I decided a month or so ago to make a dent in my boxes of second-hand fabrics that I have specifically for making upcycled quilts. They are divided into colors and stacked in plastic totes. Yes, my sis actually worked that up for me in the summer of 2016. Previous to that time, they were more or less scattered all over.

I have 1 or 2 boxes each of most colors, but blue - it is crazy. I had 6 boxes of blues! The most I have of any other color is two - and that is green.  But blue?  All I can figure out is that people must wear a lot of blue as these were clothing items that I was able to purchase very, very cheaply ( about $.25-$.33 each).

So, after tackling my recently finished fall colored upcycled tops, I decided to advance to my blues. Two years ago I planned a blue upcycled top, but hadn't finished it. In fact, I had only made 4 of the blocks - but needed many more than that - and they seemed too slow for my mood at the time - so I put them aside. 

Not long ago, when I went through my sewing room, I came across them again and decided to go ahead the finish the blocks needed for the quilt top.

I still loved the design I had worked up - in fact, I think I know how to do the sashing better and more easily now than when I designed it.  (That's one of the difficult things about the EQ program - I can design things I have no idea how to make!)

But working with recycleds - it's slow.  It's tedious. You have to be in the right mood. It makes a big mess! 

At least I do when I work with them.

Because of the shapes of the pieces, there are more scraps created that are crazy shapes.  Let me give you a glimpse into my creative mess!

Note: There was nothing extra on the table on Monday! By Thursday night - what a colorful display of blues! (translated - What a disaster!)

Because sometimes we tend to think that the "grass is greener on the other side" - or "I am less creative than that other person", or "Everyone is better than I am", or "That other person always has it together" - I thought I would be real  - i.e., show you some of the big mess I currently have! 

I must finish cutting up some of these things in order to whittle down the amount. Yes, I suppose I could just toss some of these, but I don't want to. 

I did buy all of these items to use in quilts. You can also see why I had to quit going to the second-hand stores. I was able to collect far faster than I could use them.

For me, it will get worse before it gets better - well, maybe not worse than this.

I've been working on those blocks I showed you above, and am almost finished with another blues top. Plus, I have a couple more worked up in EQ.  If I finish these three or maybe four - it is probable my collection could easily then fit into the 5 boxes I want them to - maybe even into 4 or even 3, though I'm not sure that's a realistic goal for this year.

Most of the blues I have are from men's shirts - though there are some scrubs fabrics and a couple of florals. 

Right now I can easily find pieces of fabric big enough to cut up 6.5" blocks, so I'm fine for the next couple of quilts. 

So...stay tuned - esp if you are a "blue lover!"  I'm starting to get excited about these tops.  I'll admit, I've been a little discouraged about them - thinking they were going to be only 'ho-hum' - but I'm liking them more as I see them getting closer to being finished.

And that's what's been going on in my part of the world - at least with regards to quilting!

And now...if you need something to help you finish up a project, be sure to check out what my sis has for you!