Out of control.
Need I say more? And I'm not just talking about my overflowing scrap bins here. It's been a crazy few weeks.
First off, I'm in the midst of a long-overdue website redesign. As much as I love the simplicity of hosting the shop with Big Cartel, I outgrew their product limit long ago. (Which is a good thing right? It means that my little shop is a little less little now.) After struggling for months with trying to make sense out of the numerous ecommerce options out there, I gave in and hired a local web developer to do the heavy lifting. What a relief. The new site will actually get done, and get done well. I'm hoping for a "grand-opening" at the beginning of March, which means the next few weeks will probably be even more crazy. Stay tuned. There will be door prizes. Well, virtual door prizes.
I'm also plotting a home renovation project to capture some much needed square footage from the unused second-floor attic. The intent is to add a bedroom and "lounge" space for the teenager in the house, who likes to sprawl and won't be bothered so much by the lower ceiling. I'll be calling in some reinforcements for this work as well. The days are long gone when I could be lured into hauling sheets upon sheets of gypsum board anywhere, let alone up a staircase, in the name of "sweat equity". I have to say, I'm giddy at the prospect of having an extra room. The desk and loom will get moved out of the dining room, and the sewing table out of the kitchen for starters. Yes folks, my sewing space is set up in an alcove off the kitchen. Rather convenient actually, if you don't mind the occasional burnt dinner. Stay tuned for this one as well. I'll take pictures! It'll be cool.
Work has been busy too. (The desk job.) Which is good; time-consuming and a bit mentally-draining the way work usually is, but good.
And if that's not all, I'm trying to get my 2011 accounting buttoned up asap. one) so I can get a financial aid form turned in to my daughter's school, and two) so I'm not filing taxes on the due date this year. (It's really stressful. I don't recommend it. Once is enough.)
Here's where you all come in:
In order to calm a bit of the chaos, and get a head start on spring cleaning, I'm giving away fabric scraps. Lots of fabric scraps.
Leave a comment on this post with a tip on how you manage fabric scraps (or as in my case, don't manage) for a chance to win about two pounds of fabric (a.k.a. what I can fit in a flat rate envelope). TWO POUNDS, people! That's between six and seven yards of pure scrappy goodness! A lot of the pieces will be in the 4-5" range, some full width, and a few fat quarter-ish in size. The only catch is that if you receive some fabrics you don't like or can't use, I ask that you pass them along to someone that can. (If you're short on ideas for scrappy projects - take a peak at my flckr favorites.)
Comments will be open until the evening of February 14th, at which time I'll pick not one, but TWO winners. One at random, the other whose comment I find the most inspiring or amusing.
Ready. Set. Go!
Need I say more? And I'm not just talking about my overflowing scrap bins here. It's been a crazy few weeks.
First off, I'm in the midst of a long-overdue website redesign. As much as I love the simplicity of hosting the shop with Big Cartel, I outgrew their product limit long ago. (Which is a good thing right? It means that my little shop is a little less little now.) After struggling for months with trying to make sense out of the numerous ecommerce options out there, I gave in and hired a local web developer to do the heavy lifting. What a relief. The new site will actually get done, and get done well. I'm hoping for a "grand-opening" at the beginning of March, which means the next few weeks will probably be even more crazy. Stay tuned. There will be door prizes. Well, virtual door prizes.
I'm also plotting a home renovation project to capture some much needed square footage from the unused second-floor attic. The intent is to add a bedroom and "lounge" space for the teenager in the house, who likes to sprawl and won't be bothered so much by the lower ceiling. I'll be calling in some reinforcements for this work as well. The days are long gone when I could be lured into hauling sheets upon sheets of gypsum board anywhere, let alone up a staircase, in the name of "sweat equity". I have to say, I'm giddy at the prospect of having an extra room. The desk and loom will get moved out of the dining room, and the sewing table out of the kitchen for starters. Yes folks, my sewing space is set up in an alcove off the kitchen. Rather convenient actually, if you don't mind the occasional burnt dinner. Stay tuned for this one as well. I'll take pictures! It'll be cool.
Work has been busy too. (The desk job.) Which is good; time-consuming and a bit mentally-draining the way work usually is, but good.
And if that's not all, I'm trying to get my 2011 accounting buttoned up asap. one) so I can get a financial aid form turned in to my daughter's school, and two) so I'm not filing taxes on the due date this year. (It's really stressful. I don't recommend it. Once is enough.)
Here's where you all come in:
In order to calm a bit of the chaos, and get a head start on spring cleaning, I'm giving away fabric scraps. Lots of fabric scraps.
Leave a comment on this post with a tip on how you manage fabric scraps (or as in my case, don't manage) for a chance to win about two pounds of fabric (a.k.a. what I can fit in a flat rate envelope). TWO POUNDS, people! That's between six and seven yards of pure scrappy goodness! A lot of the pieces will be in the 4-5" range, some full width, and a few fat quarter-ish in size. The only catch is that if you receive some fabrics you don't like or can't use, I ask that you pass them along to someone that can. (If you're short on ideas for scrappy projects - take a peak at my flckr favorites.)
Comments will be open until the evening of February 14th, at which time I'll pick not one, but TWO winners. One at random, the other whose comment I find the most inspiring or amusing.
Ready. Set. Go!
What a fun giveaway! Whenever my bin gets really full, I usually go through and cut my scraps up into 2.5" squares, which I've been sewing into blocks that I'll probably use for a charity quilt. I've also made some fun, scrappy napkins using this tutorial, which I really love: http://www.filminthefridge.com/2009/10/21/patchwork-napkins/
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see your new website and sewing space! I can completely understand feeling overwhelmed by the scraps. I recently sorted mine by color. I had my 3 year old help me, which made the process go faster. I put them into clear plastic shoe boxes. I use most of my scraps in improv blocks, which helps to keep them under control and I get to use even the tiniest pieces as I can't stand to throw away fabric. I'd be happy to help take your scraps off your hands. I've got just the right improv quilt in mind!
ReplyDeleteI have started cutting my scraps into 4.5 scraps for a scrappy star quilt I'm trying to make. It might take me a few to get there but it's fun!
ReplyDeleteAlso I want to make a ticker tape quilt. That uses little scraps!!
Thanks for the giveaway! I'm off to read more of your blog.
Good luck with all the change in your world this year!!
Krista
Wow, it sounds like you are really busy!! I would love to have some scraps. I share mine with a few friends in some local quilt groups. One woman doesn't have a lot of money and is super excited to get anything I can't or no longer want to use.
ReplyDeleteI barely manage my scraps as well! I group them into two piles, large and small, but I don't really have a great definition of what qualifies as large or small :) I also am keeping a separate bag of scraps from the queen sized quilt I am currently working on to make coordinating pillows.
ReplyDeleteI dont really have the disposable income to waste, hence i use my scraps as much and as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteI dont have a large stash of fabric either. Actually i felt so inspired by some lovliness i had and was in need of some instant gratification that as soon as i had cut my king single girl out i hopped to and made a single bed strings block quilt...i love how it turned out and was quick to put together...(now its back to the single girl which will take a little longer. I also make all gifts, currently making some sweet bags for children in the family...scraps sure do come in handy for these projects....of course thats if you do not have money and time to buy beautiful surplus fabrics...oh!! given the chance i am sure i would fill my hall with it...I would certainly put your scraps to wonderful use! Happy day :)
Thanks for the chance. I found you over at flickr. Woot woot for someone else's scraps! Hopefully they will play nice with mine?
ReplyDeleteRight now, I am working on a more solid system. I have scraps I still need to go through. But my goal is either 2 inch or 5 inch squares. I want to do a postage stamp style quilt. Most of my sewing projects are done with a certain person or goal in mind. The idea of having a nice big quilt with the leftovers from those projects gives it more sentimental value for me :) I can look at it and think about the quilt I made for grandma, shams for mom, wallets for kids, etc. I don't have room for big bins, so right now I use gallon sized ziploc bags...not ideal, but it works!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's so sweet of you to share! I am in love with scraps, and am doing a bunch of the Japanese x and + blocks right now. If I can, I use scraps on the backs of quilts to use them up and add a little visual interest. I also like to cut a layer cake size square and charm size square (10 an 5 inches) so that I can build a scrappy quilt over time with lots of different prints. I love hearing how people manage their scraps!
ReplyDeleteMy scraps are immediately stuffed into one of two scrap drawers. Once it reaches critical mass (read here: I can't close or open the drawers any more) I bribe my daughter with a movie, sugar, cash, whatever it takes to sort them by color into large zip bags. Sometimes it's accurate, sometimes not so much, but I get to keep sewing while she sorts for me.
ReplyDeleteI have a little time to sew and so little scraps. I started in on a scrappy quilt but realized I was tired of the fabric in my scrap shoe box because I had used it for other projects. So someone else's scraps would be a real treasure. I want too make a couple fabric color books for some little ones which would be a great use of your scraps and mine.
ReplyDeleteOoh yay, new website! Always nice to see new design.
ReplyDeleteI currently have all my scraps in one bag, which has not yet managed to escape the confines of my notions-handquilting-threads-and-all bag. But I do have a Plan for when it does:
1. Look after friends' kitten-age cat when they goes on holiday.
2. Put scraps out on floor.
3. Laser pointer!
4. See where scraps end up as kitten dances madly. Sort into bags appropriately by area.
It will be my way of divining ideas for future quilts: kitten decree.