Saturday, July 14, 2007

Playing with Scraps and New Tote Bags

It makes me both excited and a little nervous when the scrap bins start to overflow. I usually have some projects lined up for when the selection gets really good, and so now I'm simultaneously making a number of things.

I'm collecting strips and squares for the scrap quilt pictured in the background of this photo. I think I have enough and I should stop stuffing pieces into this bag.


I've also got these two sets of blocks in the works. The brown background is up there only for contrast. Any suggestions on colors to use in the background of the scrappy star?

And I've been making bags. I love it that I see more and more people in the market with reuseable cloth bags. This one was once a muslin wood carrier. I stitched up the sides and inked over an iron-on transfer with sharpie. I also added pockets inside and outside. That's Bunny the cat walking by.

This bag is more of a purse. I used the Alexander Henry "Loteria" (Mexican Bingo) card fabric I got so excited about, and some deniim from my stash. I added lots of pockets, including a zipper pocket, on the inside.


Have a restful and creative weekend!

7 comments:

Granny Fran said...

Great quilts and totes! That brown does a good job of setting off the scrappy star and coordinates with the tans in the fabrics.

Susan said...

I love the scrap projects you have going! Aren't they fun? Your totes look great, too. I like the idea of using the wood carrier.

Rian said...

Cool bags! Cloth bags are all the rage here, too, but they have the supermarket's name emblazoned on them and I shop at various markets and have been hesitant to take a Ralph's bag into Vons.

I vote for navy blue.

Vicki W said...

As you know, I am all for any scrap quilt. I jsut love the pattern for the first one! I have lots of small squares and should do one of those sometime. that 8-pointed star reminds me of some blocks that I have from my Great-grandmother - I have 8 of those and I think they would finish out to a whopping 18" square. Once I get better with my longarm quilting I want to do something with them on white with lots of quilted white space - all together the blocks are a bit overwhelming! All 3 of your quilts are going to look great!

Anonymous said...

Hi there Barbara,

I too am working on string 8-pointed star. So far, I have found a mottled vanilla cream (kinda like the cookie) color to work best for me. However, I have some lovely burnished gold solid in my stash that really needs to be used up. Let me know what you decide to do.

San at:

GypsyQuilterDesigns@yahoo.com

Fruit Jar Nicky said...

I luv anything scrappy!! Your bag is fantastic too! WTG!

Debra Dixon said...

Your scrappy quilts are always such a treat to see develop--you do the best job working intuitively with your fabrics.

Cute totes too. I have some fabric totes I take to the grocery store. It's a pretty new concept here and the bag boys don't know quite what to do with them. I get in there and tell them, though!
The totes really do help eliminate all those plastic bags.

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