Scrap Happy in October

It's that time again, to bring out our scrap materials and see what we can do with them. 😊

Back before the real heat of summer settled in I decided to deal with the accumulation of 1.5" scrap strips here in the Magpie's Nest. I spent days sewing them into 6" blocks. They were built as liberated Courthouse Steps blocks. Which means I didn't keep to the traditional distribution of colors/values. Some blocks turned out to be framed squares, some more closely resemble traditional Courthouse Steps blocks. 

I cut my longest strips into 6.5" and 4.5" lengths. I already had plenty of 1.5" x 2.5" strips. In most cases I used a pair of the shortest strips to start a block. Occasionally I used a 2.5" square patch leftover from my efforts to use up that accumulation. I sorted the strips into this large tin (which you may remember from the previous patch busting sessions). It was chock full when I began. The photo below is when I was close to the end of my efforts. Full disclosure: there are still some strips in the tin (but not many!).

I made several blocks at a time. Each set went up on the design wall in no particular order. In the end I had 61 blocks.

 I haven't had the motivation to do anything with these blocks until now. Sixty blocks weren't really enough to make a quilt of any size so I thought I'd try alternating them with some of my other scrappy blocks. 

 If I follow through with this layout I'll have a flimsy that would finish at 54" square. With 3" borders all the way around I'll have a 60" quilt top. I find that a very versatile size. It works for children, it works for adults. I just have to get all the blocks sewn together!

Kate is the organizer of this blog hop. As you can see, this monthly deadline can be very helpful. Not everyone in the link list below works with fabric but everyone has wonderful things to share.

Kate, Eva, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, 
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, 
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv, Karrin,  Alissa,
Hannah and Maggie

 

Coping in October

 Living in the United States of America has become exceedingly stressful. If you care about our Constitution and Bill of Rights anyway. And I do care. Deeply. Which has made it hard to make time to create but at the same time makes it more important that I do take the time to be creative. Factor in my advancing age and chronic disability on top of it all and the result is fewer and fewer blog posts!

Over the years I acquired a scrap of what I assume was a curtain fabric and a scarf that both feature images from the Revolutionary War period of the USA. They've been languishing in my stash since the beginning of time - or at least, the beginning of my quilt making career. This is the year they've been waiting for. Not the 250th anniversary of the founding of this nation but one year shy of it. 🫤

 

The curtain scrap has been virtually used up. (I can't find what was left of it.) This is what's left of the scarf. I cut one square from it for a page in the little book I've been making and two more squares for what will likely become the inside of the cover. I didn't know I would be making a separate cover when I began this project. I thought this would be the front cover:

That's the piece of curtain fabric that was most appropriate for my purposes. On top of a navy blue cotton printed with tiny stars. Turn that page to reveal...

 I've discovered I really enjoy raw edge applique. Who knew? I've avoided applique like the plague up 'til now. Still not interested in turning edges under or cutting layers to create an image. But let me fussy cut words and phrases or images out of fabric and I'm on my way!

 The little wooden sign on the right hand page of this spread reads 'Home Sweet Home.' I've also found some freedom in working at not trying to make everything perfect. 

 

 

The more I worked on this little book the more the beads and sequins and buttons came into play. Behind the statue of Liberty I tried to indicate the various people that have contributed to the building of this nation.

 This is the first image I cut from the scarf. The pages of this book are roughly 3.5" square.

 This is what I have laid out for the back cover. Originally I thought it would be on the outside but now I'm thinking the inside. I have an idea for the exterior of the cover... we shall see what transpires. 

 

Scrap Happy in September

 Good heavens, it's been a whole month since I last posted! I can only say I have a list of excuses, none of which you want to be bothered with. 

Last month I shared the pink scroll I'd been working on. This is how I finished it off:

I backed the length of the scroll with that mottled pink batik and then also wrapped a short strip of batting with the same fabric. I included a loop of elastic cord when I closed up the batting "spool." It loops over the button at the end of the scroll. And then the whole thing rolls up and gets tied with some sari ribbon.

 I added a bead before tying on the heart charm at the end of the ribbon. That project was so much fun I went right ahead and made another one. 

 

Can I just say, scrolls are frustrating to photograph. I tried making a video but wasn't allowed to upload it here for some reason.

  I lined this scroll and then looked around for something to wrap it around. Finally I just gave up and wrapped a bit a batting around a wooden clothes pin, secured it with a few stitches, and then wrapped the scroll around that. 

(I do love variegated threads.) 

I wrapped this one in the opposite direction from the pink scroll. It just seemed to read better that way.

 Scrap Happy Day is hosted on the 15th of each month by Kate at Talltalesfromchiconia. We share something we've made out of scrap materials or something repurposed. Some of our makes are useful, others are more decorative like these scrolls. 😊

Kate, Eva, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, 
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, 
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv, Karrin,  Alissa,
Hannah and Maggie

 

Scrap Happy in August

 We are having uncomfortably high temperatures at the moment. It is August in the Northern Hemisphere after all. I have a couple of quilts that need binding but I just can't face working on them in this heat. I'm not even interested in making blocks for a future quilt. Gotta have the iron on for that process. So I have turned to hand sewing and working with some of the smallest scraps in my magpie's nest.

I started with a strip of muslin 2.5" high and about 23" long. On top of that I raw-edge appliqued various patches, mostly in pinks and purples as it turned out. 

Once I had the strip covered I began embellishing it with simple embroidery stitches. 

There are some lazy daisy or detached chain stitches and straight stitches in various configurations in the section above. 

I did a spider web rose, blanket stitches, tiny upright cross stitches, and more chain stitches in this section.

Eventually I added other embellishments like strips of ribbon and lace, charms, buttons, and a tag from a man's necktie. Following are photos from the left end to the right end. 

I believe that's a piece of antique lace in this section.

 

 The next step is to put a back on the strip and find something to wind it around for the full scroll effect. While I do that you can visit these other Scrap Happy Day participants. 😊

Kate, Eva, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, 
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, 
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv, Karrin,  Alissa,
Hannah and Maggie

 

Seven Months of Textile Postcards

 I've been stitching postcards along with Tori over at KoolKookyKreatures on YouTube. She gives us a prompt each month for inspiration. I shared a few at the beginning of the year but have slacked off since then. So I thought this might be a good time for a review and a reveal of the latest postcards. 😊

January's prompt was "Snow Day!"

 February was "Feathered Friends."

 March's prompt was "Time for Tea." I went with time for tea with Dr. Who. 😉

 In April we were invited to make "My Secret Garden."

May was all about "Faerie Tales." I went with flower fairies. 

In June we peeked "Under the Sea."

 And for July the prompt was "Wild Thing." A friend reminded me about Animal, the drummer in the Muppet Show band. Then I found these guys in my stash. 😁

 

 

  Now it's time for "Doggust." This should be fairly straightforward - I hope!