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Monday, December 03, 2012

Evening Edition–Free Kindle Book and a Box of Squares!

I haven’t done this in a while….surfed for freebies.

I haven’t had time…I haven’t even had time to read with all that has been going on here.  But tonight?  It sounds like something I want to do. 

Bountiful Creek: a legendary love story by Steven B. Weissman, is free in the Kindle store, courtesy of publisher Studio One.
Book Description:


In the spring of 1861, just prior to the onset of the Civil War, Martha Somerville finds her life rapidly changing along with the world around her.


Determined to find a way to build a life with her love, Wilby, Martha focuses her energies on acquiring enough money to buy a plot of land to turn into a small farm. Her obsession takes her far from quiet Bountiful Creek, Virginia, deep into Union territory in Ohio.

When war breaks out, she immediately sets her course for home before Wilby leaves to join the Confederate Army; but a wealthy suitor, a gravely ill companion, and a thief challenge her efforts to reach him in time. Yet even if she can successfully overcome her obstacles, her life dangerously parallels an ill-fated legend that threatens to keep her and the man she loves apart forever.
I just downloaded it and it was still free for me, but check before you click purchase to be sure it still is for you.

The house is quiet –the hubster has gone to his tennis match, Jeff is still at work – and I’ve sewn all I can sew today.  I’m curling up with Emmy Lou, putting my feet up and submersing myself into some reading for a while!

There won’t be Quilt-Cam tonight – but I’m shooting for tomorrow night at 9pm Eastern.

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Emmy Lou on today’s project!

She didn’t quite want me to move it to put that last border on!

And while we are talking about projects…do you remember the one rule I made myself?

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FULL TO THE BRIM!

This is a drawer from one of my 3 drawer wheelie carts that stores pre-cut squares.  This box is completely FULL of 2.5” squares.  The rule is – if you can’t shut the box/bin/drawer/tote it is time to MAKE A QUILT!  I know there is a lot of things I can do with a box of 2.5” squares ---but I’d like to hear what YOU would do if this box was yours. I’ve done 4 patches.  I’ve done 9 patches.  I’ve done 16 patches….help me out here – what would YOU be sewing this box of squares into?

Have a great evening everyone!

105 comments:

  1. Take each square and match up with one solid color (the same for all the squares); like red or black. In the end, you be able to make a wonderful design.

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  2. I always enjoy the books you post as free Kindle books, but I'm totally clueless to how you find them on Amazon's site. I'm looking forward to reading this one as I especially like ones about the Civil War and also about pioneers. So, obviously, my question is how do you find them? Thanks.

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    1. You click on the link Bonnie provides in the description. It will take you to Amazon to the buy it link.

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    2. I use Pixel of Ink - From that I get two or more postys on my FB or email a day. Ususally, each post has two or three books listed.
      Other than that, you can just type in "free kindle book" in the amazon search bar.

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    3. I haven't looked for a while, but it used to be that once you were on the kindle books site on amazon, on the right there would be a column that had best sellers (or top 100, or something like that). They had best sellers that you paid for and they had best sellers (?!) that were free. That is one way. The list is 100 long, if not longer. There are also google searches you can do and there might even be smart phone aps for finding free books on amazon. Good luck, Gail.

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    5. When you get to the amazon website - just type in "free kindle books" and you will get a list of 100's of books. Be sure the cost is $0 before you click to buy it.

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  3. Right now I am sewing a ton of HST's for a project I can't even remember why I started sewing them together in the first place. So that is what I would be doing with them. Pairing them up with neutrals.

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  4. have you seen a quilt called scrap vomit? Terrible name but nice quilt.

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    1. LOL Leeann I made that one last winter! putting on the binding now only I call it "Blue Light Special" I used Bonnie's leaders and enders to make my blocks!

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    2. Sounds intriguing. Where did you find the pattern?

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    3. I m a ginger monkey blogspot.com.au It was a quilt along in 2010

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  5. I would use them as background to set a bunch of fun, different sizes of orphan blocks. I figured once I have enough small scrappy squares, I would use a similar setting to set my never ending pile of orphans!

    I made this quilt as a BOM and loved the setting:
    http://www.peachypages.blogspot.com/2010/02/omgsh-i-forgot-to-blog-so-yes-i-forgot.html

    If not this, then I would just pre-make a lovely scrappy border and use it on the next quilt project. That would be amazing...pre-made borders ready to go on! Can you imagine?!?!?

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  6. Rows of scrappy squares matched up with flying geese, but then what? Hummmmm

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  8. Make 4, 9, or 16 patches, then cut them on the diagonal. Mix and max the big triangles. Sort of like your strip twist, but with squares instead of strips. Gives a little motion to it!

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  9. In 2000 I made a millenium charm quilt out of 25 patch blocks. I put narrow mottled black strips between each block. Each block had one red square and one square with a heart in it as well as as many millenium fabrics as I could buy or borrow. It is a big quilt but fun to look at and use on my bed. JoAnn

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  11. I like them as slashing around some simple star blocks! Have fun, Bonnie. Kate

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  12. How about granny squares or great granny squares?

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  13. I think I would put them into Sunny Lanes blocks. I've always wanted to make that pattern.

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  14. Why not pair them with rectangles for a brick walk?

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  15. If you mail them to me, I'll sew them into one huge square and then cut a little girl size 8 dress out of it.

    Morgan girl is ALL about quilting with my friends and me on the weekends.

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  16. how about my new fav ,hourglass units

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  17. I'm with Vickie . . . I was wondering if you could incorporate them into hourglass or spool blocks. Or something else like that.

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  18. I like Barb's suggestion...Granny Blocks! You will have enough for borders too. But on the other hand, place mates, coffee mates, or send them to me...lol

    I's sure you will come up with something, and do share.

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  19. I see checkered borders...light/dark...perfect for your scrappy quilt's interior.
    XOXOXO Subee

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  20. Scrappy borders waiting for the next quilt top!

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  21. Anonymous9:26 PM EST

    I really liked the idea that LeeAnn said! I googled "Scrap Vomit Quilt" and clicked on images . . . Nice quilt idea!

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  22. Sew 3 blocks together sew them into a strip to create a border that is 3 squares wide. Just keep adding on more 3 block sections.

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  23. Scrappy Irish Chain! That one is on my 'someday' list. :-)

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  24. One of the next projects I want to work on is a granny square quilt (I saw on the Old Red Barn Co. flickr page), and the 2.5" squares would be perfect for it!

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  25. One of the next projects I want to work on is a granny square quilt (I saw on the Old Red Barn Co. flickr page), and the 2.5" squares would be perfect for it!

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  26. I recommend Arkansas Crossroads. Makes a very striking quilt.
    Have a good evening.......

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  27. HST!!! my new favorite!

    thanks for the chance. it is fun to get someone else's fabric, gets me out of the rut! :)

    merry christmas!!

    mary in alaska! cold and windy here. getting ready to send santa out to all the good little quilters! :)

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  28. Bonnie- I attended a class you gave once. In that class, you mentioned that you receive alot of scraps from random people, just mailed to you. So, I have a "Pay it forward idea"...make something related to Christmas: stocking (fill with apple/oranges), a small santa or snowman doll, a little dog or cat. Then, when you've completed them, take them to the local homeless shelter. There are more homeless children in the USA then ever before. These children need to know they are loved by others. This would be a nice way to take fabric you received that gave you joy, and give joy to children!

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  29. there is a blog called wedding dress blue
    a quilt there called fading charms using 2.5" squares is my current leaders and enders project.
    Sandy in South Australia

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    1. I was going to suggest this one, too. I'm making a Fading Charms using fabrics that belonged to my grandma. I love quilts made with squares.

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    2. Oh my gosh! That is so darling! I have a baggie full of 2.5 inch squares and I wasn't sure what to do with them. I think I need to make one of these. Dear God, yet another project to have going. Start praying for me!!!!!! (kidding).

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  30. I would do a trip around the world. By the way, I ironed all my 4 patches add I tried spinning the seams. That was really amazing the difference in how the patch lays flat. I love it! Thanks!

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  31. I would make a scrap vomit quilt too!

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  32. Sew a bunch of Doll Quilts and give them away to your local children's hospital.

    Or.... make some miniature snowball quilts, for yourself.

    Oooops... I should have referred to Me, Myself and "I".... but this is what "I" would do with them. *s*

    Rosa Robichaud
    *S'now 11h03 p.m. - headin' off to bed*

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  33. I would make long, 4" wide checkerboard strips to be applied as a border to future quilt.

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  34. Since it's full of 2.5 squares, I would make a 16 patch square and then cut them in circles. Just saw that on a blog this past weekend and it was interesting. The waste could go into your crumb collection Bonnie.

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  35. Arkansas Crossroads, Irish Chain or 9 patch with alternating Snaowball blocks - I would have a field day with all your squares!!!

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  36. You could cut some muslin rectangles and use these to make flying geese or cut mslin squares and use for leaders n enders
    This is te first freebie ive downloaded, sounds like my kind of book! Thanks. My hubby is going to wonder when he sees it on his kindle dx. Lol

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  37. Kristy Daum has two patterns for those squares.
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/kristydaum

    (Thanks to Nancy-Near-Philadelphia, who has made both of these and put them on her blog.)

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  38. Well Bonnie posting to your blog is so frustrating but soo tempting to me
    Any way a poster suggested you give the squares to her and I think giving them away to 2-3-or 4 people is a very good idea.. If I where you I'd go into EQ to play and come up with a fun pattern. Now if I where using your squares I'd try to make a "shaded" quilt so up close it would be a scrappy quilt from afar you might see a picture or a form like a heart or a face
    For something to just get it done I'd use squares and half squares to make a nice pattern or use only squares and use darker or lighter fabrics to make diagonal lines Chris crossing through the quilt

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  39. I've been tempted to do a really scrappy Double Irish Chain....

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  40. There's always the D9P pattern. So many block choices with the D9P. It's on my to do list someday as well.

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  41. Scrap Vomit, definitely! I'm saving 2 1/2" squares for that...got a long way to go before I have enough to even make a decent start!!

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  42. i'm going to make the "plus" scrappy quilt on the cover of american patchwork and quilting...all 2.5" squares and scrappy to the max!

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    1. This is exactly what I was going to say, the Plus quilt. Its 5 2.5" sq. of each fabric in a plus sign with no repeated fabrics. Awesome.

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  43. I've been seeing the same granny square style quilt (on white BG). It just looks so fresh. I would make that with 21/2" squares. I'm saving up scraps to do just that. Thanks for the book recommendation.

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  44. I use my 2.5" squares for hexi's.

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  45. I still love nine patches. They're my favorite block. I have to look up the scrap vomit quilt just to see it. I hope that I can get my scraps organized when we move into our new home.
    What a job that'll be.

    Thanks for the free kindle book. That's my next stop. A blog I look at every day is Free Kindle Books and Tips. I have found a lot of good books free there. He lists 4 or 5 on each posting and usually does 2 a day. the URL is: http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/ Hope it's okay that I posted it.

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  46. Harlequin has a cute sounding book that was available for free, when I looked a minute ago. It is called "Waking Up Married" there are links for it at all the major retailers on SB Sarah's post at http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/blog/links-to-jim-c.-awesome-sir-hines-and-books-on-sale

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  47. I use squares to make HSTs. Then I would use the to make a tree quilt, or ocean waves or something similar.

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  48. Jacobs ladder :)

    http://sewgreenm.blogspot.com/2012/11/scrappy-jacobs-ladder.html

    I just made one :) I love it!

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  49. Maybe a scrappy double Irish chain? Sounds wonderful. I hand pieced one once. It was a very peaceful (pieceful) thing to do in the evenings! Or when I watched my children play outdoors in the afternoons. Memories!

    Jo Anna

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  50. Wedding Dress Blue blog under her tutorials - Film at Five tutorial is for 2 1/2" squares and would be perfect for your big bin 'o scraps

    http://weddingdressblue.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/tutorial-film-at-five-quilt/

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  51. I would love to have a drawer full of 2.5" squares. :) I love scrappy. If I were to want to use up the squares, I would toss them all in the dryer to get them mixed up real well, and then make a 1 patch scrap quilt...on point. It is a quick and easy no brainer quilt that uses up scraps and creates a great project at the same time. It could be a "brain's day off" leader/ender quilt. Fun stuff!!

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  52. Or Scrap Vomit. That one is HIGH on my Bucket List (how appropriate).

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  53. a border for my next quilt blocks for sandy quilt. I am a team leader and am assembling my first top of blocks sent to me from quilters all over the country. I assemble, added a piano key border, and quilt, then send to new jersey. had so much fun, would like to do one more. lovely linda has donated the batting.

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    1. I have sent one set of blocks to Tennessee and just re-registered for another set. Have them already made-sure cleaned out my strip/string box-down to miscut sizes! Yahoo-an empty drawer! Now can move a project off a shelf into drawer and put another project from tote on shelf-revolving projects! I had such fun making the wonky log cabins it was hard to stop!

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  54. I bought a quart size bag of scrappy squares at the guild's garage sale (for $1) and my 6yo is sewing them with alternate solid-reading pink squares. It is turning out LOVELY! I'm saving squares up to teach her 9yo sister now. SOOOooo fun!

    Lucy~

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  55. I would make them into a postage stamp quilt like I did with my bin of 2.5 squares. Looks like you have a great variety there!

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  56. I'd make an Amish Nine Patch.

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  57. I'm saving up 2 1/2 squares for a scrappy Double Irish Chain with a cream background as in your Leaders and Enders book. I know the book calls for 2 inch squares, but I had a good start on the 2 1/2 inchers, decided to go with what I had. Every little stray scrap I get my hands on is being cut for it. I was gifted a couple of bags of scraps by a dear friend, and had a glorious time cutting it up! I save the normal saline syringe tubs I get at work to store my squares into colorways, and they stack up so neat!

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  58. An old fashioned quilt with just squares. Only allowed to put back a square if the color is the same as the last one pulled.

    First sort light and dark then sew a light, dark, light, dark, etc. all pulled randomly.

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  59. I'm sewing up my 2" squares and making rings of blocks, separated by a solid strip. I'm planning on using it as a picnic quilt.Can't wait to see what you do with yours!

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  60. How about a "Depression" quilt? Ocean Waves? Barn Raising? (I think I'm a fan of HST)

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  61. I love my "Arkansas Crossroads" quilt that is on my king-size bed. I started out with the idea to make a dent in my Thimbleberries stash. All the sixteen-patches are Thimbleberries, but my 1/2 snowballs needed more creams than Thimbleberries had at the time so I branched out. I would definitely make this one again!

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  62. http://www.quilterscache.com/K/KitesTailBlock.html

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  63. I have the picture in my mind, but cannot find it. It is similar a larger square (double the size) with colorful squares around it. The one I have in mind is white centers with thirties fabrics around.

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  64. You should make an autograph block quilt from them... with ALL of our autographs. We can all mail you a scrap with our name on it.

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  65. Scrap Vomit
    http://imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/2010/10/care-for-some-scrap-vomit-aka-quilt.html

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  66. My favorite 2.5 inch project is a 16 patch block let ranting with a four patch surrounded by a solid sashing color. I always have 4 patch leaders and Enders hanging around and it feels good to put them to use.

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  67. Probably a duplicate, take a constant fabric and alternate with your scraps to make the strips in a vertical quilt, then either use applique in those other strips or a large floral print.
    Another thought it to marry them with snow ball blocks, alternating them with nine patches for an all over quilt pattern.
    Hugs!!!

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  68. I would make as many cancer quilts as I could and take them to the MCV children's cancer ward..they would be scrappy and maybe just the postage stamp.

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  69. Irish chains would be good idea.

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  70. Hello Bonnie,

    I would find 9 squares each of 9 colours which work really well together, number them from 1 to 9, then find a sudoku solution (if necessary I might have to waste time solving one of the wretched things) and use it for the layout plan. This will give nine nine-patches, and the colours will be evenly distributed but look random.

    And nine of those would give you a decent sized quilt top. Sashings optional.

    Love,
    Muv

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    1. A couple of years ago a magazine had a sudoku puzzle quilt top! I need to go look for that as I love to play the game-winning is over-rated. I just like to have fun!

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  71. Use them in the next mystery. I've got a drawer that looks just like that...except it is sorted by color. ;-)

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  72. I am a day late but wanted to add my thought. How about a very scrappy GRANNY SQUARE. Divide up lights and darks use lights as backgrounds .?

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  73. I am a day late but wanted to add my thought. How about a very scrappy GRANNY SQUARE. Divide up lights and darks use lights as backgrounds .?

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  74. I'd love to watch you go through the Irish Chain blocks....I've been making 4-patches leader/ender style to use for them.
    ...or half square triangles.

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  75. I would sort them just into light and dark, pair them up into HST's with the "line on the back" method and then try one of Edyta Sitar's layouts, they look like so much fun. Might have to eliminate a few that were too borderline between light and dark, as these tend to be troublemakers in most quilt layouts.

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  76. four patches, to make little quilted Christmas ornaments.

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  77. I would make a very scrappy double or triple Irish chain :)

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  78. If the box were mine I would organize them by color and sew them in nine patch arrangements, then make a giant rainbow type configuration with the nines. Hmmm... that sounds like something I should put on my to-do list! Thanks for making me think about it!

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  79. Another scrap quilt that is going around the internet might interest you. It is called technical yawn or scrap vomit and there are several quilters blogging about it. I am a ginger monkey has even a tutorial. I think you might like it. All scrap squares, joined together with some plain squares...

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  80. I sewed on my little self designed blocks today. They are using 4-patches as the center of the stars. Although mine is using 2" squares...you could use your 2 1/2" squares and make a finished size 8" block.

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  81. Another thought...I will send you 400 neutral 2 1/2" squares for a like amount from you of colored ones....

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  82. I'd label it "January".....have promised my three youngest girls (aged 6, 7 and 8) that "we" are going to make matching quilts for them over Summer

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  83. Just reach in the box grab 2 random squares, sew them together and repeat, repeat, repeat. Sew into rows and make a giant postage stamp quilt!

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  85. You could do paper piecing on calculator paper; there are different sizes (width) of paper rolls.

    After it is sewn, you will have many possibilities.

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  86. I'm curious to know if you use a Kindle or an ipad? And why you would recomend it. I just wanted to know from a real user.

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  87. I'd sew them into a 49 patch to make a scrap vomit quilt...sounds gross, but they are really pretty! Go to I'm A Ginger Monkey blog and she has several on her site.

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  88. Vomit scrap quilt. Well I guess I'm on my wait to making one. I've been cutting my squares in 2.5 squares.
    The free book sounds just like the movie called Somersby with Jodi Foster and Richard Grere

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