I May Have A Scrap Problem... No Sewing, But Lots of Inspiration!

 

Hi, all!

It's been a busy week of sewing, but not much on the scrappy front.  However, I did find some fabulous things hidden away on Instagram that I think are share-worthy (and drool-worthy!) so I'll let you see what you think.  And away we go!!!

First up is a beautiful 100-days project by Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life...

And here's another gorgeous plus quilt, this time by Joy (@TheMakingsofJoy).  Just a note, I think this is a nine-patch block rather than a true plus block.

This is a beautiful way to use up strips, isn't it!  Mary really knocked this one out of the park!

And if your scraps are more random and multi-sized and -shaped, how about a large block crumb quilt?  I love her rainbow of blocks!

Of course, if your scraps are really tiny, you could make a true postage stamp quilt - 1" finished squares!  This beauty isn't finished yet, but has over 3000 squares so far...

This bright and cheerful quilt really makes my heart happy!

And now for a series of heart healthy quilts...

This quilt is just in the planning stages, but it still has a vibrancy that makes me want to see the finished version!

This quilt is a bit more planned but I love the layout of the staggered hearts!

And I really love this quilt - the unexpected heart tucked away between the chevron rows!

And now for my favorite quilt of the week - Tracy did a knockout job on her Scrap Vortex quilt!  So many bits and pieces, I am sure this quilt is like a time capsule of her quilting history.  It must be so much fun for her to look at and remember!

And now that I've done my bit to enable you and your fabric addiction, I'll leave you with one last thought...

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have A Scrap Problem... Time For More Inspiration!

Hi, all!

It has been a busy week, trying to get ahead on some commission work, so I haven't had much time to play with scraps.  I did turn this stack of fabric...

...into a project bag full of the cut pieces to make one of Sam Hunter's Birch Bark quilts...

...or actually three of them, which I hope to combine into a king size quilt!  I used a bunch of yard-or-less pieces from my stash, so I'm counting it as "kinda scrappy" sewing!

Andd here's some beautiful inspiration I'm seeing while out and about in the Internet to keep you satisfied until next week...

Looking at the pictures I selected, I've decided that simplicity is the word for the day!  

Isn't this gorgeous?  And so simple.  I believe I read later that she is using English paper piecing to make these, but it would also be simple to just make 4-patches!  The trick is placing them on point...

When was the last time you saw an apple core quilt?  This is a fun pattern to use if you are brave enough to try out the curves.

Upcycled shirts and a few short end pieces of black solid yielded this beautiful quilt.  Where did I put all those shirt squares???

And see this cute pumpkin wallhanging?  It's not necessarily scrappy, but the adorable pincushion is...

...made with the off-cut triangles from the border!  Isn't that awesome - she used up her scraps before she even quilted the original project!

And this really has me in awe - a Scrappy Trips using almost all low volume prints but with a delicious color change in the center rows!  The creativity it took to envision this is amazing!!

Don't have many scraps?  That doesn't mean you can't make something wonderful!  The simplicity of this pillow is hidden by the wow factor of the design - and that red binding? Yowza!

And sometimes you just need to piece - simple, straight piecing - but look at the power of these simple pieces!  I can't wait to see what she makes with them...

Now go forth and be scrappy!

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have A Scrap Problem... Goodbye March, Hello April!

Hi, all!

Wow!  How fast is this year flying by, right?  It's hard to believe, but it's already April.  It's been a good year so far, and I do believe that I've come to love scrap sewing!  

At the end of February, I decided that for my March scrappy goals I wanted to quilt my Long Time Gone quilt and finish the top of my Gypsy Wife quilt.  And I'm happy to say that I met both of those goals!  Here's my Long Time Gone...

...as it hung on the line drying!  It has a wool batt, my first experience with that but definitely not my last - but that means it can't go in the dryer.  You can see lots more detailed photos that show the quilting and gorgeous texture in this post.

And not only did I get my Gypsy Wife quilt top finished, I got it quilted too!

I'll be posting LOTS more pictures of this one on Friday!  But it's done and I love it...

And as if that wasn't enough, I did some other scrappy sewing in March, too!

I made a kid-sized version of the On-Line quilt, using all solids.  It came out so cute!  This one will be going to Jack's Basket.

I made a second version of the On-Line quilt early in the month when I needed a "brainless" sewing project, and pulled it out of the to-be-quilted pile and put it on the frame!

This quilt also jumped out of the to-be-quilted pile - it's been there a while!  It's made with solid binding scraps, with some black and white bindings thrown into the mix.  I separated them all with a cute rainbow print just to spice it up.   The original intention was to "slice and dice" it and re-assemble it, but I decided finished was better than good intentions!  This quilt will be going to another of the Hands2Help charities.

And just because scrappy sewing is more fun with friends, I got my quilt ministry buddies in on the mindless sewing!  This was one morning's accomplishment, and I think we now have enough for four or five twin size quilts!  

So I think it's safe to say March was a very good and productive month! I still have tons of scraps, but at least now I have something to show for it.  

Then I dug out the Scrap Attack box and pulled out a goal for April...

Now, those templates aren't new any more - I got them over a year ago - but they ARE still unused.  And it's been so long, I couldn't find the original inspiration shot that made me get them, but this is similar...

The arcs aren't pieced, they are one piece.  I love this look!  So I'm going to give it a whirl this month.  We'll see how it goes!

Now I'd love to know what wonderful scrappiness you did in March, and what you plan for April!  Link up below and let's cheer each other on!

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have A Scrap Problem... Welcoming March!

Hi, all!

Well, February is the shortest month, but it sure feels like it went by in a flash, doesn't it?  I don't feel like I accomplished much in the way of scrappy sewing, but here's a look back at the month to see what happened...

I posted a tutorial on piecing batting, and another one for this disappearing hourglass block...

I also started working on another string quilt when I needed some mindless sewing.  You can find a tutorial for this quilt here.

I had hoped to make lots of frankenbatting during the month, but it turned out I didn't do much quilting, so that fell by the wayside.  It's good to be flexible!  

For March, I think I want to do something that feels fun and not like work.  So my goal for this month will be to quilt my Long Time Gone quilt...

...and finish my Gypsy Wife quilt.  Both are serious scrap busting quilts, so I think it fits in well with the Scrap Attack theme!  

FYI, Gypsy Wife is actually further along than this, but I couldn't find a progress shot later than this one!  All my blocks are done, and I've started assembling the sections.

So that's what I'm planning on working on this month - what are your goals?  I'd also love to see what you've been working on the month.  I've seen lots of you making scrappy quilts in preparation for the Hands2Help Challenge (which starts this Sunday, by the way!) which is such a fabulous way to use up your scraps and help others at the same time!  So link up below and share!

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have a Scrap Problem... What a Month!

Hi, all!

We are in the final days of January, and so it's time to review the month, scrap-wise.  Even though my scraps still seem to be replicating themselves while I sleep, I did make some progress this month.  

At the beginning of January, I decided to work on my "String Hamper of Shame" and also to work with my solids scraps to cut 7.5" squares for a QuiltCon class.  

This tub is full of 8.5" wide pieces of strings, which I created after pressing a bunch of strings from my hamper.  And no, it didn't empty the hamper - and I swear the hamper gets fuller every day!  But it's a start.  Then I took those 8.5" pieces and made a quilt top!

Isn't it pretty?  This will be part of the Rockin' Rectangles tutorial series running right now - probably close to the end - so start cutting up your strings and join in!  

I also did a lot of sewing out of my stash, with an eye to designs that could be made scrappy as well.  The tutorial for the quilt above appeared last Sunday, and the quilt below will be featured this coming Sunday.  

I also did manage to cut a few 7.5" squares from solid scraps, but not nearly enough...

...which means that this project will carry over into the first few weeks of February.  After all, QuiltCon is this month!!!!!!  (Can you tell I'm excited?)

So all in all, I think January went rather well in the scrap- and stash-sewing area.  In February, I will be working on reducing this mess...

....a collection of batting remnants from the last couple of years!   I think I need to spend a day or two making "frankenbattings" so they will be easier to use - and sorting out the pieces that are just too narrow to use for anything but wiping up oil spills or dusting.  If I can use these up, I'll have three empty cubbies on one of my storage shelves, which I can use to organize something else - wouldn't that be nice?

And while I'm cutting up those 7.5" solid squares for QuiltCon, I may cut pieces for this beautiful quilt...

Isn't that wonderful?  And just imagine how many solid scraps it would use up.....

So that's my plan for February.  What are you hoping to do with your little scrap monster this month?  Link up below and share, or just tell us in the comments.  After all, we're all in this together!

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have A Scrap Problem... No Shame Here!

Hi, all!

I love when I can combine two goals into one project - don't you?  I needed a quilt design for the Rockin' Rectangles series that starts on January 27th, and the String Hamper of Shame started calling my name.  Remember this?  

Well, many hours of work ended up putting a small dent in that hamper, and creating this box full of strings cut into 8.5" lengths.

After lots and lots and LOTS of chain piecing, I ended up with a tub that looked like this...

...which, when put back into neat little stacks, looked like this.  Not much difference, is there?

But the result of that small diminishment of my string stash?  A quilt top measuring about 60x67 - no small feat! 

It looks so much like the fabric storage behind it, I'm thinking about naming it Stash (and maybe even appliquéing a large black handlebar mustache on it - 'Stache, get it?)

So never feel like it's a waste of time to save those scraps. There's lots of quilts in your scrap bins just waiting for you to help them come to life!!!  I hear one calling my name right now......

Hugs!

Sarah