Fabric Scraps Obsession, ScrapHappy, What's on the Design Wall

ScrapHappy October 2023 – Recycled Jeans and Home Decor Fabric Scraps

tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

It’s the 15th of the month and time for my monthly “ScrapHappy” post as part of the ScrapHappy group I belong. At the end of this post I have a link to the other blogs participating in this monthly event in case you’d like to check out their ScrapHappy posts.

This post is a follow up to my October 9th post – What’s on the Design Wall: An “Upcycled” Work .

I’ve completed 51 blocks piecing recycled denim/jeans and home decor fabric scraps; and I put 49 of them in a 7 by 7 square so you could see a sample of a layout:

Yes I couldn’t decide which photo to use so I included all three!

I want the piece to be sort of large, and definitely square and I’ve decided to make a total of 81 blocks for a 9 by 9 square piece. I might hand quilt it, I haven’t decided but I am going to try some sample designs with scrap denim to see how the stitching would look.

There is going to be lot texture in this quilt, primarily from the recycled home decorating fabric samples I used:

Here is a collection of close up blocks to show you the textures:

There are more fabrics I haven’t cut yet that I will be adding/using for the additional 30 blocks I need to make.

The layout you see on my design wall is not the final layout, just a sample layout. When I finish all the blocks and go to layout the quilt, I realized I need to pay attention to secondary patterns that I might want in the piece.

For example I noticed this secondary pattern, from how the blocks lay together, in one of the sections on the design wall and I like it:

I want to make sure the final layout has a lot of “movement” in it.

My tentative name for this piece is What Direction Do I Go?

It is a deeply personal piece, inspired by my first recycled fabric random triangle piece Flying Triangles (2012); but about my struggles for the past 5 years since becoming a widow, selling my beloved house, moving to Colorado (leaving all I knew there), starting the 2nd relationship in my life, quitting my job, trying to focus on textile art, etc. (Yes I like to lump a lot of life changes and drama into one time period, ha!).

It should prove to be an interesting Artist Statement on the piece when I am ready to write it (not until the piece is done of course).

And you thought it was just some recycled denim and home decor fabric sewn together (wink).

As promised, here are the bloggers that participate in the ScrapHappy monthly posting event, check out their blogs linked below for their ScrapHappy posts:

Kate @Tall Tales from Chiconia , Gun @Rutigt – G Adrian, Eva @bambisyr-evaj, Sue @From the Magpie’s Nest, Lynda @Life on the Farmlet, Birthe @Birthes rom, Turid @Den syende himmel, Susan @DesertSky Quilting, Cathy @nanacathydotcom, Tracy @It’s a T-Sweets Day!, Jan @The Snail of Happiness, Moira @The Quilted Snail, Sandra @Wild Daffodil, Chris @chrisknitsews, Alys @Gardening Nirvana, Claire @Claire93’s Blog, Jean @onesmallstitch, Dawn @DawnGillDesigns, Gwen @Deep in the Heart of Textiles/Textile Ranger, Sunny @The Adventures of Team Wil-Sun, Kjerstin @Quimper Hittys, Sue @Going Batty in Wales, Vera @lifebyacompassnotaclock, Ann @Ann F Stonehouse Quiltmaker, Dawn @myquiltprojects, Carol @Quilt Schmilt, Preeti @Sew Preeti Quilts, Nóilin @Paper, Pen and Mug, Viv @Where the Journey Takes Me 2, Karrin @Karrin’s Crazy World, Amo @View From Our Hill, Alissa @ Snakes & Cranes, Lynn @Tialys, Tierney @tierneycreates, Hannah @quietwatercraft

Published by tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Quilter, crafter, obsessive tea drinker and lover of all furry creatures (especially dogs and cats) - join me on my tierneycreates blog as I share stories from "A Crafter's Life".

32 thoughts on “ScrapHappy October 2023 – Recycled Jeans and Home Decor Fabric Scraps”

  4. You are so talented. What a journey you have undergone in the last five years. While you continue to grow as a textile artist, I hope this journey you are on continues to reach an ever widening audience. And if that journey includes a book, short film, or pod cast, I will be sure to read, view, and listen in.

    For now, I need to get started on my own journey. 🎥📸🏍️

    Liked by 1 person

  9. This is going to be an epic piece! I love the combination of the austerity of the denim with the richness and texture of the decor fabrics. It’s going to be pretty heavy by the end; do take care with your arms and shoulders!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I love the way this is going. And love the use of the decorator fabrics with the denim. The interest (both visual and tactile) that they will bring to it will be great.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. This is going to be fabulous! I love the contrast of denim with those home dec fabrics. And what a lot of changes you’ve been through; I had no idea. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “a woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong she is until she’s been in hot water.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much! I appreciate you stopping by and commenting and I plan to check out your blog once I get caught up. I’ve been trying to blog everyday to celebrate my 10th year of blogging but I didn’t think about how far behind I would get on reading other blogs – ha!
      I love the E.R. quote 🙂

      Like

  14. Such interesting textures in the triangles…as well as the varied denims.

    It reminds me of the paper scraps I end up with at times. A bit like your fabric samples that start out at a regular size but as you cut into them…more scraps evolve.

    Liked by 1 person

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  17. Pingback: Blocks Completed for “What Direction Do I Go?” – tierneycreates

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