Pieces in the Garden Final Assembly

This post is a bitter-sweet... Here are the final instructions for the finishing of the Garden Row Quilt.  When I was auditioning fabrics for the final border and binding, I tried a wide variety of options.  This quilt with so many small blocks was so busy I had a difficult time finding anything that was acceptable to me... Until I tried the bold, bright solids.  These are not a typical choice of mine, but when I placed them on the design wall my eyes (and mind) were pleased with the "calming effect" that they brought to the blocks.  My eyes were no longer bouncing around, almost freaking out... I was greatly relieved to realize that I would not want to bury this quilt in the closet (or in the garden) because I couldn't stand to look at it.   

I hope that you will be in love with your finished quilt as well. 😍

Cut:     14 horizontal sashing strips, 1-1/2" wide and 48-1/2" long.

            2 vertical strips, 1-1/2" wide and 70-1/2" long (for side borders)

            2 horizontal strips, 1-1/2" wide by 50-1/2" long (for top and bottom borders)

NOTE::  It is important to cut these sashing strips to this specific length to help in keeping the quilt as straight and "square" as possible.  Because of the length of the rows and the varying sizes of the blocks (as well as the size of the pieces making up the blocks), you may notice that some rows will be a little more "springy" than others.  

It is best to choose a fabric that is wider than the standard 42/44" width, to avoid having a seam in the strip (1 yard will be an ample amount of fabric).  OR you can purchase 1-1/2 yards and cut the strips on the length of fabric, 1-1/2" x 48-1/2". 

Mark the center of the sashing strip by folding in half and pressing a crease.  Pin that center crease at the center of the row, pin each end of the strip to the ends of the row.  Easing in, if necessary, pin into place the remainder of the block seams to the strip.  The sashing strip will help to stabilize the rows and help keep everything lying flat when you are ready to sandwich the quilt.

Using the same fabric as you plan to use for the binding, cut 8 strips, 1" wide.  Join the strips together, cut two strips to 70-1/2" long and two to 50-1/2" long.  Press in half.  Using a 1/8" seam sew these flange strips to the outer edges of the borders. 

From border fabric, cut 8 strips 2-1/2" x WOF.  Join two strips together to make four long strips.  Trim two to 70-1/2" long.  Sew borders to the sides of the quilt.  Trim remaining two borders to 54-1/2" long.  Sew to the top and bottom of the quilt.  You are now ready to sandwich your quilt and quilt as desired.

I used a template to trace 5" clamshells onto my quilt.  I found a tutorial that you may be interested in looking at by Kathy Kwylie.  She suggests starting at the top or bottom of the quilt.  I chose to start near the center of the quilt and work my way out in both directions.  It is all a personal preference.

A hanging diamond design would be a good option as well... perhaps placed about 2" apart?  

Binding:  Cut 8 strips, 2-1/2" x WOF.  Join strips together and press in half.  You can find my tips, suggestions and a "tutorial" on a variety of binding options HERE.

The tea party in the garden has come to an end... I thank you for joining me for this sew along as I told the story of my grandparents, Tressie & Forrest Teegarden.  It has been a good time!  But before we say our final good-byes...  

Won't you tell me if you had a favorite block or part of their story?

My favorite block to piece was the Hours block...  And I love the Noon & Night blocks... you can never go wrong with a classic log cabin. 

Least favorite???  No doubt that row of Wedding Ring Day!  What a booger those were!

I have heard from several of you that this quilt has inspired you to start to document the lives of your loved ones. The "Priceless Conversations" document is a wonderful tool to assist you with this.

Thanks again for joining me!  I will have a linky opportunity for you to share your finished quilt tops open until January 15th.  At that time, I will do a drawing for a grand-prize drawing.  The prize will include one final chance to win an assorted tea selection from Cornerstone Tea company as well as a pattern book and a teacup pincushion. 

Let the quilt parade begin!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

PS: If you made some of the blocks, but not enough to complete a quilt like mine you might get some ideas and inspiration from @cynwiestam_nordicquilter and her La Fleur quilt by Kitty Rose Cottage

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts 

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

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

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

m

Pieces in the Garden - Jacob's Ladder - Block #12

 “Bride’s Quilt”

Once upon a time, there was a little girl, who wore a bow in her hair. When she grew up, she began a friendship with a young bachelor. As the hours and days passed, they began to look at each other with stars in their eyes, and as their love grew, they thought about taking steps to the altar. So, the young girl got out her spools of thread and made clothes to get ready for their wedding ring day.

After they are married, some of their times together will be bright as noon and others will be dark as night.  But they will try to share their happiness, their miseries and their chores – she grabbing a wrench to help with household repairs and he grabbing a towel to help with the dishes.  Sometimes they will have broken dishes, but they will try to remember that “things” can be replaced, whereas harsh words, possibly spoken about the broken dishes, could chip away love.  They will try to follow the Golden Rule as they are learning to communicate openly with each other.

They will also try to keep in mind the symbolism of Jacob’s ladder – “steps of communication” between themselves on earth and God in heaven.

*********************

Grab yourself a cup of tea to enjoy as we hear from Tressie & Forrest and their memories of Christmas Past?

Grandma, tell me how your family celebrated Christmas when you were a child.  Did you hang up a stocking for Santa to fill?

We always had a tree.  I would go with Dad to cut our tree.  We would decorate with tinsel and string cranberries.  We made popcorn balls a lot too.  I never had a special stocking, but we did hang stockings.  

What kind of gifts did you give your parents?  Did you ever receive something very special?

I don't really remember anything special that I gave to Mom and Dad.  I'm sure I made a gift or something in school.  I'm not able to remember what though.

Grandpa, how did your family celebrate Christmas when you were a child?

We always had a Christmas tree that sat in the corner by the fireplace.  I think we probably had turkey for our Christmas dinner.  I never hung a stocking until after I got old.  

Did your mother ever make you something special?

I always got pajamas.  Then she would take the leftover material and make quilts. 

I have my Christmas stocking from my childhood, well, actually, it is a boot... a cowboy boot.  Grandma was the one who made it.  All of our family had Christmas boots because my Dad wore cowboy boots and since Kelvin was the first-born grandchild, Grandma thought he needed a boot... our cousins all got Christmas boots as well.  One year my aunt (I think...) suggested that the "women" of the family needed a fancy Christmas boot.  

They all got fancy "Victorian-style" women's boots in bright pink with fuzzy stuff at the top of the boot.  As we all grew up and got married, the new family member received a Christmas boot to match all of ours.  And if you are wondering... yep, our children also got cowboy boots.  

Each boot is decorated with items that represent each individual... I did not carry on the tradition of making boots as our family expanded... My Dad was gone by that point, and it wasn't anything that the "boys" would have appreciated, and the grands wouldn't have cared about them either. 

So, tell me... Do you have a special Christmas stocking?

Leave a comment... I love hearing from you!

Now is the time to head over the store to get the final pattern ~ Jacob's Ladder.  These 4" blocks are quick and fun to make by strip piecing the 4-patch blocks.  You will need 12 of them and then make sure you return to link up for the final prize package of this sew-along.  Stephanie at Cornerstone Tea Company puts together a generous package of assorted teas... you should check out her store.  She is also offering a discount by using the promo code LADDER.  The 20% discount will be valid through December 31.  I'd love to find a collection from her store in my Christmas stocking or under the tree!

Keep Piecing and Merry Christmas!

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts 

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

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

Thanksgiving Tea with Tressie & Forrest

Welcome to teatime with TT... Tressie Teegarden.  Today, we chat with Tressie (and Forrest) about their memories of Thanksgiving... grab a cup of tea and settle in.

Grandma, how did your family celebrate Thanksgiving when you were young?  Did you have guests?

We had big dinners.  Turkey, pies and the works.  There was always a big group of relatives.  Mom did most of the cooking.

Grandpa, what about your family?

We always had a big turkey dinner and sometimes there were 30 people there.  A lot of the time it was in Stonewall at Auntie Bob's.  My mom and sister (Viola, aka Bob) were the ones that did all the cooking.  We always had really good rolls, pumpkin pies and my favorite, mince meat pies.

Did you ever host a Thanksgiving meal after you married?

Tressie: I cooked one Thanksgiving dinner.  A 30-pound turkey, rolls, pies, etc. Lots of relatives came to the house (on Prospect Street in Trinidad).  Kids ate lots of olives and put seeds in flowerpots, ash trays and lots of other places.

Here is the Werden family's dinner roll recipe:  

And this is another recipe for bread... It is written on what seems to be the inside of an old Mode O'day envelope... no scrap of any sort wasted!

I have my own childhood memories of helping to make the dinner rolls.  I was allowed to help shape the small balls  and carefully place three in each muffin tin.  The three balls would join together to form a "clover leaf" as they baked.  As they rose in their pans before baking, they echoed my excitement as they baked, and the delicious aroma filled the kitchen.

It was always a treat to grab one, still warm, pull it apart and spread butter on it... it was like a little taste of heaven!  Oh, the turkey was ok, mashed potatoes were nothing special and I didn't like stuffing/dressing or gravy.  

Cranberries were always another favorite side dish of mine and was one that I insisted on having once I joined Dave's family.  I still make them and we will have today- though I sub in coconut sugar for the cane sugar.

If you are celebrating Thanksgiving today, may it be a blessed holiday and lest you forget... we should offer our thanks each and every day.

Our "official" family dinner is planned for Friday.  Family, food, fun, love and laughter... I have so much to say thank you for. 💗

What are you thankful for?

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

Remember... the Broken Dishes pattern is free until December 8th.  Once your 12 blocks are finished be sure to link up for a chance to win a prize package from Cornerstone Tea Company!  Stephanie is offering 20% off with the discount code of CHINAPLATE... valid through December 7th.

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts 

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

Thankful Thursday at Brian's Home

Little Things Thursday at Good Random Fun

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

Wednesday Wait Loss at the Inquiring Quilter

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

m

Pieces in the Garden ~ Broken Dishes ~ Block #11

 

 “Bride’s Quilt”

Once upon a time, there was a little girl, who wore a bow in her hair. When she grew up, she began a friendship with a young bachelor. As the hours and days passed, they began to look at each other with stars in their eyes, and as their love grew, they thought about taking steps to the altar. So, the young girl got out her spools of thread and made clothes to get ready for their wedding ring day.

After they are married, some of their times together will be bright as noon and others will be dark as night.  But they will try to share their happiness, their miseries and their chores – she grabbing a wrench to help with household repairs and he grabbing a towel to help with the dishes.  Sometimes they will have broken dishes, but they will try to remember that “things” can be replaced, whereas harsh words, possibly spoken about the broken dishes, could chip away love.  They will try to follow the Golden Rule as they are learning to communicate openly with each other.

They will also try to keep in mind the symbolism of Jacob’s ladder – “steps of communication” between themselves on earth and God in heaven.

*********************

There were several mentions of the China that Tressie painted in the Teatime stories and today Tressie tells of attending art classes...Won't you get yourself a cup of tea and join us?

We lived on the corner of Prospect & Park Streets (in Trinidad), across the street from the (Trinidad Junior) College.  There were evening adult classes in all kinds of subjects.  Mom called me one day and asked me if I would take her to Mitch's (Arthur Roy Mitchell) art class and she would pay my tuition ($5 per quarter).  We both went to class.  The class was in the main building (the Berg Building) on the left side of the hall.  It was a large room.  There were easels and benches with a drawing board, which could be adjusted.  Mitch would set up still life settings on a large board with stand.  He usually had Indian rugs, pottery, jugs, candles and all sorts of stuff set up to draw and pain.  Carol came from Centennial School and Mitch would help her too.  One picture we were painting was an Indian rug and a large black Indian water jar with dried desert foliage (chimmesa) and also an Indian rug with an animal skull. (Tressie is the woman standing on the left in the white blouse).

A.R. Mitchell is the teacher, holding the pointer, critiquing her painting.

Tressie (in the white blouse) is to his left. 

In our back bedroom (in Tucson) is one of the paintings.  It is a large (brown) jug, candle and holder in blue-green and a tall green bottle and dark shadows on the back wall.  Mitch took the class to different locations to paint.  One was Foster Stagecoach Stop, north of Trinidad.  One was at a large red building just out of city limits.  I think it was a foundry.  Another day we went north and painted looking back at Fishers Peak and a ridge of one of the hills closer to us.  One day we drove up west (toward Stonewall) and painted by the Picketwire River with blue water, brown bank and a grove of trees further on.

One day in Mitch's class I was painting the setup of the large black pot.  He said, "hit it once and make it sing."  He meant the rim of the pot needed a highlight.  The highlight sure added beauty to the painting.

The college was building some new buildings (1947) and the art class was moved to a red brick building just below the main college building (the Mullen Building) with an entrance on lower Pine Street.  

One picture we did was at the Pioneer Museum (Kit Carson Museum) on East Main Street, near the White Spot Restaurant... A light grey house with a front porch.  We painted Kit Carson's coat and a wooden Indian that had been placed on the front porch.  We painted lots of Santa Fe Trail stuff and Indian relics.

Emma and Tom Bradly took care of the museum.  Emma also taught artwork.  She worked with clay.  We pasted a picture on plywood and then put clay and stipple around the pictures - trees, flowers, etc.  I was painting blue flowers in Shakespearean's blue woman's house and Emma told me "Don't paint them solid blue but different shades of blue and little bit of other colors."  We made tree trunks and shaped the flowers with clay.  Shown here is a sample of the type of artwork with clay.

Tressie earned her Associates Degree from Trinidad Junior College in 1955 (the same year their son, Forrie, graduated from Trinidad High School.  She went on to earn her a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona in 1983 (the same year that I graduated from high school).

Tressie was an avid china painter and was a part of the China Painters Guilds in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona.  She learned china painting from Mrs. Kissick in Trinidad.  

This plate is the first piece she painted...

She painted thousands of pieces... from ornaments to small trinket dishes, pins and necklaces to large vases, cups, and full fine-china place settings... and everything in between!  And as was mentioned by Kim & Wendy, she never sold a single piece.

This is one of the many plates she painted before her skill began to decline.

Below is a photo of the last plate she painted...  

Along the way through life we have all encountered broken dishes...  you can cry over them or clean up the pieces and move on.  Trust me... I have cried over a few of the special hand-painted dishes that have been broken over the years. Tressie even graciously replaced a few of the broken items for me (and others).

I like to use the dishes and items that I have... Yes, they are special.  Certainly, I don't want them to get broken, but protecting them in the cabinet where their beauty cannot be shared with others is just as big a travesty as having them broken.  Life is too short to not use the fine china or good silver or towels... or a beautiful heirloom quilt.  Pull them out and use them and share the memories behind them with others.  Take lots of pictures so that even if broken or worn out, you still have a tangible something to remember them by.

Do you like to use your "special" items... or do you "save" them for a special day?  

None of us know what tomorrow will bring... and by using something special such as the fine china or a fancy wine glass TODAY makes TODAY special!

Grab the free Broken Dishes pattern (free until December 8th) and get your 12 blocks made.  Be sure to come back to link up for a chance to win a prize package from Cornerstone Tea Company!  Stephanie is offering 20% off with the discount code of CHINAPLATE... valid through December 7th.

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

Blessings,

Melva

Linking with:

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue 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

Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

m

Teatime with TT ~ Halloween ~ Bonus Block Flittering Leaf

Welcome to teatime with TT... Tressie Teegarden.  Today, we chat with Tressie (and Forrest) about their childhood memories of Halloween... grab a cup of tea and settle in.

Grandma, when you were a young girl, did you go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween?  What did you dress up as?  

Yes. (We would do trick-or-treating) but we didn't really dress up.  We would bundle up because it was always cold.  One year the Stone's had a party.

Did you carve a pumpkin?  Did you make scary faces or happy face pumpkins?

Yes, we always carved a pumpkin.  I usually made happy faces.

What kind of treats did you get?  

We would get candy.  I don't remember having to do any tricks though.

How about you, Grandpa?  When you were young, did you go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween?  

I never went trick-or-treating or dressed up.  We would go to parties occasionally though.  We would peel grapes and then turn the lights out and tell scary stories.  The peeled grapes were supposed to be eyeballs.  We would bob for apples too.

Did you carve a pumpkin?  

I couldn't tell you...

One story I remember Grandma telling about when she was pregnant with my Mom, who was born on November 1... 

I was handing out treats to all of the kids that came by and one of them had on a scary costume and said "Boo!" and next thing I know I was in labor.  

Haha!

Since we lived near the end of a long country road with no nearby neighbors or much of a neighborhood, we never had trick-or-treaters come to our house.  I remember going Trick-or-Treating as a child a few times.  I think my parents would take us to visit a few houses in town of family members or others we knew, and I recall that I went one year with a friend.  We were never permitted to just "roam the neighborhoods" as my husband talks about.  He and his friends would plan out their routes for hours to be able "hit" as many houses as possible.

I also remember making popcorn balls to pass out at a school party or to share with cousins.  Here's the recipe... It's always fun to choose a gelatin color/flavor for the season.  Like, orange for Halloween, red and green for Christmas (because we always needed twice as many), red/white/blue in the summertime... you get the idea, right? 😉

I mentioned earlier this month that I prefer "Fall" or "Autumn" over Halloween... so to celebrate "all of fall with y'all", here is Bonus Block #3 ~ Flittering Leaf.  The leaf alone is 3" finished and you will need 16 to make up a row.  OR you can do as I am and add coping strips to make it a 4-1/2" unfinished block (only 12 needed) allowing for you to turn the blocks this way and that to make it look like the leaves of the trees flittering down to the ground.  

Coping strips... isn't that a cool term?  I just heard it a few weeks ago and love it... because sometimes you do the best you can and cope with making up any deficiencies or short falls in the end.  And since I am in recovery mode from a bout with shingles and limiting the use of my dominant, right arm, I am going for fewer blocks!

Follow the highlighted link above to get the pattern, but before you go... 

Tell me about some of your favorite Halloween memories.

I'd love to hear from you!

Grab the free pattern and then share your finished blocks with me!  I'd love to see them 🍁🍂  

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

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

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

m

Pieces in the Garden ~ Wrench ~ Block #10

 

 “Bride’s Quilt”

Once upon a time, there was a little girl, who wore a bow in her hair. When she grew up, she began a friendship with a young bachelor. As the hours and days passed, they began to look at each other with stars in their eyes, and as their love grew, they thought about taking steps to the altar. So, the young girl got out her spools of thread and made clothes to get ready for their wedding ring day.

After they are married, some of their times together will be bright as noon and others will be dark as night.  But they will try to share their happiness, their miseries and their chores – she grabbing a wrench to help with household repairs and he grabbing a towel to help with the dishes.  Sometimes they will have broken dishes, but they will try to remember that “things” can be replaced, whereas harsh words, possibly spoken about the broken dishes, could chip away love.  They will try to follow the Golden Rule as they are learning to communicate openly with each other.

They will also try to keep in mind the symbolism of Jacob’s ladder – “steps of communication” between themselves on earth and God in heaven.

*********************

Won't you get yourself a cup of tea and enjoy as we learn about Forrest & Tressie starting their family?

When did you start a family?  How many children did you have?  What are their full names?  When and where were they born?

We started our family in 1937. Forrest Ralph was born in 1937 and Carol Ann was born in 1940.  

I don't remember much about Forrie being born.  They gave me ether and I was out.  Little Forrie wasn't getting enough to eat and he was very small until Margaret Duling, a trained nurse, told us to give milk from a bottle.  He did much better after that.

Tell me about when you had my parent... what were they like as a baby, child, teenager?

I had ether with Carol too, but I remember a little more.  Carol liked to eat, but she threw up everything.

They were typical children.  They fought and picked on each other.  Carol rode her tricycle, walked on stilts, jumped rope and played guns. (Carol, Forrie and Joan {a cousin} shown here being "typical children".) 

I remember that as a child I was impressed when I learned that my Mom knew how to jump rope, play jacks and helped me learn how to twirl a baton, play hopscotch and more.  I also recall that my brother and I were "typical children" and fought and picked on each other as older children.  When we were young, I remember that we would play together (as did Carol & Forrie playing "guns" but we called it playing "cowboys & Indians")... until I became an annoying little sister getting in his way or insisting that he play dolls or house with me.  

If you had any siblings, how was your relationship with them?  

Were you close and like best friends?  

Or more "typical"?

What sort of activities and games were some of your favorites as a child?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear about your memories. :)

This row of blocks ~ the Wrench ~ is representative of the wrenches and challenges that come with life and relationships.  Working together to overcome them with a compromise by all involved, by the way, will bring about the most successful relationships... You will need make 16 blocks to complete the row.  Now is the time to grab the free pattern over on Payhip and make your blocks.  

You may want to go check out Cornerstone Tea Company too!  Use WRENCH as the discount code and get 10% off your order.  Valid through November 9th.

Don't forget to return here for the block parade and a chance to be entered for the Cornerstone Tea Company prize package!  Link up opportunity will be open through November 9th.

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at True Blue Quilts

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

m