Oh Scrap! : Orphan Adoption

I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the projects I have going on right now.  So to help me feel less burdened, I have been taking a hard look at all of the started projects around my sewing room and deciding if many are worth finishing.

I admit, I have a really hard time abandoning a project or tossing a pile of orphan blocks.  I know that there are a number of charities that would love a quilt I am no longer inspired with my choice of fabric.  I also have the option of listing the finished quilts in my Etsy shop.  This worked for me in the past, but the current truth is my time has become precious so I am going to try and let some of these go.

Right now, I have 26 project in the works.  And about 10 are over 7 years old.  Plus my little suitcase of orphan blocks is getting really full!

I just have to let something go!!

So I am hoping someone out there is willing to take one of my projects off my hands!

And thinking there might be some of you who are in the same situation or are willing to take on someone's half finished project, I thought I would hold an Orphan Adoption Event this Saturday.

Orphan Adoption Event

June 6, 2015

I will be hosting a linky party starting Saturday June 6th (and closing on Sunday) where you are welcome to link up your own blog post sharing a project you wish to abandon or orphan blocks you wish to pass on.  You can offer as little or as much as you want.  It can be blocks, patterns, kits, anything that you hope someone else will use and you wish to get rid of the burden.

Here are some details:

1.  I am going to ask that any "orphan" linked up must be given away for free.  (If you are wanting to destash for money, there are other venues to do that on.)  I think it is fair that if you need to, you can ask that shipping costs be paid.  Just be sure and put that information clearly in your post.  And know that both parties enter into the deal at their own risk.  I hold no responsibility.

2. Have clear pictures and descriptions on what you are putting up for adoption.

3. Define the criteria for how you will decide who will adopt the item.  Is it a random number giveaway, do you only want it to go to charity, or is there some other criteria that needs to be met?

4.  Be sure and identify where you are located and where you are willing to ship to.

5. Define how long you are keeping the adoption open and when you expect to award the adoption.

I have a whole project picked out that I will be putting up for adoption on Saturday.  

I know there will be someone who will give it some attention and finish it up.  And I will be so happy to cross it off my list and move on to a more inspiring project!

If there is good participation in this event, it might just become something I host on a regular basis.  So go look on those shelves and those deep dark corners in your sewing room and see what you have to clean out and move on.  I am sure there will be someone who is more than willing to adopt what you have to offer!

Now for you scrappy quilters, it is your turn to share what you have been making this week.

Here are the details for linking up with Oh Scrap!:

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

<a href="http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54Z8EyMCoCg0j1sBoz_APBotiRQveh32vQoL2dCSO4nQFAi8du60IuUCQp3Hb18vGD8IrM0W6_vmuufImGcr4Pf2Ve2dNIWd5LbQJfyDTRjtcekT6coT7c2nSCOG_9dvjiKGVAnuTN70/s1600/Oh+Scrap+Button.jpg" alt="Quilting is more fun than Housework" width="125" height="125" /></a>

So if you love scrappy projects, feel free to grab my button for your sidebar or posts and get ready to share all your wonderful projects from scraps.  And if you have a great idea for using scraps and would like to be featured, feel free to contact me!

An InLinkz Link-up

Boxy Pouch - A Success!

Seeing so many fun pouches linked up with Oh Scrap!, I am inspired to try my hand at making some of my own.  On my first attempt, I wanted to just try out a pattern and practice sewing in a zipper.  

I found a great boxy pouch tutorial at kelbysews that didn't look too difficult so I thought I would whip one up!

I made mine using fusible fleece, a nylon zipper I had in my stash and some vintage (1970's?) home decorator fabric I inherited from my grandmother.  The pouch was fun to make and went together pretty easily.

I lined this one with a happy red print.  I will definitely be making more in the future.  I want to try my hand at making my own scrappy fabric and quilting it prior to sewing up the bag.  I can definitely see some of these being made for holiday gifts!

Linking Up:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

TGIFF

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Richard and Tanya Quilts

Crazy Mom Quilts
Sew can she

WIP Wednesday - Park Bench

I thought I would share my progress on my Park Bench quilt.  I was able to find a bit of sewing time to finish up 2 more blocks this week.

Here is the first one - I love how big these hexagons are.

And the second one, which is my favorite.  This block is the Ball Game block.

Next up is the Hopscotch block.  I will be using some blues and oranges - Yum!

You can read more about this project in my initial post.

My first two blocks can be found here.

Now that I have started this project, I am finding it difficult to work on the many older projects in various stages around my sewing room.  I might have to hide this one away for a few weeks!

Linking Up:

Sew Fresh Quilts
Freshly Pieced  

My Quilt Infatuation

BOMs Away 

One Lovely Blog Award

Last week, I received an email from my good friend Sandra that she nominated my blog for the One Lovely Blog Award.  She is so very supportive and I was immensely touched that she granted this honor to me.







I don't always participate in these "chain letter" type awards but I do like how this one works.  Really, all I am doing is basically recommending other blogs to my readers (which I do already) and telling you a little about myself.  I think this is a great opportunity to share those blogs that we think are lovely - especially those newer ones that maybe haven't been discovered yet.


So to accept this award from Sandra - I need to do three things.


First, is to acknowledge who nominated me.  Sandra blogs over at Musings of a Menopausal Melon and has been mentioned on my blog many times.  She is someone that I thinks deserves the One Lovely Person Award!

Second, I need to share 7 things about myself.  This is the hardest part!  I am a very private person so I am really operating outside of my box here.

1.  I am one of the lucky ones that fully support myself working in the quilting industry.  I longarm quilt, teach classes, sell patterns independently and to various publications and have quilts for sale.  It is a ton of work and I don't always get the best pay for all I do but it is very rewarding.  I feel blessed.

2.  My 4 year old car has just over 10K miles on it - I rarely leave my home.  While I can function just fine out and about in the world (my local friends can quit laughing now), I really enjoy my time at my house.  My 3 vintage sewing machines on the other hand I probably put over 10K miles on each year!  Meet Wee Willie, Sparky and Lucy.  Pete is my longarm and will probably be hurt that he is not picture.

3.  I love to garden - Flowers mostly.  I have a softspot for daylilies and have over 30 varieties.

To have more space to garden, I have taken out all the lawn at my home except in the front of my house.  Everywhere else is flower beds and pathways.


4.  Growing up, I adored my grandfather (german farmer) and spent as much time as I could by his side.  He was able to fix anything!  And he made sure he passed that ability on to me.  The only thing I am a bit hesitant around is electricity (due to some bad experiences) but I love plumbing!

5.  I am a terrible cook!

6.  I used to wear a business suit to work every day and for years managed a manufacturing business that employed over 500 people.  I still know a lot about running a business but I traded in the suit for jeans and t-shirts. I am much happier.  Poorer...but happier!

7.  Before I got into quilting, I used to create with mosaic tiles.  I made both large and small items.  Believe me, fabric is SO much cleaner to work with!

Now onto the third item I need to do - and the one I am most excited about.  I enjoy a number of blogs for a lot of reasons but I picked these 10 to share today.  I will let each blogger decide if they want to accept the award and participate.  They are in no particular order.   Enjoy!

Quilt Kisses

SewPsyched!

Twiggy and Opal

The (not so) Dramatic Life

Springleaf Studios

Sane, Crazy, Crumby Quilting

Meadow Mist Designs

Mountain Quiltworks

Little Penguin Quilts

Blue Mountain Daisy

Oh Scrap! : In Case You Missed It!

There have been so many wonderful projects linking up on Oh Scrap!  So today I thought I would share a few that made me go Wow!

Okay, many things make me go Wow! each week so I am only going to share those projects that are in a finished state. I hope you scroll back through my posts or do a search on the left margin for past Oh Scrap! series.  I bet you find many projects that make you go Wow! too.

Tanya Quilts in CO shared this Tulip Patch quilt.  Maybe it is because I love to garden, but flowers on a quilt always makes me happy.  Check out Tanya's blog for lots of scrappy inspiration!




















Vicki of Vicki's Crafts shared this wonderful quilt!

I LOVE IT!

This quilt made my heart sing and my feet run to my scrap bins.  One of my all time favorites Vicki!

















Cassandra knocked it out of the park with this one!  She blogs over at The (not so) Dramatic Life - I love her blog.

And I am always pleased when I see people being inspired by my Scrap-A-Palooza quilts. Here are a few I just have to share!

 

Kat pulled some gray and turquoise scraps and made this beauty inspired by a quilt I made back in March!   Love her color choices!

 

Sandra over at Musings of a Menopausal Melon has been busy sewing up her scraps for a couple of donation quilts.  She just finished up this colorful one.....

 

 

And Sandra shared this lovely string quilt!  

A big hug to Sandra - I think she has made a total of 8 quilts inspired by my Scrap-A-Palooza series.  And I think she has plans for more!

Now it is your turn to share what you have been making with your scraps.

Here are the details for linking up:

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

<a href="http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54Z8EyMCoCg0j1sBoz_APBotiRQveh32vQoL2dCSO4nQFAi8du60IuUCQp3Hb18vGD8IrM0W6_vmuufImGcr4Pf2Ve2dNIWd5LbQJfyDTRjtcekT6coT7c2nSCOG_9dvjiKGVAnuTN70/s1600/Oh+Scrap+Button.jpg" alt="Quilting is more fun than Housework" width="125" height="125" /></a>

So if you love scrappy projects, feel free to grab my button for your sidebar or posts and get ready to share all your wonderful projects from scraps.  And if you have a great idea for using scraps and would like to be featured, feel free to contact me!

An InLinkz Link-up

My Quick Summertime Project

Nothing says summer like farm fresh produce.  As I was attempting to clean up some my fabric stash, I came across a small stack of partially used fruit and vegetable fat quarters that I had purchased years ago for a group project.  I knew they weren't anything that I would need in the future so rather than put them back, I decided to sew them up into a summertime table runner.

Very simple, just strips of fabric in varying widths.  I did piece in a strip with black in it for a bit of interest (and to use up some of the smaller scraps).

But one table runner soon turned into three!  Amazing how far you can stretch a tiny bit of fabric.

Guess a few of these will be going into my Etsy shop.  But at least the fabrics are all gone!

I even used up this old leaf print for the backs on all of them.  

Now I am off to see what else I can get off my shelf!

Linking Up:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

TGIFF

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Richard and Tanya Quilts

Crazy Mom Quilts