sew and tell

Sew & Tell - 8/10/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

It's August and time of year that seems to get busy for many. Families with children are preparing for back to school and/or squeezing in one last family trip, and gardeners are enjoying the fruits of their labor (whether floral or produce... or both!).

August in our house finds both Dave and I enjoying a walk down memory lane as we celebrate our wedding anniversary. Monday, the 10th, marks our 41st. I found the following info with a quick search on the web...

While there is no traditional anniversary gift, Topaz has been the associated gemstone for the ...

added by Melva 3 days, 21 hours ago. under sew and tell

Weekly update: just playing with blocks + reading from With Strings Attached

Wildflowers at Illinois Beach State Park: swam milkweed, spurge, liatris, evening primrose, mountain mint (it is minty!), nodding onion (it is onion-y), Queen Anne's Lace (oh, sure, it's lacy), lead plant.

This is a viceroy (Limenitis archippus), not a monarch (Danaus plexippus). The tell is the black line near the edge of the wings.

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On Saturday I treated myself to the matinee performance of The Odyssey, with a jumbo box of popcorn for lunch. It was on the regular big-screen, not IMAX, but it was action-packed enough for me. So much of the story was familiar because The ...

added by Nann 5 days, 23 hours ago. under design wall monday , monday musings , oh scrap! , reading , sew and tell , weekly update

The Chain Gang ~ Sew & Tell - 8/3/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

As we bid July farewell and welcome August, I am relieved that the summer monsoon rains have arrived. The fire fighters continue to battle fires across the state of Colorado, Aspen Acres included. This was the huge fire that had several of our friends evacuated from their homes for 3 weeks... 3 WEEKS! As well as both our daughters on alert for emergency evacuation. I know that there were homes lost and property damaged, but none of the people we know personally lost a thing.

The return of the rains now causes a new problem... flash floods. :( My mind reels ...

added by Melva 1 week, 4 days ago. under sew and tell

Weekly update: stash report and a good start to August from With Strings Attached

A short walk close to home on Friday. Top: compass plant, Culver's root, prairie pinnate coneflower. Center: tansy, purple coneflower, jewelwood. Bottom: monarda, rosinweed.

It rained all day Saturday--nice and gentle, no wind. I puttered around indoors.

Stash report for July: fabric IN 41.75 yards, $70, average $1.67 per yard. Fabric OUT 71-5/8 yards. Year to date: fabric IN 233-3/4 yards, $307, average $1.31 per yard. Fabric OUT 451-5/8 yards. That's a net decrease of 218 yards -- hooray!

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Hopscotch Butterscotch is a flimsy. I think the border piano keys should have more ...

added by Nann 1 week, 6 days ago. under monday musings , omg 2026 , quiltville , rsc 2026 , scrap quilts , sew and tell , stash report , top-along , weekly update

Hot Times ~ Sew & Tell - 7/27/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

Welcome back to Sew & Tell! It's been a cooker here and I have been hanging out with the AC on. My mind was buzzing with the sound of fans, but I am not uncomfortable because of heat. "This too shall pass," is what I keep telling myself.

The constant sound of fans has interrupted my sleep, and I may have been just a little grumpy for a day ~~or two~~. It was on the second day that I decided that something had to happen... I pulled out the violet cross-stitch blocks that came from the sister of a friend ...

added by Melva 2 weeks, 4 days ago. under sew and tell

Weekly Update: challenge met + watching/reading from With Strings Attached

Wildflowers at Illinois Beach State Park on Saturday: monarda, elderflower, lead plant; sawtooth sunflower, mounain mint, swamp milkweed; Queen Anne's lace, spurge, purple prairie clover.

I spent Sunday afternoon and evening in the studio -- the air-conditioned basement -- and finished the guild challenge quilt.

60 x 72. If I'd taken more time the color balance would be a little better but I mostly wanted to avoid two-same-fabrics-touching.

The back is as bright as the front! I got the jungle print from some bargain source (it's Alexander Henry). The green is sliced from a remnant of 108".

108"w ...

added by Nann 2 weeks, 6 days ago. under design wall monday , monday musings , oh scrap! , sew and tell , weekly update

R & R in RR ~ Sew & Tell - 7/20/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

Thanks for coming back to Melva Loves Scraps and the weekly Sew & Tell party! I did not have much of a chance to visit everyone this week... But I have a good reason for it! I know that you are all familiar with the party and trust that you made visits to those that share links. Many thanks for doing that! Since I was amiss in my task, I'll be skipping the weekly feature.

My reason for being a poor hostess??? We were off camping in the mountains surrounding Red River, NM.

added by Melva 3 weeks, 4 days ago. under bookish journal , sew and tell

July 13, 2026

The Beginning of a Beautiful Thing ~ Sew & Tell - 7/13/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

Welcome back to Sew & Tell... the weekly party where you are able to share your recent projects (finished or progress) and friends get inspired and encourage one another!

I had a fun week in the studio. But before I tell you all about that let's take a look at the featured selection from last week's party. There were several scrappy style projects shared but Alycia's Pringles quilt in progress was the one that was randomly selected.

She had a huge growth spurt all due to the AC going down and repairmen needing supervision. I'm sure her ...

added by Melva 1 month ago. under lala's irish chain , sew and tell

July 9, 2026

Weekly update: rain, shine + goals met + reading from With Strings Attached

Wildflowers at Pine Dunes (Saturday) and Ethel's Woods (Sunday). Top: monarda (bee balm), purple coneflower, pickerel weed. Center: compass plant, Queen Anne's lace, false sunflower. Bottom: butterfly weed, Culver's root, swamp milkweed.

Just as forecast, thunderstorms rolled in Friday afternoon, rolled out, and more rain overnight. Saturday dawned sunny and I had a great 2-mile walk at Pine Dunes in the morning. Later in the day the rain returned and the temperatures dropped. I didn't want to bundle up and sit on wet grass (even in a chair on wet grass) to watch the Zion festivities ...

added by Nann 1 month, 1 week ago. under design wall monday , monday musings , oh scrap , reading , rsc 2026 , sew and tell , top-along , weekly update

July 8, 2026

Scraps for a Cause ~ Sew & Tell - 7/6/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

I hope that you enjoyed the Patriotic weekend celebrating the 250th birthday of the United State of America

added by Melva 1 month, 1 week ago. under sew and tell

July 2, 2026

Mountain Time ~ Sew & Tell - 6/29/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

Welcome back to MLS and Sew & Tell! Our time away camping was a pleasant time... a little different with an additional person in-tow, but still pleasant. Mom enjoyed the getaway and we were blessed to be able to spend the time with her and actually watch her routines and habits... but the camper is just a bit small for three. ;) I'll share pictures... but first, let's take a look at this week's Sew & Tell feature.

Kate at My Life in Pieces shared her second finish for 2026 - Chilhowie. This quilt was a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt in ...

added by Melva 1 month, 2 weeks ago. under sew and tell

June 26, 2026

Easy As A, B, C ~ Sew & Tell - 6/22/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

Welcome back to MLS & another party session of Sew & Tell! Creatively speaking, the party was diverse... There were several finishes and WIPs and progress updates... and inspiration was abundant! This week's randomly selected feature is Vicki at Vicki's Crafts & Quilting. She shared her colorful strings... her first complete donation quilt for the year.

This was a project that she worked on over the winter. She said that the strings were sewn to phone book pages that she had saved. Wise plan Vicki!

Head over to her blog to see what she chose for the backing!

I had a ...

added by Melva 1 month, 2 weeks ago. under 100 days , sew and tell

June 22, 2026

Weekly update: solstice, rummage sale + VRD challenge complete from With Strings Attached

Welcome summer!

I was up really early on Sunday and caught the solstice sunrise over Lake Michigan.

In the afternoon I took a nap, rather than a walk, to compensate for the early morning.

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I did get a 2-mile walk on Saturday.

Water lily, nodding thistle, blackberries, St. John's wort, elderberry, self-heal, white avens, coneflower.

The walk came after I went to the final morning of a church rummage sale. I bought two bags for $5 each and filled them with a lot of men's shirts (23) and ties (44). If they were cotton or silk I put ...

added by Nann 1 month, 3 weeks ago. under design wall monday , monday musings , oh scrap! , rsc 2026 , rummage sale , sew and tell , villa rosa , weekly update

June 19, 2026

100 Days Continue ~ Sew & Tell - 6/15/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

Summer is in full swing with sunshiny days causing the temperatures to rise into the 90s. Thankfully, there was a cool front come through mid-week... keeping us from needing to install window AC units and losing the windows. Hallelujah!

It seems that summer is in full swing for others as well... the participants in the Sew & Tell party were significantly less than previous weeks. Those that joined the fun shared some great projects. Leeanna at Not Afraid of Color worked with pastels... in paint and in fabrics. Head over to her blog to see her artwork. :) Several others included links ...

added by Melva 1 month, 3 weeks ago. under sew and tell

June 16, 2026

Weekly update: a finish, two starts + reading from With Strings Attached

Friday afternoon: Wild flag iris, palespike lobelia, spiderwort, Canadian anemone....and a turtle on a log.

It was sunny and hot on Saturday for the Zion Juneteenth celebration at Illinois Beach State Park. I staffed the Rotary booth from 11-3. The chair and three other Rotarians are on the event committee. I only got one photo, of me with four of the Interact Club who were all-around helpers for the event.

I got teary-eyed at church yesterday. The opening hymn was The Summons. It so perfectly summarizes Stevens' life and ministry. The sermon was about "Sarah laughed" (when God told ...

added by Nann 2 months ago. under design wall monday , monday musings , oh scrap! , reading , sew and tell , top-along , villa rosa

June 10, 2026

A Crafty Sew & Tell ~ 6/8/2026 from Melva Loves Scraps

Welcome back to the weekly Sew & Tell party!

Thanks for joining me for a fun session of show and tell to see what all of our friends have been up to. We are away again for the weekend... camping this time with friends to celebrate an 80th birthday and a Quilt of Valor presentation.

added by Melva 2 months ago. under sew and tell

June 8, 2026

Weekly update: finished + acquisitions from With Strings Attached

Wildflowers at Greenbelt Forest Preserve on Sunday afternoon. A good 2-mile walk.

Beardtongue foxglove, wild flag iris, oxeye daisy, feverfew, Japanese rose.

June goal #2: 10 placemats. All finished. The average fabric in each one is 3/8 yard so 3-3/4 yards for the batch.

I used up two ziploc bags of triangles. The hourglasses (top right and lower left) were made from 4-1/2" triangles cut diagonally and repieced.

Some fabric in the "used" column but more fabric in the "acquired" column.

A guild friend said that her church rummage sale (Thursday-Saturday) had gotten a quilter's estate ...

added by Nann 2 months, 1 week ago. under design wall monday , monday musings , oh scrap! , placemats , sew and tell , top-along , weekly update

June 1, 2026

Weekly update: convention, stash report, OMG from With Strings Attached

The 123rd convention of the Illinois State Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood was wonderful.

"Live Like Lulu--Be a P.E.O. Builder" was the theme for Fran's presidential term. Fran is a historian with a specialty in women's organizations and Lulu Corkhill Williams was an influential early P.E.O.

Fran, Lulu, and me

Lulu chartered Illinois chapters and the state chapter. The eponymous Lulu Corkhill Williams Friendship Fund provides emergency financial assistance to Illinois women and men. My involvement at the state level began with a term on the Lulu Fund.

I introduced Fran to ...

added by Nann 2 months, 2 weeks ago. under design wall monday , monday musings , oh scrap! , omg 2026 , p.e.o. , sew and tell , stash report , weekly update

Bookish Review ~ Sew & Tell - 5/31/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

Another month has passed by, and we are turning our calendar pages to a new chapter.

Dave and I are attending a wedding out of town, so this party is pre-recorded. ;) Therefore, I am skipping the Sew & Tell feature.

Since we're starting the 6th chapter of the book of 2026 and I'm here to show off the bookish blocks I have made to represent each book that I have completed during May.

A Spool of Blue Thread was nothing that I expected it to be (but good)... And Every Breath was all that I had hoped for and ...

added by Melva 2 months, 2 weeks ago. under bookish journal , sew and tell

May 27, 2026

Sew & Tell - 5/25/26 from Melva Loves Scraps

Here we are nearing the end of the 5th month of year... the informal kick-off to the summer season. Schools are wrapping up their year of education, and teachers and kids alike are looking forward to the time off. Gardeners are busy with flowers and plants and some already harvesting some early produce.

I remember the times of having a (LARGE) home garden and the bounty that it produced. Those times are long in the past since we moved to Colorado and the growing season is so short and overnight temps cool. But I do have fond memories and am ...

added by Melva 2 months, 3 weeks ago. under bookish journal , rainbow scrap challenge , sew and tell

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