Friday, April 15, 2016

The rare orange diamond

So, what do you do with tiny scraps? Throw them away? 
Not me. I sit at my beloved machine and mindlfully sew them together while listening to a book on disc.

I almost love this kind of piecing best... no big decisions yet I enjoy seeing how prints and shades look next to each other. Seeing the lines develop and look when trimmed into diamonds is very satisfying.

Finally the orange scrap bin is getting down to the ones hard to use. They might need to become squares for watercolor quilts.Look at the scale/size next to my hand....
Look at the prints....
cats staring right at you...
The four colors so far from the RSC 2016
If it weren't for this year-long challenge to use scraps, one color at a time, I might not be making these fun quilts.

I have friends who think I am cuckoo to work with such small pieces.

My answer is look at what comes from them!
I feel free to mix pattern and color with them.

Since they are so small there is no worry of waste.
When you cut into a yard of beautiful fabric you might feel anxiety that you should use it in the "right" way.

One of my favorite artists is Klimt.
These remind me of his use of pattern, line and color.



These are not sewn together yet. All the possibilities are still open.
   What if...
They became a star?? 
That's a 6" ruler for scale
Linking to some pretty fun parties... check out my links page for parties of the day
Happy Scrappy LeeAnna, signing off to go sew strips together!

linking to several parties including:  Whoomp there it is!

41 comments:

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

I could make 30 of these quilts. Probably shouldn't have told the world i am such a hoarder of tiny scraps.......but you started it...

Jan said...

Any quilter who throws away small pieces of fabric misses a lot of fun of the process of quilting.

Peggyinno said...

By showing these beauties, you should be able to convince a few more quilters out there "not to throw away tiny scraps"!!! These are so awesome all together. I LOVE that 'rare' orange diamond!!! Great job this week!

Sara said...

Love this use of small scraps. Very pretty diamonds. I usually cut the small pieces into squares: 3.5", 2.5" and 1.5". Those littlest post stamp blocks are starting to add up but so far I've only used them in some very small projects.

Angela said...

Love the way you are using your scraps!

sonja said...

If cuckoo is another world for creative, so be it.. i'm in there!!
The star is a radiant way to arrange the units.must be fun to play as your diamonds appear. I also save small bits and strips and trimming for future musings. i also save these clear containers that house fruit and veggies and after the food is gone, i might compose a collage a strata, landscape, sunset/sunrise with the pieces on the top and then i have a colorful container for MORE bits and strips! they stack and i can see into them to see what i need for the idea i am pondering in that space of What IF!!and that's not cocoo that fun!

Joanne said...

Amazing what scraps can turn into! Love the star lay out!

Turid said...

I love your colours and your scrap blocks. I have to sew something orange for tomorrow. Thanks for the inspiration.

quiltedfabricart said...

See, that brown one that you poo - pooed looks great next to the orange, doesn't it? I like just the tesselating layout the best. What fun this quilt will be to look at when its done, looking at all the millions of little scraps all different and unique pulled all together to work as one. I wish you could do that with the world :-)

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Love what you doing with these teeny tiny scraps, very creative!

JanineMarie said...

I love your tiny scraps, and look at what big diamonds they turn into! The thing I like best is that there is no mistaking the dominant color in your blocks, but there are so many other colors going on inside of them.

claudia said...

It's amazing what you can do with some tiny scraps! You've made some lovely diamonds there!

Kate @ Smiles From Kate said...

You call it a rare orange diamond and when you put four different colours together it is apparent how true the description is. I was struck by how many facets it appeared to have, and how it seemed to sparkle, like a cut diamond. A rare and lovely thing.

Mystic Quilter said...

You seem to work miracles with you small scraps, these diamonds are wonderful and I love the star setting.

Kat Scribner said...

How interesting in diamonds! You never cease to delight the viewer with your scrap piecing!

Cathy said...

Love your diamonds and your ability to put together odd-sized scraps!!! The diamonds are gorgeous!

Nell's Quilts said...

Diamonds are a girls best friends especially if they are bonus blocks from left over little bits. The colours are coming together so nicely. You have a wonderful eye for finding the right placement to show off each fabric.

Ivani said...

You are right LeeAnna, ther is a pleasure turning tiny scraps into something beautiful. Your diamonds offers many possibilities. Happy weekend!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

These are just beautiful !! :)

gayle said...

I love these big sparkly diamonds! (And for some reason, I wasn't expecting them to be so big.) I really enjoy seeing what you're up to with all the fabulous colors you play with. Create on!

Sheila said...

They are beautiful! I keep my small scraps, too. Nothing under 1.25". These days I've been sewing them on strips of paper and then into super scrappy pot holder/hot pads and mug rugs for gifts. People seem to love them.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I've been enjoying your diamonds all along, but seeing the orange with the othe colors this month just made me go "Wow!" Beautiful! You've about got me convinced to start using my little tiny bits that way.

Jasmine said...

Your diamonds look amazing! Great job using those scraps.

PaulaB quilts said...

If they allow you to feel free, that is the best and highest use, I think. It's like watching a flower open with each one a surprise.

Angie said...

Love the diamonds - something I must try!

Kaja said...

So resourceful and these diamonds will make a stunning quilt.

Joanie's Trendy Quilts said...

You are a brave one to save all those tiny pieces and create beautiful blocks with them. The diamonds made into a star will make for a beautiful quilt.

Norma Schlager said...

Love that vibrant orange!

AlidaP said...

I am also saving all those tiny pieces... I just need to be in the mood of "making fabric", which doesn't happen too often lately, but I guess it's just a phase. When I am stuck on other projects, using up small scraps is the best creative outlet. Thanks for sharing your beautiful blocks!!

QuiltMusings said...

I love how you have worked in colorways. I have been trying to use up scraps and unloved fabrics, but I like your version much better than what I have so far!

Claire said...

Your orange diamond is especially attractive. I'm saving my pieces to play later. Claire aka Knitnkwilt

France Nadeau ❅ inspiration imagination creation said...

I always admire your work and, with this post, you've reach an even higher level. I'm known to keep everything that is fabric (I have piles of old clothes that I keep for their fabric) but I don't keep the tiny scraps (though I have considered it many times and discarded the idea). Seeing the gorgeous diamonds you're making with yours makes me think that I wouldn't be as crazy as I thought if I keep them...

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

I used this improv piecing method one time for a project and loved the direction it took. I really should do more of this sort of thing because I love the way your diamonds look. And you are right - look at where those scraps are now!

Jayne said...

So pretty! I hate throwing away scraps, like you I save them for just that kind of piecing!

Cut&Alter said...

I love where you are heading with this - the diamonds are wonderful. I didn't start playing along with RSC in January but the more I see of people's projects thru the year the more I think I might have to play catch up. As you say one colour a month and at the end you have some lovely blocks to play with.

Susan said...

Scraps do turn into fun, interesting pieces - I'm always happy with the process and the product. Keep going with yours as you have a great start with 'mindful sewing'!

Marsha Cooper said...

OMG!
I throw small pieces in to pillow cases for dog bed, but then don't finish the dog beds.
I need to figure out how to listen to books on tape while working.

Tu-Na Quilts said...

And this fear of "using it in the right way" does paralyze me from cutting into a lot of yardage. It is easier to cut into a fat quarter though. Very pretty diamonds. I'm working on a 1.5" postage stamp with a 2.5" square thrown in occasionally for interest. And to keep it even more challenging I'll throw in a few squares now and then made up of 4 that are 0.5" too. All from scraps because I don't worry about cutting into them. Maybe I'll eventually get over the fear.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Your blocks are so beautiful! Orange is one of my favorite colors!

Ruth said...

That is looking amazing - I love that you are using the tiniest of pieces.

gi quilt said...

Is orange not such a lovely color especially different shades/tones!