Sew & Tell and a To-Do List ~ Whole Cloth Quilt Finish

It's Monday!  And that means that it is time to share the fabulous projects you worked on last week and over the weekend...

I was busy in my studio last week with a whole cloth quilt... Remember my sketch?

And here's the quilt...

I shared daily progress over on Instagram and facebook last week.  I took my time and enjoyed the project for several days.  I probably could have had it completed in just 1-1/2 days, but since I had no other quilting projects in queue, I decided to take a slow and easy pace with the center hearts done one day, the cross-hatch background another and then the leaves & braided hearts.

As I shared on Thursday, I had started the vines/leaves and then realized after being 1/4 done with the border, I had wanted them on the outer border... Oh well!  I was NOT picking out stitches.  I found a Lori Kennedy design for "braided hearts".  It seemed even better!

The border that was supposed to have small pebbles... representing how closely we are all connected.  But the braided hearts are even better... connected with Christ's love and the idea of a braid, a three-strand cord, being stronger than a single strand!  Perfect!

As I quilted it, I thought about the monochromatic grey & white being something that could be appealing for a baby's nursery.  I may or may not know of a young couple that is planning and hoping for their family to grow.  😁  The center of the hearts will need some additional stitching... and when I get word... I will add in a monogram and some stippling.  For now... it will wait patiently... safely tucked away...

Among other items that I completed... the zipper replacement on that vest!  I am happy to say that it was quick and pain free!  Not a single grumble or complaint and no ripping needed!

I also made some pillowcases.  We have been in desperate need of some new sheet sets and cases and have picked up a few here and there.  I have some MainStay brand from wally-world, but really do not like how slick they are.  It is fine for the fitted sheet, but the top sheet refuses to stay on.  Maybe it is just me that has a problem with this... but I have even started shopping for sheets at a high-quality second-hand store.  I have had good success in finding some so I have been able to let go of some of our favorite sheets (a few that were wedding gifts!  That's 37 years in August).  One of the flat sheets was still in good shape, not torn or thread bare thin, so I made us two sets of pillowcases.  And they happen to coordinate with some of the newly acquired sets.  BONUS!  lol...

If you missed last week's links, feel free to jump over to see how Joy makes cards that match her gifts. And be sure to check out the Happy Cottage's appliqued kitchen towels.  

This week I have "stuff", though not actually quilting, it is quilting related, to get done this week.  Mostly computer and administrative work...  Woohoo... 

I need to:

❧ Get the next Pieces in the Garden story written.  The link for the completed Steps to the Altar blocks (#6) is still open and will be through July 20th.

❧ Write the pattern for block #9, as well have a photoshoot for said blocks.

❧ Make a tea cozy using the tutorial from Days Filled with Joy.

❧ Continue recruiting and planning for the National Sewing Month events...

Have you heard about this???

Here are some details about the hop...

Brenda from Songbird Designs and I are planning some fun events to take place throughout National Sewing Month.  We will be hosting a blog hop with the theme “Get on board with sewing”. 

A blog hop, if you are not familiar, is like a "show and tell" online.  All you need to do is sew something that ties into the theme and then write about it:  Your “something” could have a tropical or surf feel.  It can be clothing, a quilt, a bag, a toy, or whatever you choose! it might include some tropical themed fabric or novelty print… or not. Readers enjoy hearing about the inspiration of a project, how you made it and they always like to see pictures.  

We offer inspiration to each other with projects, tutorials, or patterns. 

You have about two months to sew something and join in on the fun.

The basics: 

Blog hop days:  September 1-7

Post on your assigned day at 12:00 am Eastern time.

Have a giveaway or don't have a giveaway. It's totally optional!  (We are hopeful to have a prize package to give away via Rafflecopter.)

Visit everyone's blog on the list and leave a sweet and encouraging comment. Make friends!!!!

And anyone can follow along.

Ready to participate?

Send me an email with the following information:

Your first name

Your email address

Your blog name

Your blog URL

MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com

❧ Pack for camping and go have FUN!  We'll be going with friends Thursday through Sunday!  Woohoo!

Link up to show me what you have been doing!  Or leave a comment...  I love to hear from you. 💞

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

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

Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch

One Month Goal at Elm Street Quilts

Favorite Finishes Monthly Linkup at Meadow Mist

Teatime with TT & Wendy

 

Welcome to Teatime with TT... Tressie Teegarden.  Today Tressie's niece, Wendy, is stopping by to share some of her most special memories...  Grab a cup of tea and join us!

I loved her so much! She ALWAYS remembered my birthday with a Story Book Doll every year. Though minus the mantilla I still have the Senorita she sent me from her trip to Mexico! I wish I still had the rest. But, in high school I worked a Santa Clause Shop and was appalled at the quality of gifts!  A church friend and I pounced on everybody we knew that had kids and I cleaned up my Story Book collection and we took it all to the Action Center to add to their selection. 

When she found out that I was getting into porcelain dolls, she started a subscription for me to China Painter magazine.  I still have those as well as a big selection of her china works. I have her picture from Bert's 25th Anniversary Party with her plates in my kitchen.

What do you remember of Tressie's & Forrest's trip to Germany to visit your Mom & Dad?  (TT's brother, Ralph, was stationed in Germany and they traveled there to visit.)  I seem to recall that you were there at the same time.

Yes, Bert (TT's sister {the one she left stuck in a tree!}) was with them too! I have some pictures from then. Adam was about 3, I think!  (Sadly, at this time, the pictures have not been located. 😢)

Wendy, Roberta, Ralph, Tressie & Shirley (Ralph's wife, Wendy's Mom) & Adam (Wendy's son)

My favorite memory from that was it was my 30th birthday and I was all The big 30!  Wawawa I'm so old. I'll never forget Tressie telling me, "Ahh, Wend, wait ‘til you're facing the big 70!” I've told myself that every year since! And now here I am!! Next year!

My mom also went with them to Amsterdam, I think. 

When I was fairly new at CDE I had a co-worker from Trinidad that was retiring. I contacted Aunt Tressie about buying a plate with Fishers Peak as a retirement present. She sent me 2! One for me and one for my co-worker! And she refused payment! This is the one I kept. Joan said hers looked just as she remembered it! 

She made me a rose tea set!

Tressie had a natural talent for painting roses.  I have our full set of china set that she painted for us as a wedding gift, porcelain tea pot included, with wild roses, not to mention numerous more plates.

Here are a few Teatime Tidbits...

Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, first practiced the fine tradition of "afternoon tea," in an effort to satisfy her afternoon hunger.  In those times, dinner was served rather late in the day and she was in need of something to hold her over.  She then turned it into a social occasion by inviting her friends over to share this afternoon treat and needless to say, it caught on!

Victorian women were known to be so serious about taking their afternoon tea that when invited out for tea, they would bring their own cup and saucer wrapped carefully in a special box!

There are three kinds of tea:  black, green and oolong.  The difference is in how the tea leaves are processed.  Black tea leaves are fermented fully, green tea leaves are not fermented at all, and oolong tea leaves are partially fermented.

Brewing Tea... the proper way.

It's so easy to dunk a tea bag in a mug of boiling water.  But if you want to enjoy the best possible tea, try brewing it the proper, old-fashioned way.

Start by filling the kettle with fresh, cold water.  While waiting for the kettle to whistle, fill the teapot (ceramic teapots are best for holding heat) with hot water to warm it.  Before the kettle boils, empty the teapot of its "warming water" and add the tea leaves either into a tea sock, infusion basket, or directly into the teapot.  Use one teaspoon of loose tea for each cup and as the saying goes, "one more for the pot."  (If you are using teabags, you should use one teabag less than the number of cups.)

As soon as the kettle whistles, pour the boiling water into the teapot.  (Take care not to boil the water too long as this depletes the oxygen in the water and can result in a flat tasting brew.)  Place the lid on the teapot and allow it to steep inside the teapot.  Pour through a strainer into the cup.  Remove the tea leaves or teabags to prevent further steeping.

Top off the teapot with a tea cozy to keep the pot warm for the next cup of tea.  Enjoy!

And here's a link for a free tutorial from Days Filled with Joy to make a quick and easy cozy for your teapot!  This project is in the radar to be made soon... Thanks Joy!

During our recent Red River trip we visited a tea shop and sampled a variety of teas.  Our youngest daughter made a purchase and shared with me. 😍 While I have a teapot, I have never used it.  But I think I will be trying out this proper method of brewing.  I'll let you know what I think of it.    I think Tressie may have done this on occasion since I have a cute little teapot that I rescued from the discard pile when we were moving her.  It has a small crack in it, but it looks so cute on top of the cabinets in the kitchen... and is wonderful memory of her. 💝

Have you visited Cornerstone Tea Company and seen the wide variety of teas that Stephanie offers? If you make a purchase before July 20th, you can get a 30% discount by using SAVORY as your discount code at checkout.  

How about you?  Do you have a teapot?  

Do you use it?

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

Keep Piecing,

Melva

The Steps to the Altar pattern is still available at no cost and you have plenty of time to get your blocks made and link up for the chance to win a wonderful prize package from Cornerstone Tea Company.

Linking with:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

Sew & Tell - July 4th

It is Independence Day for those of us in the United States... I could tell a story of my mother-in-law who, when her divorce was finalized, she purchased herself two rings to replace the wedding set she took off... She called them her "firecracker" rings... Freedom & Independence.  

Or I could go into a long thing about freedom and rant about a something I read by one of my "friends" on facebook.  But since last Thursday's post was a vent pity party of sorts, I will not drag my soapbox out.

Instead, I will simply refer you to what I shared in 2020.  Or... Forrest Teegarden's memory that I shared in March... We would celebrate Independence Day each year.  We didn't have much money to spend on fireworks, but we would buy some lady fingers.  We would put carbide under a coffee can, pour a little water in the can.  We would light the carbide and it would blow the can about 15 feet in the air.  Nobody ever got hurt that I knew of.  

This week for Sew & Tell there were four quilters that shared their progress...  If you missed it click here!

I finally made some steps forward!  After our quick get away for a quiet time of refreshment and worship on the mountain, I purchased the fabric for my next project... that I shared in that Thursday post.  Yay!  I found a renewed joy in life... sometimes you just have to pet the fabric to feel better!  I know I have a cartoon about that, but I am running short in time to do a thorough "search and find".

❧  Getting that fabric sandwiched and marked for quilting, along with getting some of the quilting done is on the radar for this week!  It will be July's One Month Goal. 

I finished the last five blocks needed in our camping journal quilt (before adding borders)...  I was short one block to complete the row so I decided to make it the "official" label.  I will need to go back and put another year... but that is just fine. :)  I had originally thought I would use a magnifying glass (instead of the mountains) for the night with our grand-daughter, but for the sake of time and ease, I opted to use a block I had already made.  But "mountains" were on the scavenger hunt list. 😏

I'll be adding sets of two blocks to each side and then another row to the top & bottom of the quilt... And THEN it will be a completed top!  Woohoo!  We have had such fun creating the memories in this piece, and I have enjoyed making each of the blocks so that we can recall those memories. 💓

That's all that I have... Now, it is YOUR turn!

But before you go... I made mention to Dave the other day that I could feel much cooler in my studio if I didn't have to wear socks and shoes.  He asked me why I couldn't just wear my flipflops or sandles... My response was I have either dropped the rotary cutter or knocked it off of my cutting table just one too many times to consider it "safe".  

Granted, I DO NOT always wear jeans... it just happened to be a cooler day when I snapped this picture!

Do you quilt WITH shoes?  

Or are you a barefoot quilter?

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

Time for me to go make pizza for dinner!  Happy 4th!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

One Month Goal at Elm Street Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

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

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

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

Thankful and Thought-full Thursday

As I wrote and tested a pattern this week, I contemplated some thoughts that have been floating around in my mind...

Recently I read a devotion about the Dead Sea...

"There is a body of water 50 miles long, 10 miles wide and 1,300 feet deep.  With the sun dancing across its waves, it looks refreshing, as though its vast depths must be teeming with life.  But fishing in these waters would never yield a single catch because nothing but a few bacteria live beneath the surface.  Located at the lowest point on earth, the Salt Sea contains the highest concentration of minerals and salt of any body of water in existence, making it unsuitable for sustaining life.  No wonder it is also called the Dead Sea.

As Christians, our lives can sometimes devolve spiritually so that we feel we are living in the Dead Sea.  On the surface everything may look fine, but underneath we seem to be shriveling, not growing.  This can happen if we only relate to Jesus as Savior but not as Lord.  

In short, we need to want the healer, not just the healing...

I believe this "Dead Sea" appearance can be true for Christians, but even more... I feel this can be true for the Church.  As we continue our Sabbatical from Ministry and observe the direction of the church we left due to burnout, we are deeply saddened.  Not once in the 4-1/2 months has the Pastor or his wife, or any member of leadership reached out to us to see where we might be in our lives... not just our Spiritual life, but even on the surface, "what have you been up to?".  It has been oddly silent... We (thought we) left in good standing and were offered a blessing as we departed for rest and renewal... and, to be honest... The silence... It. Hurts!  💔

Similar hurts I (we) have had have been assisted healed and worked out through quilting... I have only one project currently in the works (the Pieces in the Garden Row Quilt) and progress has been slow on it.  Six patterns (plus one bonus) have been released and there are still six more to come.  Patterns 7, 8 & 9 are complete and ready for release... I'm getting there! 

I believe my favorite quilting customer from Texas has been taken a break from her sewing room because of the extreme heat they have endured... They've had 100-to-109-degree days with little relief with cooler overnight temps only in the mid 70s.  YUCK!  I don't blame her. 🌞

I think it is time for me to begin a brand new quilty project... I have been considering a whole cloth quilt.  It was on my 2018 and 2019 goals for the year and both times, it was skipped over because I simply ran out of time.  NOW is the time!  Enough of the wallowing and whining!

I am thankful that I have an outlet for my thoughts (a few "listening" ears right here) and a way to process them that brings forth, not only healing, but something beautiful & productive.

Here's a sketch of what I am considering for the quilt...

I'm thankful that we have the means and ability to escape to the mountains when we spin wheels and seem stuck... We have just returned from a two-day, one night retreat.  Isn't the view magnificent?!?  We spent time soaking in the view, singing some love songs to our Lord as well as sharing a time in prayer pouring out our hearts.  The above sketch was a product of our time away.  The feathered hearts representing growth, the cross-hatch background is the static that the world feeds us, the closely connected circles to represent how we connect with others and a final vine with leaves showing growth again... because we don't want to be like the dead sea!  

Now I need to find some fabric. 😀  I would like to use a light-colored fabric, possibly a batik. Something other than just a muslin or white as is traditionally used... I will probably wait and make a purchase when I visit the LQS for the next Pieces of the Past BOM class.  Stay tuned!

I'm thankful for the recent rains we have had (two days!).  It started on Saturday and continued through mid-day on Monday.  We had 3/4" of moisture.  It was a soft, gentle rain and the ground soaked it up!  You could see the ground cover in the yard (I would call it grass, but it really isn't.  It's mostly weeds... 😜)change color as it absorbed the moisture.

The warmer temps have returned and the AC is running (I'm grateful for THAT too!).  The solar powered and wind powered dryer (the clothesline) reveals that we have a washer... (yep, thankful for that!) and we have an ample amount of clothing! So much to be thankful for... 

If you made it this far with my rambling... thanks for listening!

Is quilting a form of "therapy" for you, as it is for me?  

If not, what is?

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

Keep piecing

Melva

National Sewing Month, Sew & Tell, and a Mid-year Review

In December I participated in the 2022 Planning Party... When I recently took a look back at what I had planned I realized there wasn't much planning that happened. I was overwhelmed by the options and ideas that I had, so, I did what many do...  I didn't make any plans!  😜

"As I look to 2022...  I see a blank slate.  To be honest, there are many options and when I step back and look at them, I get a bit overwhelmed.

I keep considering hosting another sew along... yet I think I want to expand with the two that I completed this year.  I am partnering with a quilt shop in Raton, NM to offer a block of the month event with the Pieces From the Past patterns.  The owner also expressed interest in the Santa Fe Trail BOM when the Pieces from the Past is complete."

If you have been following along this year at all, you have seen that I did, in fact, start a new sew along - Pieces in the Garden and tells the story of my maternal grandmother, Tressie Teegarden.  Given her married name, and her and Grandpa's love for tea, the fabric I will be using will reflect the flowers often found on vintage tea sets.  It will be a row quilt, because... well, gardens are planted in rows!  The blocks chosen are based on the story of a Bride-to-be and the many quilts she would have made as she waited for her special day.

Here's a question for those participating in this sew along. I am working on a block that will be a 4" block that can be traditionally pieced OR foundation paper pieced.. which would YOU prefer?  Traditional?  Or FPP?

I have enjoyed the monthly classes at the LQS in Raton, NM.  Many of the participants are beginning quilters but all have taken on the most challenging blocks and have happily seen an improvement of their skill level and confidence.

An unforeseen project that I have started to birth will take place during September which is National Sewing Month.  Brenda over at Songbird Designs is helping to coordinate and plan with me.  It will be a month-long celebration that will be kicked off with a blog hop and a 30-day photo challenge.

Want to participate in the hop?

All you need to do is Sew something that ties into the theme and then write about it:

Your “something” could have a tropical or surf feel.  It can be clothing, a quilt, a bag, a toy, or whatever you choose! it might include some tropical themed fabric or novelty print… or not.

A hop, if you are not familiar, is like a "show and tell" online.

We offer inspiration to each other with our projects, tutorials, or patterns.

You have about two months to sew something and join in on the fun. 

Readers enjoy hearing about the inspiration of a project, how you made it and they always like to see pictures. 

The basics:  

Post on your assigned day at 12:00 am Eastern time.

The hop will be September 1st through the 7th.

Have a giveaway or don't have a giveaway. It's totally optional!

Visit everyone's blog on the list and leave a sweet comment. Make friends!!!! 

And anyone can follow along

Want to participate?

Send me an email with the following information:

MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com

Your first name

Your email address

Your blog name

Your blog URL

 

The instagram 30 Day photo challenge will be a simple daily posting or sharing of various sewing notions related to that day's number.  For example... Day one could be one thimble, or one pair of scissors, or one seam ripper... Day 2 could be two pins/needles, or two pairs of scissors...  Day 13 could be 13 spools of thread.  

Hashtags:  #NationalSewingMonth2022 #NationalSewingMonth2022Day1 (change the day’s date each day, ie. #NationalSewingMonth2022Day2, etc.)

Are you ready to partner with us for these on-line events?  Are you interested in the blog hop?  Can you offer a prize?  A digital pattern, a fat quarter, some thread or even a gift card discount code?  Send an email to the above email address letting us know how you want to join and support the events.

One of the other "new" things I started this year is a weekly link-up party called Sew & Tell.  Participants can link up blog stories or social media posts that show your recent progress on projects.  If you share a link, please be sure to link back on your blog post and if you are using social media such as instagram or facebook, please use the hashtag #MLSSewandTell 😊

One last item... Has anyone else noticed that bloglovin' has been out of commission?  For over a month for me!  What's the deal????

Leave a comment on any of these topics... I adore hearing from you and having conversations with my on-line friends.  

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

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

Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

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

Mid-Year Check-in at Quilting Jetgirl

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch

Red River Family Get Away

What a fun time we had!  It is hard to believe that it has been almost a week since we were there.  For those that are interested... Here are some of the best pictures.  

If you choose to pass on the "slide show of our vacation", I understand.  One of the main purposes of this post is to have the best of the photos in one place for when I am ready to order prints for the scrapbook. (A safe back up should something happen and our computer crash... again.) 😉

View from the room 💖

Tyshan looking so proud with his fishing license

Softball Practice with Grampa

The kids were excited to play Clue
Notice the two sleeping behind them

Grandpa getting his hair combed by Hanna

Hanna loved being outside
The carrier was the most convenient way for her to enjoy it

Playing in the Park

Hanna with Grampa at worship

A happy baby with Gramma

Sleepy baby since she had not slept well

Emma with a tiny caterpillar

Maggie with Auntie Becca 💗

Momma was tired too!
Don't worry... she did not spill her drink

Emma with Auntie Becca 😍

They were ready to race Go Karts

They helped to plant a tree with Smokey Bear

Horseback riding...

Emma was more excited than the expression reveals

Heather with Hanna... in the carrier.  She LOVED the ride!

Maggie rode a horse with Grampa

Fishing... nothing was caught

The only thing they really managed to do was get the line in knots!

He spent hours hoping to catch something!

Our one mealout - we ate out at the RR Brewery

Dave... He 💓's beer
This was after he had one, but he sure puts on a good pouty face 😂

Hanna like the mechanical horse too!

Sheer joy!

Howdy Partner 

Ice Cream!  
Not a great idea for a little one that struggles with dairy 😭
She didn't sleep well that night either

Rebecca doesn't ride bikes, but we got her on this one 👍

Racing!

Line Dancing at the Community House
Doing the Chicken Dance 😂

Line dance lessons

Proof they were there!

With Uncle Sam 

Out last morning there...

Time to say "Good bye" and head home