I need ideas....

I was generously given a bunch of fabric. I have been having fun sewing with quilting fabrics that I have bought... making my girls clothes and such.  Now I am looking at this given fabric.  And it is solid colours (most of it).  Some of it is a fairly heavy weight (heavier than the quilting fabrics I have been using.... so a little heavy for summer clothes!) and some of it is very lightweight.  I don't want it just sitting in my closet and I am trying to think of things I could sew with it.  They are in 1/2 - 1 yd pieces for the most part.  I have heavier weight fabrics in a very , very pale blue, a deep red... and some light weight fabrics is a very light grey green, a bright st.patricks day kind of green.... and there is more but those are a couple that stand out in my mind right now.

I know you can sew almost anything with fabric... but I am just looking at it and thinking what on earth do I make with this?  So any suggestions for projects (ideally small) would be great!!!

Thanks!

I don't know about you but I need some of these
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=738 (maybe in different sizes
as well). Shopping bags are good to make from heavier weight fabrics too.  I use solids for the backs of throw pillows sometimes. Without seeing it, might the lighter weight fabric  make nice summer pajamas for young ones?  Don't worry about using it all up, projects may come up that need lining, or backings and you'll be prepared.

If you are interested in doing something for your community, you might consider making one or more "Ugly Quilts" for the homeless in your area.  You can Google the "ugly quilt project" to get more information, including a pattern for an ugly quilt. It's a simple project that will use a lot of fabric up in a hurry - you can even use old clothes as part of the quilt "fabric".

A half yard of bottom weight is enough to make an A-line skirt for a young girl. You can dress it up with print pockets and trim from your scraps or just use contrast thread to topstitch. Heavier fabrics can also be used to make bags, pillow covers, table runners/placemats/potholders, book/journal covers, cut out red hearts or blue butterflies and sew them on jeans, use a contrasting thread with a decorative stitch to embellish further. Have your daughters use rubber stamps or even potato stamps with fabric paint to decorate solid colors. Use embroidery and applique to add interest to solid background fabrics.

Lighter weight solid fabrics can be used as trim, pockets, plackets, etc for dresses and skirts where the main fabric is a print. Cottons can be made into napkins, doll clothes and bedding. Make drawstring bags for holding shoes when traveling or to organize toys. Hem the edge of a square and use it with an extravagant ribbon or a fresh flower to wrap a special gift.

Thanks for the abundance of ideas!   I should be able to figure out a few things to make now.