“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.” This was the fun theme Melva and Brenda came up with.
When I received the invitation from Melva to join the hop I had a few ideas for projects. My first thought was to make a surfboard beach quilt for my granddaughters to use when they go to Hawaii and spend time surfing, playing in the sand or enjoying the water. I started playing with a design in EQ8.
Once I had agreed to participate in the Hop real life got crazy with my best friend’s needing some help so I knew the girl’s beach quilt would have to wait until I had more time when K passes.
My next thought was to make some little backpacks using two paper pieced patterns I have:
I had the fabrics pulled but was called away from home several times to assist my friends.
The only project I was able to complete this past month or so was a sweet little panel quilt which was sent to me by Denise. It is a bright, happy panel and just brightened my spirits. The last stitches are being hand sewn on the binding as this post is publishing.
My first experience with the wonderful world of quilting started when I was 12 years old, visiting my paternal grandmother. After dinner in the evening we would sit with our cup of Ovaltine and our needles, thread, fabric and blocks my grandmother had trimmed from worn out clothing. While I was visiting for the two weeks I managed to finish a small lap quilt, made of scrappy fabric nine patches, then sandwiched, tied and completed with a turned binding made from the backing fabric (a faded, soft, slightly worn flannel sheet). Needless to say there are no photos of the quilt and it long ago wore out with first myself using my lap quilt and then my daughter using it as her cuddle blanket. Over the years I did make a few more quilts by hand stitching, but raising 3 children and working didn’t allow me a lot of time to indulge my love of playing with fabric.
Several years ago (decades actually) I moved to the town of Wells in northern British Columbia. There I was very fortunate to get to know an amazing group of women who shared the love of many fabric crafts and machine quilting with me. My first project at a weekend retreat in Barkerville was the Barkerville Spools Quilt in a queen size. It was made of 4” finished spools, comprised of 13 pieces of fabric! The spools were sewn in to 4 patches of 4 spools in alternating directions. I must confess that I never did finish the quilt, but I did use those hundreds of spool blocks as borders on many quilts. I also did not realize that photographing my quilts was the best way to record not only my progress as my skills improved, but also a good way of documenting the quilts I did finish over these past two decades. These women had so much patience with me as I learned about 1/4” seams, rotary cutters, rulers and the correct way to cut fabric. (Kathy, Gail, Donna, Linda and Julia thank you once again for all your patience and the knowledge you shared).
I am fortunate in having been able to share this passion with some of my grandchildren enjoying making placemats created with their artwork (using fabric crayons) as the center blocks on the placemats. The girls love creating art and had so much fun picking out their border fabrics. 😁
Get On Board with Sewing Blog Hop Line up. I’m including the full list of participants to make sure you don’t miss anyone. 😁
Thursday, September 1
Anorina Samelia’s Mum
Brenda Songbird Designs
Cheree The Morning Latte
Denise For the Love of Geese
Friday, September 2
Karen Karen’s Korner
Nancy Grace and Peace Quilting
Sharon & Susan Ms P Designs USA
Nina-Marie Creations – Quilts, Art, Whatever
Monday, September 5
Karrin Karrin’s Crazy World
Linda Texas Quilt Gal
Yvonne Quilting Jetgirl
Emily The Darling Dogwood
Tuesday, September 6
Gail Quilting Gail
Melisa Pinker ‘n’ Punkin Quilting & Stitching
Carol Quilt Schmilt
Wednesday, September 7
Melva Melva Loves Scraps
Tammy Tamarinis
Leah Quilted Delights
Patricia Faith, Trust & Breast Cancer
In case you hadn’t heard, Melva and Brenda have an amazing grand prize package up for give away to one lucky winner.
One person will win everything, which includes:
- a $25 gift certificate from Gardensong Fabrics,
- $25 gift certificate from Rebecca Page,
- Aurifil thread,
- a digital pattern from Melva – Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail,
- a book, Fabulously Fast Quilts donated by Patricia from the Faith, Trust & Breast Cancer Blog,
- three stash builder bundles generously donated by Island Batik,
- a crib sized Quilter’s Dream Dream Angel batt from Songbird Designs.
Just leave a blog comment, but you can earn extra entries by following the additional prompts (these help us build or followers for the blog, Instagram, and Facebook! Enter through the Raffle Copter on Brenda’s blog, Songbird Designs The Raffle Copter will close at 12:00 AM on 9/12/22. The winner will be announced on the blog and will be notified by email as well! Good luck!!
I’d like to thank Melva from Melva Loves Scraps and Brenda from Songbird Designs for hosting this Blog Hop which commemorates National Sewing Month and all of the talented participants who provide us with such great inspiration.
I’d also like to thank everyone for stopping by to read my post. I really enjoy reading your comments and will reply to each of them. 😉 Carol
Quilt Schmilt 
Loved seeing the photos of you with your granddaughters! The panel quilt is nice, and certainly cheerful! I know your friends appreciate all you do for them, so don’t feel badly about not getting those projects done. Care and kindness to others is more important than finishing a quilt 🙂
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Thank you Wendy 😊. My granddaughters have grown since those photos were taken. The older one is so tall I can’t tuck her under my chin now!
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The panel quilt is nice and cheery. Good seeing your grandchildren working with you! Thanks so much for sharing!
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Thank you Karrin. It is fun sewing with the little ones. 😉
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That pretty brightened my spirits too! That was a lovely project Carol, especially with everything you had going on these past few weeks. Love the photos of you with your grands! Is that you with the long hair?
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Thank you Linda. Yes that was me with the long hair. It’s much shorter now 😉
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I meant to say “that pretty panel” brightened my spirits too. 😉
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I’m so happy you are able to teach your granddaughters how to quilt.
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Thank you. It is fun sharing my love of fabric with the little ones 😉
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Love the story of how you starting quilting with your grandmother!!! Plus the adorable photos of your grands!!!
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Thank you Nancy 😉
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You are certainly busy and your plans will be fun to see come to fruition in their own good time. Love the story of sewing with your grandmother, it is how I learned, too. Fun that your daughter used your first quilt – that is quite special. Great job on the panel, too.
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Thank you Kathleen. It’s nice to know my grandmother’s craft has been passed on to me and now to my grands. 😁
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Thank you so much for sharing your panel quilt and darling pics of your granddaughters sewing with you. Mine will do that occasionally but not as often as I would like! Enjoy that before they turn teenagers! LOL They get so busy. Despite everything you’ve been going through with your friend, we really appreciate you taking time to join us for this hop. Take good care of yourself while you are being a caretaker!
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Thank you Brenda. The photos with my grands was prePandemic. I’m looking forward to spending more time with them and some fabric soon. 😊
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Real life matters so much more than a blog hop deadline. I’m glad you are helping your friends, and I’m sure you’ll have time to make what your heart desires when things are less busy. And how wonderful to not only have the time with your grandchildren, but photos documenting your time together. What a treasure!
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Thank you Yvonne. It is a comfort to help my friends. My DIL is so good about taking photos when I get to spend time with the girls and is our family documentarian. She and my son are wonderful about ensuring I have regular photos of them.
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Sometimes plans go awry but I am glad you shared the story of your start in quilting. Thanks for joining in and I’ll be praying for you as you care for your friend. Blessings, Melva
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Thank you Melva. 🤗
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Thanks for sharing your sewing history! How great it was to have those ladies in Wells as mentors! Take care of yourself!
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Thanks Gail 😁
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I just love the photos of you sewing with the grandies! It must be so special! I hope I have some one day 🙂 xx
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Joy it is wonderful fun sharing some fabric time with the grands 😁
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Thank you for sharing the photos of grandbabies sewing, you made me smile at the end of a rough day. You are so fortunate to have quilted with your grandmother.
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Thank you Denise. Learning to hand sew with my grandmother is one of my favourite memories of time spent with her. It’s even more treasured when I get to sew with my grands. I’m glad you got to smile reading my post. 🤗
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Hi Carol, you’ve been busy getting “on board” the stitch alongs. I enjoyed reading your memories of starting quilting and now carrying them on with those sweet grandchildren. Those photos will mean everything someday. The panel quilt is so bright and cheery. Happy Stitching you!
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Thank you Jocelyn. The memories are a real treasure of special times with these two girls. 😉
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Its so lovely to see you sharing sewing with your grandchildren! It’s very big in our family that everyone have a creative endeavor. Love the Panel – ohhh and I sew with a Janome too. I love it!
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Thank you very much for your sweet comment. I do enjoy doing any creative activities with both the grand and great grandchildren, but having these cuties learning to sew is a real joy. I love my Janomes and confess to having too many, but I do need a machine and backup machine at the studio and here at home and they are all Janome! 😉
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Life can indeed come hard and fast! Your quilt came out so pretty and colorful! What a happy memory to be sitting and stitching with your grandmother! Such beautiful memories! Yes! Where would we be without our quilting mentors and teachers? Hugs to all of you out there! Thank you for sharing your project and memories!
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Thank you Mia for your wonderful, sweet comment. 🤗
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