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.