The "leftover" story
I showed this one a few months ago. I had taken the blocks off the design wall and put them in a stack which I was searching through yesterday. I decided to cut another 5 blocks from my crooked strip piecing.
Here is what is leftover. Now life would be considerably simpler if I could just throw them away, but you know I can't do that. I will have to figure out something to do with them.
I had 2 students that I remember from my 30+ year teaching career that always got rid of all of the leftover fabrics when they finished a project. They didn't want any mess around. They sincerely enjoyed making things but had no creative ideas of what to do with scraps. They never wanted the same fabrics in the next project. I guess it takes all kinds of people, but I have more fun with the leftovers than I do with the original project. So my house isn't neat and tidy. It is full of leftovers waiting to be made into great things.
Here is what is leftover. Now life would be considerably simpler if I could just throw them away, but you know I can't do that. I will have to figure out something to do with them.
I had 2 students that I remember from my 30+ year teaching career that always got rid of all of the leftover fabrics when they finished a project. They didn't want any mess around. They sincerely enjoyed making things but had no creative ideas of what to do with scraps. They never wanted the same fabrics in the next project. I guess it takes all kinds of people, but I have more fun with the leftovers than I do with the original project. So my house isn't neat and tidy. It is full of leftovers waiting to be made into great things. 
16 comments:
I am pretty organized but I still keep my scraps too, in nice tidy containers! :)
It took me awhile to understand that you COULD use leftovers -- now I love them!
I'm from Mennonite Heritage, making quilts WAS using scraps and a second life for worn out clothing. Keep your scraps, make something fun.
Leftovers are great, you never know what you will do with them. I love how the quilt is looking on your design wall. It looks similar to the design of my strata quilt, but not so bright.
Your house IS neat and tidy I personally know that for sure! Maybe your workroom and studio has leftovers here and there. But I know too that they are in those neat containers you showed us the other day. Or stacked neatly on shelves all color coordinated. I enjoy what you do with your leftovers as much as you enjoy creating a new piece. You are too modest.
J~MT
Yes, you are modest... and you are already doing things with leftovers that dazzle us and give us ideas. Bless you whole bunches!
I agree. the leftovers are sometimes more fun than the original quilt! And anyway, I can't throw anything out! I love the blocks on your design wall!
I couldn't throw out leftovers like that ever!!! Sometimes they need to sit and "marinate" a while, while we dream up ideas.
Your quilts are all so stunning, how could anything made with leftovers not be!
...at your house and my house, too
I used to hoard scraps but I didn't know what to do with them! Being immersed in your blog as well as Carmen's and Melody's, I have more ideas and DESIRE for piles of scraps to become part of my quilts. :-)
I too love scraps. My best work is done with little tiny scraps.
You're preachin' to the choir honey
Isn't it a great challenge to make something out of what doesn't seem to fit?
I am currently doing an applique quilt and all of it is coming from scraps. I have enjoyed seeing flowers and leaves sprouting from other quilts I have done.
Wow, I can't imagine throwing away the leftovers. But then I grew up with two grandmothers that quilted. One of them used mostly scraps and 'recycled' fabrics. (can you say flour sacks and used clothing?)
Yes ma'am, I save any scrap that looks big enough to use.
Hi Wanda,
Well, I don't think you're preaching just to the choir. There may be some lurkers who are like my quilter friend who does fussy, precise, beautiful work, but when she's done with a project, she takes all the scraps from her home work room to our bee. We have fun scrounging her leftovers.
I have always wondered about her and why those scraps didn't "speak" to her. I hear fabric talking all the time, even when someone is wearing it as a piece of clothing.
Vicky F
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