Scraps in Review

Over the years my scraps multiplied. I didn’t really use them — they just sat in boxes and bags. Then I found Bonnie Hunter’s Scrap User’s System.

Around 2008 I started cutting up my scraps into usable pieces per Bonnie’s system. I started off with plastic shoe boxes for my pre-cut pieces. After a year, I finally got all of my scraps into a single laundry basket. For the past 11 months this basket has seen it’s ups and downs.

This year I decided that one of my goals was to empty the basket once and for all. I’ve been piddling with it since the beginning of the year, but this month I set my mind to getting it emptied.

I actually do make quilts from my scraps. Last fall I started Oklahoma Backroads because I couldn’t get my 2 1/2 inch bricks/blocks box closed. As I worked with my scraps this month, I was inspired to pull red, white and blue 2 1/2 inch bricks for a Star Struck quilt.

One thing I have noticed is that I don’t have a lot of “light” scraps. With this last push to empty the basket my 2 1/2″ and 1 1/2″ strips got larger boxes and I pulled the lights out. They are still in the shoe boxes.

Here’s the tour:

Left – Top to Bottom:

• 1 1/2″ dark strips.  The Christmas tree box contains 1 1/2″ red and light squares for the center of a log cabin quilt.
• Strings — the shoe box was overflowing.  I really liked the string blocks I made a while back but boy does working with strings make a mess.

Middle – Top to Bottom:

• 1 1/2″ light strips
• 2 1/2″ light strips
• 2″ strips —  mixed and almost can’t close the box.  I’ll use these since I’m making my Texas Braid longer
• 3 1/2″ strips — this started out as purple and yellow leftovers from Old Tobacco Road.
• 2 1/2″ bricks and blocks for a red, white & blue Star Struck.  I want to use gold for the accent.

Right – Top to Bottom:

• 2 1/2″ dark strips
• 2 1/2″ brick and blocks
• 2″ bricks and blocks.

Now that my scraps are usable, I’m going to have fun playing in them.

But, to answer your question — No, I do not want your scraps — at least not until I make a dent in these!

🙂