Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Repurposing

While I'd like to work on some entirely new quilts {as well as a few new shirts}, I committed to resolving my UFOs. They need some new time in the light to determine whether they should be finished or donated. Tastes and interests change over the years. In January it seemed easy to say I'd get through this process within the year. After all, none of them were hidden. Haha. No; they're simply lost in the closet. Like this one.

Half these strips were originally cut to make a coat with Seminole piecing. It's hard to make a coat when it was never worked on after the class. Eventually these bits ended up in an old box of clothing patterns. That's one of the reasons I switched to clear boxes a few years ago - easier to see what's in them.

The colors are still some of my favorites and I know a young man who likes green so it was easy to repurpose the strips. Sixteen blocks make a good toddler sized quilt. No border. Notice they all have reds on the main diagonal. {Even though some were sewn into blocks already, I avoided the pinks for this top. Cherry picking.}

Green Scrappy Trip Around the World top with red

 It's interesting how the block boundaries are hidden in this quilt. But... Where did purple come from? The printed fabric below had some chartreuse mixed with purples and blue. Then I looked in the scrap bag and found two more tiny bits of purple so it wouldn't be so lonesome. And this is how I never make a two-color quilt.

Vintage and newer fabrics create these Scrappy Trip blocks

There are seventeen vintage versus eleven newer fabrics in the photo above. Good way to use up older stuff while updating, too. There are still a bunch of strips so I'll be making at least one more top. This wasn't exactly my plan for the month but I'm glad to keep the fabric moving.

In the evenings I'm still binding the Strippy Nine Patch. Finally on the last side. {Late night photo so the color is way off.}

Sewing the binding 

Lastly, we're enjoying the birthday roses. I only wish my thumb was green like Maureen's.

Birthday Roses

Enjoy the day, Ann

20 comments:

Terri said...

You don't get Happy Birthday roses without it's your birthday... Happy Birthday. Beautiful roses, and quilts. I've got a bunch of UFOs, too. I should get after them. Too many ideas for new starts.
Hugs

Julierose said...

Happy birthday--your scrappy TAW is lovely...great use for a project started and left off...I have a lot of those around!! Hugs, Julierose

KaHolly said...

Ahh, beautiful birthday roses! What a lovely way to help you celebrate your special day.

patty a. said...

Happy birthday! I really like the scrappy TAW. The new and vintage fabrics mix together well.

Kaja said...

Happy birthday! I like how your colours are working but also the balance between prints and solids/fabrics that read more like a solid.

cspoonquilt said...

I love that version of TAW! Beautiful roses and Happy B-day!

PaulaB quilts said...

Happy birthday, Ann. Wishing you a happy healthy year. Love your mix of fabrics. They should not stay in a box. Neither should mine.

Ann said...

Thanks, Terri. We should all decide what to do with our UFOs. It's too silly to keep them around if we have no more interest. As you wrote, too many new ideas.

Ann said...

Thanks, Julie Rose.

Ann said...

Thanks, Karen. We had a delightful weekend.

Ann said...

Thanks, Patty. It's good to mix these and move them out.

Ann said...

Thanks, Kaja. I think my older prints were better sorted between busy and quiet. Something to think about whenever I purchase more.

Ann said...

TAW is a great way to use bits. Especially this scrappy version. It takes even less of any one fabric.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Happy happy birthday! You have dealt to those scrappy UFO blocks very nicely! Love those rogue little 'pops' of purple! Amnd that red & white fabric with the little birds is so very sweet!

margaret said...

happy birthday can almost smell the roses! Lovely quilt too

Ann said...

Thanks, Paula. Here's to both of us moving our fabric along.

Ann said...

Thanks, Linda. I wasn't sure if the purple was good or not. It's not quite as bright as it appears in the photo. The recipient is young so I wanted to add some happy fabrics, too. There are also swans, mallards, planes, etc printed on this fabric.

Ann said...

Thanks, Margaret.

Janie said...

Yes, happy birthday, Ann!
I like the way the colors blend and then contrast in your quilt, energy flowing.
Roses are always cheerful, thanks for sharing.

Mystic Quilter said...

Ann your quilt is a real gem!!! I love the little pops of lavender and purple creeping in. Happy Birthday - a day late I'm sorry I'm way behind on reading posts. Beautiful roses, hope they last a while and thanks for the mention of my "green thumb" !