Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Strippy, scrappy, flippy, happy, happy, HAPPY...


Welcome to "part 2" of the current scrapbusting project.  I started this while sick, thinking that the mindless chain-piecing of the scraps would distract my cough.  Well, it worked!  (It also succeeded in keeping me from packing and getting ready for our trip to the Philadelphia area...)  This initial portion reminds me of the fret board on the neck of a guitar.


The initial pieced strip of short, stubby chunks constitutes the central, diagonal portion of the 8.5 inch square.  Then I "contained" this strip set with black strips on either side.  Now, the fun continues as I just fill out the square on either side.


Each added strip needs to be shorter than the last, and I just roughly center the strip as I sew it on.  As I work, I have my 8.5 inch square ruler close so that I can check myself to make sure I am covering enough real estate with each strip.


I really do have a 100% cotton addiction...as I grab strips and chain-piece, I am like a kid in a candy store, trying to decide which piece to try next!  Yum-YUM!


I keep checking myself with my ruler as I go merrily along...


Eventually, I end up with these funky blobs of strippy, colorful eye candy.  I have been looking forward to playing around with all these scrappy, bright strips and chunks for so long! 


I like working with the bold bright scraps...I feel like there are no rules as to how they should go together.  It is very liberating to work with no rules, no pattern, no paper, etc.  I am usually trying to be so perfect, so precise.  I guess my only "rule" is that I insist on pressing well as I go so these wild and crazy beauties will lie absolutely flat and true.


As I work and handle each piece, I remember the project the scrap came from or the person that gave me the scrap...isn't that wacky??  Mary J and Barb F...do you see some of your fabrics??


Initially, I did try this as a paper-piecing project, but I quickly got lazy and realized that I could do this just as well without the paper, as long as I keep rulers close and check myself from time to time to make sure I am completely covering enough area to cleanly cut out my block when I've finished adding all the strips.  I only had to remove the paper from one blob to realize that I didn't want to do THAT over and over!


Next, using my Brooklyn Revolver (one of my favorite tools!), I carefully trimmed the fabric blobs down to perfect little 8.5 inch squares.  This is a rotary mat with a "lazy Susan" base.  It allows me to trim one side, carefully turn 90 degrees and trim, then continue turning and trimming until a square appears. 

Ta da!

So far I have 24 blocks ready to lay out and see how things will look.


Me likey!

When chain-piecing the "blobs" and adding the last small corner chunks, I did try and not use too skinny a strip.  That way when I start piecing all the squares together, I won't have seam allowances too close to the intersection of four blocks.


I'm going to play with the setting some...I wasn't real careful here, just wanting to see how all the blocks play together.


After our Thanksgiving trip, I can't wait to dive into this box of strips and chunks and make more blocks!  They are so quick and fun to make!  I was definitely tempted to play hookie from Thanksgiving and stay home and make more blocks.  I am looking forward to seeing Steve's parents and sister, and even looking forward to doing all the cooking in a strange kitchen, but this project is so FUN!!  It makes my heart sing!


(**added later**)  Here are 2 finished quilts using these fabulous blocks...



Happy Thanksgiving and I hope your heart is getting to sing a little bit on this long, holiday weekend!  I am so thankful for family and friends, and I am totally grateful to have a hobby that challenges and delights me, and occasionally torments me!

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)

59 comments:

  1. What a CUTE CUTE CUTE idea! I'm stealing it. That's me, running away with your idea.....

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  2. Well those turned out cute, your sewing machine must be smoking from all that use. Fun technique. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  3. What enormous fun! And so cheerful looking!
    Jane

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  4. wheee, that came out fun! so funny, I find it so much less stressful to just go ahead and sew on paper....

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  5. way to take strips up a notch. now another TO DO on my growing list of Somedays!

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  6. This is really fun. So colorful, too. Glad you were able to find a way to have fun while sick.

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  7. wow are you having fun or what? I love all the happy and fun fabrics!

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  8. LOVE the blocks! I can tell you are really enjoying this, which is awesome. Love all the bright colors, too. I must try this. I have my own abundance of scraps, so this would be a fun project. Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels!

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  9. After your post yesterday I was curious to see what you would do. Wow - what a quilt! So much visual interest and the black to tie it all together. Looks great so far!

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  10. Well, aren't you just the smartest girl!!! I have got to try this. I have SO many scraps. Can't wait. Thanks for sharing the how-to.

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  11. OK....I was anxiously awaiting the second part of this to see where you were headed with these blocks and O.M.G.......I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this quilt! I can see why it makes your heart sing cause it makes my heart sing :o) We'll be waiting for the next post about this beauty (hint, hint)

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  12. Love these bright, cheerful quilt blocks. Your layout really sings. What a fun project. Thank you for sharing it.

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  13. I love these blocks. Such a pretty block and a great way to use scraps.

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  14. GREAT blocks, what fun! isn't it fun to use up our scraps and make a quilt from them
    I have an overflowing scrap basket right now and can't decide to donate it or just make a quilt top and donate that .....
    can't wait to see this top!
    Kathie

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  16. Thanks for sharing your ideas. I have shared your post about this on Freebies For Crafters too...hugs Khris

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  17. Oh this is so gorgeous - where are my scraps!!! Thank you, saw you on freebies for crafters blog!

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  18. Thank you! I know what I will do with all those John Deere pieces from cutting fq for lap quilts (local nursing home in MT) I was just looking at the bag the other day. Cndy

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  19. That is a great idea! I do a lot of string stuff, so this was interesting!

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  20. I love this way to use up fabric scraps Good job.

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  21. I just love the way these come together ... it's a work of art :-)

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  22. What a wonderful and fun quilt this will be! Perhaps I shall try this one... Thank you for sharing!

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  23. Me Likey too! Always looking for an idea for ALL my scraps.

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  24. I love this! So colorful and useful! I live in the Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo area. I'm also a musician- music teacher. How awesome all this is! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  25. Love it! Where is the link for part one?

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  26. Never mind I found it. lol

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  27. Me Likey too!! That is a great way to use those small pieces - thank you SO much for sharing!!

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  29. I absolutely love this and need to make it too. Thanks for sharing!!

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  30. I like your placement of the black strips! It really adds so much to an already fabulous quilt block!

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  31. This is easy, fun and addictive! What a great use for all those scraps. Your instructions are spot on.

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  32. This looks like so much fun. But did you finish the quilt?

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  33. What a wonderful idea!!! Thanks for showing and sharing!!! I think it's great to reduce my "1000 scraps"!!!

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  34. Thank you for your wonderful guidelines. I finished piecing my version for my grandson's nap quilt at preschool. It is stunning!

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  35. I really love the idea of the center strip to use up shorter pieces. I may start tomorrow.

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  36. I found this on Pinterest and started making blocks this weekend. I'm having a lot of fun with it. Thank you so much!

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  37. We think they are beautiful, but my daughter with ocd says they make her dizzy.

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  38. We think they are beautiful, but my daughter with ocd says they make her dizzy.

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  39. lovely quilt, it's a pattern i'd love to do as well....one day...
    how do you like your brooklyn revolver??
    i had one, and although i liked the revolving part, i found the top (cutting mat) to leave visible welts ... that would stay visible.
    have you found the same thing with yours??
    i ended up selling mine,. and now use a wooden lazy susan, with a small rectangular cutting mat on it, and it works perfectly!!

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  40. These are great, I have made a number of string quilts but this is a new twist for me. Can't wait to try it!

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  41. I absolutely love this quilt!!! It's so colorful, so full of life, so happy and perfect to use all my scraps.

    Thanks so much for the tutorial.

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  42. How did I miss this post the first time around?? I love making string quilts and have done several versions. This one looks like so much fun too. I may have to get out the old strings once again, real soon. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  43. libertador mesmo,e eficiente ainda não fiz mas vou sair do computadoe pra maquina de costura,grata por compartilhar seu lindo e maravilhoso trab alho,saude e fica com Deus

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  44. libertador mesmo,e eficiente ainda não fiz mas vou sair do computadoe pra maquina de costura,grata por compartilhar seu lindo e maravilhoso trab alho,saude e fica com Deus

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  45. I've just discovered your blog and this post. I'm planning to make a bed quilt for our family lake house and have decided to use scraps from all the quilts I've made for our 3 children and 8 grands. Your quilt has really inspired me.

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  46. do them on really thin muslin, it works

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  47. Very nice and exciting. Thank you so much! This will be my very next project.

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  48. I'm finally making my 1st strippy string quilt using fabric foundation. I love yours, even though it's from 7 years ago :)

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  49. Ah-MAZE-ING! Love this fun, colorful project. Great way to bust scraps & settle the mind. Thanks for a wonderful tutorial.

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