Organizing scraps

How do you organize your scraps?

For a long time I've intended to buy some plastic containers to get more organized with the scraps. Finally last week I bought four plastic containers and during the weekend I've been cutting strips.... and cutting strips.... PHEEW! :)

This big shoe box was full of small and bigger pieces, plus another smaller box and a plastic bag... Time to get organized!

I don't know what I'll do with what is left in this box... The pieces are quite small and I believe it won't be used - not even for applique - as I intended to keep it for... Who knows; one tiny little piece in that specific color might be useful.... won't it?! :)

And this... what do you do with it? I don't throw it; I keep it for making pillows... to sit on... That is my intention! I already have two big plastic bags full, which should be enough for 2-3 pillows... Don't ask me when I'll do that.... in the future - on a rainy day... lol!

Here's the result of one evening and one mornings cutting and organizing. Four containers consisting of strips cut into; 1", 1,5", 2", 2,5", 3", 3,5", 4", 4,5" and some bigger squares.

It had been great making a scrap quilt out of all these strips - on a rainy day too! lol!

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My previous post has a photo with view from my sewing room on a rainy and cloudy day. Here's the view on a sunny day - do you see the sea today? :)

Backing turned into jiffy quilt

Have I confused you with the head line? Read on...

You may remember I made this quilt some time ago? The top is done, but I didn't decide on backing at that time. After some deep-thinking over the last couple of weeks, I decided to use leftover fabrics from the quilt to make the backing. I already had some pieces that were already cut into 4,5 inch strips, so I decided to re cut them into 14 inch long. I divided the fabrics into groups of colors; red, blue, purple/lilac etc. I thought I had enough fabrics, but I had to add a few light colors from my stash.

I kept cutting and adding strips horizontal and vertical....

As the supposed quilt backing progressed, I slowly changed my mind...

I love it too much using it for backing! A new quilt top was born - in a jiffy; hence the name "Jiffy Quilt". :)

It went really fast adding the strips together.

I'm very happy with it, because I have used fabrics from my oldest stash! Most of the fabrics I got from my friend Ragna (no blog) 4-5 years ago and some of the other fabrics I bought here (that long ago too) - when there still was a shop selling suitable cotton fabrics. No idea what happened to that shop; it's no more...

After finishing the quilt top, I was left with some strips. I've made two tops (in blue) for small table runners for our kitchen/dining room (forgot to take a photo of them), and two other table runners in purple/orange.

These are far outside my comfort zone when it comes to colors, and I think they look a bit dull too, don't they? My idea is to applique either some hibiscus in orange or green leaves to brighten it up a bit - what do you think? I'm also thinking of fussy cutting some hibiscuses for the applique....

Dear readers - I'll appreciate your opinion! :)

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Diane (no blog) at NNC is organizing a 9-patch blocks swap. We voted for bright floral and white tone-on-tone, and to make two 12,5 inch blocks each. We are only five participants.

Here are the two blocks I've made for the swap.

I have already received two blocks from Janet - thanks Janet! :)

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And finally.... "Marion's Quilt" (from my previous post).

I thought a border would be nice, and here it is. I added red, yellow and red strips together and did a mitered border. It's the first time I didn't have to struggle with mittered borders! :))

Now it's ready for batting & backing! :)

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"Winter-weather" in Mauritius!

The photo is taken from my sewing room a couple of days ago, when we had such a lousy weather. On sunny days I see the sea from here.... Do you see the sea?!

Right now I'm seeing the sea, from where I'm sitting. :)

Marion's Quilt

I'm not sure I have much to tell, simply because I haven't done much lately.

Well, that's not the right way to say it... I have done quite a lot, but most of what I have done are secret swaps and therefore no photos allowed until the recipients have received it. :)

Remember I did some log cabin blocks awhile ago (here)?

Last week I spent some days assembling the blocks. 

It looks like Birre-Liten likes it, or he wants to tell me there's something missing where he's sitting! :)) I thought so too; it looks like one row of blocks are missing on each side. Luckily I had more of the same blocks, so I added what I thought was missing.

I had to use red/yellow/pink blocks in the corners, but all in all I'm more satisfied with the look of this one; square.

I thought I had fabric for the border & binding, but no... I'll have to wait a couple of weeks before I get it and hopefully then I'll finish it.

This is going to be a gift for my dear friend Johnny's mother. She moved house this weekend, so I thought a quilt (for the winter) will keep her warm & comfortable.

I thought I had enough blocks for two lap quilts, but since I did the addition on this quilt, there are not enough blocks for another one... I've decided to put the remaining blocks aside and make more later on... I still have fabric from "Art to Heart", but not much left of "Cider Mill Road" - as I've used in this quilt.