Playing with Charms, Fat 8's and Up-Cycling

I remember as a young girl, just thrilled with my first charm bracelet. Then passing it to my daughter thinking that 'charming phase' was gone. Now a new obsession with charms - a different kind of charm - precuts! So fun to play with, but when you don't use all of the pack - or if you are like me, you pull from this one and that one - you end up with a box of orphans that begin to look like your scrap bin.

I have been following the Farmer's Wife in your Life and finding some use for those orphan charms. This time two 3.5" squares and two 1.5" squares. Those scrap bits feed my box to use for those little houses so no waste there.

Yes, some pretty little bow tie blocks are growing. My always faithful tub of muslin scraps comes in so handy and for these 'heritage' blocks, muslin is perfect.

I finished the zig zag quilt using the winnings from Let Me See Your Jelly Roll. The box was crammed with cut jelly roll pieces and I pulled 2 Bella White charm packs. Sliced them in half and paired up to make a 2-rail block that is set to make the zig zag. So quick to make! The last of my Moda 'Chocolat' for the back and found an old Bernetex 'Circles' in the stash for the binding.

The NYB block using my fat 8 bundle. I had just enough of these lines to make this block - just widgets and smidgets left! I think I said before, I am really measuring and mathing on these to get the most from the fabrics - no room for error.

I am so happy to say that my Fat Quarter Star Quilt Along quilt is finished. Although no fat quarter was used - up-cycled men's shirts, some shot cotton left overs, sashing from the sale room ($2.50 yrd), pieced batt, and a yard sale cotton charcoal grey sheet for the back (10 cents) - you can't beat it!

Only project left for the month is this month's Schnibbles. And that is ready for quilting tomorrow. I am in the 'Spring Cleaning' mode and want the final week of March for total clean out - Mr Clean better look out!

CLOSING THOUGHT

Erma Bombeck said it with laughter:

My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.
My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I've ever seen that I didn't have to clean.
My theory on housework is, if the item doesn't multiply, smell, catch fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one else cares. Why should you?

I prefer:

I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.... I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby. ~Nancie J. Carmody

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon