Oh Scrap! : Orphan Blocks...Again!

 As I was straightening up my sewing table, I came across some sewn bits I needed to put in my orphan block storage.  My single suitcase of leftovers has turned into so much more!

On the left is my little suitcase that has always contained my extra blocks.  When that became full, I started throwing them in another box.  Now that one is overflowing!

So I decided to do a quick sort and pull out some bits to play with.  I am sewing on another project so I have been sewing on this at the same time.  I started with an extra 12" RSC block I had for the center and then decided to go with a low volume (mostly gray) versus green theme.  The only part that is all sewn at this point is the center medallion.  It is kind of crazy looking but I am enjoying the process.  So far, everything has come out of my orphan stash except a tiny bit of gray I had in a scrap bin.  

It doesn't have to be perfect - I am just delighted to be using these leftovers.

And speaking of orphan blocks - I was asked to host the Quilty Orphan Adoption again this fall.  So I have the link up scheduled for September 17th thru the 19th.  If you want to put some orphan projects, blocks or really any quilty item up for adoption, you can join in.  I will post more information in a few weeks.  You can also read more about last Spring's event here.

Who knows, maybe I will have a finished orphan block quilt top I will be ready to pass on :)

Now it is time to share what you are making with your scraps!

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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.
• 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! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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Oh Scrap! : Log Cabin Progress

 I have been making slow progress on my log cabin quilt.  Not because I haven't been actively working on it every week - but because the process of cutting and sewing all the small pieces takes a lot of time!

I did finish these two green circles this week.  They are composed of 1" and 1.5" strips.  The four log cabin blocks go together to make an 11" circle component.

A lot of time is spent digging through my scrap bins for the smallest of scraps that will work.

These two green circles meant I could finish up one of the larger sections of my quilt top.  This piece measures about 35".  

Here it is up with the other blocks I have completed.  Next I think I will add more purple and some small bits of red.  I am in no hurry to finish this one.  I actually enjoy digging through and petting all of my scraps.  I find it very therapeutic - messy but therapeutic!

In fact, I think I have to find some time this week to clean my sewing room.  There is not much table or ironing board space in there again.  And I might even get out the vacuum :)

*********************************************

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.
• 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! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Follow Me on Bloglovin'          Follow Me thru Email          Follow Me on Feedly

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)

So Scrappy for RSC19 

A Summer Treat

 August is probably my least favorite month - it is just too hot!

So when I saw chunks of this fabric in a big bag of scraps from a friend, all I could think about was keeping cool with ice cream.

For the last few weeks, I have been making yummy cones and an alternating quarter log cabin block from the various scraps.

Truthfully, I can't really decide if these are ice cream cones (like the chocolate chip one) or snow cones (I always wanted all the flavors).  I don't think I really need to make a decision - I like the variety!. 

The cone blocks finished at 10" square so the alternate block was simply made from 2.5" strips.  I used up the rest of the "flavor" print and added in strips of the other flavors found throughout the quilt.  I even added in some background fabrics so that I used all of that up too.

I pulled a funky triangle print out of the stash for the backing and a solid dark gray was used for the binding.

If you want to read how I made the cone blocks, you can go here.  They are super easy if you have the right ruler.  I simply added two 2.5" strips of the background fabric to each side to make the block square.

I had just enough of the background fabric left to add some horizontal sashing to lengthen the quilt a bit.  The quilt finished at 50 x 60".  I think I started with  a 1.5 yard cut and wasn't sure how far it would go. This quilt was silly and entertaining to make.  I enjoyed the challenge of making sure all the text went the same way - I used almost every last scrap of every print!

A big thanks to my dear friend who gifted me a lot of these scraps.  Now back to the other projects that I need to finish up.  This was a fun distraction from the heat!

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Linking up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

From Bolt to Beauty (Brag about your Beauties)
Alycia Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

Flag Blocks

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment - where some women won the right to vote.

 I am still slowly working on my "Vote" quilt.  For weeks I have been thinking about adding some flag blocks to the mix.  But truthfully, with the country so divided, I haven't felt all that patriotic and have been hesitant on making them.

Then I came across the pattern for the Wave Your Flag Tablerunner pattern at the Fat Quarter Shop.  I was drawn to this block - not because of the "pride" it portrayed but because of the division the design represented to me.

A country with two very different views; seemingly unrecognizable by the other.

So I added these two blocks to the previous blocks I have completed.  The election is coming up quickly so I hope all of you have a plan in place for voting.  Either in person or by mail-in ballot, I hope you are planning on casting a ballot.

The state I live in, voting can be handled entirely through the mail.  But I do not send my ballot back through the mail.  I have already identified the locations of direct ballot receptacles in my area so that I can deliver mine directly.  

With a country so divided, I hope voters can put aside their party and vote for the candidates to take the country closer in the direction of unity.  Stress and hatred are not healthy for any of us!

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Oh Scrap! : A Few More Purple

 Now that I have started two new Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts, I was able to make some more purple blocks for August.

I finished up four purple Postage Stamp blocks.  Because I am using 2" squares, my blocks will finish at 9".  I was only able to find 4 shades of purple solids in my entire fabric stash...including scraps.  I certainly need to fix this!

I also finished up these 14 QSR (quarter square rectangle) blocks.  You start with a large rectangle and end up with two blocks - I will need to pick seven prints each month.  So I don't have two blocks exactly the same, I try and pair up different light fabrics to the same dark print.

I need to decide how I want to lay these out soon.  I was originally going to lay them out all going the same direction but the thought of big diamonds is really appealing to me.  If I decide to that, every other month I will need to make mirror image blocks.  Something to think about....

Happy Scrappy Sunday!

*********************************************

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.
• 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! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Follow Me on Bloglovin'          Follow Me thru Email          Follow Me on Feedly

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)
So Scrappy for RSC20 

A Once is Enough Finish

 For years, I have been tucking away in a bag any pieces of fabric selvages I came across.  Most of them have been cut off backing pieces.  I am not sure why I started saving them - I guess they were just a "scrap" that I thought I could use one day.

Recently, I finally decided to do something with them.  I sorted them by color and made two 18" strips of each color.  I think I cut the selvages to a width of 5.5".

I finally finished the last two purple strips and finished up the quilt this week.  I even used one of my hoarded favorite prints for the background.  

It is an old Ty Pennington but I just love the color and they way it looks.

I was a little worried the green colored strips would disappear into the background but I think it turned out okay...

When I sewed together the color strips. I simply overlapped the selvages and top-stitched them.  So I don't have a lot of confidence in this quilt.  So I decided to stich the heck out of it with vertical lines.  I don't think anything is going to fall apart now!

I admit the back is a bit of a trainwreck...I pulled a bunch of leftover rainbow chunks and sewed them together.  So the direction of the prints is going different ways.

But I do like the rainbow striped binding I used!

This quilt will probably end up traveling with me and become part of my Scrap Presentation.  It is a good example of using selvages in a colorful but simple way.  I also love that it has a print background fabric - why use a solid when a print will work!

Now that I have worked with selvages, I am pretty sure I will no longer be saving them.  The only ones I will be tucking away are a few of the really long ones for use in the garden.

So enjoy this quilt - it is the last one made with selvages by me :)

Happy Friday Everyone!

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Buying Stash Fabric

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you already know I like to buy stash fabrics for my backings and backgrounds.  When I decide to finish up a quilt top or start a project, I like to "shop" in my stash for its backing or for its background.  

And I also like to buy the fabric I stash at a really great price.

I often get emails asking me how I decide what to buy...

I recently received the order I place at Connecting Threads when they had one of their 30% off the entire order sale.  I thought I would share my purchases.

First, I usually make large lap quilts - 60 x 72" is about the size I aim for.  That means that 4 yards of fabric is a perfect backing size if I seam horizontally.  For wide backs, a 2 yard cut will work great.

The dark gray chambray on the bottom is a wide backing - I was drawn to it because it could be a backing or it would be great for sashing or the background fabric on a quilt.  Connecting Threads carries it in a number of colors. The same is true for the turquoise Grunge fabric (Pool).  It is also a wide backing cut and available in other colors.

I am in love with the white floral print.  I wish I would have ordered more - lucky for me it is still available.  It is a wide backing cut and is also a really versatile piece.

Connecting Threads is starting to stock a number of other manufacturer's collections so I was delighted that they had Janet Clare's newest collection.  I am a huge fan and love the "distressed denim" look to her blues.  I bought this 4 yards of Seaweed print.  Once again, it could be a backing or a fun directional background fabric.

I was pleasantly surprised with the top blue fabric.  This print went in and out of my cart a number of times.  I am so glad I purchased it.  I can see it as a binding, backing or some fun striped sashing.

So I guess my point in sharing these is that when I buy for my stash, I am looking for fabrics that I can see used in a number of ways.  I don't often buy prints that are multicolored or what would be considered "focus fabric".  I have discovered that those fabrics are the ones that hang around my stash for years waiting for the right project.  I can see me using any of these in the near future!

So if you are not sure quite how to go about buying pieces for your stash when you see a great sale, I hope this helps some.  Of course, these colors and prints work well with my style but with a little adjustment on color, they might just work with yours.

Enjoy your day!

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Oh Scrap! : Something New

 A few weeks back, I shared that a friend of mine gifted me two large bags of scraps.  I tried to get them quickly sorted and put away so I could focus on other things.  But I did get sucked in by a couple scrap piles and started some new quilts.

One of the scraps I started to play with was this colorful fabric with some flavors written on it.  There were a number of larger scrap pieces - I am thinking they were leftover from some bag making.

I decided it needed to be made into these fun ice cream cone blocks.  

Or maybe they are snow cones.

I will be using the same gray dotted fabric from my stash for all of the blocks.  The ice cream scoops will all come from my scrap bins.

And this is why I just can't throw any unloved scraps away.  This (blech) brown fabric makes the perfect chocolate chip cone!

I made up the block using my Tri-Recs Tool.  The cone is 6.5" wide.  Then I added a 4.5" x 6.5" rectangle with two flip corners for the scoop.

I will probably have to add some background fabric to the sides of the blocks but until I decided where I am going with these, I will wait.

oh...and I see in the photos my rotary blade isn't closed.  Bad Cynthia!

*********************************************

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.
• 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! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Follow Me on Bloglovin'          Follow Me thru Email          Follow Me on Feedly