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Thursday, April 30, 2009

a new scrap project

this is my latest scrap reducer project. (hopefully it's the first of many.) using such saturated colors is really pushing me out of my comfort zone. this is my first time using batiks and i like them! (i'm very surprised about it, too.) i'm not sure where i'm going with the quilt from here, but that's all part of the fun. :) many thanks to lera, carolyn and cheryl for the scraps.
the blocks are 14" square.
a note about the quilt along...
when you are making your 9 patch blocks each day, it might be a good idea to cut a few extra 2.5" blocks and set them aside for the border of the quilt. if you cut 2 extra a day, you will have nearly enough for the scrappy border, which would sure beat cutting out 144 squares at the end.

73 comments:

  1. Can I ask what day we are supposed to be on?? I am going to make my blocks today to catch up and can't figure out how many day's have gone by already!

    Thanks
    Alison

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  2. alison,

    we are on day 4.

    aj

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  3. Thanks!! My Blogger profile link isn't working for some reason so thanks for posting the reply here!

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  4. It is absolutely stunning! I love your colour choices.

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  5. Those look fantastic. It will be amazing all put together!

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  6. I love the bright colors!

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  7. Oooh, I love these colors!

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  8. your new scrap quilt is adorable! love the colors!

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  9. Ooooh! I love those colors.

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  10. I love this. I am a big fan of batiks. I have never thought to add other prints with it as I thought they wouldn't go. This is awesome. Can't wait to see the finished quilt!

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  11. Thank you for the suggestion on the border blocks. I made 2-nine patches today.

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  12. Love the richness. I wonder if you'll be able to resist white sashing;)

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  13. I love your new project!

    I agree with cutting the extra squares as you cute the 9 patch strips. I did that too, but I still had to cut more. I also stitched up the borders as I was stitching the blocks. So, in the end, I still had to stitch more squares to the borders, but I had a bunch stitched together when I finished my 9 patches.

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  14. These look familiar! :) Glad you are making your own to keep - fun project!

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  15. Gorgeous stuff! Proof positive that boxes are only for shoes! Well done!

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  16. ohhhh i really, really like this one!!!

    good tip about cutting the extra squares.

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  17. Beautiful batiks AmandaJean! I was just wondering what I could do with a bunch of batik scraps I have, was thinking about a coin quilt.
    Please add me in to the list for the 9-patch quilt-along. I have made 4 blocks so far.
    Not sure about the quilting tho, my old necchi is not good at that. I've made a couple of little quilts, but might need help with a large one :-)
    Rachael.

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  18. I love batiks - but didn't know how to use them in a quilt - now I see how they can look stunning!!! I love the bright colors! Beautiful!

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  19. I love batiks too, but does it really count as scrap-busting if you don't use your own scraps? ;) I love the bright colors. They look great together!

    I don't know if you're still adding people to your quilt-along on the sidebar (there were quite a lot of us), but I don't see myself there. Just wondering. I'm assuming you'll get to me eventually. I was probably # 285 or something.

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  20. Someone sent me the link to your blog and I just wanted to say that I adore looking at your craftiness! I am a newly learned quilter, working on my very first quilt and you inspire me to learn more! I hope you don't mind that I read your blog sometimes...

    Heidi

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  21. I've always been scared of batiks too! This looks awesome, though, I love the deep colors. this would take me out of my comfort zone too, but good for us all now and then!

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  22. I love the colors of this quilt!

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  23. OOH! It's very Jolly Rancher! I love it! I'm not great with brights either, But You seem to be workin' it girl!

    Can you believe they stopped making lemon jolly ranchers? I know its' really sad.
    ;-)

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  24. So you're working on this AND the quilt along? You truly are amazing- and my quilting idol. Question about the quilt along: how many blocks total will there be? I'm just having fun making some and don't want to get to ahead- gotta pace myself.

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  25. Thanks for the info on the extra blocks! I like the idea of starting to sew them in strips as we go too.

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  26. You are so prolific it blows me away.
    Love the new blocks!!
    Andi :-)

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  27. Batiks...there's nothing like them;) I may jump ahead a little on my 9-patches. I have to work all weekend and so will get not sewing done...probably;)

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  28. Wonderful idea for the extra blocks for the border. I am on it......

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  29. Anonymous4:48 PM

    Very pretty blocks! Good idea about making extra blocks for the border.

    I've made six of them so far because I really wasn't sure what day we were supposed to be on. Mine are only going to be 3 inches finished, so I'll probably just shoot for making a baby blanket.

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  30. Love the saturation of the colors. I really fell in love with the look of batiks when I made my MIL's quilt. They are just so vibrant and alive.
    I started cutting extra squares for the border too so that I made sure I was using the same fabrics for the border as in the nine patch blocks. I have nine blocks done now. :) I'm a little ahead, but that's ok as I know I will fall behind at some point.

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  31. Hello! I am new to your blog and would LOVE to join your One A Day Quilt Along! Day 4....hmmmm....I'd better catch up! Such a fun project, thanks!

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  32. I recognize a few of those fabrics... You are further ahead than I am!

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  33. I love these squares... and I think what I love best about your quilts is that you are fearless with color... and that works!

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  34. Great tip! I will start doing that:) Also, I noticed that I have not been added to the sidebar:)

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  35. Bekhy7:51 PM

    Love those scrappy blocks; love your fabric/color placement, as always. It is amazing to me how consistently your work looks so visually appealing. I have always been drawn to squares w/in squares w/ thin strips but I hate working with narrow (1.5" or less) strips because it seems like they distort more noticeably. Might be I need to conquer this soon. Your blocks are inspiring. I just saw Jacquie of Tallgrass prairie studio's star quilt along quilt and it looks so cool that I want to make another version set like hers! :) The one I already made has gone to a niece w/ plain sashing/cornerstones (no alternating blocks), and the quilt from your other quilt-along has gone to yet another niece for Christmas again w/ plain sashing/cornerstones. I sure enjoyed those projects. Thanks so much!

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  36. These would push me out of my zone too, but they are so fun looking.

    Hope your batiks don't bleed. I had a bad experience with some last year -- dark blue and purple ones. Your purple one reminded me of it.

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  37. I am a bit late, but wondering if I can still join in. I will catch up this weekend. thanks for all the inspiration!

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  38. So far behind on my block a day! I will try and catch up over the weekend x

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  39. Looks terrific! Thanks for the tip-looking forward to seeing the finished project~Smiles~Tam!

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  40. So beautiful ad can't wait to see the finished quilt! I'm doing a strippy scrap quilt with colour coded blocks and LOVING it. B.x.

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  41. it is so fun to see fabrics i've used popping up in other arrangements! :)

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  42. I just discovered your blog last week and am so in love with all of your projects! Truly inspirational. I am starting to have serious fabric envy and am now planning what will probably be an expensive trip to my quilt shop!

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  43. I love the saturated colors. But that is the kind of girl I am, I guess, just saturated... (with too many projects) LOL!

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  44. I'm determined to make at least 2 blocks a day and did so on Weds/Thurs. this week. My stash not only includes scraps/left-overs, but several new fabrics that I've been hanging onto. So, to make this even more special, I'm using the new fabrics! I'm making the blocks "strip-wise" which goes faster and is more accurate. What is left of each of these strips, I am saving for borders later.

    Thanks for doing this, Amandajean!

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  45. These blocks are so bright and cheery! I love the white ring in the middle of each of them.

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  46. What a great use of all this sparkling scraps

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  47. Thanks for the tips on cutting (and sewing) the border as you go along. I think that's a brilliant 'boredom saving idea'!
    Stephie

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  48. Wow I just love how this quilt is starting out! The colours are fabulous. I can't wait to see the finished product!

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  49. this is going to be such a fun quilt!!

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  50. I'd never know you were out of your comfort zone. Those blocks are just lovely.

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  51. I LOVE those bright colors! When I turned 50 brights became my new favorites. And I especially love batiks so... your blocks are super! I'm new to this blogging thing so come visit me sometime. I'm getting really inspired by all the scrappy quilts I'm seeing!

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  52. I love the saturated colors!

    And I'm just getting caught up on the quilt-a-long. Four squares down! This will get me on my machine every day I hope! And make me catch up on some of the projects I've wanted to do for ages! Gotta make lots of scraps!! :)

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  53. your quilting is amazing. I love the oranges, especially in the boys quilts. I've always wanted to try be looks too daunting...

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  54. Nice bright colors.

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  55. great colors!!! and I have resisted long enough-i'm in on your one a day quilt along!! looks too fun to pass up. thx!

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  56. I'm loving the scrappy! Great colors!

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  57. Oh, oh, oh how I love these!

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  58. I'm not usually a fan of batiks but those blocks are lovely! Can't wait to see more of this project.

    Regarding the quilt-along...any plans for the back yet? Just trying to plan out my fabrics and wondering as i need to get this done by the end of the month for a birthday present.

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  59. Speaking of batiks and running, you should know that any batik scraps from me are all pre-washed.

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  60. I like the bright colors! But I am with you about it being out of my comfort zone.

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  61. What a fun scrap quilt. Very cheerful...I like it.

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  62. Hi AmandaJean, LOVE your scrap quilt!! It looks simple and easy way to use up scraps. Please count me in. I already have 3 made
    Jane

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  63. I am guessing that you simply haven't gotten around to adding all of us to your side bar. But, just in case, I am definitely in. I have my first week's worth of blocks done and will post them tomorrow. Thanks for starting this!

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  64. love the colors on this one!

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  65. Amanda Jean-
    Thanks for your comment! I love everything you make. I just seperated me family blog from my newer sewing blog so I wondered if you would be willing to change my link on the quilt along to nicholecreates.blogspot.com.
    I know you are busy, I really appreciate it!

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  66. I have my first week done.

    How are others doing it? The 'extra' blocks ... can they be sewn together in twos? It's so much easier to strip piece 10-inches together rather than 7.5 inches, and then adding squares.

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  67. I just wanted you to know that I am in Helen Ga. on vacation and working on finishing my star quilt that I started a while back. I am working on the setting blocks now and should have my quilt top finished this week before we leave. I am posting about it with a link to your blog. I am not as fast as you are but I am getting it done! As always, Thank you.

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  68. That's gonna be a vibrant quilt!!! Love it. Great way to use those scraps.

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  69. ooooh. I'm loving those blocks. ooxx`jodi

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  70. When I saw your new scrappy project, I immediately thought of this quilt I saw in my reading yesterday.
    http://aquiltisnice.blogspot.com/2009/04/twin-scrappy-log-cabin.html

    It's scrappy log cabins with white sashing. Not to get you started on a white sashing theme but.. it looks really good with bright scrappy blocks.

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  71. Today I made a Wonky Log Cabin

    http://suzyqsparkle.blogspot.com/2009/05/making-progress.html

    with a white border inside. I like it, although in the picture, the colors right next to it wash out a bit... I'll have to pay more attention to what colors are sitting next to the inner border.

    Thanks for inspiring us! :D

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