Tuesday's To-Do Musings

It has been several weeks since I linked with Home Sewn By Us for their Tuesday To-Do planning party...  Life was really busy, and suddenly all of the deadlines have passed and I have time to relax and take time to smell the roses.

Well, sort of... While I don't have any quilt projects waiting in line and screaming for attention, I DO have a need to begin writing out the patterns for the final six blocks of the Pieces From The Past Sew Along, along with gathering more family photos, stories and research dates and events... oh and stress over the fact that I realized that I have some of the letters that my Grandparents received from former German POW men out of chronological order.  **sigh**  Do I move things around?  Do I leave them???  

This is what happens when I guess at the translation of the dates/months.  All things considered, I have decided to leave them in the order as planned for my blog, but should something more transpire 'post sew along', I will certainly rearrange.

So, what will I plan for the coming week?  Besides plans for camping... 

❧  Prepare a few more Postcard Block kits for the camping journal quilt.  

I need to get two ready to from our weekend of "cabin camping" with our girls and grands.  

Recently I completed enough blocks to fill another row.  I now have seven rows done.  Still no idea how many rows I will end up with - perhaps 10-12 - but my husband has requested that the quilt be plenty big so that there are no gaps when we sleep on our sides.  Once I have determined that there a enough rows, I will add a small border and then add more journal blocks to create another border, two blocks wide.  

But in order to add more blocks we need to camp more!  I did notice last year that we didn't camp much in the hottest part of the summer either.  Campgrounds tend to be fuller and we have had some unpleasant experiences (like last year when we had the grand-daughters with us and loud, intoxicated neighbors that didn't seem to care that we were trying to sleep - none of us were happy campers!)

My most recent additions to this quilt were the sandpiper bird, sea turtle and pelican.  All representing nights from our vacation in February to the Gulf Coast of Texas.  The majority of the block patterns in the camping journal quilt are available from Fiona Sandwich.  A few are my own design - these three included.

We have had a few discussions about where we want to go next year.  It is looking like Southern New Mexico and West Texas right now, but there is still a lot of time between now and then and that is always subject to change.

❧  Scrapbooking!  I want to get the year of 2018 in the books.  I have had the pictures on hand for several months, but finally feel ready to archive them.  And when done I will be only 1-1/2 years behind.  

I am gaining ground!  I think I was 5 years (or more) behind at one point!

I mentioned previously that I will be doing some pattern writing... 

Anyone interested in doing some pattern testing for me?  

The individuals that have tested previously have recently had to drop out due to health challenges and busy schedules.  The patterns range from easy-peasy, beginner friendly to moderate difficulty with techniques that include traditional piecing and some foundation paper piecing.  Please leave a comment here (with an email address so I can respond if you are an anonymous or no-reply commenter or send me a message at MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com

 Piece Happy!

Melva

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

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting

To Do Tuesday at Home Sewn By Us

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Throwback Linky - September

How is it possible that it is September?  Were we just in March???

BUT, since it is a new month let's celebrate some of the quilts that were completed in previous Septembers... 

We are all so proud of our quilts as we finish them - and rightly so - but then they get gifted or just become a part of our everyday life... or *gasp* placed in a closet!

Here are a few of my September finishes from previous years...

This log cabin block was featured in the "My Favorite Block Blog Hop - September 2019

Welcome To My House blog Hop - 2018

I called this welcome wall hanging "Won't You Be My Neighbor".  It found a happy home with a sweet friend who had decided to move back to town after being gone for several years.  

In 2014 I was gifted a box of quilting things and among the contents there was an unfinished quilt... I finished the quilt, though it was smaller than the original pattern, and then returned it to the quilter who had started it.     

When she moved from Victoria, TX to Seymour, TX it was a slow process and she was unable to bring all of her belongings to her son's house, but it was one of the few things she brought with her so that she would "feel at home".  Now that she is settled in her own home, she displays it on her bedroom wall.

Rescued Stars - started by Zia Miller

So what are some of your favorite quilts finished in September of previous years?

Time for show & tell!  Link up now!

Piece happy!

Melva

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

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication 

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique

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

Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

Indian Star Salsa - Pieces From The Past

August draws forth memories of canning and freezing produce... from the young age of 5 (50 years ago!  What???)... I recall my Aunt Clara teaching my Mom how to can peaches.  

Mom was pretty much a novice in the world of canning since her Mom wasn't much of a domestic goddess, but Mom was willing (maybe urged) to learn.  

I recall dragging a chair over to the counter to help with the preparation of the jars and the fruit - nibbling on the discarded peels of the peaches as they carefully cut the peaches in half and then dropped them into the canning kettle of simple syrup and then transferring them to the clean canning jars.  

I recall also that the remaining syrup and peelings were combined and cooked together and then strained to make peach jelly.  I watched my Dad strain and then squeeze every last bit of liquid from the "left-overs".  

Fast forward 16 years and you would find Dave and I canning homemade salsa on our first wedding anniversary.  It was before having our own garden so we purchased all the ingredients for the salsa from a local farm stand.  

This is a photo from more recent years...

It was after we moved to the Gromer Family farmhouse in 1987 that we planted a garden.  It was amazing!  It was good black dirt and water was never an issue.  The deer and rabbits though... Ugh!  We put up a small fence to keep out the rabbits and then caught the deer "red-handed" as he waltzed across the yard towards our garden and his glorious buffet.  

Dave snuck out and around the back of the house and laid in wait along the side of the garden in the tall weeds/vines/grass that grew along the chicken wire fence.  As the deer approached the garden he waited patiently... and then jumped up at the perfect moment of surprise yelling and waving his arms.  

The deer didn't quite know what to do!  It was like the cartoon characters jumping into the air, turning and running with their legs mid-air.  It literally scared the poop out of the deer!  LOL!  It was the last we saw of our frequent visitor and we started getting an abundance of green beans.  Funny thing... the deer never ate any of our chili peppers that we grew... Hmmmm.  

That garden kept us fed for 6+ months and the pantry shelves were filled with a variety of colors.  We had tomato sauce, salsa, and spaghetti sauce.  We would buy fruit when in season and make jams and jellies of various types.  We also had russet potatoes, zucchini squash, onions, peppers, green beans and probably more... but my mind is coming up with them.  It's been a few days since then. 🤷  

Since living in Colorado we have never had a garden.  The soil is full of clay, water is often restricted because of drought and the growing season is just too short... as is my patience.  I don't have the desire to do starts in the house and nurture them until it is time to transfer outside.  There is often a late freeze in May and and early one in September.  My Dad kept busy with his garden and he was always happy to share his excess.  Now I support one of the local farms.

The other day as I squared up HSTs for a miniature Indian Star block - block #11 of the Pieces From The Past Sew Along I thought that the trimmings looked like some salsa with mango or peach.  What do you think???

I've never added mango or salsa to our recipe, but the purchased salsas that I have had with them were tasty.

Here is our personal recipe that has been tweaked and perfected over the years...  Dave prefers that the salsa not be too watery so we add a large can of tomato paste just before placing in the jars... oh and we allow it to boil for much longer than 10 minutes.  Probably more like 30 to 45 minutes to allow the tomatoes and peppers start to break down.  And our weights are always generous... meaning 2 lbs of peppers is like 2+lbs., etc.

While we lived in Illinois I was often found to be making the salsa by myself and I utilized the food processor for all of the veggies.  I mean I had two small children and time was a precious commodity.  It seemed as though I was in the kitchen from July to September or October making salsa, blanching and freezing green beans, making jams, jellies and apple sauce and tomato sauce.  Time was of the essence!

After my Dad had bypass surgery in 1990 and retired shortly after that, my parents traveled to visit us for a week in August.  We took them to the family cottage in Illinois and let them experience  life on a lake.  Dad was not a fan of water... Mom enjoyed the time.  Neither were a fan of the humidity.  The second morning there they commented that the sheets on the bed were still damp from the previous night's steamy temps.  I think that they were amazed that THEY were not moldy from such conditions.  LOL!

Before returning to IL we stopped at an orchard and purchased a bushel of fresh peaches.  Upon our return to the farmhouse Dad started gathering up any and all canning jars that had been left behind in the basement.  He washed the jars, prepped the peaches and syrup and proceeded in canning fresh peaches.  I'm pretty sure Mom and I were in and out of the kitchen at various times, but for the most part he handled it.  Again, I had a pre-schooler and a toddler that kept me plenty busy, but I was always more than willing to run to the store for more lids or sugar.  Good memories. 💗  Canning and freezing of fruits and veggies is the closest he ever got to cooking. LOL!

After our move Dave volunteered to help with the salsa, but he wanted it chunky-style.  Ok... so, working together, he dices the tomatoes by hand and I pulse the onions and peppers with a few tomatoes in the food processor.  It has been a good compromise... and some quality time together.  And great results with the chunky salsa!

Just the other day I had picked up some roasted chilies and after dinner they needed to be peeled and de-stemmed.  We were both tired from a long, hot day but TOGETHER we got the job done and then went and collapsed.  Teamwork is best...

                                 

Here is my mini-block.  The finished size is 4-inches.  It's pretty darn cute!
It could make a really cute pin cushion... or???

I'm not sure what I am going to do with this little salsa star, but I am open to ideas for this block as well as some of the others that I have.

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

PS... one last "chili" story.  We had an over-abundance of chilies from our garden one year.  Rather than let them go to waste, we chopped and dried them on cookie sheets at a low temp in the oven.  When dried, we then pulsed in the food processor to make chili flakes.  Despite scrubbing the cookie sheets well, the next batch of chocolate chip cookies were SpIcEy!  Lol!  Well... maybe the next several batches of cookies. 😉

Stay Piece-ful,

Melva

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

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique

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

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts

What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Pieces From The Past - Indian Star

Today's letter is dated April 6, 1947 - nearly a full year since the first letter was sent, dated May 6, 1946.  Notice that they were still censoring letters.  The letter is written in English.  However, again, for ease of reading, I have typed it out. Mr. Kasulke makes a desperate plea.  Take a look...

Rudolf Kasulke

Bergen bei Frankfurt/Main

Offenbadger Landstr. 7

April 6, 1947

Dear Mr. Schleich,

Perhaps you would be surprised to receive a letter from me, having met last time about 1-1/2 year ago.  You remember, I have been a Prisoner of War in Camp Trinidad at that time working at your farm in the sugar-beets campaign and I attach a picture that you may know who of those boys is now writing to you.

I would like to hear that you and your family are well.  Perhaps your eldest son has married and your family is enlarged by a daughter-in-law as you wanted him to find.  I remember very well that time I have been with you and I often think of your kindness and your representative treatment and that of Mrs. Schleich too.  All this encourages me to make a request to you.

When I was repatriated, I did not know where to stay, because my parents and all my relations had their homes in the eastern part of Germany (Romania), which now has become a part of Poland.  To return in spite of this was impossible because nobody was allowed to stay there and those who were still there had to emigrate, leaving all their possessions behind.  This fact means that I have not only lost all my fortune, but my native country too, which is much worse.  I did not know where I was likely to find my parents, if they were alive.  They were alive, though they passed terrible circumstances, but had lost all.

As a matter of fact, I could only “visit” them by letter because they are in the Russian Zone and no personal visits are allowed.  I myself dwell in the American Zone, thus I cannot go over to visit them as well as they cannot come to see me.  You can imagine how horrible this is for me.  Having passed through the war alive and then being separated as a Prisoner of War for years now and am in my mother-country but cannot see my folks for more than four years.

The other fact is, that in regard to the emigration from the Eastern parts of Germany, which has to be, the remaining part of Germany is so (overcrowded) over populated that you wonder how it is possible that life goes on.  But it is no life, being crowded like rabbits in a rabbit hole.  There is no lodging enough, no food, no clothing, no souvenir goods which you need, if you live in a so-called civilized world and if you think that you are standing on a higher level than the monkeys.

Thus, I am resolved to emigrate.  I am young, no member of the Nazi part, not married and have lost my native country.  Further, I have seen parts of the U.S. and I like them, wishing to start there a new life.  But the difficulty is that in case of emigration an American citizen has to be bail for that person.  Unfortunately I have no relatives in the U.S., though my grandfather has been there for some years.  Therefore I ask you if you would kindly do this for me.  It is only a question and I would not like that you would have any trouble about this.  But it would be nice if it could be.  In time, when an emigration could take place, is uncertain, because no definite regulations are issued at the moment.

However, what your decision may be, your kindness will always be permanent in my remembrance.  My best wishes to you and your family and my kindest regards for Mrs. Schleich.  

I am yours truly,

Rudolf Kasulke

You can feel his anxiety as he penned the letter to request assistance with sponsorship and his return to the United States.  He wrote that he included a photograph so that Phillip and Katie could put a face and name together.  However, after all the years of these letters being moved from one home and "care taker" to another, the photo seems to have been either misplaced or perhaps slipped in with another letter.

I decided I would go back and look back at previous letters that had photos included.  I saw this photo and the writing on the back of the photo seems to match the hand-writing of Mr. Kasulke.  (I have corrected the post the photo was included in previously.)

Mr. Kalsuke makes mention of Phillip's and Katie's eldest son - Edward William Schleich - who went by the name of Bill.  He was born in March of 1921 and would have been 26 years old at the time that the letter from Mr. Kasulke was received.  Bill was often the driver of the truck when the Schleich's had the POWs work at the farm.  Bill was the one having the conversation with my Dad regarding Camp Trinidad and the men that helped in the sugar beet fields.  The recording of the conversation was included with the Friendship Quilt Block post in June.

Bill was not, in fact, yet married at the time of this letter.  He married in October 1949 and had a daughter - Glenda - born in 1953. This picture is probably from 1954.  Bill is in the brown jacket and cowboy hat in the center, his wife - Ethel holding their daughter, Glenda, next to him.

When I called my cousin Glenda asking for a few of her special memories she shared these things with me...

"Daddy's favorite dessert was cherry pie, and he would even bake the pies himself.  Most days for breakfast he had bacon, eggs and toast but on occasion he would have pancakes.  He didn't like syrup so he would put peanut butter on his pancakes.  He typically had bacon, eggs for breakfast.  On a rare occasion when he did have syrup his fork would end up sticky and he would say "How does the d@m* syrup always jump to the top of the fork?" He didn't like sticky fingers!"

When I asked about his favorite meal the answer was "I don't think he ever sat down to a meal he didn't like."  Uncle Bill was much like my Dad, some meals may have been sub-par and they would let the cook know it, but they would never walk away hungry.  

"Daddy would have popcorn just about every night and he loved watermelon and cantaloupe", we spoke in unison, "of course!"  The Arkansas Valley farmlands are known for their melons... the "Rocky Ford Melon" is now quite popular across the US, and the Arkansas Valley Fair has had a "free melon day" that people would line up for well before the give-away started.

My memories of Uncle Bill... He was my sponsor at my baptism.  I don't recall the event since I was just 6 moths old.  I was raised in the Methodist church and they didn't use the term "God-father", but essentially, that is what he was.  He had a large garden and cherry trees. He also had horses and chickens.

I recall one particular story Dad told of helping his Mom butcher a chicken.  She had instructed him on how to hold the chicken so it would not get loose while on the butcher block... and to not let go once the head was off.  (sorry if this is too graphic...)  Oh to hear him tell it!  LOL! The chicken managed to wiggle loose and the wings started flapping, hitting him in the face (I just can't stop laughing!) and eventually got loose... (Yep!  A chicken, running around with it's head cut-off)  And Katie was mad because the meat was going to be bruised.  I don't know how long it was before the chicken was captured again, but when he told this story it didn't matter, because all listeners were having a hardy belly laugh.  

Since the chicken meat ended up bruised, perhaps Katie opted to make chicken pot pie instead of making roasted chicken... Chicken Pot Pie is one of my husband's favorite meals.  Several years ago I made up a special cookbook for our daughters that contained some favorite recipes from family members and close friends, as well as picture of the individual or couple.  I included their Dad's favorite in their books...

It is a recipe from the Betty Crocker recipe book we received as a Wedding gift 35 years ago.

I shared a slow-cooker recipe for Chicken and Dumplings, another favorite, in 2018.  Chicken and Dumplings is a meal that could be stretched a bit further with extra veggies and "gravy" and served with bread (another staple on our table at dinner time)... I wonder if this would have been a meal shared with the POWs when they worked at the Schleich Farm?  I'd like to think so. :)

Now, on to the pattern that accompanies this letter... The Indian Star.  This block is an easy block to piece and should measure 12-1/2" inches when finished.

One pattern tester, Stacey, reversed her lights and darks... the end result is interesting.  I'll be waiting with great anticipation to see what fabrics and colors all of you choose for this block.  Come back and link up when your block is finished for an opportunity to win a free fat-quarter.

So, as I wrap up, tell me...

What was the stand out item in Mr. Kasulke's letter for you?  Or this post in general?

Leave a comment... you know I love to hear from you!

Piece Happy!

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique

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

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts

What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Pause Button

Sometimes life get so busy all you want to do is press the pause button.  That is where I am at right now.  

I don't have any big quilt projects going on, yet there is so much other "stuff" going on around us that it is a good thing, because I am not sure I would be able to focus much.  

Nothing too serious, just out of town doctor appointments, learning details of international wire transfers, figuring out tips and tricks to make the computer side of worship leadership less stressful, Dave monitoring the local water association water tank repair... Yes, it was week three of distractions and challenges.  Add in on that some excitement for getting ready for some time away to unplug and press a much needed reset button.  

Enough whining... Did I complete last week's Tuesday To-Do's?  I did! Mostly...

✔I have blocks selected for the various sites (one block per night that we stay) and I will be prepping "kits" for hand-sewing opportunities.  If things go well, I will have ten kits to grab and go.  I have seven kits prepped.  

✔I need to get the pattern test quilt finished and get a photo shoot done before September.  DONE!  

I used blue variegated embroidery floss for the big-stitch binding finish.  

Below is a sneak peek at the quilt and its backing.

Now all I need is a photo shoot, which may happen this weekend.  I keep thinking that I need a tiny baby to assist with that, but I don't currently have any little babies around me right now.  But I have an idea rolling around in my mind and I can only hope that it works out. 

Plans for the coming week??? 

☙Have some fun away with our daughters and grand-children and create some interesting "art" using balloons, paint, canvases and t-shirts and a pellet gun.  

☙Have a "play-date" with a friend to make some "UPCYCLED 4" X 6" MIXED MEDIA POSTCARDS" to participate in a postcard swap hosted by my friend Mark Montano.  

☙Finalize the next Pieces From The Past Sew Along post and block to be released on August 20th - Indian Star is the block.  It is a beginner friendly block and will be pieced in a short amount of time.

It is hard to believe that we have reached the half-way mark of the sew along.  

Some assembly instructions will be given with block #12 so there is still plenty of time to get caught up.  Also, I am opening up the link-ups on each of the posts again.  No prizes, no drawings.  But if you are participating and didn't meet the deadline to share your block now is your opportunity.  If you are participating outside of the US, now is your chance to share your blocks!  I want to see the variety of fabric choices and personal design choices, from traditional to modern.  If you don't have any social media accounts to link up, or feel technologically challenged, feel free to email the pictures to me at MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com and I will share with the rest of the world for you. 

Recently I have had an attraction to the big-stitch binding, which is definitely a modern look to my more traditional style.  It gives a fun flair to the quilt and offers an opportunity to slow the pace and enjoy the process of some slow stitching, which I find quite therapeutic.   A few years ago I shared some binding tips and various techniques. 

What is your favorite binding finish?   

Leave a comment... I love to hear from all of you.

Piece Happy!

Melva

Linking with:

What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting

To Do Tuesday at Home Sewn By Us

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique

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

Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Turning To-Do In To Done

Last week was rough!  It seemed as though I faced a new challenge each day, though none of the obstacles were quilting related.  You know, just life stuff.  Issues with a major credit card company, technology issues that affected the latest release of the Pieces From The Past Pattern - Russian Sunflower, an update that were required on the church computer before being able to create the Sunday worship slides, and notifications that recent medical bills are not "covered" by our "non-insurance" provider.

Even with all that happened, I was still productive in the studio.  Woohoo!  The silver lining of the cloud, right?

Let's review what I hoped to complete...

❧  Clean and oil machines ✔  Boy, were they full of lint!

❧  Pull fabric for pattern test quilt✔

The stripe-y tie-dye fabric was the inspiration for the pull.  it is a flannel that my sweet SIL sent to me and will be used for the backing.

❧  Start piecing test quilt✔

Dave had a men's event he was attending so that meant that I had time for sewing, with no other cares in the world. 

I invited a friend over for Friday evening and we chatted as she watched me sew.  She is relatively new to quilting so she had plenty of questions and I was more than happy to answer them. 

❧  Piece and machine embroider sign blocks for my Postcard Camping Journal✔

You can see that I still need to clip threads and I have a few extra ready to go.  

One will be used for an upcoming camping weekend with our two daughters and all three grand-kids.  We are super excited about the time together.  We have a special "art project" that I'll share when it is done.

This brings me to plans for the next week...

❧I have blocks selected for the various sites (one block per night that we stay) and I will be prepping "kits" for hand-sewing opportunities.  If things go well, I will have ten kits to grab and go.

❧I need to finish the pattern test quilt finished and get a photo shoot done before September.

And since I have had two weeks of unplanned interruptions... I'll call my list good. 

Have you seen the social media challenge for quilters?  

Ten days, share 10 quilts that you have made.  You can offer a description... or not.  You can nominate another quilter to take up the challenge... or not.  The "rules" are pretty loose in my mind.  So, if you want to take up the challenge, consider yourself nominated!

I was nominated personally, but have been sharing my quilts on the Melva Loves Scraps facebook page.  When the fb challenge is over I will probably move over to instagram... 

Piece Happy!

Melva

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

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Home Sewn By Us

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique

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

Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Pieces From The Past - Russian Sunflower

Today's letter is from Alfred (last name unknown).

His handwriting is not of the best penmanship, and for that reason I have the transcribed the letter below.  Even though the writing on the envelope is much better... you'll notice that even the envelope makes the last name unreadable...

Munich

December 11, 1946

Dear Mr. Schleich,

I hope that you will remember of me because I left already the United States several months ago.  I am the former prisoner officer who has been working in your farm and at that time I gave you by leave the picture of the sunflower. 

Today I want to keep my promise to write to you as soon as I came home.  I have been discharged on the 20th of June, 1946 of the American captivity and since this time I am “a free citizen”.  As I am not able to return at present in my own country called Czechoslovakia thus I have taken a job in Munich and I found very soon a post in the Munich Military Community.  I am feeling quite well but I am often thinking of the United States of America.  It will always be a very nice memory of you, dear Mr. Schleich, your charming wife, your sons and Mr. Eckert.  

How many favors has your dear wife done for us when I am thinking about the good food and the very nice time by your family.  Then I feel pity that I had to leave all that and to live with our small ration.

From the other comrades who have been working with me I never heard anything.  Maybe that one or another has been writing to you.

I wish you and your nice family good luck.  When you should have time once I would be very glad to hear from you.  Many regards to you, your dear wife and your sons.  Just so to Mr. and Mrs. Eckert.

Sincerely yours,

Alfred ??chala

So, there was another artist in the group... actually, according to the book written by Kurt Landsberger - Prisoners of War at Camp Trinidad, Colorado - which includes personal diary entries and excepts of stories written by several of the prisoners, there were a fair number of them.

From the diary of Karlhorst Heil there was mention of the beauty of the landscape in and surrounding the area of Camp Trinidad...

"Undated:  When we wake up in the morning and go for breakfast there is an indescribable sunrise; many stop for a moment and some of the artists return quickly to the barracks in a hopeless attempt to quickly paint and catch the variety of colors."

"We saw the snow covered peaks of the mountain chain, around 4000 meters high (13,100 feet), with Fisher's Peak, Spanish Peeks or "Breasts of the Earth" as the Indians called the two latter mountains."

On June 11, 1944, the Kansas City Star headlined a feature story "Nazi Officers Keep Busy in Colorado Prison Camp."  Reporter Ted M. Metzger, wrote "Scientists, Teachers, Industrial Leaders, Doctors and Lawyers Paint Pictures, Give Concerts, Build Theatre and Stage Plays in Barracks Buildings."

Landsberger continued stating that The reporter was invited to an art exhibit where various portraits and scenic paintings were on display.

I wonder... How many of the paintings that had been created in the time of Camp Trinidad made their way to other local farmers?  How many of the paintings found their way back to Germany?  How many family members heard the stories of their time as POWs?  I suppose there is really no way to know... there were as many as 4,000 German soldiers held at the Camp -

That number is difficult for me to imagine, given the current population (2018 is as current as I can find) of Trinidad, CO is 8,211.  The population, according to the 1940 census, was 13,200+.  

So even if the art exhibit was for just one compound (the camp was designed with four compounds, each having their own mess hall) that housed 1,000 men.

Ok, so there was another artist in the group of men that worked at Phillip and Katie Schleich's farm... Alfred offered a picture of a sunflower.  When I asked Mom about this piece of art, she was unaware of it.  Perhaps it was a separate piece, perhaps it was a collaborative piece with Helmut Müller.

Alfred's letter contained no requests for help... yet you can sense the feeling of sentiment and appreciation for his time working at the Schleich farm... and remembering the art he gave to them.  


Is the reason for choosing the Russian Sunflower...

I compiled some tips and tricks in a document that you can download - 

Just a quick tip, when cutting out the flower petal templates, (I cut my pieces leaving the line on them and the circle of petals, when assembled was too large. Shown here in this picture…) 

You will want to cut the center circle leaving the line. 

Here is a look from the back after removing the center templates…  it looks to be a hot mess!  But, be patient.  DO NOT TOSS THE BLOCK ASIDE!  In the end, you will NOT be disappointed.

 This is the same block that was such a mess with all of the slight gathering, a little finessing and a bit of starch and ironing, know one would ever know!

Here is a second block that I did, trimming the templates for the petals just inside the lines... you can see that the flower lays flat.  It was at that time that I determined the size that the center needed to be.

One of my testers, Stacey, a beginning English Paper Piecer, shared with me pictures of her progress.  She did not follow the assembly instructions completely...   BUT she stuck with it and things improved...

Ta-da!

  

Not an EPP fan?  No worries... I've got you covered. 😊  You can opt for a beginner friendly block.  I don't actually know the "Kansas City Star Journal" name of this block because the templates were cut out and the only word on the pattern is "often".  This pattern is also over on payhip...

As an extra incentive, for those that accept the challenge of the EPP pattern and link up, you will earn an extra entry into the drawing for the free fat quarter.  Be sure to tag me on instagram and use #piecesfromthepastsewalong or share on my fb page - Melva Loves Scraps.  Show us all your sunflowers!

This year, 2020, has been a challenging year... we need to take a lesson from the sunflowers and share positive energy with each other.

Where do you turn to when you need a little support, help or energy?

Some may turn to an activity such as quilting, knitting or crocheting.  Others may turn to a more physical activity such as gardening, hiking or running.  And others still, like Alfred did, recall pleasant times and happy memories. 

I have a variety of areas and friends that I get support and help and draw energy...  camping is one of them.  It has been weeks since we last got away... and I am longing to get away to recharge my batteries.  How about you?  How do you re-charge?  Leave a comment... I love to hear from all of you.

Quilt Happy!

Melva

Interested in the other patterns from this sew along?  You will find links for all of them over on the Sew Along Announcement.

Linking with:

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
BOMs Away at What A Hoot Quilts
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch
Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts