Playing with Scraps

Right now there are scrap baskets all over my house. I'll admit, I haven't been very diligent in organizing them lately. Many of the small quilts I make are made with scraps from these scrap baskets. Some of the scraps I like to use and use again are pretty old--not vintage, just little pieces of some of my favorite fabrics I've saved over the years that are left over from other projects. If you're like me, when a fabric calls to you, you have to buy it even if you have no particular plans for it. I have a habit of hanging onto my favorite pieces (some of them are now pretty small) and lovingly spreading them throughout my scrap quilts. I never get tired of some of them. Those of you who have my books and are pretty sharp may have already noticed that I like to use some of the same scraps over and over in the quilts I make. 

It's not that I don't have enough other fabric (goodness) or because I can't afford to buy NEW fabric (I buy new fabric all the time), I've just formed attachments to some of them. Somehow it feels very satisfying to use those scraps and place the ones I particularly love in several different quilts (or, especially, in my Dear Jane quilt). Then, every time I look at one I have to smile because I feel a little tug. Seeing the special fabric might make me recall where I bought it or what else was going on in my life at that time.

I know we all love to collect our little scraps and save them to make doll quilts someday, but, in your collecting excitement - don't forget to use them!

We often dream about quilts we want to make someday. Sometimes, it becomes a regular pastime. I'm sure many of you have pictures of old quilts or quilts from your favorite designers just sitting around waiting to come alive as a real quilt.  One of the best ways I've found to get myself motivated to do this and actually make those quilts is to first take the time to organize your scraps. Otherwise, I get bogged down by the clutter and don't know what to do with all those little pieces. Try cutting them into same-size squares or strips to make it easier to use them up.

My sewing space is often a mess when I'm working on something, especially when it's several projects at the same time (No time to organize, too many things to do! More coffee!). Then it becomes a real chore when it's time to clean it up. But if I do it often and keep it up, it feels SO good to know where everything is, like a cleansing. Sometimes it's almost like getting new fabric because every single time I find a piece or two or three I forgot I had.

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Well, it's time for me to organize some of my scraps (AGAIN) before I get too bogged down with a mess and then become stuck.  How about you? Feeling a little unmotivated? Not eager to start something new? Try to make a little time to organize your scraps. Then - here's an idea - after you do organize your scraps and pull out some of your favorites,  can you make a small quilt entirely from scraps in your collection? Nothing fancy, maybe just simple squares or four patches. Don't use a pattern, just let your creativity flow and just use up those little scraps, without cutting into fat quarters or larger cuts of fabrics.  Something happens when we do this . . . . It's fun and relaxing and if you're feeling a little stuck you'll be surprised at how it gets your creativity and motivation flowing again.

Making Some Good Progress on My Quilt

Most of the easy Dear Jane blocks for my quilt are already done. That's good and bad. On the one hand, by moving along with some of the easier blocks first, I was able to practice my skills working with teeny tiny pieces and become motivated to make a lot of blocks (112 blocks finished out of 225 blocks and triangles. Yay!). If I had started with all the difficult ones at first, I know I would have gotten stuck and the blocks would be sitting in a drawer today.  On the other hand, this means that I still have quite a few difficult blocks left to make.

But I'm a big girl and now that I've just about completed half of the quilt I find that I cannot quit at this stage. I've come too far. I have to keep going. And that means making some of the blocks that are not easy for me. Most of them involve foundation paper piecing - yuck.

I've never been a fan of paper piecing and avoided it for years because it involved too much fussing around with paper and not enough sewing. (Sewing along with abandon and either random thoughts or music in the background is the fun part of quilting, am I right?) Paper piecing, on the other hand,  requires your undivided attention, as well as patience. If my mind wandered I would end up with my fabric sewn to the wrong side of the papers or my edges and seams cut off because I was too impatient to correctly measure the pieces. And the waste! You waste so much darn fabric with paper piecing. Insane for someone who likes to savor her scraps.

I try to keep the book and my blocks accessible on or near my sewing table in case I have the urge to pick one up and work on it if I have a day. (I was going to say "moment" but the truth is it takes me a lot longer than a moment to sew these together. I'm not especially quick about it but it certainly has trained me to become a more patient sewer.)

What has helped me lately is buckling down and forcing myself to do better with the paper piecing and using this technique instead of hand piecing the blocks (a nice idea but just not practical for me. I'm clumsy at it. Something else I need to work on.). I've tried and have even hand pieced quite a few blocks but it takes me a long time and they often end up not looking great. Right now I am anxious to work harder to get the quilt done already, you know? These days, with half of the blocks done, I feel like I am at the top of the hill, finally looking down the other side.

 Messy before you trim

After trimming, nice and neat.

I could not even think of hand piecing this one . . . . God bless those of you who can and Jane, who did. 

Anyway, I decided upon this topic today because I suspect some of you are like me when it comes to paper piecing. And, if you're putting off beginning a Dear Jane quilt because of all those tiny pieces in those tiny blocks, here's what I want to tell you -  just do it. Make peace with paper piecing. It is not difficult, just tedious, but it will make your Dear Jane blocks go that much faster. 

To simplify the process, I found a couple of good books on paper piecing, watched some videos, bought a few new tools and I practiced, practiced, practiced. Even though very time I am away from it for awhile it feels like my brain has to relearn it again, I have stuck with it and progressed much just by forcing myself to keep doing it often. I still don't love it but I do love racking up the number of blocks I can finish quickly so that's something.

There are a couple of  videos I found to be helpful here and  here . Practice, practice, practice and it will eventually click.

Also, since Carol Doak is the paper piecing queen, I got her book and foundation paper. I really like the Add a Quarter ruler she recommends. Get an index card, a glue stick and fabric (and, of course, if you're me buy a new blue rotary cutter and baby blue cutting mat) and you're all set.

The pieces are so freaking small I can't believe these blocks turned out as well as they did. Couldn't have done it without paper piecing, that's for sure.

In case you missed this post, you can read more about my recent Dear Jane® progress here.

See my post about my trip to see the quilt last year. Wish I were going to Vermont again. 

A Day Just for Me

Quilting is not the only thing that soothes my soul. After the past few busy weeks, I needed to take a day just for me for a change. On beautiful days I'm always eager to get out and enjoy nature and am lucky to live close to a great lake with a beautiful shoreline. Sure, I'd prefer the ocean, but this is where I am and it's good enough. Even a few hours spent walking quietly through a path in the woods and along the shore is enough to restore my soul. 

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”

-Rachel Carson

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

-John Muir

My favorite part - I turn around a bend and then see the water. I swear my heart leaps up every time.

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.    -George Washington Carver

 Ahh, a day just for me. But it's not over yet so now I'm going to sit outside with the dog and read a book.

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. 

-Jane Austen

She always helps me remember to smell the flowers! Next time. I promise I'll take her with me next time.

Happy Memorial Day

Although Memorial Day is officially the start of the summer season here in the U.S. it's about more than barbeques and department store sales. Whatever you're doing today, take time to remember those who served and the sacrifices they made for all of us.

The holiday got its official start on May 30, 1868, when Union General John A. Logan declared the day an occasion to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. But, it's seldom noted that three years earlier, on May 1, 1865, former slaves gathered in Charleston, SC to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers, who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. They dug up the bodies and worked for two weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. They then held a parade of 10,000 people led by 2,800 Black children where they marched, sang and celebrated. Gathering in the graveyard, the crowd watched five black preachers recite scripture and a children's choir sing spirituals and "The Star-Spangled Banner."  

While the story is largely forgotten today, some historians consider the gathering the first Memorial Day.  There is also evidence that women's groups in both the North and South gathered informally to decorate the graves of the war dead even before that.  


                     

Sometime today, before our company comes over for our annual Memorial Day barbeque to kick off the summer, I'm going to pull some fabrics and make a red, white and blue block and include it in my Dear Jane quilt. And say a prayer of gratitude.

Blooms of Springtime

I love being outside and smelling the freshness in the air. I was walking the dog the other day and it started raining  - yes, we got wet but oh, the air and earth smelled so good! Instead of running, we sauntered home. I've always had spring allergies but lately, for some reason, I seem to be outgrowing them. Imagine, at my age, finally "outgrowing" my allergies. I must be going through my second childhood, ha ha.

My lovely bleeding hearts are blooming in the backyard as I write this and the lilacs are almost there too. (Arrrgh - My camera seems to be malfunctioning this week so all of these photos are from last May. The yard is not quite  this lush yet. Two more weeks.) 

I'm so happy that I'll be teaching my favorite little springtime quilt - Clarissa's Garden -  at a workshop this Saturday. A perfect time to applique some flowers. If you don't have it, you can purchase the pattern on my website.

Will you be doing something with flowers this Mother's Day weekend? Either in the garden or in your sewing room? After I get home from teaching, I'll look forward to seeing my kids on Sunday. My daughter will get me something for the garden. My son and I will watch the Chicago Bulls do their best in the playoff game and cheer and scream and yell at the refs. My husband will cook something yummy for us on the grill. No cooking or cleaning for me for a change. No sewing either, but a perfect day nonetheless. Maybe I should bring out my pretty English Rose Garden plates??  Hurry up, Sunday! Weather, please be nice.

Have a Happy Mother's Day