Weekend Plans

So, what are you all up to this weekend?

Me? Why, thank you for asking. As well as Bee Blessed, taxi driving and feeding the hordes, I am about to mount an assault on my overflowing scrap box.

I usually make my scrappy blocks as a by-product of other stitching but lately there hasn't been the same amount of machine time so I've just been stuffing scraps away under the table until they just don't fit anymore. The lid spends more time sliding off the mountain of scrap packs than it does containing and protecting from dust!

So, this weekend, apart from Bee Blessed tomorrow afternoon, all machine sewing is dedicated to making my box fit back in its proper spot under the table.

The plan of attack is as follows:

1. Take a coloured pack of scraps
2. Make a further crazy scrappy block for my collection
3. Then see what leftovers can be chopped into 2.5" blocks to be stored in another box for a scrappy mini-charm quilt of some sort at a future date.

No target for the number to achieve, I just want to get the lid on that box!!

Happy weekend everybody!

 

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Broochfest!

Yesterday I decided that it was time to tackle the brooches I had taken with me to FQR but never quite got around to working on. I stitched up these Liberty yoyos with some co-ordinating solids - ash, purple and a steel blue colour Riley Blake solid that came in my FQR goodie bag.

 

These ones were little oddments that I started at a workshop long ago and figured I should just add a brooch pin and somebody might buy them. Admittedly they aren't the prettiest, but they might appeal to someone and raise a penny or two for Bee Blessed.

 

Some more in hot, bright colours which I had cut with the intention of making up in January. Seems the deep, grey winter was making me long for some colour!

Last week as I was tidying away the scrap remnants from my MIL's Birthday Sampler quilt, I suddenly thought that the fabric trimmings would make sweet brooches. So I played with the soluble fabric and my slivers and made more scrappy fabric to cut wee hearts and flowers from. The first one will be for my MIL.

And this little lot should hopefully attract our exhibition visitors to part with their cash. These are my favourites I think.

So, brooches made, job done and a tick off my August list! Successful stitching Saturday.

 

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Scrap Fabric

No, not fabrics scraps, but fabric from scraps. Confused?

Well, I started with my trimmings bin

a piece of calico

Not a very exciting pic, I grant you.

and a little bit of this magic stuff (available on ebay if you can't source it elsewhere).

So, on to the calico I piled the trimmings (fabric bits and threads), then put the magic stuff (soluble embroidery fabric) on top of all the scraps

and sew, sew, sew, sew, sew

to stitch it all down.

Then the magic happens - you wash it in some cold water until the soluble fabric vanishes. There was a small crowd around my sink to see if this would actually work, so we can now ALL verify that it does!

The scrap fabric piece.

When it's gone, you dry and press the fabric and you have your very own creation to do with as you will.

I did learn a wee lesson in the process of doing this.  It takes a lot more sewing (and thread) than you might imagine to get all the scrap sewn into your new fabric piece enough to keep them stable if you then plan to cut little bits from them (which I do). And, I could probably have put more scraps on to begin with.  My plan is to use some of this for little applique shapes or for cutting little shapes from for card making, but I'm sure there are probably oodles of other possibilities.

I have to give credit for this to the wonderful Judith who described this process to my skeptical self (I really couldn't envisage this actually working at first) and her explanation was spot on.  Hope she doesn't mind that I'm now sharing it with all of you.  Thanks Judith!