ScrapHappy - March 2026

Welcome to Scrap Happy Day where we post about the scrappy projects we've worked on over the past month.   

Be sure to check out what everyone else has done with their scraps this month - Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL,  Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol,  Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa, Tierney, and Hannah

Life gets a little crazy at times for all of us.   For me that was the machine I always piece in needing to go in for an urgent "spa day" due to deciding it didn't want to feed the fabric through anymore (still sewed I just had to pull the fabric) and a cleaning.  And at the same time the long awaited hernia surgery was schedule for the end of February.

I've never been one to just sit around and twiddle my thumbs, so as the surgery date approached I used the machine I do my quilting on to piece up a bunch of various strings that I had pulled several years ago when sorting through my stash.  The strings filled gallon sized bags and were stuffed to the brim.

First up were the yellow strings.  These are the strips of strings.   Enough for 2 toddler quilt tops when added to focus fabrics (yet, to be pulled from the umpteen remnants or FQ's that I've got in the stash).  Along with these I trimmed the pieces that were big enough for 2.5" or 3.5" squares into squares for 2 additional quilts.   All of these likely will be donated.

Next up was the biggest bag of green strings, triangles, and odd shaped pieces.  Two sizes of squares were trimmed down first (3.5" and 2.5").  Then i sorted the strings into groupings based on width and sewed lots of 'yardage' with them.   Multiple quilt tops will be made with these.

The third bag of strings to be worked on was the pinks - from pale pink to bright fuschia.  For these, I started with making random squares or sections approximately 6"  "squarish" in size, give or take.   I then bordered them with a remnant of fabric I'd bought years ago that had brightly colored stars on a black background.  When that ran out I finished bordering the sections with a similar fabric that has larger stars.  Blocks are trimmed to 9" unfinished (why, I don't know...but they are).  Finally I finished off the pink strings by making a stack of string blocks to the same size.  These will go into toddler quilts as well, and ultimately be donated somewhere.

Gratitudes:
1. Surgery went well, albeit not quite in the way that I had hoped (ended up old-fashioned incision vs robotic, laparoscopic).  Thankfully recovery is going ok so far.

2. For friends who have helped out while I was in the hospital and now in these first few days after release.

Revisiting Art Challenge Quilts From Previous Years

 The sewing machine that I use all the time for piecing and sewing is in the shop after the feeddogs decided they no longer wanted to feed the material (still sewed I just had to pull the fabric...sigh...).   

So one of the things that I've been doing is to update my list of quilt tops that need quilting, along with documenting all of the finished quilts that I've got stashed in multiple totes. As I do so, I'm looking at the finished quilts remembering when I made them and considering what to do with them (gift them, donate them, sell them, or keep them).     When you've got 4+ large or very large totes of finished quilts it's time to make decisions.

Here are three of the quilts that I made for the annual art quilt challenge:

This one was made the year that I turned 50.   The theme was 'Decades' if I remember correctly.   There are 5 rays of 'flames' representing each decade of my life when this was made.  Each ray had 10 'flames' representing each year of my life.   The butterfly charms stood for all the years that were to come in the future.

Backing and label for the quilt.

Made in 2018, this quilt was my experiment in 3-dimensional elements.  The succulent has 3-D leaves, with the bottom round of leaves fully appliqued onto the quilt top.   The ladybugs are 3-D and are stuffed with polyfil.   There are safety pins on the underside of them that allow them to be fastened to the quilt in whatever locations the owner wants.

Backing and label for the ladybug quilt

Back in 2019 I made and named this quilt "Tessellation Zen".   I don't remember what the theme for that year was, might have been "20".   I made 20 circles in  from 20 different silk upholstery samples.  They are raw-edged appliqued to cotton.  

Label and backing for the quilt.

Gratitudes:

1. Cooler weather with some rain this week after weeks of no rain is wonderful.

2. A job that allows me to work around doctor appointments.

ScrapHappy - February 2026

Welcome to Scrap Happy Day where we post about the scrappy projects we've worked on over the past month.   

Be sure to check out what everyone else has done with their scraps this month - Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL,  Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol,  Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa, Tierney, and Hannah

Two scrappy projects were completed this month and a 3rd made progress. First up were these two potholders that started out from the leftover fabric from the quilted casserole carrier that I made her for Christmas.  These will be part of her birthday present this month.   All fabrics and the Insulbrite used in them were remnants or scraps.

The second scrappy project completed was this mini wall-hanging.  The top started with a cross-stitch piece that I'd finished years ago.  I then added fabrics from the specialty fabrics that I'd collected over years for CQ projects.   Binding was made from a scrap piece of batik.

With the cross-stitch piece being a kitten in the garden, I added embellishments and embroidery to add a further sense of a garden setting.  The fabrics used were also meant to add to that feeling.

Tree branch made from a sketch I'd found online.  Branches and leaves are embroidered.  Flower clusters are beaded.  2 hummingbird buttons were added.

Prickly pear in bloom embroidered is a nod to AZ where I currently live.

Tree was added in the upper left corner.  Various trims were used to make the tree.   An owl charm was added to the tree.

More of the same trims were used to make a tree branch.  Specialty threads were used to make the birds nest, and 2 pearls were used for the eggs.

Specialty embroidery threads were used to add a flowering vine to wrap around the cross-stitch.  Variegated thread was used for the flowers, and beads for flower buds.  A hand-dyed dragonfly applique was added.  Both of these were meant to add depth to the piece.

A scrap piece of fabric was pieced together to make the backing for the wall-hanging.

One completed block and leftover strip sets meant for more blocks.  The blocks used in the original 2009 swaps were the reverse of what is shown here in terms of coloring.   

More block sections and strips sets from 2009 were found and cut up. These made the top set of finished blocks in the pic below.

And the final outcome of blocks.  These will be added to actual swap blocks that I'd received to make a couple of quilt tops.  

Gratitudes:

1. Surgery for my hernia has finally been scheduled.   I'm thankful that I'll be getting this resolved before the end of this month.

2. For making some progress on dealing with stuff around the house.

2026 Stretching Art Challenge Quilt

 I'm so thankful that my vision troubles from the last year are all cleared up, because that meant I could once again take part in the annual Stretching Art Quilt Challenge.   This is year 26 for the challenge and I've participated in about 20 of the challenges if I remember right.  I'd have to actually dig out all of the wall-hangings to count all of them for sure.

The theme for this years challenge was "My Belief", based on the series of stories NPR had done years ago of people telling why they believed something.   I saw a picture that my parents and pictures on the internet that inspired me to design this layout.   The story of my belief is written on the label shown in the third picture below.

Leaves were done with a combination of machine stitching and hand beading using bugle beads.

Label with quilt info.

Gratitudes:

1. Glad that there is only 2 weeks left till the hernia surgery.

2. For the beautiful weather here in Phoenix....altho I'm wishing the temps would cool off some.

ScrapHappy - January 2026

    Welcome to Scrap Happy Day where we post about the scrappy projects we've worked on over the past month.   

Be sure to check out what everyone else has done with their scraps this month - Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL,  Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol,  Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa, Tierney, and Hannah

This month saw me starting a new project.   This is part of a group sew-a-long that I'm doing with long-time quilt friends.   The pattern most people are doing has 12 different center blocks in it, but I'm using some old UFO heart blocks.

Years ago (probably back about the time I was in grad school in Indiana, 2009-2012 time frame), I had made dozens of scrappy heart blocks.  Assorted WOW's were cut to make 6.5" blocks, assorted color scraps were made into hearts and fused onto the WOW's.  Buttonhole stitching was used to finish the edges of the heats.   Years later I bought a "honeybun" roll of 1.5" strips of Kona Cotton.   I have no idea why  I did because I rarely ever use that size strips.     As such, I'm counting these as scraps and using them to get them out of my stash.  =)

Background fabrics are cream scraps that I'm also working to get used up and out of my scrap stash.  5 blocks are sewn and just need final squaring up.  11 more heart blocks are waiting to be sewn up.

And because I have a short attention span and am easily distracted (squirrel!!!), I've also started a second scrappy quilt.   I'd put together a stack of scraps several yrs ago, but then like normal never done anything with them.  There will be 9 blocks total, 5 of the 'Irish chain blocks' and 4 of the alternate blocks.  Background squares are assorted WOW fabrics that I'd cut from scraps years ago.  The squares in this are cut at 2.5", and the blocks finish at 18".   Am still debating on whether to add sashing or just assemble as is.

Gratitudes:
1.  After almost a month of being on a liquid diet because of a hernia, I'm finally able to eat some solid food w/o major pain from the hernia.....now if only I can get the referral I need for the 2nd surgeon so I can actually get it repaired......

2. The nice mild winter weather that has allowed me to continue walking outside as I work to improve my health

ScrapHappy - December 2025

    Welcome to Scrap Happy Day where we post about the scrappy projects we've worked on over the past month.   

Be sure to check out what everyone else has done with their scraps this month - Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL,  Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol,  Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa, Tierney, and Hannah

One of the things that I'm working on doing this year is actually finishing up projects as I come across them as I reorganize and go through things in my stash and my mom's stash.  This month that has meant I've worked on the following projects:

First up was working with some remnants of outdoor upholstery fabric bought several years ago.  These had never made it into the box with the rest of the upholstery remnants and fabric that I bought years ago for tote bags.   Size of the bags vary and were determined by the size of the remnant.   Plans are to donate the bags to a charity that works with low income women that I frequently donate to.

1 bag made from this fun butterfly print

One bag from this lovely teal floral print.

Had two pieces of this grey floral, so two bags were made.

Next up were these two zippered bags.   The fabric was a pre-quilted fabric with a fun rainbow stripe on the reverse side.  Zippers from the stash were used and the bottoms were boxed so they'd stand up.   Haven't decided if I'll keep these or give them as gifts at some point.

Part of the fabric had a misprint so I covered that up with some white ribbon, and then used that on the inside of the second bag.

Gratitudes:
1. 2nd 5K race is in the books.

2. Weather is cooling off which is good as I up my walking so that I can continue to lose weight.