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Saturday, September 5, 2015

I Thought I Left Orange Behind in the 70s


The color of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is Orange. 

I really haven't had many orange scraps in previous RSC years. I don't really like orange.  I thought I left it behind in the 70s when most of our walls were painted apricot, orange or peach, our carpet was brown and gold shag and most of our plant pots were wrapped in macrame (and we wore flowers in our hair). 

So, I dug through my 2.5 scrap box and yikes...Who put all of those orange scraps there? 

First up...any 2.5 piece that is at least 24 inches (length of my cutting mat) long I put in a pile for my kaleidoscope blocks.   I then pair those pieces together, sew them together, cut wedges with kaleidoscope ruler and make my blocks.  (That fruit salad kaleidoscope was two different fruit fabrics and together that block kind of makes me cross-eyed.)


Then the scraps left over after cutting kaleidoscope wedges gets made into four patches.  I have a pile of four inch blocks that will get made into a kitchen sink type quilt some day. 



After the kaleidoscopes are made any piece that is at least 18 inches long gets cut and made into Cracker blocks. 



After the Crackers scraps get cut into 5 inch pieces and made into Lozenges  Suppositories.


Next I find some neutral 2.5 scraps and pair them up with any remaining pieces of orange and use my ez angle ruler to cut HSTs.   The HSTs get made into 8 inch Depression blocks and any other HSTs get made into a variety of 4 inch blocks and go into the Kitchen Sink pile I talked about above. 


And finally if there are any pieces that I can cut 2.5 inch square I make those into Twinklers. 

And that's the end of the story as to how I use 2.5 scraps no matter how they got here. 

We all need a little orange in our lives lest we get scurvy, matey. 

Got any orange scraps in yours? 
Use them up and join us for ScrapHappy Saturday

And, I'm going to join up with Scraptastic Tuesday...another link where the scraps are on parade in all sorts of awesome projects. 



32 comments:

  1. For someone who doesn't like/use orange much, you sure made a lot of beautiful orange scrappy blocks! I love hearing about your sequence for using your scraps.

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  2. Considering you have strong anti-orange feelings you seemed to have quite a few orange scraps! You've made some great blocks and I get the feeling you have now used up all the oranges. However, don't leave the reds and yellows together alone in the dark or more oranges might appear as if by magic :)

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  3. Yes, I remember that burnt orange well...but happily now there are some wonderful orange and pink combinations...and apparently elephants on parade...

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  4. For someone who doesn't like orange you managed to find a lot this week! Your kaleidoscope blocks especially are great fun. I hope you show us what you make with them.

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  5. Oh yes, only i called it Peach instead of orange...my walls were that color too!! I am actually collecting oranges for my grandson's quilt--it's his fave color....I like all your many blocks! You are so prolific, Cathy! Loving those Kalideiscope (sp? dang it!!) blocks especially...hugs, Julierose

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  6. What an amazing, wonderful, giggle-filled post! Orange crush, orange lifesavers, sugared orange slices - these were all the rage back in the day. And yes, I tucked a few flowers behind my ears, too.

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  7. Orange orange orange I love what you've made. It's all just grand to my eyes. You have quite an assortment of orange scraps and enjoy seeing the other colors you added with the orange. So cool. In the last few years orange and cheddar have become my most favorite colors and enjoy the quilts that have them in. right now I'm collecting orange to go with turquoise and blues to make a quilt for the bed.

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  8. Wow you have made TONS of lovely orange things ! :)

    I think macrame is coming back / boho style ...

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  9. I love orange...orange and red, my 2 favorite colors. Really like all the orange goodness you've displayed here. Thanks, too, for walking us through your scrap busting procedure.

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  10. Wow, a project for every scrap! You are really efficient in how you work. Lots of fun orange in your scraps. I have to say my favorite is the orange with the pink elephants.

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  11. I love how methodically you work through your various lengths of scraps.

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  12. I've been moving that kaleidoscope quilt up on my to-do list every time I see your blocks... (It's funny how many quilts on my to-do list are inspired by you!)
    This month is making me happy, because orange! Everywhere I look is orange!!
    Love love love your orange blocks. Carry on!

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  13. Looks like plenty of scraps made it out of the 70s. So many oranges

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  14. I love your cure(s) for scurvy! For not having a lot of orange scraps, you'll keep the whole ship scurvy-free for a year!

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  15. That's an awful lot of orange in just one week. You are so methodical about your approach; it sure seems to make the best use of all the scrappy 2.5" strips.

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  16. You must have been saving orange since the 70's. I am overwhelmed. I love it, but please, no macrame!

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  17. I wish I had had so much orange in my scraps. Love all your blocks!

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  18. Your collection of orange is great! And you have done a fantastic job of using it all up in so many different blocks.

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  19. I can't quite believe how many orange projects you have posted for us today!! Wonderful collection.

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  20. I have plenty of orange...it's my favourite colour, 70's throwback or not!! Love all these different blocks you've made, you must have been so busy!

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  21. Lots of lovely orange blocks. My favorites are depression blocks and twinkles . The depression blocks sparkle.

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  22. Love all the pink you added with the orange! I used to not like orange until I did RSC and now I like it alot and expecially with the pink.

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  23. Cathy, like everyone else I'm so interested in the range, order, and process of your scrap block making. You have gorgeous oranges (and lots of them.) How many do you have of colors you like? I especially like your kaleidoscopes. I've made two of them but not with pieced wedges. You've added it to my list. I'm still working on my spiderwebs but this looks much prettier.

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  24. Isn't it wonderful when we've been making quilts for years and finally develop an organized system for using every little bit? You must have been avoiding your orange scraps for years to have to many to work with in this first week of the month!

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  25. I love your process of whittling it down! And the beautiful blocks that get made in the process. Very well done. Orange you glad you still had all that wonderful orange and perhaps the flowers in your hair.

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  26. I can SO relate tot he orange 70s, although I think the flowers in the hair might have been 60s. (giggle)
    Great bunch of blocks you have made up there.

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  27. My goodness. You found a lot of orange scraps. Love your blocks.

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  28. I've had an abhorrence for orange since I had to wear it everyday for my high school job at the A&W, but your blocks are very fun and cheerful. It's funny how you found so many prints in your stash.

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  29. What a fun post to read! I loved seeing all you could do with various lengths!

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  30. Very interesting to see how you burn through your colors.:)

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  31. I love your scrap chain! You are so organised. But I'm making two quilts with lots of orange in them - love orange! Thanks for joining up to #scraptastictuesday

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  32. What a great variety of blocks! And i love your cross eyed kaleidoscope blocks too.

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