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22 July 2013

Wraps from scraps

Something from nothing - these bookwraps are made from the offcut edges of various journal quilts, of which I seem to have quite a collection (still...). The edges of the quilted pieces have been cut straight, butted, and joined with satin stitch. Some are rather narrow, kept and used because I like the colours and/or fabrics in them, but really, for best effect, pieces should be at least 3/4" wide! 
These "scraps" are leftovers from the large piece in my 2003 "River" exhibition -
 And this collection, looking rather duller than the clear (strident?) colours of the fabric, were cut off from some Ikea curtains and sturdily quilted -
An ethical sort of question arises - is it "done" to use scraps for what is essentially a gift to another (unknown) person? Some people who might win one of these in the tombola will be disappointed to see that their prize is made of "rags" or "unwanted bits" or "leftovers",  but for others it will appeal because it shows what can be done with a bit of imagination (and effort). Personally, I feel that negligible or overlooked things, scraps left behind, have something to offer, because they already have a history and are going on to a new life.

In real life, on a book, the scrappy wraps have a certain charm - part of which comes from the act of being held in the hand and imparting their feel. You'll have to use your imagination on that, but for starters, cover up half the photo, so that you see the wrap like it will look when on a book...

Anyway, I'm having fun with these. My stash is dwindling, the ufos are moving on to a new life.

(Friday update - this post is now part of "Off the Wall Friday" at http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/)
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8 comments:

  1. Anonymous22 July 2013 at 12:16

    I love things made from left-overs! Surely patchwork originated in the need to make good use of every scrap, and a deep sense that waste is wicked. The last thing my mother made, aged 90, was a patchwork quilt using scraps from a lifetime of dressmaking. The grandson to whom she gave it as a wedding-gift was thrilled to receive this thing of rags and patches. Now I'm using her left-over hexagons to make a quilt for her forthcoming great-grandchild!

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  2. Heather22 July 2013 at 18:17

    The book wraps are lovely. It would be a heartless person who wouldn't appreciate having such a treasure. And I was surprised to see that you used the same Ikea curtains that I found in a thrift shop last year - unused. I'm making them into slipcovers for a couple of chairs, but you give me hope that they may endure past that incarnation and move on to other uses one day.

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  3. magsramsay23 July 2013 at 14:18

    I kept the bookwraps made from offcuts for myself - the reminders of past projects means more to me than it might to others. That said I would be delighted to win a bookwrap encompassing other peoples projects!!

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  4. June24 July 2013 at 00:42

    I think your "question" is really null and void. They aren't scraps; they are pigment on your palette, colors (fabrics) used elsewhere and now ready to be put to new use. Wonderful bits, by the way:-)

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  5. Unknown26 July 2013 at 10:57

    Good idea to use scraps! I never thought of sewing book wraps. They are lovely!
    I can not throw away fabrics, I store even tiny scraps, so my grand daughters can play with it when 'we' are sewing!

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  6. Linda A. Miller26 July 2013 at 17:56

    A creative way to recycle those leftovers... no need to apologize, they are wonderful!

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  7. Quilt Rat27 July 2013 at 02:49

    These are wonderful ! I LOVE to see cast offs given new life. Reduce, reuse, recycle

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  8. Cathy Perlmutter30 July 2013 at 20:20

    The fact that they're from scraps makes them MORE desirable to the vast majority of people. However, there may be a few (my mom was like this) who wanted everything new. She couldn't understand why anyone would collect antiques! For someone like that, maybe no scraps!?
    Your creations are wonderful!

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