Sunday, December 15, 2019

Oh Scrap! : Playing with Kaffe Bits

With the rush to prepare for the upcoming holidays, I haven't been able to spend too much time to sew this week. But I did work a bit on some of the orphan blocks that were left up on one of my design walls.


Here are the orphan blocks I pulled using Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  
They were just placed up on the wall randomly.



I decided to start with these snowball blocks.  I framed them in a dark plum quilters linen.


I then circled them with some of the HSTs that were left over from a couple previous projects.  I think I had to make a couple more using some of my Kaffe scraps.


I decided to add some high contract red to the mix.


I had a whole bunch of those leftover strip set triangles that I sewed into squares and then was able to match up colors to create a couple of striped strips.




I had a few blocks that had been culled from my Splendid Sampler quilt.  I didn't use some of them because they just looked like a mushy mess.  I thought they would fill the space nicely on the sides of the center medallion.  They still look mushy but they are being used!


And then things might have gone a bit sideways!  

I decided to use a green as a background - it was a color that had good contrast from the various blocks.  I had a bunch of odd shaped scraps of an older Martha Negley button mum floral.
I still need to sew a few of the seams together.  And I think with some creative piecing, I might still have enough fabric to add a strip to both sides to frame things up a bit more.

I know I could have used a solid, or pulled something from my stash that might not have been quite so busy.  But for me, that is not what this intentional play is about.  I always tell my students that "creativity is a muscle".  It is important to stretch it - and what a better way to do that than using these discarded/leftover blocks.  I learn to create pattern, see how colors work together and to brainstorm how to fit all the blocks together and keep a directional background fabric going all in the same direction.  The learning is what is important to me - not the finished quilt.

I still have more work to do on this project.  I have more blocks I want to add so I have plans for one more round.  I wonder what crazy idea I will try and execute next!!

Are you stretching your Scrappy creativity muscle?

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It is now your turn to share what you are making with 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.
Quilting is more fun than Housework




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18 comments:

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I love your advice to exercise our creative muscle, and I need to remember it! Just playing with fabric and trying things that may or may not work is so much fun! I love the bright happiness of what you're trying with your Kaffe scraps, Cyndy. Have a wonderful Sunday!

cityquilter grace said...

now that is my kind of fun! looks terrific so far...

Gretchen Weaver said...

This looks wonderful! Such a lovely quilt. Glad you find some time to sew!

Chantal said...

Well, look at you! For someone who didn't have much time to sew you've done a lot. I know that not all the pieces are sewn together but still it is quite a progress from the first picture. I love how you made the top and bottom rows look like diagonal lines with the HSTs. Clever and well done! ;^)

The Joyful Quilter said...

Kudos to you for keeping all of the directional background going the same way, Cynthia! In my world? That is not something I can seem to manage.

Jayne said...

My creative muscle hasn't had much of a work out lately! I'm trying to get all my projects finished before the new year and then plan on a good long creative interlude with myself!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

wow - I don't think I have the imagination to pull all those orphan blocks together like that

gayle said...

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love watching you play with your orphans!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Cynthia, I love your message here in this post...we need to relax more and learn to play more when it comes to sewing room time. I know that's when I'm happiest stitching though, unlike you, I'm still learning how to choose fabrics wisely. Speaking of which, I really like that floral border you chose...at first glance I thought it was poppies which I love, but also love mums too.

LA Paylor said...

As beautiful as they are I have trouble using Kaffe fabrics, I really like your center block, with the emerging square showing up around it. Subtle but very dramatic.

Vicki in MN said...

Relaxing and playing are what I need right now! I think I might head to the sewing room and get out the scraps and accuquilt this afternoon. Glad to see you snuck in some scrap sewing time during a busy season.

Anonymous said...

I love your orphaned block project! It’s bright! It’s happy. And it looks like a fun challenge.

Michelle
http://mybijoulifeonline.com

Connie said...

Note to self: Must create a design wall. I have never worked with one and it looks like so much fun.

Nann said...

I enjoyed the documentation of the spare parts project very much. The green floral background is just right for the varied, busy, colorful units.

Louise said...

That background is unexpected and wonderful! I really like how it plays with the turquoise and red/oranges. It makes the center snowballs look rather calm, the eye of the storm :)

Bonnie said...

These leftover bits and pieces are coming together. I'm amazed you had that much time to sew! Some day I'll take my leftovers out and see what I can make with them. You are inspiring me.

Susan said...

That turned out great - I especially like the center.

Kate said...

I would have never tried that green print, but it does work, it blends nicely with all the blocks. Hope you get more time to stitch and play as the holiday moves along.

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