I can’t believe that I haven’t posted since January!! With life, family, work and other things going on, I just didn’t get around to writing. It’s not that I’m not sewing, cause I have been doing some scrappy stuff.. I just haven’t taken the time to write about the process.

Several weeks ago, I finished up 10 bag sets for Carole’s 2024 Safelight project. I haven’t seen her post a recent update, but it’s likely that her totes were already sent off. Here are my sets that were made for Carole’s huge undertaking of toiletry bags for a domestic abuse shelter.

I did some basic foundation paper piecing with hearts on two of the bags. I fussy cut from a panel I had of lovey-dovey cats. I pieced from novelty fabric and used up some scraps. While Carole’s instructions call for velcro, I like to add zippers to my larger toiletry bags. I just think they look better and are more functional.

When my life seems hectic and stressful, I often turn to scraps to do some creative sewing. At those moments, I want something to take my mind off whatever is going on in my life, the world or both!! I had always wanted to make a flying geese quilt, so I tackled that doing paper piecing. I enjoyed the process and even posted about it on a quilting group on Facebook. I got the suggestion back to put in some two section geese, which I had not yet done. Naturally, it’s not completed yet. I always like making tops over finishing quilts!! Don’t judge. I’m a starter with more ideas than time!

Here are a few geese together. I redid the stripy one that was a bit chaotic. These aren’t colors I usually would put together, but I wanted something kind of boho chic and wild, not too carefully scripted.

I used the foundation paper piecing pattern below from thimbleandneedles.com. I prefer free patterns, as we all do, but this one was only $5 for a bundle. It came with several different sizes of geese and I chose this 2 x 4″ one for a doll-size quilt. Check out their awesome patterns and I guarantee you’ll want to try some of them.

Above is the quilt top as I now have it. I like how it all works together. I enjoy the various patterns and colors just blending. Having the geese going all different ways is I guess how I feel about the world right now, chaotic. Maybe it needs to be called Boho Chaos.

I also made a fun little rainbow quilt using up loads of scraps.

Here are a few things I’m working on to use up scraps. I can’t handle large quilts at the moment, so these are likely to be doll or baby size quilts when completed.

I like tossing in some novelty prints, but this was intended to be scrappy. I didn’t cut up fabrics unless I needed something of a certain size. All in all, in my humble opinion, this turned out gorgeous. I got the idea for the talented Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter. I give her full credit, though I did create my own sized pattern to accommodate smaller scraps. My blocks are 5.5″ unfinished. I love this for using up strings or strips. I actually will go back to this one again and try it in just a few colors. Below is the completed top but alas, it still needs to be quilted.

Finally, I’m working on some smaller blocks that aren’t pulled together yet. Here’s a scrappy string star quilt in progress. Notice all the bits and pieces of a Peanut’s fabric line from Joann’s. While I don’t usually love the quality of trademark fabrics, this one in bits is perfect for the little touch here and there.

The paper is still behind each one. I keep that on until it’s sewn into a flimsy. I made my own pattern for this one. My blocks are 6″ unfinished. I wasn’t able to find a pattern that I liked for this design. There are many online to choose from, but I just felt they were all too big. In the end, I made this little quilt much larger than planned. I’m waiting to sew it until I know where it’s going to end up.

Here are the pieces all together on my table. I don’t love the lack of symmetry on the top row. However, do I keep going and make it larger….oh what to do, what to do?

That’s all for now. I’ve got lots more but I’m having two Passover seders next week and the oven is calling me.