New Week, New Tuesday To Do

Last week was a whirlwind!  Did anyone else experience the same???  It was as if I blinked and a new week started... yet with all that took place last week, it was as if time stood still.

There were memories made, conversations over breakfasts, late night chats, fellowship with some of the bestest of friends, pedicures, snuggles with grand-daughters, giggles and squeals of laughter, legos, video games and Barbies, worship and stories about Jesus, water fights, desserts, hot days that didn't ever want to cool off.

I finished the commissioned quilt on Monday and sewed a label on it before washing it and then made a quick adjustment to my plans to be able to deliver it in person.  And I am SO glad that my customer and I were able to fit it into our schedules.  I didn't even have time to be able to write up a post about meeting the previous week's goals!  BUT they were crushed like a boss. 😃

I was ready to join some girlfriends for a fun mid-week time together.  The husband of the hostess of the get together had an Alaskan fishing trip planned.  Sadly, because of CV-19, it was cancelled.  However, he was gracious enough to make plans to stay with his brother who lived just across town.  What a guy!  They recently celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary and I think she should keep him around for awhile longer. 

Three of us met up for lunch and a fourth friend that lives locally joined us for dinner.  I was elected head cook given my dietary restrictions, and I was totally comfortable with the role. 

Appointments were made for the next day to have pedicures done, followed by lunch.  The options were then to either visit the Royal Gorge or enjoy some wine at the local winery, The Abbey.  It was way too hot (100 degrees+) to be walking across the Gorge bridge so the winery won out.  We had really wanted to do a wine tasting, but we didn't have reservations, so we pulled up an outdoor table in the shade and visited for an hour.

Late that afternoon we were notified that we were on stand-by for emergency evacuation because of a wildfire.  A bit scary, but we heard helicopters and planes flying over the house for several hours and there was no need to evacuate.  Whew!

We enjoyed the company of the local friend for the evening again and another dear one made a short drive and made the trek for dinner and the evening as well.  There was chatter among us as we all caught up and learned details of each others lives since we last saw each other.  For some of us it had been several years.

These special ladies enrich my life and rejoining them, even if for an hour or two, it is as if we were never apart.  Some of them I have known for nearly 20 years.  We met through a unique Christian weekend and I think that is what makes the bond so strong... we have all been there for each other when difficult times in life have thrown challenges in our paths - challenges like losing a job, facing cancer or other serious health issues and children who make poor decisions - challenges that could easily trip us up, but walking the path with friends along our side, even when the next step seems impossible, is how we have survived.

After another late night of laughter, a few tears and lots of conversation I called it a night.  Thursday was delivery day of the commissioned quilt - I have now named the quilt "The Legacy".  A post is in process to be able to share details and the story... stay tuned!

The remainder of the week was spent with grand-children.  A blessed time for sure!  After returning them home on Sunday evening we were wiped out.  It is time to catch up with some laundry and housework and then I'll get to my studio.

What are my plans for my Tuesday Two?

❧ I have been asked to finish a quilt that a friend started.  This is her first quilt ever!  She was moving along quite well and then she ended up with the needle in her finger.  OUCH!

She said they had to cut her finger open to get the needle out of it!  And now she is afraid... It's a shame because she had something great going on!  

You can see in the dark pink block where the "scene of the accident" occurred.  

Her stippling is much tighter than I tend to do, so the challenge for me will be trying to match her density of stitches.  Wish me luck!

❧ I was asked for a few more masks - Colorado sports team themed.


As the temperatures have risen to some uncomfortable levels I have been wondering if it is the winter or summer season that is my least favorite.  I don't like the extreme temps... this I have always known, but I am thinking that summer is my least favorite... In the winter I can always add more layers... in the summer... well, it wouldn't be a pretty sight!  LOL!

What is your favorite season?

What do you do to stay cool?

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

Quilt Happy!

Melva

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

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

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

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

As we celebrate our Nation's  Independence Day  I am wondering about life, liberty and pursuit of happiness...

Life... the life of the current age is so very different from when I was a child.  An age when accepting, admitting your responsibility for choices made and dealing with the consequences that came with said choices.

Make good choices... get good, may even great, results.  Make poor choices, pay the price of the consequence.

In the pursuit of happiness I have recently made the decision to remove facebook from my tablet.  Too much time spent with the time suck and increased agitation and frustration with reading conflicting opinions and stories.  I can surely find a better way to spend my time and being more efficient!  (I have pulled out some quilting magazines and peruse them while I make breakfast or dinner.  I have found several inspiring ideas for some small projects in the very near future.)  Have you ever unplugged from social media?  Has it been a "forever thing" or just a temporary fast?

With the Fourth of July rapidly approaching I was asked by my Uncle for a Red/White/Blue mug rug.

So I kindly obliged...  This little improv project was quick to make and finished at 5" x 7"... all from my scrap bin with no concern over precise measurements or need for much accuracy. 

As I pieced this mug rug (I also refer to them as hand-sewn hellos) as a break from quilting the borders of the king-sized commissioned quilt, I considered my life... my life as a US Citizen with the privilege of voting and opportunities for freedom of speech and religion, along with the right to bear arms... for all the men and women (my own Dad included) that have served in the US Military to protect and defend not only our Land, but all the rights that we seem to take for granted.

May I never forget the hardships of my Grandparents as arrived in the US as immigrants... May I never forget that, as it states on our US currency, In God We (I) Trust... 

Recently, while on social media on the desktop computer, I saw a statement...

On March 17th we are all Irish...  On May 5th we are all Mexican...  How about on July 4th we all act like Americans.  A profound statement! 

America - the melting pot of the world... where people of all nationalities come to have an opportunity for a better life than the life they were living in another country.  

Are you proud to be an American?  I am.  If you have a few minutes, take a listen... you may have seen this before - it is a several years old, but it worth listening to... and it is Robin Williams!  He is always good for a laugh or two.

Have a safe weekend!  And don't forget the responsibility that comes with being a US citizen.

Piece Out,

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

Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

Tuesday To-Do and Brainstorming

As I worked on meeting last week's Tuesday's Two Goals I was pondering...

I pondered life in general, but more specifically I was pondering the digital quilting community.  Through this blog, as well as social media (fb, instagram and bloglovin') I have met so many wonderful and talented quilters.

And with my current Pieces From The Past Sew Along that community has grown even more.  If you are not familiar with the sew along, it features vintage Kansas City Star patterns that my Grandma had collected and letters that were written to my Grandparents from former German Prisoners of War that were housed at Camp Trinidad from 1943 to 1946.  With each letter and pattern there is a brief story or memory from one of my cousins, a recipe that Grandma may have used, or a tidbit of history that is connected to the letter.

Along with each pattern there is an opportunity to link a photo of your finished block to be entered for a chance to win a free fat-quarter.  No need to be a blogger or even to be on social media.  Email me a picture of your finished block and I will make it all happen!

In order to make linky opportunity available for the sew along I have a one-year subscription with link-up provider.  BUT because the sew along is scheduled to run more than just 12 months (and a need to renew extend the subscription for another year) I don't want to let the remainder of the subscription to go unused.  So..... that is where the brainstorming comes into play.  

I am looking for ideas for link up opportunities, again with no need to be a blog writer.

One idea that I have considered is a weekly "Throwback Thursday" party... We work so diligently on our quilts, photo shoots and posts and then move on.  Why not revisit some of our favorite projects and show them some love and attention again.  Each link up will likely have a "theme" or subject matter... such as most challenging quilt or the various techniques (applique, paper pieced, hand-quilted, etc.) or featured colors.

But enough of my pondering...  Did I meet my two Tuesday goals?



✔  Borders and sandwiching the king-sized quilt


✔  And if all goes well, start quilting said quilt!

I DID!  Woo hoo!

Here's a better shot of the quilt with borders. 

My two things to complete before next Tuesday will be to: 

❧  Finish quilting this quilt... 

❧  Bind the quilt.

Don't forget to leave an idea for future linky parties!  I am ready to hear all of the ideas. :)

Piece Out,

Melva

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

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch
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
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

Ta-Da! Tuesday

I squeaked by, just barely, but I did it!  Ta-Da!  My two To-Do things on the list are checked off successfully.

✔  Work on a few "postcard blocks" for our Camping Journal Quilt


Here is Lake Corpus Christie...  the picture didn't quite capture the brilliance of the sky, but I like the block.


Below is the lighthouse on Bolivar Island, across the bay from Galveston, TX....

That lighthouse was definitely a tricky one to get straight and centered.  It required some unpicking of stitches, and while still not perfect, I can accept it as it is.

This is a block I designed to represent the San Antonio Riverwalk...  I do recall seeing some of the medallions with the rounded sections, but I must not have snapped a picture of that one.  And perhaps I should have looked at the photo before I prepped the block... Oh, well... close enough!







✔  Make 104 flying geese for a border on the commissioned quilt.  I will be making them using Eleanor Burns' "4 at a time method" so it should be too terribly hard.

I used, for the first time, a small ruler that had been passed on to me about 8-9 years ago, and it made the trimming of the FG very accurate and consistent.

I loved it!  That 45 degree line is slightly raised on the back of the ruler and it snugged right up to the seam.  

The 4-at-a-time method is not hard, and probably faster than making each FG unit individually, it was still SOOOO moving.  Wah, wah, wah.  

Camping was a great time... S'mores did happen.  One of the couples that we were with brought GIGANTIC marshmallows.  It was fun watching the roasting of them as individuals attempted to not lose into them fire because they were spinning or torching them because they wanted them just a little more toasty.

My one vegan, gluten-free s'more was delish!

What's up on the agenda for the coming week?   

❧  Borders and sandwiching the king-sized quilt

❧  And if all goes well, start quilting said quilt!

I don't have a ton of specialty rulers... but what is one specialty ruler YOU would recommend?  

Leave a comment... you know I love to hear from my readers.

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

Tuesday's Two Things

Just a quick post this morning because we have some fun plans for the remainder of the week...

Did I meet my goals from last week???

✔   Acquire border and backing fabric for the commissioned quilt. 

The fabric was delivered just yesterday.  Isn't is pretty? >>

✔   Finalize the next Pieces From the Past pattern release on June 18.

The post for The Friendship Block (#8) is ready to go live on Thursday.  In addition to the Friendship block post I have a really good start on a few more!


✔   Order 2018 pictures for the scrapbook

My Shutterfly order is to be delivered at the end of this week.








As we prepare for a few days away camping with some friends and consider the amount of time I will have for quilting my goals are...

❧  Work on a few "postcard blocks" for our Camping Journal Quilt

These blocks will be representing a few of our stays during our Texas Trip - Lake Corpus Christie and the glorious sunset that we enjoyed and the lighthouse on Bolivar, across the bay from Galveston, as well as a few others...













❧  Make 104 flying geese for a border on the commissioned quilt.  I will be making them using Eleanor Burns' "4 at a time method" so it should be too terribly hard.


Thanks for stopping by! 

I've gotta run... I'm looking forward to enjoying a S'more.

Are you a fan of S'mores?  

One of our friends going along said she has never really like them... her husband on the other hand, she said, will eat them until he is almost sick.  

I say... everything in moderation!

Quilt happy!

Melva

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

that features vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

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

It's Just Too... Tuesday To-Do

I think I am safe to say (and have others agree) that life lately has been just TOO!  Too messy... Too difficult... Too challenging... Too overwhelming...

In February Dave and I turned off the news... with the exception of one of the Sunday morning shows that tends to be more entertainment/documentary than "news".  This week I turned it off as well.  While I feel it is important to be informed of the happenings in the world, I simply could not take it any more.

I firmly believe that there is a way for reporters to present the facts of an event without skewing said facts or spewing a personal opinion.  I miss the "Walter Cronkite" style and the days of offering only the facts as well as ALL of the facts. 

But as many quilters and other artists and individuals do when life is just TOO, we turn toward something that can sooth one's soul and offer comfort and solace from the things out of our control.  This is what I did this week... and this is why I knocked off the two items I had on my To-Do List with ease.

✔Making 12 flying geese and the 6 nine-patch blocks for the commissioned quilt  Not only did I get these two items complete, got all of the filler blocks done AND assembled the center of the quilt and am now ready for the border!


As I shared a picture on instagram of the top on Friday, I discovered that there was an error.  (Do you see it?)  It has been rectified and I really am ready for borders.  However, since the great rush on fabric at the local Wal-mart for COVID-19 mask making, I am now shopping on-line for said border fabric.

✔ Pattern writing... I'll shoot for two again.  Done!

Of 22 patterns for the sew along, 17 have been written, 12 tested and 8 published.

The goal of this sew along is to share the vintage patterns, along with a bit of history and some family stories all while having fellow quilters of all levels enjoy the patterns while using a variety of quilting techniques.

So far the patterns have included traditional piecing, English paper piecing, and foundation paper piecing, as well as some embroidery and applique.

So what is on tap for the coming week???

❧   Acquire border and backing fabric for the commissioned quilt.  In my dreams I would say sandwiched and ready for quilting as well, but I don't think that is reasonable since I am ordering on-line.

❧   Finalize the next Pieces From the Past pattern release on June 18.

❧   Order 2018 pictures for the scrapbook (you may remember this was on the list a few weeks ago... I think I really am ready this time! 😉)

Sometimes life can feel like the rug has been pulled right out from under you... that is what last week felt like to us.  Not just because of continued social distancing due to the virus or the rioting/protesting.  What really shook us was the news of the resignation of our pastor due to on-going and worsening/ challenging health conditions for him and his wife.  

As I said earlier, I sought solace in my studio and having a large project to work on gave my life focus and purpose and place to escape...

What do you do when you feel whey-layed by life?

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

Quilt peacefully,

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

Tuesday Two-Do

It's Tuesday... again!  This past week seemed to have flown by.  

Probably because we did a little escape to the high country.  It was much needed and so cherished as we rested up.  I think one of my most favorite things about going camping is the fact that we find ourselves tucked away in bed at about 8 p.m to read until we just can't keep our eyes open and then waking around 6:00 a.m. as we listen to the world of nature wake up.

Below is the view we had for a few days.  My tensions and anxieties melt away just looking at it!

I took a EPP postcard block from Fiona Sandwich to work on for the camping journal... This is a cannon representing our visit to the Alamo in San Antonio in February.

We enjoyed a few visits to the creek with Shelby and she romped and jumped in the water.

We hiked the road towards the top.  Notice I did not say to the top.  We tried, but we had to know our (my) limits and we turned back... Though we did make it further the second day because we were more determined.  I don't know how far we walked or the increase in elevation... 

All I know is that my legs and feet were TIRED when we got back down to camp the second day.  And on our last morning my calves were screaming at me.  The steepness of the ascent and descent is what did me in.  Ugh... 


We had a little visit from a doe, and lots of butterflies... thankfully no bear, mountain lion or bobcats.

✔Upon our return to home and wi-fi I checked in on the Modern Broken Dish post that had successfully posted, but soon discovered that blogger made some changes and I missed getting notifications of comments being made... I think I have it fixed.

✔I returned to the studio and continued with making the necessary blocks for the commissioned quilt...  three Sunflower star blocks, four of the southwest style 6-1/2" blocks and two 12"x24" tree blocks...it is coming along nicely.

I didn't make it to the third item on the list...  But two out of three isn't bad... I just didn't get to the block patterns...  We went camping instead!

Two block patterns written for the sew along.

This is the second week in a row that I fell short... thus my post title... Tuesday Two-Do.  

Several months ago I saw another quilter on instagram asking followers what their "one thing" to get done in the week was.  I'll be switching to two To-do's.

The coming week will involve... 

❧ Making 12 flying geese and the 6 nine-patch blocks for the commissioned quilt

❧ Pattern writing... I'll shoot for two again.

What will you be doing this next week?  

Whatever your plans may be... find JOY in it!

Quilt 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
Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting
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
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy

UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate

Patchwork & Quilts at The Quilting Patch