Much more! A whole box full, in fact.
I have a big box of fabric scraps! I mean a biiiiiiggggg box! Big enough to choke a horse--if, that is, I was of a mind to choke a horse, which I'm not. Let's make that perfectly clear.
A small sample of what's in that biiiiiggggg box of scraps!
Anyway, here they were, all those scraps of fabric. Beautiful fabric. Little scraps, big scraps, middle-size scraps.
During the Great Declutter Wars of 2010, I gathered scraps from all over my sewing room, from all the bins and boxes and bags, and boxed them all up into one humongous box and set it out for the charity truck to pick up. Approximately five minutes later, I brought the box back inside.
Next, I made a plan to divide all the scraps up into much smaller grab bags, take the bags to guild meetings and give them away. I didn't even get far enough with that plan to fill the first grab bag.
So that huge box of fabric scraps has been sitting in my upstairs hallway for many months. From time to time, I open that box and deposit more scraps from projects I'm working on. But I still haven't brought myself to give those scraps away. I want them. So I have two choices: either I let them sit and do nobody any good, growing bigger and bigger. Or I can use them. But to do that, I need a plan. I found one.
By chance, I happened upon the Bumble Beans, Inc., blog. Victoria is the blogger at Bumble Beans. She has a way with fabric scraps that just blows me away. On her blog site, I found a button for Victoria's 15 Minute Sew-Along group. All this has inspired me to dive into my big box of scraps and create.
These blocks show what I have done since finding Bumble Beans and the 15-Minute group. If you're interested, you can visit the blog and read all about it. There's a requirement that you have to be able and willing to post on the Sew Along blog, but otherwise, it's a pretty laid-back group.
Here's the idea in a nutshell: After I finish working on whatever sewing project I'm working on, I spend 15 minutes sewing scraps together to make "fabric." (I don't always stick with the 15 minutes. I just sew till I stop.)
A visit to Bumble Beans 15 Minute Sew-Along Group will show you that members do a lot more with their "fabric" that what I'm showing here. For now, I'm stopping with my unit when I can cut a 12 1/2" square from it. Later I might cut these squares into smaller squares or triangles or hearts or stars or something. Or I might just sew them all together to make a quilt. For now, I'm just having fun making them.
In other quilting blog news, you might have heard that Ami Simms lost her boon companion Madison yesterday. Madison was a dog of many talents. I encourage you to drop by Ami's blog and read her beautiful and moving tribute to Madison and enjoy the photos. And while you're there, you might leave Ami a few words of comfort. I know her heart is broken right now.
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On 02/23/2011, Ruth said ...
Love your "15" minute blocks, on close inspection I realise that I have many of the same scraps. Thanks for the heads up on Madison.
Enjoy your Wednesday, Susan
Ruith
On 02/23/2011, Barbara Anne said ...
Oh! Your scrappy 15 min. blocks are delightful! I'll have to give this a try because I, too, have a bazillion scraps.
My next itty bitty Alz quilt will be made in Madison's honor. As a dog person, I cannot keep the tears from coming.
Hope you're feeling lots better!
Hugs!
On 02/23/2011, Mama Pea said ...
That is a neat way to use up scraps. I'm struggling with mine, too. I may have to give that a go.
I feel bad about Ami's pup. I don't know if I can handle reading her tribute right now. My loss of Piper is still pretty raw for me! Maybe soon that will start to pass.
On 02/23/2011, Susan Ramey Cleveland said ...
Yeah, Stephanie, maybe you should wait a bit before reading about Madison. I cried and cried and cried while I read it and afterwards, and I haven't lost a pet in many years.
On 02/23/2011, Susan Ramey Cleveland said ...
What a beautiful way to remember a very special doggie, Barbara. I know Ami will be blessed by your donation.
On 02/23/2011, Joanne Cage said ...
Ami's story about Madison is very moving. I know it's painful. I still cry sometimes when I think of Little Darcy.
Love your scrap blocks idea. I wasn't going to start a new quilt till I finish a whole bunch of things, but this is just too tempting.
On 02/23/2011, Susan Ramey Cleveland said ...
The good thing about this is that you don't have to consider it starting a new quilt. It's just cleaning up after yourself. Or something.
On 02/23/2011, Lynn said ...
I also follow Victoria's blog and the 15 minute blog. I have gotten some really good ideas from both. I have found that there are times that I want to sew but don't feel like thinking about a pattern. Just making fabric with Victoria's method from scraps is perfect for those times.
I'm a follower of Ami and Madison's blog so I saw her post yesterday. Cried through most of it. Goldie sent her a loving meow.
On 02/23/2011, Dandelion Quilts said ...
And, I was just thinking yesterday...I am not doing so well on that UFO challenge, but at least I am using up some fabric scraps that I have opened or laying around. :) Mine are like mini volcanoes erupting around the sewing room.
On 02/23/2011, Brenda Kula said ...
Ah, bless her heart. It is so hard to lose one. I love the piecing. CM tonight, twice!
Brenda
On 02/23/2011, Deb said ...
Susan ~ I found the Bumblebeans website about a month ago and bookmarked it to check out. I haven't done anything with my scraps...maybe one day...just too busy working on UFOs!! LOL!
On 02/23/2011, Debra said ...
I've been doing Mile a Minute blocks lately--they are fun but seriously addictive. Same principle-anything goes.
On 02/24/2011, Lisa said ...
Your blocks are so full of color... hard to believe they used to be "scraps"! Very nice. Ami's tribute to Madison was so well-done and full of love and honor for her dear friend. We recently lost our beloved beagle and are appreciating each day with our most dear geriatric dog, Sandy. And you're so sweet to care so much about others.... it comes through your blog in the way you share.
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