Scrap Bundle Destash!

Once upon a time this was the bulk of my fabric stash. Fat quarters to half yards cuts organized in rainbow order, minus a special shelf for all of my Anna Maria Horner fabrics and of course, a shelf dedicated to my collection of Art Gallery Fabrics!



I took this photo in the Summer of 2012, just after I had finished my first big quilt and a couple years before my dream of becoming a fabric designer came true. There has been so many quilts and SO much wonderful, beautiful fabric since I snapped this picture!

My goal is to start 2019 with a clean studio and slate, in the sense that I wish to have empty scrap baskets and drawers. Yes, I have both! I recently decided to completly redo my studio, a two room space that I rent downtown, after the holidays are over and destashing and decluttering will be key!

So last week, overcome with the desire to start purging, I emptied all of my various scrap vessels into one large basket to bring home, and throughout the past several days I've been putting together colorful 1 yard bundles to sell!



In each scrap bundle you’ll find a range of patterns and the occasional out of print fabric, in sizable strips and pieces of my studio scraps from the variety of collections that I've used to create my quilts and sewing projects over the past year or so, making these little bundles perfect for patchwork! Bundles are $10 a piece plus shipping. Please feel free to email me at maureencracknell@hotmail.com if you're interested in ordering anytime!

Thank you!

xo Maureen

From Scraps : :

Immediately after finishing Haila's pretty drawstring bag, I collected the odd Fleet & Flourish, Tapestry fabric, and AGF Denim scraps scattered throughout my sewing room floor and turned them into a sweet matching pillow. I carried on sewing with the same herringbone pattern and added lace embellishments that I have loved using so much lately!



It's a cute little pillow, barely fitting the 14" pillow insert that's stuffed in there so tightly, but I'm sure over time, after a little use, it will look just perfect! I always make my pillow covers a little smaller than the size of the pillow insert I plan to use. They always settle a little and I love them to stay looking nice and full!



Nothing went to waste in the making of this quick project - even the pillow back is finished with more scraps and a little linen.



For the binding I used the very last of that BIG role of Hello, Bear Summit in Twilight binding I made a few months back. I love the combination of each fabric & trim that makes up this pillow, pretty, pretty!



I especially love it paired with the Fleet & Flourish pillow I made for last year's Fall Quilt Market to showcase my Miniments and Lace in Bloom prints. Doesn't in make a lovely set?





I think they look so beautiful together, tossed on the Anthropologie Victoriana Silk Throw blanket that I received for Christmas last year!



I've been working, slowly, on building up my handmade inventory in the hopes of having a local pop-up shop around the holidays or possibly here online, and both of these pillows have been added to the pile!

♡ Maureen  

Scrap Happy : :

Late last night, as I attempted to straighten up my sewing room before heading off to bed, I noticed piles of scraps everywhere, again. It happens fast around here! Usually I bundle them up to destash, but last night I decided it was time to begin a simple quilt, using only scraps, right then and there!



The fabrics are a mash-up of all the collections I've been working with lately. Artisan, Bound, Cultivate, with a few older project leftovers mixed in here and there. I'm using mostly 2.5 inch wide strips, cut to various lengths, joining them just as I did when making my recent scrappy pillow. I had mentioned when I shared that new pillow how much I'd love to make a quilt in this scrappy saw-tooth style and here I go!



I began by sewing two strips together, a neutral low volume print with one of the colorful scraps, the same way I do when making quilt binding, piecing each strip with a diagonal seam. Once I had enough strips sewn together, I sewed them to a panel of batting one after the other using my go-to quilt as you go method, staggering them to create a zig-zag like pattern.





Easy, fun, and I'll have a beautiful scrap-busting quilt at the end. The scraps are being used, and I am happy!

♡ Maureen

Scrap Bundle Bags : :

I stayed up last night pressing and bundling scraps to offer here in a little destash today. Last time when I had my rainbow bundle detsash on my instagram, although things went very quickly which was wonderful, I felt so bad for those of you who didn't have Instagram. So today, I thought I would try it out right here on my blog!





In each scrap bag you’ll find a range of patterns & solids, the occasional out of print fabric, in sizable strips, charms, and pieces of my studio scraps from the variety of collections that I've used to create my quilts and sewing projects, making these little bundles perfect for patchwork!



Each scrap bag will include a cute yet heavy-duty, usable, 10 x 12 inch 100% cotton drawstring bag filled with approximately 1 yard of colorful fabric scraps by weight. Each bag will vary in color, designers, manufacturers, etc..







They are $10 a piece plus shipping, and I have 25 bags to offer today. All bundles will be shipped first class with tracking at $4 for USA residents. International friends are welcome to these scraps, as well, but I will have to send the bag in a flat rate envelope so the package is track-able, which is pretty pricey!

These will ship today, if those of you who would like one can pay right away. I am offering just one per person this time and am not able to take any requests as they are already packaged into my mailing envelopes. Please leave a comment with your Paypal email address to claim, the first twenty-five to do so will receive a scrap bag.

& thank you!
♥ Maureen

Fabric Scrap Overflow : :

Almost two years ago actually to the day I finished my first scraps quilt. It was only the third quilt I had ever made, the first that was larger than a crib size. It took me forever and I learned so much about quilting as it evolved from the tiny bits I had saved from all the projects I had made while learning to sew that first year, to a finished, useful quilt. I thought back then that I'd continue on making smaller projects, pillows, bags, home decor items, sell-able things, and that I would save my quilt making for all the scraps those projects produced. If you've been following, you know I changed my mind on that!

Now, since that was the only true scraps quilt I've ever made and that was nearly two years ago, you can imagine the fabric scrap situation in my studio today. It's astounding! My drawers are so packed full they don't open without a forceful pull!



The solution, since my last Instagram detsash was such a success although a bit overwhelming, I decided to begin slowly sorting and packaging up my scraps for a scraps bag destash!





Each scrap bag will include a cute yet heavy-duty, 100% cotton drawstring bag filled with lots of colorful fabric scraps! Some will consist of all the pretty fabric that I've used together to create one of my quilts, like these photos show from my almost finished Endless Summer Quilt.



However, in most you’ll find a range of patterns & solids, the occasional out of print fabric, in both sizable strips and pieces of my studio scraps from the variety of collections that I've used to create my quilts and sewing projects. I plan to fill each 10 x 12 inch bag with approximately 1 to 1 1/4 yards of fabric pieces by weight. Of course each scrap bag will vary in colors, designers, manufacturers, etc.. I plan to offer these for $10 a piece plus shipping, just as soon as I fill the 50+ bags I have on hand. 



If all goes well, I do hope to continue to bundle up my scraps like so to offer at the end of each project and to avoid this scrap overflow situation from ever reoccurring, I hope you're interested!

How about you, do you keep all of your project scraps? And if so, how do you keep them from taking over?! I'd love to read your tips for organizing and for how you handle your scraps, share away!!

♥ Maureen

Scrap Chat : :

Yesterday, on a whim, I decided to offer up some of my fabric scraps to those ordering felt during my sale. A win, win for sure! But once I had the day's orders all laid out and I began sorting through my scraps, I became completely overwhelmed!

What's too small? What's too big? Should I press them? They're kind of wrinkled from being shoved in my drawer! Should I square them up so they look nice and neat?

My goodness, I was seriously stressing out over this?! In the end, I ended up with these answers --
I will send a variety of sizes, I will square them up a little, and I will definitely press them!



Back when I was avoiding packing for the BIG move into our new home, I started making these Simple Color Totes, with my Simply Color Layer Cake. I love, love the idea of organizing my scraps by color! I accomplished four before I had run out of my procrastination time, and I still plan to finish out that rainbow eventually!





The majority of my scraps presently dwell in the large bottom drawer of my most favorite dresser, stuffed to the brim! Which is why I'm happy, thrilled actually, to offer some up!



So, when I saw that my friend Alia had ordered, creator of this beautiful, felt needle book of mine, I decided to send her a nice variety!



A little improv scattering of scraps for another order!



And, when Mara asked so sweetly for orange and purple scraps, if I could please, I was happy to share!



One day I will eventually get around to beginning that second scraps quilt!



But with each new sewing day, comes more and MORE scraps than I could ever imagine using all on my own!

So today, I'm asking all of you -- What do you keep? What do you consider useful scraps? Do you keep your selvages, as well? And, how do you store your own scraps?

I'll continue sending out my scraps with all the Wool Blend Felt orders I receive during my sale, and I may even use your super helpful answers to offer up some fabric scrap bundles in my Etsy shop at some point, as well!

As always, thanks so much taking the time to stop by!   ♥, Maureen

Blogger's Quilt Festival : :

I decided to join in and share one of the quilts I made this year in the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

Blogger's Quilt Festival Stats : :

Finished quilt measures : : 68" x 80"
Special techniques used : : improv piecing and quilting as you go
Quilted by : : me on my home machine
Best Category : : Favorite Scrap Quilt




I chose to enter my Scrappy Improv Quilt because of what it means to me. I shared in my original post how I see this quilt as a "functional scrapbook" of all the many little projects I have made since I began to sew. When I look at it, I can see each of them, which is really special!!

Creating this little Improv Quilter is one of my most favorite sewing sessions ever! And I love seeing her in the corner when we're cuddled underneath this quilt!





I actually just packed this quilt and my others in preparation for our move. Sharing this post and looking back on how it all came together, was just the thing I needed to take the time to do today. I have been so busy packing and trying my best to keep up with everything else, it was nice break. I'm grateful now that this quilt will also be a keepsake for us to have of our time spent together in this house.



Thanks so much for stopping by today!! I encourage you to check out the other entries in the Festival, you are sure to be inspired and still have time to enter one of your own! ♥ Maureen 
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