I don’t know,” my friend admits. Then she grins. “But isn’t it incredible?!”

I try to process. Silence… thoughtfulness… hope… doubt… fear… hope again… questions… anger… unbelief… hope again…

And belief? Maybe. But definitely lots of questions. 

While the situation with Uwe discovering a connection his grandfather (whom he had only met one time in his life) is completely different from the devotion, he has questions, and perhaps some disbelief that the letters exist... but mostly questions.  And most of those questions are probably not something I can answer... rather they need to be answered by other family members.  For this I pray... that he would find the answers to the questions he has. 

Uwe did send me a couple photos of his family and, as his wife had stated in her original comment, I too see a slight resemblance of his grandfather that has carried through a few more generations.

As I was getting ready to print the Pieces From the Past book, I had made arrangements with a friend to take some photos near where she lived, which was in the small town that the Schleich farm had been and where the POWs would have been transported to when they worked at the farm.  When I shared a few of the edited photos with my grandparents overlaid on the photos with her, she had commented that she saw a family resemblance to Katie.  

I had never really thought that I might look like her.  For most of my life I have been told that I look like my Mom.  My Mom and I disagree and say that I look more like my Dad and in all these years I only heard that one time.  Not that I don't want to look like my Mom... that's not it at all.  It's just that, well, genes are fascinating.

So, as I await further communication with my new pen pal, I will be in the studio...  but first let me tell you what I got in the mail on Saturday!

I received my proof copy of the Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail book.  It looks as fabulous as I had hoped but will take a few days to read through it one last time to try to catch any corrections that were overlooked before placing an order for 50 copies.  Because I have included both the stories and patterns, I have removed the tab and stories here on the blog, with the exception of the introductory post and a photo of the finished quilt.  To encourage anyone who is interested in more of Marion's life stories and the block patterns to purchase the book, a direct link to make the purchase will be included.  

All of this techy stuff takes time, so the only items on my to-do list week in the quilty realm of things are:

❧ Quilt the slick and slippery customer's quilt (#7/8)

❧ Make this week's mini-quilt challenge (#15/52)

BTW, did you see that I have a birthday coming up???  AND that I'm celebrating by giving away a few gifts?  To be entered into the contest, leave a comment on this post, or on the original post (by following the link above) telling me which one of these mug rugs you would select if picked as the winner (sorry, but only US mailing addresses).

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese 

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

Thankful Thursday at Brian's Home

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

Senior Salon Pit Stop at Esma Salon

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Sew & Tell ~ Christmas Prep Delay

I should be able to show the progress I made this week... and I have made some, though not what I had hoped for.  I sandwiched and (lightly) pinned (thanks to the fusible batting that is my go to) the dresden quilt.  I have done stitch in the ditch to secure the center of the quilt and am ready to tackle the outlining of the plates.  

I really need to get this done and to my customer so that they can ship it off so that it is received before Christmas.  As I feel extra energized, I will be at the machine

After deciding that I needed to cancel the Pieces from the Past quilt parade on Wednesday, because of a horrible cough that I had developed over the previous few days, I worried about just when I would get there to the store to pick up that fabric I purchased on a blow-out sale...  The cough is a lingering symptom of the recent chest cold Dave and I shared.  After we both improved, he got worse and I followed suit the next day.  *sigh*  Thankfully, I had a special delivery of the backing fabric!

In our effort to finally get over it we plopped ourselves down in chairs (because laying down in bed only made things worse)... we are slowly improving.  I mean s.l.o.w.l.y.!  There has been so much hot tea with honey, decongestant and expectorant as well as lots and lots of vitamins.  We have finally had two nights of better rest... less coughing from both of us and less snoring and "twitchy" sleep from Dave.

But, before we declared ourselves sick couch chair potatoes, I finished two special Christmas ornaments... the First Christmas ornament for Hanna that was missed last year... The second one was because Tyshan, while decorating their tree a few years ago asked Heather where his First Christmas ornament was.  Heather happened to locate one that didn't have a date, name or picture on it and declared it his.

This young teen is adopted by our SIL and, as Dave often states, "came with the marriage", but we love him as our own and I think that giving him a personal ornament with the year he was born will be something super special and appreciated.

We haven't even begun getting Christmas decorations out... Our annual Christmas letter has been delayed (partly because we have been ill, partly because one daughter (who procrastinates EVERY year - shhh... don't tell her that I always set an earlier date of needing the letters than when I really want it...).  We like to get it in the mail by the 10th of December each year...  Our letter is unique in that each one of us writes a section of the letter telling of the details of the events and happenings that stood out in our minds.  So... without her contribution it would be incomplete.  

We still have time to get it to the printer Monday morning and it should be out in the mail by the end of the week.  We discovered a couple years ago that it was the same cost to have someone else print it as it was to do it at home.  It saves me the time and headache of having to sit at the computer desk and monitor the feeding of the paper.  I especially need this time in the studio this year.

Last week Andree shared a project of Mindful Stitching with natural elements...

And Vicki showed off a pair of her fabulous scrappy placemats...

Now it is your turn.  But before you share a link, tell me...

Do you send out Christmas cards or letters?

It is one of our favorite things about the season... hearing the updates from loved one across the country.

Piece on earth,

Melva

Linking with:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

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December 5, 2022 Sew & Tell and Weekly To-Do

I have plenty to show this week... Last week's To-Do list seemed like a lofty goal, but thanks to fewer interruptions, appointments and illness I had plenty of time in the studio...

✔ Dresden Quilt is together and has one border on it.  Woohoo!  I am waiting on an order of fabric for a second border and the binding to arrive and will be picking up the backing fabric Wednesday while at the final Pieces From the Past class.

BTW, Patchwork Phoenix is having a year-end blow out sale... check them out!  50% off most fabrics.

Here's a closer shot of a few squares in this quilt.  I chose to use a hexie at the center of the plates...

 

✔ Paperdoll Quilts - DONE!

I love how these turned out.  Each one is table runner size and has a pocket on the back to hold all of the clothes.  

Beatitude Bears panels were used on each side of the doll blocks and for the storage pocket.

✔ Pillow and covers to match Hanna's first year quilt - DONE!  A cute pair (or two) of pajamas will accompany this gift.  Afterall, she is only 18 months and since she is the youngest there are no toys or additional things needed... their family of 6 is already bursting at the seams in their house. 👀  

❧ The gift tag will be her Baby's First Christmas ornament that was overlooked last year. Oops...  

❧ I will return to the Dresden Quilt on Thursday... after getting all of my ducks in row and necessary supplies in hand.  I have my fingers crossed I can get it done and to my brother to send off as a gift for the intended recipient.

❧ The final block of the Pieces in the Garden Row Quilt will be published on Thursday... have you linked up your Broken Dish blocks yet???  Let's see them!  These blocks are super-fast, just a few half-square triangles make up each block and you only need to make 12 of them to link up for a chance to win a spectacular tea selection from Cornerstone Tea Company. 

Which brings me to last week's Sew & Tell features... Patricia over at Faith, Trust and Breast Cancer has been working on getting her Broken Dishes blocks ready to link up...

And Michelle was on a binding bender with several quilts that were ready for the final finishing step.  Here is the Critter Quilt intended for her granddaughter...

Now it is your turn!  Show us all what you have been busy doing...

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

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Sew & Tell ~ 11/28/2022 & To-Do List

It's time for Sew & Tell again!  I am anticipating that you may have had some extra time for sewing or quilting (since it has been a long weekend for some of us as we celebrated Thanksgiving in the US).  And perhaps, like me, have turned your attention to Christmas gifts.

After completing the six free-motion feathered wreaths on my retreat quilt, I decided that I really needed to set it aside and turn my attention to a commissioned Dresden Plate Quilt.   

I am happy to say that the tension issue was corrected with a change of thread and slowing down and repeating to myself "move the quilt, Melva... don't just twist it."  Thanks to those that took the time to share their thoughts and tips. 😚

I pulled out a few other items that have been in the back of my thoughts as well.  Let's take a look...

❧ The Dresden Plates were my main focus on Thanksgiving Day as we waited to enjoy our family dinner on Friday.  I was able to get all 12 of them to the point of "turkey time" LOL!  

The next morning, I made those turkeys into plates and then began the plan for the layout of the quilt...

Using a vintage cut-lace tablecloth, backed with a contrasting fabric between the dresden blocks, on point.  It won't take long before I get this together and ready for borders...

❧ Another item that made its way onto my cutting table are these cute little panels for "flat" dolls.  Kathleen had so kindly sent them to me when I completed my Paper Doll quilts in 2021.  Dave and I have some friends with twin daughters that are the same age as our sweet Maggie and had the chance to test out the quilts before I gifted them to Emma and Maggie.  They had hinted told me that they would like to have quilts of their own someday.  Amber told me that she wanted a kitty on hers... and Jade said she wanted a dog.  How lucky they are that there is one of each!

The dolls are a different size than my original quilt but the advantage is that these are all printed out... no need to create them myself... AND the clothes and hair are all done as well. :)  How fun is that!?

The panels have had the fusible interfacing applied to them and the dolls are cut out.  I'll continue to cut out the clothes in the evenings as we watch tv.  A friend recently asked me if I had any of the Anne of Green Gables (1980s) movies and if they could borrow them.  I located them and have been enjoying them as well.  As we watched the first one Dave did a search for info on the plot, cast, etc.  He asked me if I knew that there were four of them in the series... I replied with "yes, I did know that."  We have completed the second one, which was in two parts in my recording.  He has enjoyed them much more than I ever would have anticipated!  

❧ I have all of the makings for a pillow to match Hanna's first year quilt ready to go... One of her personalized blankets, a pillow form and some cute quote panels.  We will include a pair of jammies with the pillow and pillow coverings for her Christmas gift... 

❧ I'll be working on some additional assembly instructions for the Pieces in the Garden quilt and the final story and block of the series.  

There is still time to get your Broken Dish blocks completed and linked up for a chance to win a prize package from Cornerstone Tea Company.  Stephanie is offering a 20% discount with the code of CHINAPLATE.  You will not be disappointed in her tea selection!  Be sure to check out her store!

Last week Carol and Brenda showed us some fabulous projects... you should go take a look!

I have an idea for an Anne of Green Gables quilt... Possibly a sew along for 2023... I need to let it roll around in my mind a little longer to determine the feasibility of it.  

Are you a fan of Anne?  

Have you watched the series from the late 1980s?  

Would you be interested in an "Anne" sew along?

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

Be blessed and Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

This & That at Days Filled with Joy

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

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Keep Calm and Check Things Off

Life, after a month of disruptions and distractions has happily returned to quiet and calm.  For this I am so, so, SO grateful.

I happily ticked things off of last week's to-do list, including some items that I knew were on there, but did not share last week.  One such item was the last Pieces of the Past block of the month "class" at the LQS.  One quilter is caught up and ready to tackle her sashing strips and borders and two of the quilters are scrambling to get caught up so that they can participate in the quilt parade that is scheduled for December 7th.  Having in-person feedback on the stories, blocks and the patterns has been invaluable... and it has been fun getting to know the ladies that have stuck with the BOM.

✔  Other items at the top of the list that I did share... Quilted slippers!  Warm and cozy, perfectly non-matching and comfortable.  Though I have to say that the hand-sewing to attach them to the soles and to sew the binding on them made my fingers ache.  However, in the end, completely worth the trouble.

✔  Pieces in the Garden pattern release and photo shoot.  I took several photos.... this is a sneak peek.  More to come with some detailed shots. I thought that since it is a "Bride's Quilt" I would use the small chapel/storage shed that is down the road from our house for the backdrop.

The Broken Dish block and story of Tressie's art classes are available here.

Quilty mail was received and sent...  Two wishes on their way!

Dave's very first customer recently had a hunt in Africa.  He and his wife were with us at a show in Dallas at the beginning of this year.  I was keeping my eyes open for some unique fabrics (think scarf or tablecloth) that I could use in a quilting project.  Many of the booths had such items, though only for display purposes.  Though that did not stop Dave from making an offer to purchase one.  While traveling to one of their safari hunts, they made a special stop at a market.  They specifically chose these two pieces for me.  

I made a wall hanging and purses with the last items they gave me.  I can't wait to make a few projects with them! 😍

As I look forward to working with these, I will try to stay focused and work on these items on my list...

❧ Quilting the Sticks & Stones Quilt from my first retreat.

I will be doing chain-like quilting in the stones and feathered wreaths in the sections where the sticks come together...  Vines and leaves will be in the first white border surrounding as well as the white section of the off-set border.  Feathers will be in the piano keys border.

❧ Making a table topper with the embroidered "Bridal Veil" that was supposed to be done for my Mom's birthday on November 1.

This one should come together quickly... watch for a finish later this week!

As I am working on these two projects, I'll have plenty of time to entertain different ideas for the fabrics from Africa and would love to hear from you!

What would YOU make?

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

Keep piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

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Retreat Recap, Quilty Wishes & To-Do

My first quilting retreat is in the books!  I had a fun time, met many new quilting friends, laughed plenty and made a quilt top.

The pattern, Sticks & Stones, from Missouri Star Quilts was an easy pattern and layout to follow without having to pay too close attention... though there were a few seams that needed to be ripped out.  The time with Jack was only because I missed a couple sticks of the fabric being too close together.

Once I had my top complete, I volunteered time with Jack on the behalf of a few other quilters.  It was a great opportunity to visit with them one-on-one and get to know them better.

And though I haven't included any photos of the entertainment, it was spectacular!  Several quilters performed the song "My God" from Sister Act.  What a hoot!

We also had a "quilt parade" where we visited each room and oohed and aah'd over each of the quilts we brought to sleep under.  Most had a poignant story accompanying it... but none more touching than the Double Irish Chain quilt by Felicia that she had started for her husband.  He had picked the colors and pattern and before she was able to complete it, he passed away.  She has a love/hate relationship with it and shared through her tears about finishing it after his passing.

The variety of fabrics and colors chosen by each quilter for the retreat quilt varied greatly and spoke to each one's personality.

I have been happily busy back in the studio finishing the quilting of the Pieces in the Garden Quilt.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it did not take nearly as long to complete as I had anticipated. 😀😚 Last Wednesday I had a laser treatment at the Chiropractor's office to speed along the healing of shingles and reducing the inflammation causing the discomfort in my right arm/shoulder. When Dave left in at O'dark-thirty for deer hunting on Friday morning I was unable to return to sleep... (you can follow the link to see the details of what happened.)  I enjoyed a cup of Chai tea and then went to the studio to do a few rows of the "large-ish" (5" half-circles) clamshells I'd chosen for the quilting design.

With a few short breaks sprinkled in as I managed laundry, I had fully completed 1/2 of the quilting!  And my arm didn't hurt at all.  I decided that I had done enough and should "save" my arm for the retreat.  It was time to do some final packing and get lunch prepared anyway...

Dave surprised me and returned home to have a lunch date with me before I took off.  What a guy... I so deeply appreciated his act of tender love toward me!  I think I'll keep him.  😉

Last week I didn't get to the slippers that I had wanted to make...  But I now have 3 new pairs of jammie pants... and good thing I had some new ones to wear to the retreat...  There was pajama parade and the quilter with the "cutest" jammies won a prize!  I didn't win a prize, but I DID proudly show off my green floral flannel pants.  

here are This week's to-do list...

❧  Quilted slippers... I saved the soles of my previously worn-out and dirty pair of slippers with a plan to re-use them.  Wish me luck in adapting the pattern to make it work!  🤞

❧  Write the next story for the Pieces in the Garden sew along.  (Only two more rows in the quilt!)  I will also photograph the finished quilt... if the wind ever stops... or even slows.  (The gusty wind is, once again, obnoxious.)

While scrolling on instagram, I came across a hashtag "campaign" for quilty wishes... This is the first time I have seen or heard of such a thing.  

I will be granting a request for some black & white scraps and found a nice set of Maureen Cracknell fat quarters that someone was offering.  

I have several panels that I will be putting up soon...

I saw one long-arm quilter wanting to gain some practice time request any quilt tops that were no longer wanted so that she could practice and then donate to a charitable organization.  Several have requested specific colors for hexies or scrappy quilts...

If you could make a quilty wish, what would it be?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear your wishes!  Maybe I'll even be able to grant one or two.

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday

Technical To-Do Tasks

I was hopeful that November would be a calmer, quieter month than October was as I dealt with shingles... And that I would happily and blissfully enjoy ample time in my studio.  

My to-do list looked something like this...

Pack and prepare for my first ever quilt retreat!

Begin quilting the Pieces in the Garden Row Quilt!

Make Pajama pants and new slippers (to be worn at the quilt retreat).

However, that must have been a pipe dream because November greeted us with a technological nightmare that is overwhelming and beyond our knowledge and "pay-grade".

You see... our web page's content has been stolen and is being held ransom.  GRRRRRRR!  Seriously...  The hacker has requested $3K bitcoin.  (We don't even know what bitcoin is and we are not going to.)  We'll be contacting the local Sherriff's office about this cyber-crime and see what we can do.

This whole thing has us questioning our need for technology at all... Do we need the website anymore?  When we started our business we paid for and utilized google ads so that if someone searched for "gunsmith" (and many other related terms) our site would show up among the first results.  Since Google Ads changed their policy 18+ months ago about advertising anything related to guns our ad campaigns had been denied... we then decided that that particular account was not needed anymore and was deleted.  Most of Dave's customers are referrals now and we have no shortage of them. Fortunately, there has NEVER been any client info related to the page... no newsletter lists, no payment info... nothing.  All they stole were the pictures and price lists...  All of which can be restored by us by reloading the content. 

I could ramble rant on and on, but I really don't have time since I need to go through every vital on-line account we have and reset passwords.  😠

I'll still be packing and prepping for the retreat this weekend, but I won't have new slippers... and the row quilt will have to wait.  I have made one new pair of pajama pants, and another is cut out ready to sew together.

This is the Sticks & Stones quilt that we will be making.  

I purchased a jelly roll of Civil War and French inspired fabrics to make my quilt... be sure to return on Monday for Sew & Tell to see how far I get.

Have you ever been to a quilt retreat?

Any additional supplies/items I should plan on taking?

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

Keep piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

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

Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting

Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

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To-Do List Tackled

Last week I had looked forward to two fast finishes...  And I was successful!  Funfetti with the pink 4-patch blocks and some 1990s era pink and green was a great practice for me with stippling.

Alycia had suggested doing free-motion hearts.  I took her suggestion and ran with it.  You can read all about the details by clicking the link above.

The Black & White quilt was a quick piecing job as well... I had the most difficult time trying to decide on what colors to pair with them.

Red, yellow and lime green were among the suggestions offered... I really, really wanted to go with some traditional primary colors... drawing inspiration from the fabric that I chose for border and backing... I insisted on it!  And I tried to force it.  After selecting red, yellow and blue fabrics I started adding them to the design wall.  I kept snapping pictures as I added a few more.  It was certainly scrappy... but unsettling to my eyes and my mind.  

After letting it sit overnight (can you say time out?) I returned and took down all of the colored blocks.  The quilt needed something to offer more consistency and calm down the B/W... I pulled out a scrappy assortment of red, yellow and teal fabrics to replace them.  

As I placed these blocks on the wall I felt better about it, but still not thrilled. Again, I left it (in time out) as I focused on the "well behaved" child and quilted the pink & green quilt.  Each time I would enter or exit the room I would stare at it (glare at it?), move a few things and return to quilting.

When I finished the confetti binding on Funfetti, I turned back to the "troubled child"... THAT was when I decided that it needed less scrappy and went with a dark teal blender, a red stripe and solid yellow.  At last!  I was pleased with the look...  it was ready for a border and quilting.

Vivian had offered several wonderful quilting suggestions... I chose a double line grid that gives a plaid like look to the quilt.   

And that red stripe binding?  PERFECT!

It needs a name!  What would you suggest?

Well, all of that was fun! What should I do now?

Focus on one more (final - Bonus) row of the Pieces in the Garden row quilt and get borders on it! We are getting so close! I have noticed that there has been a significant drop in pattern downloads. It's not too late to catch up! Last week the Wrench block was published.

The house block ~ a bonus block ~ is still available at no cost for a short time... 

As I was looking through some older photos last week, I found this photo of a Bride's Quilt that I made using 12" blocks.  You will notice that some of the blocks for this sew along row quilt have been modified so that all of them are not as difficult as that Wedding Ring block.  That one had a whopping 25 pieces and they are were ALL small, TEENY-TINY, really... the block finishes at 3 inches square.  

I applaud each of you that completed them!  👏  If you happened to pass on that block, you can always use the Love block in place of them. 💟 

As I have considered the size and complexities of the Pieces in the Garden row quilt, I have wondered...

How do you decide if you want to participate in a block of the month or sew-along event?  

Is it the skill level?  Is it a specific colorway?  Is it a technique?  Is it the story that accompanies the patterns?  The size of the finished quilt?  Something else?  

Do you like to see all of the blocks or a finished quilt before you start?  Do you mind more of a "mystery" approach with a monthly reveal?  Does a cost for the pattern deter you?  Would you buy a kit?  Would you rather use your own fabric?  Does the chance to win a prize entice you?

Leave a comment letting me know your thoughts.  I love to hear from my readers!  If you happen to be an anonymous commenter (or if you are unsure if you are) and would like a response, please leave your email address with your comment.  Or send me an email directly - MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com).

Keep piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

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