Catching Up With The Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Kitted fabric for blocks

Being away for three months meant that I had a lot of  catching up to do. Note: I still have a lot of catching up to do; but I'm making progress! Near the top of my list was to piece the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) blocks for April (pink), May (sage and forest green), June (blue) and July (purple.)

Before I left, I cut all the background pieces. I wonder clipped the amount needed for one block together. Once home and over several afternoons, I sorted my scraps and cut all the colored fabrics. 

April and May blocks

This was a challenging exercise because while I have lots of scraps, I often don't have the amount that I think that I need in the color that Angela at So Scrappy picks each month. For the blocks that I chose to make for the RSC this year, it is better that my fabrics read tonal. Unfortunately, sometimes I "get" to use a print or a lighter/darker value of the monthly fabric to have enough fabric to stitch a block.

June and July blocks

The good news is that I am reducing the number of 2 1/2 inch and 1 1/2 inch strips that were in my "precuts." My precuts are the leftovers from previous projects that I've cut into useable squares and strips. I've also reduced the number of chunks/small pieces that I have stored in another set of drawers. The RSC and Cynthia at Quilting Is Better Than Housework has helped me finally feel better at stretching the available fabrics to fit that color. Thank you Angela and Cynthia!

Months April through July

I didn't have many pink, sage and forest green scraps. I had to be a little creative; but, I believe I was successful! I am determined to use what I have on hand for this project so that I pare down my stash. I'm also determined to not harm any yardage to piece this project. 

The prompt for the pink was to think baby pink. I had a couple tiny bits of my interpretation of baby pink. I used up many of the pink 2 1/2 inch strips that I had on hand. Again, I was impressed with the overall look of the block when I was finished. Had I a little more fabric, I might have tried to change the location of some of the fabrics. As it was, the length of the strip determined the fabric placement!

I had one strip of sage green fabric. I had a tiny amount of fabric that was close to forest green. I used what I had which meant that I filled in with my olive scraps. I like how the light fabrics in the large circle almost look three dimensional.  I like the effect the stripe fabric had in the block. 

The braid before the hair cut

While I have a lot of blue scraps, I was surprised how little bright blue fabrics I had! I decided that scrappy blue with bright blue accents worked fine. I also have a lot of purple scraps. . .there is red purple and blue purple. I went with the blue purple. Of course, I had the same issue. . .almost enough; but, not quite! Actually, I think the print provides a bit of interest to the block.

Seeing four months of blocks together was a "wow" moment. Currently, I don't have a setting plan for these blocks. Gertie, my inner squirrel, has been playing with them so I'm sure she and I will put our heads together once it is time to set the blocks into a top. It feels great to be caught up. This was goal number six on my July list. I'm linking to Angela at So Scrappy because these are RSC blocks. 

The style after

These blocks take up most of my design wall space. It is so amazing at how terrific these scrap blocks truly are! I appreciate the inspiration that Cynthia at at Oh Scrap/Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework provides. Please click the link and enjoy all the other scrappy projects that people are doing.

Catching up was goal number eight on my third quarter list. It was goal number six on my July list.

In other news, I cut my hair. My previous haircut was in December 2019. Before COVID, at least annually, I'd get a hair cut. Two and a half years is a long time to go between haircuts. My hair grew to below my waist. For a time I braided it; but, mostly, I pulled it into a pony tail. Combing it after a shower took some time!

Side and back view

Before my hairdresser cut about eighteen inches of length from my hair, she tried out a braid. Sometimes she is asked to updo long hair. She likes to keep her skills sharp. She said she saw a picture of a braid she wanted to try if I didn't mind. Of course, I didn't mind! It was a cool looking braid.

I left the hank of hair at the hairdresser's. She said she would check to see if an organization in Oregon that makes hair loss systems for kids with hair loss issues at no charge was accepting donations. I've since learned they are not. So likely my hair dresser tossed that hunk of hair. 

Side note: My hairdresser said that she stopped sending hair to Locks of Love because they charge for their wigs. 

I like the new haircut. I don't miss all that hair! I doubt that I'll grow my hair that length again. In fact, I'll likely get a couple haircuts a year. I like this style because it is close to wash and wear!