Getting my act together

 So many floral scraps to play with. I have spent a good part of the week just marking and cutting scraps, that are too small to do much with,

 into one inch sets. Then arranging them into dark on light and light on dark. It is somewhat of a challenge with mostly medium prints, trying to get at least a little contrast or enough of one to show.

I made this small table runner, planning to give it to a neighborhood friend. From time to time she invites me over and we enjoy coffee and a snack together with some nice English conversation thrown in. 

I thought this might be a nice mat for her coffee maker and snack plate.  Since I was just working with odd scraps, when it came to the quilting, I took my baggy of leftovers from larger quilts to piece together a batting. What I ended up using was a bit higher loft than I usually put in runners, and after I began quilting, I felt the results were a bit puffy for a table runner. 

This picture is just after finishing the binding. Today I machine washed it and hung it out in the sun to dry. Then I ironed it front and back and it seems a wee bit less puffy. She told me her favorite color is blue, so I made the border using a blue floral print. It really doesn't show the quilting. And ... the backing is a larger blue floral. 

I am still sorting through those floral scraps. I think there must be enough for 50 quilts. Quite a few large pieces measured in meters, then a pile of pieces several feet square, then lots of maybe quarter yard cuts. Some are still folded with a price tag.  Now I am working with odd scraps that are probably too small to feature in a quilt, and making a tin of those that might be useful in something scrappy. The small ones I cut to go into my tins of two, three. and four-inch squares. Some of the strips might make an interesting border somewhere down the road. 

Another week has rolled around and the end of this sorting still not in sight. I have a box of three inch pieced blocks that are patiently waiting for a purpose. Those were assembled while on zoom meetings and a number on the train into town and back for my scout  meeting. Should I get a request for a runner, it won't take so long to put one together.

Meanwhile, gusty weather is spreading plum blossoms up and down the street and I am getting exercise sweeping them before they are ground under foot. Lots of ways to enjoy flowers in my area!

Playing with florals

 

Not a whole lot going on other than zooming and skyping.

For someone with limited computer skills, I seem to be spending a lot of time sitting in front of my computer screen.

Luckily, with the camera aimed right, I can spend most of that time measuring, marking, cutting, and sewing some of these scrap fabrics.

Of all the scrap fabric I have been "gifted", it seems florals are the most profuse. 

I was recently reminded of a table runner I made years ago for a speaker at one of our yearly Women's' Conferences.  I dug into my tin of leftover blocks, and thought there might be enough light and dark to add to the tin, and I have been wishing to make a small table runner for a neighbor friend. 

Why not some flowers for the coming spring? 

I have hardly scratched the surface of those gifted scraps. Many require ironing  and trimming which is slowly getting done, but the strings and odd shapes have been put to use, and I think there might be enough for more than one runner. Maybe my entryway would enjoy some flowers too.

Speaking of flowers, my neighbor's flowering vine is a reminder that spring is on its way.

I am thinking of trying to root a section of this plant, which I have learned is from Australia. 

From what I have seen, it seems to thrive on neglect, as that neighbor has allowed the garden to go wild. I have only once seen the mother-in-law untangling the vines from other plants and directing them to the fence.

They sure are attractive festooning that fence.

The plum tree we planted years ago to celebrate the birth of our first daughter has rewarded the neighborhood with a colorful display of blossoms.

Now I am sweeping the street each day so that those same neighbors won't be complaining about those pink petals coming into their houses on the soles of their shoes.

My relationship with the broom makes up for time spent sitting next to my computer contemplating flowered fabrics.

A wee bit of exercise is worth it!

I hope you all are finding some flowers to enjoy as well.