Saturday, January 03, 2015

Scrappy Challenge Review

I have been participating in Angela's Rainbow Scrap Challenge since 2011 and have made many wonderful blocks and quilts as a result of her inspiration. Over the past year I have focused on 6 scrap projects and have successfully made progress on each one. AND I have not started any new ones, which is a miracle! 
Let's review:
1) Palm Branches 
This block pattern ("Red Herring") is a free pattern and tutorial from Kristy at the Quiet Play blog. The blocks finish at 6" x 7" so they use up a lot of small scraps. Although I haven't worked on this recently, I still really like it, and enjoy having a paper piecing project that I can play with from time to time. This project will continue next year.



2) Carrie Nation
I made my first block as part of the Votes For Women project and enjoyed it so much that I started making a scrappy rainbow version. I have my layout in mind and now am making extra blocks to fill in the colour gaps. Orange blocks have been made since this photo was taken, and now I am working on more green blocks. This should become a finished quilt in 2015.




3) Alamo Stars
This project has been in production for over two years now. You can read about the Alamo inspiration hereI still love making these tiny blocks. They are 2.25" and are like little sparkly jewels. I always have a few blocks cut and sitting on my sewing table to use as a leader/ender. I try to sew a few each month, and this project will definitely continue into next year.


4) Pumpkin Seeds
This has been my "learning to applique" project and it has been great practice. I am filling in the missing colours, and am finishing some orange and some blue blocks this month. This will be up on the design wall in the new year to make more decisions about size, layout, borders and colours needed. I think I am ready to progress to a more challenging applique project soon.

5) Omigosh
This project is a life time commitment! The blocks are so tiny and the quilt needs a bazillion, so it will be added to regularly. I love that it uses up the 1" scraps that other people throw in the garbage. I have made over 50 of these blocks and plan to double that number this year.




6) Spools
I also really enjoy sewing the spool blocks, but I think I have made more than enough for a large quilt. I started putting them on the design wall and discovered that there were enough blue and purple spools to make a quilt! I think it's time to work on a layout for the spools.






7) Crumbs
I haven't worked on this one much this year. I have enough blocks now to finish it, but just haven't. It could be a quick finish if I set my mind to it. I wanted to make a scrappy rainbow border for this quilt. Maybe I should put this one on the UFO list?








8) All Tied Up in Knots
These blocks have been finished for a while, and I have been contemplating a layout for them. I finally got some inspiration when at a quilt show in the fall. I plan to make a pieced border of on point 9 patch blocks between the knots. I need to create a floor plan to figure out what the colours for the 9 patches will be. This will be a task for January, so I can sew up the sashing blocks throughout the year.

So that's my Scrappy Rainbow Challenge summary. I didn't finish anything from my scrap blocks this year, but added a lot of new blocks to my various collections. Time to get some of these turned into finished quilts!

39 comments:

julieQ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
liniecat said...

WoW! Stunning, love that Palm pattern : )

Can't Stop Stitchin said...

wow, your scrappy quilts are beautiful, and so pleasing to look at. Nice use of scraps

Ellen said...

So many fabulous projects! They are all wonderful but I am especially intrigued by the Omigosh quilt.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

love the quilts all so beautiful

Kathy S. said...

WOW!!! Such beautiful RSC projects! Can't wait to see what 2015 brings.

canuckquilter said...

Oh wow! These are all wonderful! I couldn't have that many gorgeous ones going on all at once. I wouldn't be able to settle on what to work on at any one time and I'd make no progress at all!

beaquilter said...

all these are so inspirational!

Chantal said...

Yes WOW is the word that comes to mind when seeing all these wonderful blocks you have made! Very impressing! and beautiful!

Karen said...

The Palm Branches are interesting blocks. I don't enjoy paper piecing so would not be something I would make but I do like the look. Nice seeing all the rainbow block designs you are working on in one post.

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Gorgeous Rainbow scrap projects. They are all so great.

Barbara said...

All of your quilts are gorgeous. I started participating two years ago, and I'm planning to go again this year.

Julierose said...

these are all just lovely--for me, that Palm block is really neat! And that Carrie Nation is amazing...hugs, Julierose

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

You are such an inspiration with how you make use of your scraps! I started some Carrie Nation blocks yesterday and joined in on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Thank you for sharing.

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

Love all your scrap challenges, so much work so beautiful.

Karen in Breezy Point said...

How fun to see them all together--very cool!

Kate said...

Your RSC projects are all gorgeous. Looking forward to seeing the quilts you make from all your colorful blocks.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

I was going to pick a favorite.... and make you work on that next... but I can't! They are all fantastic!!! What a great recap!

Mary said...

My favorites are Carrie Nation and Oh My Gosh. Those 2 used up tiny scraps! Way to channel your scrappy, making a few blocks each month. It's been fun to watch your stacks of blocks grow.

make.share.give said...

Wow! So much beautiful scrappiness! Love the bright crumbs.

Janet O. said...

You have so many gorgeous RSC projects going! How do you get anything else done?

Scrappy quilter said...

Wonderful quilts. I'm going to do the challenge this year and am really looking forward to it.

Nell's Quilts said...

So much scrappy goodness in one post.

Raewyn said...

Wow, interesting to read this post and see, collectively, what you do with your scraps! They are all going to be amazing quilts. I'm hoping for 2 rainbow scrap projects this year in the hope that I will trim down my scrap pile a little!

Andra Gayle said...

They are all gorgeous!

Sally Trude said...

What a feast for the eyes and great inspiration for the new year.

Katie Z. said...

Ah, I love your blocks!

Frederique said...

Beautiful blocks!

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

You have inspired me. I started the Carrie Nation blocks and some others for the RSC. Thank you for the inspiration!

Kristin said...

I found your blog because of your palm branch blocks. I think they're so pretty! I've made a few. Perhaps I should start to do one color a month like you do?

Deb A said...

What a great trip down memory lane! Good luck with some finishes without the tempting startitis kicking in!

Jeanna said...

My head is spinning! So many great blocks and what an efficient use of scraps.

I found your blog over at Tanya Quilts in CO. She mentioned your Slow Stitching Sunday. Does embroidery count for a link up?

Teresa in Music City said...

Such colorful scrappy goodness!!!! I love each and every one of your rainbow projects Kathy! And I've enjoyed watching them grow through the years :) Here's to more rainbow fun in 2015!!!

AnnieO said...

Such a colorful assortment of different blocks! Your scraps get their full measure of use, that's certain :)

Linda said...

Just fabulous! You are a scrappy inspiration!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

It's amazing seeing all of these in review!

scraphappy said...

So many beautiful projects in progress. I had almost forgotten about some of them, but seeing them all come out to play again is a great way to start thinking about a new scrappy year.

Sheila said...

Beautiful projects in progress! I love all of them. You go girl.

Quiltdivajulie said...

SO much color . . . love it!!! Good luck with each of your projects!