Yes I am sick but working through it

This is my back yard. We had almost 15 inches of snow on the ground last weekend. Temps got to 50 plus degrees and rain. This is what is left. Currently it is 12*F out right now. Quite a change. No wonder everyone is sick. My husband got his cold about 6 days ago and I have had mine for 4 days. I was up half the night coughing. So instead of laying around and feeling sorry for myself I got out some scraps and made a block to see how well it went together and how well I liked it. I think this is the next Christmas present and will keep cutting away. As I cut I am paring down the pile for two quilts. The extra pieces if they are 1 inch wide I am throwing them in a pile for a courthouse step quilt.

Here is the center of the blocks sewn and pressed for the next phase. I need 113 blocks for a queen sized quilt. They are then set on point with sashing and the outside borders. The soon to be 13 year old loves quilts. He has taken everything I have made for him and it stays on his bed. My other grandkids are the same way. Funny how kids appreciate the work we do on them.

This is a woven basket full of scraps. I have worked out of this basket many times and as you can see more to make out of it. As soon as I get through these two quilts I plan on a shopping spree. I read an article by the author of this quilt pattern. Her name is Katie Holland. This was in a Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork magazine dated Oct 2008. She states that she buys 1/2 yard of fabric to build her stash.She then cuts it in half so she has two fat quarters. She folds one and places it in her stash. She cuts the other one into 6 1/2", 4 1/2 ",3 1/2", and 1 1/2" strips. She separates them into containers and when she needs a certain size for piecing she pulls out the container and cuts the size pieces she needs. Then if she needs more she has the other fat quarter in her stash. Now if that isn't planning I don't know what is. I have the containers sitting there to be used. Do you think I can get this job done??LOL I sure hope so. I plan on using every thread of the fabric I have until it isn't usable. Planning and implementing the plan are the hard part for me. Wish me luck. Chris

PS. What are you doing with your Scraps????