What if I . . .

. . . decided to make something with the shirts I have been cutting up and the scrap strips I have been putting into plastic bins?

I have been busy hand sewing the binding on the commission pieces, and am almost done.  Today, while I was stitching away, I thought about the reclaimed shirts and scraps I have building up on my shelves.  I have had several ideas about what to do with them, but never actually started anything.  I decided to do something about it.  I started small to see if I was going to like what I thought about doing.  These nine squares are the results.  They are six inch squares right now.  I have lots of blueish shirt fabric that I can continue to cut to make more squares.  I only got into the yellow/gold/orange strip box today.  I think I am going to continue to make these blocks using as many colors of the strips as I can to whittle down that part of my scrap stash.  I think this will make a great scrap quilt when all is said and done.  Then, I can figure out what to do with the other bins of scraps and the ever growing pile of 2 1/2 " squares.

I am always envious of those of you who are really good about cutting and organizing your scraps as you go along.  I am so far behind in even the sorting, I feel overwhelmed at times.  I was hoping this summer would be the time I would get it done.  Given how fast the days are going, I am not sure this is going to happen, but I will have fun playing with all of it for a while.  I don't know how quickly this quilt will grow, but it will.  Before I know it, I will be looking for backing for yet another quilt.  Oh well.  As long as the local Goodwill doesn't run out of nice used sheets, I will be fine.

Joyful quilting, everyone. 



A little commission

My neighbor asked me, a while ago, if I could make a few small quilts for gifts for relatives she is visiting later this summer.  At first, I was pretty excited, so I got to work to make a sample of something I thought would be fun.  She didn't like it, at all.  She wanted something more traditional, and more puffy, like the old quilts with high loft poly batting.  She pulled a piece she had purchased years before and asked if I could make something smaller, but with a similar design and loft.  Reluctantly, I agreed.  Then I put it off, until this week.

After looking at the sample for quite a while, I pulled some fabrics that I felt were representative of what she liked.  I simplified the design, and created six little quilts (13" x 15").  I have the backings all cut, as well as the bindings.  I have finished one, including the binding.  Now I have five left to finish. 

I have done a couple of commissions before, and each time I have learned that I have trouble getting past the "customer is always right."  In each case, however, I have done exactly what the customer has asked for.  I guess that builds character and stretches my personal growth.  All good things.

Joyful quilting, everyone, and Happy 4th!