-Steve Strasser
This is the time that we think about New Years resolutions...I think I need to examine some REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS in a couple of areas! The most pressing issue in my sewing life is my excessive scraps. Resolutions rarely work for me so I'm trying to think of some good "Goals" and leave them at that.
I have lamented quite often that my scraps we a HUGE issue in my sewing life. I have a ton of scraps! This first photo is proof. I'm so ashamed! I heard Bonnie Hunter speak at the Cotton Boll guild and also took a workshop from her in '08. She said about scraps that they cost $8 - $10.00 just as much as a whole uncut piece of fabric! WELL this just sent me further into saving every piece of fabric I come across on the PLANET . Heck these babies are worth some $$$$ . The first picture is an example of SOME of my scraps.(This is like airing your under ware for the whole world to see!) There is more... These are very large baskets holding scraps, much of which is organized by color. There are 4 more large baskets in the closet I would need a wide angle lens to get it a into one picture (you get the gist of this I'm sure). So what am I to do about this? I have a very well organized and workable scrap closet (it is a walk in closet/ small room with a window and shelving on the left and right sides. But then there are the baskets and baskets of scraps. I decided to make a list of ideas of what to do with the scraps...Perhaps I can get some better ideas from Blog friends.
1. Find a giant shredder then throw the scraps in the woods for the birds to make condos...hell entire cities!
2. Donate the scraps to my guild.
3. I have a friend Cacey who is moving to Virginia..I could sneak over to her house while they are packing the van and stick them in the van...by the time she unpacks them they will be 3 states away!
4. Cut them into manageable usable increments...a la Bonnie Hunter. Good idea.. BUT... this would get accomplished HOW? and during THIS MILLENIUM?? ps! this would involve ironing every single scrap!
5. Use the scraps to make charity quilts for an organization I like to support...for me that would be Hospice. HMMM
6. Add a workshop to my Guild workshops on my website and use the scraps. (This would entail HAULING the scraps all over
the place!)
7. Burn the scraps..(gas logs..nope)
8. Pick up one OR two of those people on the side of the road that hold up those "Will work for Food" and give them a mat and a rotary cutter then go make supper for them..Not a bad idea but this could take a month and I don't want that much company.
So what did I do? I put all the scraps into Tall Kitchen Bags..for the record I filled 13 bags. Here is a picture of 10 of them. I'm thinking about this and I will take suggestions. I am partial to #1, 3, 4 and 5. In the mean time I'm forming a 12 step group for Crappy Scrappers...Oh please forgive my wicked excessive ways! I hope Andy is not reading this blog! I'm setting as my first goal of '09 to make a decision on what to do with the scraps by Jan 7th!
Ok I'm waiting for help!
Pat
I have lamented quite often that my scraps we a HUGE issue in my sewing life. I have a ton of scraps! This first photo is proof. I'm so ashamed! I heard Bonnie Hunter speak at the Cotton Boll guild and also took a workshop from her in '08. She said about scraps that they cost $8 - $10.00 just as much as a whole uncut piece of fabric! WELL this just sent me further into saving every piece of fabric I come across on the PLANET . Heck these babies are worth some $$$$ . The first picture is an example of SOME of my scraps.(This is like airing your under ware for the whole world to see!) There is more... These are very large baskets holding scraps, much of which is organized by color. There are 4 more large baskets in the closet I would need a wide angle lens to get it a into one picture (you get the gist of this I'm sure). So what am I to do about this? I have a very well organized and workable scrap closet (it is a walk in closet/ small room with a window and shelving on the left and right sides. But then there are the baskets and baskets of scraps. I decided to make a list of ideas of what to do with the scraps...Perhaps I can get some better ideas from Blog friends.
1. Find a giant shredder then throw the scraps in the woods for the birds to make condos...hell entire cities!
2. Donate the scraps to my guild.
3. I have a friend Cacey who is moving to Virginia..I could sneak over to her house while they are packing the van and stick them in the van...by the time she unpacks them they will be 3 states away!
4. Cut them into manageable usable increments...a la Bonnie Hunter. Good idea.. BUT... this would get accomplished HOW? and during THIS MILLENIUM?? ps! this would involve ironing every single scrap!
5. Use the scraps to make charity quilts for an organization I like to support...for me that would be Hospice. HMMM
6. Add a workshop to my Guild workshops on my website and use the scraps. (This would entail HAULING the scraps all over
the place!)7. Burn the scraps..(gas logs..nope)
8. Pick up one OR two of those people on the side of the road that hold up those "Will work for Food" and give them a mat and a rotary cutter then go make supper for them..Not a bad idea but this could take a month and I don't want that much company.
So what did I do? I put all the scraps into Tall Kitchen Bags..for the record I filled 13 bags. Here is a picture of 10 of them. I'm thinking about this and I will take suggestions. I am partial to #1, 3, 4 and 5. In the mean time I'm forming a 12 step group for Crappy Scrappers...Oh please forgive my wicked excessive ways! I hope Andy is not reading this blog! I'm setting as my first goal of '09 to make a decision on what to do with the scraps by Jan 7th!
Ok I'm waiting for help!
Pat
11 comments:
I say you find lots of quilters near you who are into Bonnie's system and let them do the work to recycle those spendy scraps! Not sure how close I am to you though...lol. Actually start from today and cut your scraps into strips as soon as you are done with the projec they are for and don't look back at all those scraps! WOW! Smile.
Okay...have a giveaway of scraps. (and NO...I don't want them as I have too many of my own already). Maybe there are some who really USE scraps a lot and would welcome them? Maybe Bonnie would want to take them with her to her workshops and give them out after she talks and has inspired them all to work with scraps??? I do cut most of mine into strips, but then I have huge baskets of THOSE around. It really IS a problem. I'll be watching to see if you find a good solution.
I have an empty box and I will take a bag or two or three of those scraps! I will even work on a quilt for you to use in a lecture on what to do/not to do with your scraps! This offer won't last long so act now!!!
You could always sort and bag the scraps and sell them on eBay!
I am donating all of Sweet Home's scraps (3 years' worth!) to a mission effort to teach refugee women from Somali and Burma to sew. If you're interested, I'll give you the info to contact the lady. She also needs fabric yardage if you know anyone who is stashbusting!
Hope you had a great New Year's! I'm ready for things to get back to normal, whatever that is!
Andee's advice is a no because all of us around you have almost the same predicment! Right now I am pretty much overwhelmed by the condition of my sewing room. I think I need to slip some of my stuff in with yours...heehee- you will never know!
It is funny you are dealing with scraps. Over break I started cutting mine into strips first...any extra go for squares. I figure that I can do strip piecing with them. I only cut so many "fabrics" a day and feel like I am accomplishing something each day and my pile is getting smaller! Good luck. k
Another idea! I brought a bag of scraps to the art teacher at my school. She loves using them with students to make collage pictures. The kids love the patterns and colors. I noticed on her website she still is looking for scraps. You could also try other elementary schools. I gave some of mine to the second grade class that I spoke to about quilting. They made quilt blocks with the scraps and glue. They loved it.
You don't want my advice. I've been keeping up with cutting mine into squares but the bins of squares are overflowing and it's time to do something with all the squares. My opinion is though . . if something is weighing on you and you're feeling overwhelmed by it, get rid of it. This does not apply to family members though! :)
I know that you have used some of your scraps as prizes at Stitch-Ins in the past. I have enjoyed getting some of those, but now my scraps have gotten out of control, too!
You could try to sell them on the Quilter's Flea Market at Yahoo. It's free to list. You might want to sell smaller bags by color. Good luck.
Jeanne always has such good comments; this is the first I've heard of a Yahoo Quilters Flea Market. Also the school idea to use in collages is very good. Hey, they're all good ideas.
Post a Comment