Crooked; Off-Center; Askew = Wonky

Wonky Happies? Wonky Logs? Just Wonky? 

45 x 54

I used a pile of 5 inch (or were they 6.5 inch?) black & white squares I swapped quite some time ago...

...and framed them with some bright short strings 

I pieced together some leftover batting pieces and some leftover binding pieces...

...and pieced together a nice piece of cotton gingham I found at the thrift store long ago. 

I quilted it on my plain Jane Janome DSM with some free motion squares and rectangles. 

The quilting made it all poofy and cuddly. 

I improvised - used what I had on hand - leftover fabric strings, leftover batting, leftover binding, thrift store backing.    I get a good feeling using up what some others might give away or (gasp!) throw away. 

This quilt will go into the donation pile. I like to have a pile of donation quilts handy for any occasions that arise and at the end of the year I send any left off to their destinations.  This year I'm making some emergency car kits for Christmas gifts and including a small quilt along with some other survival items. So, some of these smaller quilts might go into those boxes.

Some Thoughts on Improv

 I'm afraid you will only see me doing what some others define as "improv" with scraps. Improv to me is short for improvise - use what you have on hand. (Well, on second thought...with that definition of improv alone most of my quilts then would be considered improv since I rarely buy any fabric these days and am using what I have on hand). I really have no desire to cut willy-nilly into my"good stash" paid for with hard earned money, to do without all the rulers and other tools I have at my disposal, to not do my best to match points or seams . I started out like that but now I love piecing - actually I'm starting to enjoy the more challenging blocks to piece more and more -  and have no need to go back to my old ways. I already feel "free" whenever I sew anything or work out in my garden or take off my bra and shoes and socks so no need to get liberated doing any specific type of quilting .  I'm happy just doing my own thing whatever that may be for the day.  But when there's scraps left over from doing what I want to do - then I might get a little wonky or do a little free piecing or some crazy quilting and I might even have some mismatched points.  I like it all. 

If you want to see some other improv interpretations and some Ad Hoc Improv Quilters you just have to visit Kaja's Sew Slowly blog  and Ann's Fret Not Yourself blog.  

Please note: I haven't gotten around to visiting my usual blog list lately to see what everyone has been working on or returned a thank you for each lovely comment because I have been feeling like the walking dead since Monday (as you can see from my Quilty 365 circle ) .  I'm hoping to be around to visit soon. 

ImpRoverished

All year long I make 40 x 60 quilts from orphan blocks, crumbs, strings and other scraps.  I use my batting scraps in these quilts too. I zig zag them together.  I add them to a box and sometimes I take out of the box and give one or two away locally. My daughter is friends with a foster mother and sometimes the quilts go to the new kids in the home.  (My daughter always knows someone who needs a quilt. Pity she doesn't sew.) 

At the end of the year whatever is left I send off to Quilts Beyond Borders or Wrap A Smile. 

I consider these quilts improv...as in improvise...use what's on hand...no pattern...

I've blogged about them all individually all year long so most of them, if you are a regular visitor, are old news. 

But...I just finished that one there in fall colors.  I previously blogged about my "method" of making this style of orphan (improv) quilt and the one next to it. 

40 x 60

This was my November goal    for    A Lovely Year of Finishes.  #49

It was also my goal #9 for the Q4 Finish Along      with Adrianne of On the Windy Side. 

I practiced free motion quilting leaves. 

And I pieced a backing with scraps and a big piece of horse themed fabric I found at the thrift store for $1.00. 

All of these quilt backs came from the thrift store except for one which is the aqua with navy polka dots second in from the right.   That was a bargain basement purchase. 

Ok...so that's my version of improv....as in improvise.   I guess I could be otherwise considered impRoverished! 

There are lots of interpretations for improv. 

Visit either Ann's blog, Fret Not Yourself  OR Kaja's blog, Sew Slowly,  and you will see what I mean...A bunch of Ad Hoc Improv quilters hang out there at the end of every month.