That's My Story- Outstanding Blogger

And a very lovely afternoon to you, sweet friends. How are you doing on this fine sunny Friday? Are you gearing up for a fun filled weekend? I sure hope so. Me? Well, I am sure I can find something to get into. I will probably be out and about with Mr. Pinker , but one thing is for sure - whether I go out adventuring with Mr. Pinker or not, I will have a stitching project in hand to work on today. 😀🛻  

Dear Melva at Melva Loves Scraps  recently found out that she was in the top 100 quilting- blogs! Wow! What an honor and so well deserved. Congratulations , sweet friend.  In order to recognize other bloggers, Melva began the "Outstanding Blogger  for 2025" challenge. You can click on Melva's link to read more about that. I was so touched that she nominated little ole' me.  

Melva asked five different questions for me to stew over in respect to my quilting history.  So here we go....

MELVA: " Have you ever had any major  quilting / sewing success that you would like to share? 

No, not really. One year my quilting guild participated in the American Quilting Society's guild challenge and was accepted- that was an honor indeed for the whole group. Our theme was based on influential  and distinctive American women. I created an art quilt called "Harriet Tubman Follow the Drinking Gourd" . I was touched when it was awarded 1st place in our guild challenge .  

This quilt is made up of various types of fabrics, strings, strips, stars, trinkets , buttons and gourd seeds.  The stars even glow in the dark for the "Follow the Drinking Gourd" theme. ⭐⭐⭐ Harriet's story is amazing. 

MELVA: " Are / were you influenced by family members to get into quilting and have you passed on the love of quilting to the next generation? 

Many of you may remember that my Great Grandma Annie was a quilter. I  have showed you one of her quilts in several posts. Unfortunately, I never knew my Great Grandma.  I know that she was very thrifty . With 6 children, you had to be. 

My Nanny was a doll maker. I spent many hours in her sewing room ooohing and aaahing over the dolls she made. She sold them at craft shows back in the day . Her Raggedy Anns were the best! 

But I did not learn to sew from my Nanny. Nope not one little stitch! I taught myself when my oldest daughter was born.

  My first quilts were small baby quilts. I cannot find the first one, it is somewhere deep in the depths of the quilt armoires .  I began quilting because I wanted to make quilts for my daughter and tell her story. In my younger days, I was really into  folk art quilts.  When I was in college, I had a strong desire to study art, but alas that did not happen. 

When my girls were growing up, they always attended the quilt guild meetings with me. I tried to get them to sew, but they both had other interests. They are just as passionate about their hobbies as I am mine . Though they did not pick up the needle and thread , I am thrilled that they each have a passion that brings them joy. ❤❤❤

MELVA: How do you learn best?

I am wild and woolly gal and just learn by doing. That may make for loads of mistakes, but I am ok with that.

A small art quilt called "The Purse". 

 

Making folk art quilts in my younger days gave me the freedom and abandon to do whatever made my heart leap! 

Nowadays I prefer traditional designs. 

 Often I prefer to look at photos and then read the directions. If I still cannot figure it out, then I will refer to a video. 

 I do not hand quilt like many quilters do. I do not use a thimble . I nestle the needle in the crook of my thumbnail and rock the needle forward away from me. Underneath the quilt, I use the tips of my fingers to feel the needle as it comes through the layers. Yes, my fingers are as tough as nails. 

When I would visit Nanny years ago, she would hold my hands and say "Your hands are as rough as corn cobs". 

 I would look down at them and smile. "Thanks, Nanny". Hee! Hee!  ( You would love my Nanny . She was a jokster and a hoot indeed) . 

  

MELVA: Are you an early bird or a night owl? 

Hoot Hoot! You guessed it I am a Night Owl. I always have been . You will find me often sitting on the couch watching Midsomer Murders, Matlock , or Murder She Wrote as I stitch the night away. I usually go to bed anywhere from 2- 4 a.m.  I average about 5 -6 hours asleep  on a good night, and then I am  "Up and Adam and ready to roll. 

MELVA: What quilt are you most proud of and why?  

I am not sure if I am really proud of any of my quilts, but I am happy with them.

The quilts that I am most "guarded over" are my mourning quilts- those are  the quilts I would grab if the house caught on fire that is after my photos . ( God forbid.)  They are also the  quilts that I wish I did not have to make. They are filled with love, sorrow, tears, and many memories.

Many of y'all have followed me on my quilting journey with Amo's quilts such as  Flaming Butterflies .

Butterfly Kisses

Granny's Stars was pieced and quilted in 1999  while sitting with my sweet Granny.

The quilt that I am most happy with  in respect to the quilting is a Dresdan Fan Quilt. 

I bought the quilt top years ago and hand quilted it. This quilt hangs in my hall on a door. My stitches used to be teeny weeny that is before I broke my hand. 

Well Sweeties, that is my quilting story and I am sticking to it. Thank you so much for joining me today and thank you, Melva for all that you do. 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"A quilt will warm your body and comfort your soul. " 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

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God Bless Charlie Kirk, his family and our great country.  RIP CK.