Seventeen is Enough

 On this last day of 2021, I don't have any quilt finishes to share but I do have a big stack of placemats completed.

I decided last month that I was going to spent about 12 months sewing all my scrappy crumbs into monochromatic placemats and then donate all of them to a charity around the holidays next year.  In December, I tackled my low volume scraps.

Here are three red and three blue that were completed.

I am finding it most rewarding to be using up fabrics that I find undesirable on the back side.

Here are the backs on the mats from above.

I also finished three that contained some green and three soft gray ones.

Once I sorted out all the small bits and narrow strings out of my big bin, I sorted them into like fabrics so I could build them into placemat size.

Some of these backing are actually pieced multiple times.  I tried to hide the seams as best I could.

These next five lean toward brown shades or contain scraps in multi colors.

I still had quite a few more crumbs and could have kept going but I decided that 17 is enough!

Continuing to clean out my stash!

All of these placemats are trimmed to 11 x 15"

I am going to bind all of these placemats with solid bindings.  I made 8 gray ones last month so I now have a big stack of 25 - I think it is going to be fun to see a whole spectrum of colors fading into one another.  Already my arm isn't long enough to get a good photo.

I think the RSC color for January is red so I have already started to sort small bits out of my color bin.  I don't have a lot so I don't think I will be adding too many to this big stack next month.

Wishing everyone a fabulous and festive New Years.  Stay safe!!

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The Best of 2021

 Every year, Cheryl over at Meadow Mist Designs, hosts her "Best of " linky party.  I have joined in the fun for quite a few years now. 

 I like that it makes me look back on the year and enjoy the quilts I finished.  

This year was all about scrap quilts.  An early quilt I made was this blue and brown courthouse steps quilt.  I was initially thinking my sister might want it once she finishes building her new house.  But one day my neighbor came over and wanted it for her newly refurbished livingroom.  I couldn't argue - it looks perfectly at home.

...and I get to visit it often!

My favorite quilt for the year was this one made for one of my Scrap Mixology patterns.  The pattern is called Bloom. Who knew when I started out that I was going to fall in love with this one?  I am not sure if it is the colors, the layout or the design...but it now resides in my personal collection.

When I wasn't playing with scraps, I did finish a few quilts from stash fabric.  I had quite a few projects that have been sitting in fabric piles for quite some time.  The fabric for this All That Jazz quilt was gifted to me by a friend.  I really loved the fabrics and didn't want to cut them up into small pieces.  

So this pattern worked perfectly!

And finally, some of my favorite finishes every year are the quilts I help finish for Covered in Love.  The blocks are all finished by others and I just sew the blocks together and quilt them.  I enjoy looking at all the scrap fabrics other people own.  In 2021 there were a total of seven or eight.  You can look back on them here, here, here, and here.  I am so thankful for the support I get in pattern sales and affiliate links here on my blog as it allows me to step away from my client quilts and work on these donation quilts.  It feels good to give back - I am hoping to help out again in 2022.

A big thanks to Cheryl for hosting the event again.  I hope you spend some time checking out all the other bloggers who are linking up their favorites for the year.  There are some awesome quilts being shared!

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Oh Scrap! : RSC2022

 With only a few more days left in 2021, I thought I had better make a final decision on what Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks I am going to make for 2022.

I am keeping it simple this year!

This one is a carryover from last year.  I still need about 11 more blocks in lots of different colors.  I was hoping to just finish it up this year but I think at this point we can agree that is not going to happen.

These blocks are used using the Two Bits Scrap Mixology pattern.

Last year I made a few test blocks that I will continue making this year.  I think this one is going to be fun when it is all finished.  I used another Scrap Mixology pattern - this one is the Chaser block.  The pattern does not have the flip corners that create the pinwheels, but they are easy enough to add.

Every month, I will be making monochromatic impro placemats in the RSC featured color.  I am trying to clean out as many crumb scraps as I can this year.  Right now, I am working away on my low volume scraps.  I just finished the binding on this one in red/white.

And my last project will be made using the Scrap Mixology Bloom block pattern.  I know what layout I want to make but I need to finalize the scrap colors I want to use.  I am not sure if it will include all of the rainbow colors but it will include a lot of them!

Have you finalized your RSC blocks?

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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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Low Volume Scraps

Yippee! -  I was able to squeeze in one more quilt finish in 2021.

One type of scraps I have been heavily focused on recently are my low volumes.  I tend to use the really low volumes up pretty quickly.  But those that have a lot more volume tend to pile up.

I decided to chop them up into 3.5" squares and make a quilt from them.  I added in some black scraps for maximum contrast.

I really am pleased with how it turned out!

Back in November I shared some early progress and was disappointed with some of the black fabrics I was using.  I darkened up my chains for the rest of the blocks and I am so happy I did.  (You can see a lot of the lighter blacks around the edges.  I think I did a pretty good job hiding them.)

A big positive about scrap quilts is just about any fabric will work for the backing.  I used one of the large cuts I picked up in the clearance section at Connecting Threads.  I also framed it up nicely by using an older black print I have had in my stash for years.

It was hard to get a photo of the quilting but I followed the squares and made a fun jigsaw puzzle pattern.  The hardest part on this pattern is remembering if you are quilting an "innie" or an "outie" partial circle.  I admit I made a few mistakes here and there.

I have now shifted my focus to turning more low volume scraps into scrappy placemats. 

I have a small pile already quilted and just waiting to be trimmed and bound.

Wishing all of you who celebrate a very Happy Christmas this weekend.  May you all spend the holiday season celebrating love and hoping for peace.

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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)

So Scrappy for RSC21 

Prepare now for quilting in the new year - 

Connecting Thread has their thread on sale.thru the new year!

Oh Scrap! : Back on Track

 First of all, sorry I missed the link up last week.  It was a first in the nine years I have been hosting this weekly event.  I totally lost track of time and before I knew it, Sunday was half over.  So, feel free to link up your older post if you like.

I have been busy sewing these scrappy bits together.

Originally my plan was to sew them in horizontal strips like this.

I really do like how this looks...

But as I continued to work on them, the thought of matching all those points was very unappealing to me.  So, I decided to sew them up into groups of four and rotate them.  This will be so much easier to assemble!  I am pretty sure this quilt will just get donated so why make it harder than it needs to be.

I also finished up two low volume improv placemats in red.  I just need to find some backings, quilt them up and trim them to size. Then I can slowly work on attaching all the bindings.   I think I have enough bits to make one more in red then I will be moving onto some with blue.

I have a couple sew days with friends scheduled soon so I look forward to making a lot of progress on both of these projects.

So many 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

This time of year is always a great time to buy or add to your AccuQuilt cutting system.  There are some great deals on both the Go! and the Studio cutters and dies.

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Gray Bits B Gone

 I have been busy working on my small gray scraps.

At the end of October, I shared that I was going to start purging my scrap bins of all the tiny bits and make some placemats.  I finally finished the ones I made from my gray scrap bin.

I was able to make a total of eight mats in varying shades of gray.

I used a simple improv method of just sewing bits together until I had a piece big enough for a mat.  After I quilted them, I trimmed them to 11 x 15".

I ended up with a total of eight placemats.  I could have made a few more but most of my small bits were the same colors of solids.  I worked them in as much as I could, but I really felt using more prints added more character.

I was able to clean out some "unwanted" fabrics for the backs.  I also used up leftover solid gray bits for the bindings. I love that I had enough to match the shade of the mat itself.

I think it will be fun to see how many I end up with at the end of 2022.  If I made eight just from the gray bin, that means I can project I will make over 100.  My plan is to donate all of them to be distributed during the next holiday season.

I can't wait to see what color will be announced for the RSC in January.  

I am ready to get started!

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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)

So Scrappy for RSC21 

Some Year End Eye Candy

I often get photos of the lovely quilts other quilters make using my patterns.  I realized I haven't shared them on my blog since last summer.  Thought I would share a few today. 

This fun little quilt was made by Julie over at Julie's Quilts and Costumes using my Wiggle Time pattern.  You can read more about it on her blog.  If you don't already follow her, you should.  

Her quilts are amazing!

Sadly, I lost track of who sent me this Wiggle Time quilt.  They added a couple rows to make the quilt longer.  Check out that quilting!

This one I had the pleasure of quilting.  This Wiggle Time quilt was made from the softest pastel colors.  Very sweet!

It has been a while since I received a photo of a Spin quilt.  

I love this orange and gray combination!

Check out this lovely Summertime Blossoms quilt. 

 The colors are amazing...I really love the dark blue grunge background!

And finally, a few Geese Migration quilts.  These two are made by a student in one of my classes.  She has used her scraps to make multiple quilts.  I will be teaching this class in Roseburg Oregon in April.

If you see something you like, you can find all of my patterns in my Etsy Shop or in my Payhip Store. 

 I really do appreciate the support.

And thanks to all who share their finished quilts.  I really do love seeing them and I hope you do too.

Have a great weekend!

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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)

Oh Scrap! : Cutting and Sewing

 I have been able to find quite a bit of time to sew this week but my newest scrap quilt sure is slow in progress.  I feel like all I do is cut-cut-cut and then sew-sew-sew and only a few blocks go up on the wall.

Here is where I am right now.  I have finished three rows about 48" wide.  I have now started sewing the next pieces for the next three rows.

I am just sticking them up on the wall as I get each one completed.  I will have to work on the final placement later to balance out the fabrics.

(That bright blue piece will definitely need to be hidden along an edge!)

But as I was putting up some pieces, I realized I could sew four strips together and create a different design by rotating each alternate block.  I could create some fun zigzag designs with the colors. 

This certainly gives me something to think about!

What are your thoughts....

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

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 on Feedly

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)

What a Hoot (BOM Mondays)