Anyone up for a challenge?

I cleaned up my floor, scooping all the fabric, thread, yarn, packaging and everything I couldn't recycle into a big basket... then started thinking that I could make something clever with it all.  I haven't really fleshed any of the details out but was wondering if anyone else would be up for something like this?  I posted the ideas on my blog -
http://tamdoll.blogspot.com/2008/08/plugging-away-at-ufos-challenge-idea.html

Tammy

I don't have enough leftovers yet - I just started sewing and accumulating fabric again.  But I do have an idea for my scraps.  I've been making bags and things for friends (and myself) and I absolutely LOVE all the fabrics I've been using.  I plan on doing a scrappy "memory" quilt of sorts, using all of these scraps.  The fun thing is I will be able to remember what the fabric was from and who it was for and I'll still get to enjoy the beautiful textiles!

I have used the scraps that are too small for sewing as stuffing for toys, attached to toys as facial parts.  I have also used small strips for garden ties too.

This is a great idea.
I used the bits from my first sewing session to make a pincushion for my grandmother, but beyond that I have no ideas

I have tons of scraps that I figure some day I MUST have an idea of what to do with them other than throw them away.  I have  6 plastic grocery bags of it!

So far I have thought of using them to making ribbons , wrapping gifts and stuff pillows.  I remember reading once that some after school programs accept them as donations for children's art projects but I haven't looked into that yet.

I was just thinking that my scraps were getting out of control and that I needed to do something!     I went and got some muslin and plan to make a few baby quilts for donation to the neonatal intensive care unit where my daughter was a patient.  We received several handmade items while she was there and they mean a lot to us.

This is horrible because I don't remember the quilter / sewer / author who came up with this idea to give credit...  Basically what I plan to do is to cut squares of muslin (although you could also use any shape that would easily join: diamonds, etc) place a scrap in the middle so that it's right side up, put another scrap on top of the 1st piece right side DOWN, sew through the three layers (so, the muslin, the 1st fabric, and the second fabric)  then trim the seam, flip the second fabric and press, and then repeat with more scraps until the square is done.  The method is somewhat like paper piecing if you've ever done that.  Only, it's muslin and you don't rip it off at the end.

Basically this is a really easy way to make a crazy quilt because all the pieces wind up being stabalized by the muslin.  You can also use teeny tiny pieces, so not much waste.

When we get our main computer back up I'll try to post some pics. 

I cut all my small pieces into 2" and 1 1/2" strips and toss them into labelled rubbermaid . Both totes are pretty full.  I use them fairly frequently, for quiltng projects, and it feels like free fabric!

Are you kidding?  Most of the time it looks like a bomb went off in my craft room.  How else am I supposed to get inspired and create!  You are completely normal and I think you have a great idea. 

I make small hair clips for my daughter, pins, and such with my stuff, I can't wait to see what you come up with.

I did this at a quilt retreat one year. One of our group members was throwing away all of the fabric scraps from her quilt. I said WAIT!!! I took them all over to my sewing space. While she wasn't looking I pieced a mini quilt and quilted it for her. The rest of the group caught on to what I was doing. Towards the end of the weekend, when my friend was out of the room, I placed the finished little quilt at her sewing area.  She was delighted and surprised by what the quilting fairy had left for her. That was a lot of fun.

I love making scrap quilts. I also often get little baggies of scraps from my friends now!

Oh that was thoughtful and so kind of you to put her scraps together in a mini quilt for her.  I will have to keep that in mind!