Tuesday, January 10, 2017

The January Scraptastic Tuesday Link is Open!


It's the second Tuesday of January and that means that the Scraptastic Tuesday link is open. Happy New Year and I hope you are as happy as I am that Nicky and I will be continuing Scraptastic Tuesday for 2017. Please share your scrappy projects, in progress or completed or your tips for using or organizing your scraps.


I was looking through my photos and I have to say that I did not use my scraps much over the holidays, instead I made more with projects using yardage. I do have one project that may or may not end up using my scraps.

I received these small blocks last summer - 4" - 6" square - in a little swap between the members of Bee Sewcial. The theme was low volume and a pop of colour. I have been trying to decide how to use them as I want a quilt not a mini quilt I think. So in December, my first thought was to pull a bunch of neutral scraps out and use them with the blocks. But this was not speaking to me, perhaps because of the dark additions. But mostly I did not feel like puzzling through the piecing of the irregular fabrics at that point.


While the blocks were still up on my design board, I wondered if maybe this arrangement would be nicer. The dark blue, not quite navy background is a Essex Linen which I have been holding for the right project. But I am still not sure about that either. I love the simplicity of it but was stuck at the proportions.

To me, the blocks become more intentionally the focus in this minimalist layout. So it feels that if I make the quilt too large, the negative space will inappropriately diminish that intention. But I don't want this to be a baby quilt either. So I am thinking on that issue and the question of proportions. Perhaps the right solution is to find a way to make the focus area bigger - more space between them, more blocks, a kind of minimalist border, or something else. Or maybe it is fine as it is, I am still not sure.

Stay tuned, maybe another idea entirely will come to mind. I have been trying to give myself permission to let creative ideas percolate a bit, as I have no shortage of other projects to be working on while they do.

Here are our fabulous Scraptastic Tuesday Sponsors and their buttons, feel free to click through and thank them for their support:



A huge thank you to our generous sponsors for providing the following prizes which will be awarded randomly among those of you who link up.
Please join Nicky from Mrs. Sew and Sow and I by linking up a blog post or flickr or instagram photo sharing a scrappy project, in progress or finished, or your thoughts on dealing with your scrap mountain:
  • You don't have to have joined us before, everyone is welcome.
  • One link per person, and it will be your entry into the random draw for the prizes. It is the same link up here and at Nicky's blog - Mrs. Sew and Sow - so you only need to link up on one of our blogs.
  • This link is to share with our community about using your scraps, please don't use it to advertise your own products or events.
  • You can link up from your blog, instagram or flickr, but you have to link up to be entered in the prize draw.
  • Please visit at least a few of the links, they are very inspiring, and leave comments too as everyone loves to connect. 
  • Use the Scraptastic Tuesday button and invite your friends to join us too. Please share our button, or a link or the hashtag #scraptastictuesday in your linked post or photo. 
  • The link is open until next Monday night at 10:00 pm MST. We will announce the winners next Tuesday. 
  • If you have trouble linking up, let me or Nicky know and we will get you sorted.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to share with us this month.

Best,

Leanne

10 comments:

Jen Frost / Faith and Fabric said...

I like the idea of a minimalist border - looking forward to seeing how your quilt turns out!

Teje Karjalainen said...

Leanne, this came again totally surprise for me! I don't like that time pass so quickly! But I'm very happy to have a scrap project to share - star pouch which bacame my favourite! I love both of your projects in this post! Lately seems to be that I'm keen on art quilts and see them here. On the dark background I propably would arrange the blocks more randomly or perhaps in two lines and then fill the negative space with quilting. Thank you for giving always inspiration and for hosting this great party! x Teje

judys said...

What about the little blocks into the lower left corner?

Jannette said...

I don't suppose you want to make a few more blocks? That might give you a few more options...

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Thanks for hosting for 2017. I didn't do much with my scraps in 2016. I need to get them tamed and actually use them.

Sue said...

Glad to see you guys are continuing - I'm always on the look out for a good scrap project.

tisha @ quiltytherapy said...

The blocks look great on the Essex Linen background. What if you did the border on two sides (left and bottom) to keep the blocks looking intentional? That idea popped into my head as you started talking about a border.

Puppilalla said...

Hello Leanne, the low volume with pop color blocks are charming but I agree with Janette that a few more would give you more options. At the momnet they look a bit lost against the blue background. The other arrangement strikes me as more dynamic. Oh and thanks for hosting the link-up

Unknown said...

Those blocks are so pretty! I want to put some together! thanks for the inspiration!

Erin Quinn said...

I really like the low volumes in the sea of blue. I almost want more blue (completely the opposite to your other commentors, but I live to be different!). Perhaps do it as per your photo and then add a border of dark grey???
Good luck!!
E xx