Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. –Scott Adams
I got a number of fun suggestions regarding my UFOs, and I’ve actually started work on them. Here’s what I’ve done with three of them so far..
#2 Leaf pounding from long ago.
One reader suggested that this would make a good potholder because stains would just look like the forest! I loved that suggestion, but the batting is poly, so I ruled it out. Eventually I decided this had been used to practice free motion quilting and thus had served its purpose. It went into the scrap bag that goes to folks who make dog beds stuffed with scraps. These are donated to a local shelter.
#3 Feedsack cloth.
The weave is too loose to be good quilt fabric, so I made two dishtowels. Bet that was the fate of a lot of feed sacks back in the day!
#5 Mola blocks
These are kind of a motley crew when seen together, so I won’t be using them all in one project. Laura suggested putting the 3 purple ones together in a table runner, and I’m thinking about that.
Meanwhile, I looked back at a pretty handmade purse I bought at the same booth…
Purse made by Hmong crafters
…but that was a lot of work for somebody and I’m not making one of those.
So for starters I pulled out one of the pre-made canvas bags I sometimes use to make gifts out of orphan blocks and made a decorated bag with the blue block.
To be continued!
Zippy Quilts 
I like the boldness with which you decided to fling that first item into the dog bed scrap bag. I’ll bet it felt great to just ‘do that’. You’re right, the feed sacks turned into dish towels probably was the thing to do back in the day and continues to be a viable use of such fabrics as you have shown here. Yay, another usable finish.
Now, about those Molas. “Meanwhile, I looked back at a pretty handmade purse I bought at the same booth……but that was a lot of work for somebody and I’m not making one of those.” That’s the whole reason why you bought it, right? So, use that gorgeous purse, girl! The Mola tote is perfect for the odd one out – but you know how I stand on the use of the other three! 😉
Thanks, Laura! It’s always good to hear from you 😀
Ever practical. I am impressed with what you have done with the UFOs and look forward to the next installment
Thank you! I just heard a short talk by Tara Faughnan, who says she uses some of her orphan blocks to make pouches, so that’s in my future, too!
Sometimes the rag bag is all something is good for, and it frees you up to do something creative like make that cool bag with your orphan block
Thanks, Helen!
I like your approach, Mary. Orphan patches are great on tote bags. I have similar patches of molas and you’ve given me some ideas!
Hi Nann, I just saw another great selection of molas at a quilt show and this time I RESISTED! Ha!
Yes I love that quote you opened the post with! Congrats on moving forward with those UFOs, those blocks are really pretty and look wonderful on that purse you bought. The block works well on a tote bag – that will be a nice gift!
thanks, Tierney. More to come with the UFOs 😀
I really like the gift bag idea and the dish towels are really cute. You are so creative and talented.
Thanks, Lee! It’s always good to hear from you!