I live approximately 1,100 miles from where I grew up, so I find myself traveling to visit my family for Christmas most years. This year is no exception. I always enjoy seeing my family; but I also enjoy seeing the [not-so-]subtle ways my home town changes from year to year. In the decade since I moved away, it’s almost grown into an entirely new city. I find it easy to embrace my love-hate relationship with that fact.
Some benefits come from change, however: namely, there is a new a craft supply reuse store in town that opened a couple of years. (So I guess it’s not that new…)
And I love a good craft supply reuse store. The price point is obviously appealing, and they provide opportunities to reduce waste and consumption. They also have unique materials which would never be available at a regular craft store since they embody the maxim, “One man’s trash is another one’s treasure.”
Visiting craft supply reuse stores like SCRAP in Portland, OR or Who Gives a Scrap here in Colorado Springs, CO is a favorite vacation hobby of mine when I get the chance.
A Vacation Quilting Project
I visited Who Gives a Scrap a couple of days ago, and I had to buy something (obviously). I felt like I needed a vacation craft to fill some of my time.
Mentally inventorying the myriad of sewing supplies available to me at my parents’ house, I decided to make a throw quilt. I bought several yards of fabric and decided to dive in without a firm plan. I reasoned if I can complete a few squares a day, I will have my small quilt top by the time my vacation is over.
I brought everything home and spent an evening cutting fabric into 2″ strips using a rotary blade with a dull blade. (Don’t do that, since I also cut myself nicely.) I settled on making a bunch of randomly-selected log cabin squares. At this point, I am about 24 patches in so far, and I have some interesting results so far:
Nothing on this quilt is very square or lined up. I am embracing serendipity here, and aiming for done, not perfect. I am also quickly realizing my quilt will be quite a bit larger than a simple throw quilt. But my favorite part? Realizing the difference a little ironing and trimming up can make to a finished block.
So here’s to hoping I can finish this quilt top in the next week or so.
Lora Makes Things 