Thursday, July 4, 2013

Saved from the Trash Bin

A secret obsession passion of mine is to make fun projects from fabrics and blocks that people discard from their projects.  I get so much satisfaction out of challenging myself to come up with designs around these bits and pieces and give them new life.  

Okay, so maybe it's not such a secret anymore.  Luckily, I no longer have to pull my treasures from the trash bins - they are passed to me across the table as I quilt with friends.  Here are a few things I have been playing with recently.




These lovely little triangles were the trimmings from Tula Pinks's Paper Heart quilt from the Sew Red book.  It was like Christmas to get these!





The day I received them, I instantly sewed them up into HST blocks.

I used my Blok-Loc ruler to trim them up.  It makes trimming so very easy.  The one thing I don't like about this tool is you cannot press your seams open - which I like to do to remove bulk.   







Here is what I have sewed up so far.  I still need to come up with a border to bring it out to a good baby quilt size.  It is going to be very sweet when it is done.


I was also handed a bunch of apple green print triangles from another friend.   These were a bit more challenging as they were not quite all the same size and I really didn't want to spend a bunch of time trimming them down.


My etsy shop was getting a little light on baby quilts so I thought I would make up a few quick quilts using some old fabrics from my stash.

I just sewed the triangles into strips and set them horizontally into some strips of bright turquoise and green fabrics.


As I still had quite a few triangles left, I decided to make another simple top with the inset running vertically.

I still need to quilt this top and give it a little more character. I'm thinking a bright apple green thread!




I also made this third little quilt to try and sew up more of these fabrics.  It is amazing how far fabric will go when you are trying to use it up!






Thanks to my friends who fed my obsession passion and shared these little treats with me.  I have another sew day scheduled soon so we will see if I find any more "treasures".

Hope you all had a great 4th!


Linking up with Lily's Quilts for Fresh Sewing Day,  My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday, and Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it Up Friday.

7 comments:

Susan at TheBoredZombie.com said...

That's awesome! I don't keep any stuff lying around. I get all antsy when there are just piles and piles of unused fabric with no purpose in sight. I suppose I should ask around - I bet I know someone with your passion that could do great things like this too!

Pamela said...

Well done! I have the same addiction/obsession. Though you obviously are actually doing something with what you have!

thebutterflyquilter said...

These came out great! So pretty!

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation said...

wow! that's amazing that you're able to make something so beautiful with things others discard. these quilts are so cute. I really love the blue and green one, and that red one will make a sweet baby quilt! Thanks so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Michelle@factotum-of-arts.com said...

I love the tula fabric and what a great use of it in the HST quilt!!!

Jenny Bonynge said...

Clever girl!

Ida said...

I love your color combinations and the nice modern look to all the baby quilts. You have a great eye.

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