Saturday, May 21, 2011

Scraps are taking over!

Just a quick post...mostly to get rid of the picture of the lady with the zippered mouth.  I've heard from some of you saying she was a little creepy.



I've been holding on to my new Stars and Sprigs pattern for months now while finishing other projects.  That has the appearance of being disciplined, but really I've been having a hard time deciding how to proceed with this pattern.  I've been trying to decide between brights and reproduction fabrics. 

I FINALLY decided to experiment with some brights, maybe because it is spring and all the lovely flowers and new tree leaves have been influencing me.


I've cut out and glue stick prepped about 10 blocks worth of applique.  Each pattern and the prepped pieces are in a separate sheet pocket protector until I can get to them.  After glue basting the shapes from one of the blocks to the background, I'm thinking I need to make some of the more leaf looking pieces other colors than bright greens.  There are so many leaves in the whole project that I need to loosen up and stretch my definition of leaf color, or the quilt is going to read too green.



I've had to put this project on hold while I deal with my scraps...they are taking over the quilt cave!  The containers I sort scraps into are near to bursting, which means the piles of unsorted scraps have been growing because there is no place to sort and store them.  I've been looking for a block that I misplaced and I keep bumping into scrap piles!  It is insane!  


I have to stop and feed some of the scrap quilt projects I want to do to clean this clutter up!  This involves pressing each scrap and then processing it into strips, squares, rectangles, and strings.  I've been needing to do this for several months, but I didn't want to stop the applique and quilting projects I was working on to do it.


Once I've done this, I'll have oodles of space to sort and store NEW scraps.  And I will have endless leaders and enders ready to go while sewing on other projects.  All these scrap quilts are long term projects...but I will soon have quite a few processed bits to chain piece together.


As I process the scraps, I save the tiny bits for small applique shapes and crumb quilting.  I sort those into 4 bins...WARM (red, yellow, orange, pink), COOL (blue, green, purple), BROWN/BLACK and NEUTRAL. 

Next post I will show the 8-9 scrap projects I am currently feeding...and maybe by then I will find the missing block that prompted all this stash maintenance.

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)

18 comments:

  1. extra points to you for sorting! I started going through a couple of piles and that lead to more stuff and ended up with a complete go though on my office (how I went from scraps to office supplies I don't know) guess when the urge hits one just has to roll with it!

    I like the way you are sorting. I haven't settled on one way that works for me but I keep trying.

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  2. WOW! The Stars and Sprigs is gorgeous in the brights. I've put it in the "to be done before long" pile and like you I was thinking repros, but after seeing yours...Hmmmm... :-) It'll have to wait, my dear twin. I sorted my scraps (finally!) into color bins, but the pressing and cutting still waits! I've got too many irons in the fire to stop what I'm doing and deal with it, but the sewing room looks like Chernobyl! Shall we agg each other on!?! Can't wait to see the projects you are feeding!
    Blessings,
    Mary Lou

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  3. It will be fun to watch your progress making Stars and Sprigs! Those bright spring colors are calling my name too :0) They can call all they like because I don't have any in my stash - lol.
    I can't wait to see the 8-9 scrap projects you are feeding. I couldn't keep that many projects straight in my head at once.

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  4. You are just over the top. I try to keep the sorting, processing as I go with current projects, to avoid the 'pile ups'. 8 charity quilts went out the door this month and that made a lot of space. Now if I can clear up my last 3 projects for the month I will be on top of it. As always your applique technique is just so beyond me.

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  5. Hats off to you for your sorting.. I have never been an organized person and the older I get the worse it becomes.. Love the Stars and Sprigs in brights ~ it's next on list.

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  6. I missed the post with the picture of the zippered mouth. I had to scroll down and see what that was about. LOL!

    You are using such crisp and bright colors for your applique. Very pretty start to your project.

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  7. Love the blocks.. and the sheet protectors are such a GREAT idea. Are they a super big size? I just can't get over what a cool idea that is. I saw your scrap bins and thought of a basket of leaves hat had been raked up in the yard.. it reminds me of fall.. wonderful colors!

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  8. It's a happy quilt so it'll look great in brights. I'll be excited to see how you go with this one. I don't think my scraps are big enough to have your system works, sometimes I wish I could just chuck them away.

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  9. This now is exciting..nobody does it better, project sew darn organized.you simply amaze me...I love your process. I love these colors...what next?

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  11. I had to delete my comment because I didn't proof read it so the meaning was completely opposite of what I meant to say ROFL. Here's the revised version...

    I'm lovin' this in the brights that are NOT (the key word missing) just Kaffe type fabrics. The Stars & Sprigs is on my short list too....now I just have to quit knitting so much and get back to quilting

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  12. For some reason today I am able to click your photos and they enlarge enough that I could reach right in that green bin and pick the threads off the fabrics. Wow! I love your Stars & Sprigs in brights. I have that pattern, too, but I really should finish Hearts & Flowers first. I kind of feel like Janet lately..just wish I could chuck my scraps away but like you I am feeding a few scrap projects.

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  13. Great photos, love the applique work. :)

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  14. What a perfect way to organize an applique project...thanks for sharing. You've done an amazing job sorting scraps...what a job!

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  15. once again, I'm totally impressed by your prep and organization!! You are amazing.
    Your work is lovely as usual

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  16. wow! Your scraps bins are divine! I have huge big ol' tubs filled to the brim... your blocks look so nice!

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  17. I have popped over from an old Stash Manicure post and see that you are a fellow Michigander! I have signed up to follow. Love your quilts and your stash and stash organization is to die for.

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  18. Great organization. When you finish yours can you come down to Louisiana and organize my quilting cave! LOL

    I am going to try your idea of pressing and cutting into manageable pieces

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