recycled fabric?

I can't stand to throw away anything that could still be useful, which creates some "discussion" about clutter at home... I have recently cut up a few XXXL chambray shirts that I got from work. The logo was out of brand (means it was OLD!) and couldn't be worn officially anymore. I got huge amounts of fabric from each of them. I'm planning to make some gift bags or lunch bags out of them. I did use some for a lunch bag lining not too long ago. I think my MIL has my photo card with that on on it though. I'll edit later.

I did, however, toss out any strips less than 1 inch wide and any scraps less than 1.5 inches square. That's where today's photo comes in. Those are Sister's Choice blocks that finish at 5 inches! I love them and I don't know why. The colors are sometimes a little weird, but I figure they will help me develop better color-sense in the long run. I'm up to 24 blocks using them as leaders/enders! Hee hee, so far, that would be a 20" x 30" quilt. Enough for a doll, maybe :)

Some of the triangles are from sew and flip flying geese from a block of the month project. a lot of the colors are are from an ancient swatch set. I've tossed a ton of really ugly or weird prints. Some of the pieces are backwords to fit into a color scheme. I've found I needed to add a lot of background bits. Some of the finished blocks don't match much of any of the others, but I am hooked on making them. They will end up somewhere eventually!

One little bag I made before Christmas. Ended up I used it for a surprise gift exchange at work and filled it with a cute mug and various teas, ciders and hot chocolate mixes. I also added a gift card for starbucks. Guess what I ended up with? A paper bag with a starbucks mug in it... not even a gift card to go with it. I sure hope someone likes what I gave them! I wasn't at work for the actual exchange because I was sick so I don't know who ended up with this cutie. I feel uncharitable about it, but I'm sorry I gave it away without knowing the recipient. Aren't I awful?!? I like to know my fabric children go to good homes!

Random Winter Photos

Here is a pic of my mom's favorite critter! He stands about 10 feet tall and is made from mostly found items: pipe, chicken wire, green garland and ivy. His head is paper mache and the eyes have real eyelashes. The bids steal his stuffing, but mom is trying to get ivy to grow and fill him in. Isn't he great?






A chair in my grandma's front yard. My DD could not wait to sit in it, but I had to take a photo first!



Here she is making a snow angel... my little angel!

Here is a photo of my hubby and our two dogs. We had just finished shoveling our drive for the second time and hubby collapsed on his chair. Both dogs promptly hopped onto his lap. He was sleeping so hard that when I went upstairs for a moment, the dogs followed me. Then jumped on top of him again! He never moved. Poor, hardworking gent. I didn't fall asleep. I had to log back on the computer and work... such is life.

Pre-Retreat Jitters

Will I have enough to do? Will I get bored with what I brought? Will people ooo and ahhh at my handiwork? Will I make any new friends? Will my best quilting buddy friend get sick like last year and not come?

hee hee - does everyone worry so much? Does everyone pack too much?

I'm so excited - I can hardly wait!