Sunday, January 20, 2013

Wanted: A Clever Post Title

So if you think of one, let me know. :-)

The tree came down last weekend and my desk returned to its place in the corner, but along the other window this time, which has freed up some space.  I'm still in the process of getting organized but I'm getting there. Given that this new setup has led to long, uninterrupted stretches of sewing, I have taken full advantage.

My nephew's 2nd birthday was on the 5th and while I did give him a bunch of Hot Wheels, I hadn't finished the other half of his gift until this past Wednesday:  the bag to put them in.
See my oops? :-)

I found the paper-piecing patterns on Fandom In Stitches - totally free - and then I framed the results with a lovely little traffic print, lined it with the leftover solid from Seester's quilt and added two ribbons to act as drawstrings. It finished about 12x15".  He was thrilled. "Oh!  MAY-turr...!"  Happy boy, happy auntie.

The other advantages of gaining back the workspace is that I was able to cross off a goal by organizing my scraps.  I went from this...


...to this...


...and finally this:
Ooooh, that's one fingerprint-y desktop...

Neat and tidy. Well... they're contained, anyway.  I would like to organize further but right now, they're sorted by size. Crumbs and short strips in the orange bin, everything else sorted in large ziplocs, etc, in the white laundry hamper.

The sort also allowed me to do something I swore I didn't have time for...

I drank the kool-aid.

For the record, I don't do instagram.  I wasn't exposed to this virus through instagram.

Nope, it was y'all.

Within a two week period, it seemed that almost every feed in my RSS reader was throwing Scrappy Trips at me.  I'm not generally a joiner in the "everyone's doing it" sense (I still haven't seen Titanic, and don't intend to) but they were so pretty! And EVERYWHERE.  It was a bombardment; I was hiding in my "I don't have time" bunker but being shelled within an inch of my quilting sanity.  I came out waving my white flag. Of scraps.  That was my one rule for myself:  I had to use only scraps for these blocks.  What will happen with the back and binding? Don't know.  But for now, I'm pleased (and sickeningly shocked) that I made 36 blocks without cutting into yardage.  That's a sizeable dent in the old scrap heap, eh?

And then there's my first ever bee block for the Simply Solids Bee.  Never done a bee before but it was on my quilting bucket list, so...  Lethargic Lass asked for asterisk blocks - and they were much more fun than I thought they'd be; the fabrics she sent were different than what I usually use, too, so that was very enjoyable!  I threw it in the mail last week so she should have it soon.

Believe it or not, I actually got MORE sewing than that done last week and I have the iron-steam burns to prove it. But why spend all my projects on one post...?  :-)

Have a stellar week!

32 comments:

  1. Ooh I love seeing organised sewing spaces - mostly cos mine is a permanent bomb site ;o) That asterisk block is absolutely brilliant! So striking in solids.

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  2. I too haven't seen Titanic yet - thought I was the only one. I think the scrappy trips are so tempting because everybody seems to be whipping them up so quickly. In the future quilt historians will be able to precisely date all these quilts to 2 weeks in January 2013.

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  3. How about "When fabric attacks!!!"...it's cathcy, yet puts the fear of the stash into any crafter. :) But seriously, good work. This reminds me my space needs a major cleanup as well.

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  4. That's too funny, Heather!

    I went to send you an email but it seems that your profile is set to "no-reply"....

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    1. Thanks for letting me know I am 'no-reply'. I have tried to change it, but I think because I set it up on Google+ the instructions I have seen don't apply. Time to have another go.

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  5. Your block for LethargicLass looks great - I think I'm jealous of the colours you got to use :D

    I also haven't seen Titanic yet - it came out when I was in... junior high or high school and I had friends who saw it in theatre 5 times and I went Nope, not going to watch it. And just dug in my heels and now there's no point in watching it, so I probably never will.

    Anyway, I haven't yet drank the scrappy trip kool-aid, but I know there's a glass with my name on it out there somewhere. Every time someone blogs another photo I get a little twinge somewhere in my guts asking why I haven't made just one little block yet.

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  6. Oh! Also meant to say that your Cars bag looks amazing! If you haven't added the photos to the Fandom in Stitches flickr group, you should! I know Jen (who owns/runs the site) and she LOVES seeing all the things people make with the blocks there. She also posts a weekly round-up on FiS of the things people have posted in the group.

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  7. Haha....another Non -Titantic viewer here! And I have also been watching all the "trip" quilts emerging....but I am still working up to the last fad...the granny squares! Always was a year or two behind I the trends! :)

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  8. Pretty hard to resist the scrappy trip blocks...they look fantastic. I love the Mater and Lightening McQueen bags. Very cool asterix blocks too. Have a great week too!

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  9. Can't help with the title (always have that problem) but love all the fabric goodness of this post. Cute bag for your nephew's toys. Digging your newly organized sewing space. Mine is still in the "before" mode. I haven't taken a sip of the Kool-Aid yet, but plan to do so soon. Actually can't believe I have been able to resist this long. I love your solid asterisk blocks. Your piecing is so precise.

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  10. Your paper piecing is outstanding! I definitely could not see the oops in that one -- I think they look just great :) And so excellent that you were able to make 36 scrappy blocks!! Wow! Can't wait to see how they come together!

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  11. Hi! You have made fantastic car blocks and those bags are super! Titanic I have seen but this scrap quilt I haven't start, even I love everything with little square patches! Your quilt is going to be so beautiful! x Teje

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  12. ... me again. 'Heather Basset' said about the no-reply and I have the same problem. Could I be 'yes-reply' if I comment by wordpress? x Teje

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  13. I'm giggling at your description of trying to resist the Scrappy Tripalong. I don't do Instagram either, but it was tough to ignore all the fun of Scrappy Tripalong going on in the blogosphere! How wonderful that you could get 36 blocks made in a snap! I made two blocks, to get them out of my system, and then gave them to a friend. So glad that vaccination worked!

    Your FPP "Cars" characters are just great! What a perfect boy design. And the asterisk block you made is smashing. I've made them myself, but scrappy. That block turns out neat, whatever fabrics are used.

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  14. Fantastic bag, and kids don't care if something is upside down! I can't believe you went on "that trip"! I am just so tempted too, but have too many other things on my plate. I'll probably do it long after everyone else is done! Great asterisk block...such a fun bee, right!

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  15. loving your work Carly. those asteriskseseseses are fab. And it's not an oops it's a design feature,'k?

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  16. Hmmmm how about lead me not into temptation? With all those scraps, you didn't stand a chance. Enjoy your sewing. The little bag is sweet.

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  17. Ooh - so much goodness! Your paper pieced cars are awesome - great find on Fandom.

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  18. How about calling it 'YOU GO GIRLFRIEND!' I snorted out loud when I saw the first picture of your 'stash'. :o) Love it.

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  19. That bag is amazing! What a lucky boy. Your colour combos for Lethargic Lass are great--I'm still mulling over my choices.She's going to have an incredible quilt when all her blocks are done.

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    1. Oh,,,the Titanic thing? My son saw the movie at least 5 times when it was released. His best friend at the time wouldn't go--said "I know how it ends."
      Master of understaement that boy was. (I haven't seen it either.)

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  20. Great sorting of the material. Love the asterisk block!

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  21. OH MY GOSH, those McQueen and Mater patterns are awesome! Thanks for pointing them out! Your nephew must have gone crazy over the bag you made him! :)

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  22. You have been B U S Y !!! Those "cars" bags are SO FANTASTIC! What a lucky little guy to have such a talented and generous aunt! Looking forward to seeing your "koolaid" quilt!

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  23. I love scrappy trips and I only wish I had time to join in. It's fun watching everyone's progress!

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  24. I've seen some great redesigns of the trip quilt. Have fun!

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  25. So I keep trying to comment on your blog but my iPad won't let me! But here I am now on a real computer.

    The bag turned out great!

    I wonder how many scrappy trips we will see at SMQG? ;) I want to do one but I don't think I have enough scraps right now. I'm putting in on my quilting bucket list, I think it would be so nice to see little scraps from all my projects in one awesome quilt some day.

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  26. I did see titanic, once only and the end haunts me... I got 12 'scrappy' trips done up in practically no time and then went onto another project, but since I have like 3000 already cut 3.5 inch squares, I think I should work on a couple more blocks yet!

    The asterick block is not just a pretty block but you have sewn them so perfectly! Love them, maybe I will get around to trying that out one of these days...

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  27. Ha! I love the way you write! Your bags for your nephew are adorable. I can't wait to see what your scrappy trip ends up looking like. I am still resisting. I don't love too much scrappy. BUT I did see someone do it with more of a specific layout and I kind of have a crush on it.

    You are really getting tons of projects done! You rock it!

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  28. You are so talented Carly. Aunty Jo once said that she would make us a baby clothes quilt, perhaps I could convince you instead??

    Please come and visit soon!

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  29. Amazing! I have drank the Kool-Aid but just have not had a chance to do anything about it. Your nephew's bags are incredible. Everything you do is fabulous!

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  30. Nice job paper piecing!! You're a good aunt-that's a ton of effort for a kid's bag! :)

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Who doesn't love comments? I appreciate every single one and try to reply to each. Unless you're a no-reply commenter. Then I can't. And I have a little sad moment. Like a dropped ice cream cone. So if you're a no-reply commenter and have a question, check the comment thread and I'll try to reply there. :-)