I have a new obsession.

Over the weekend I started making these mini log cabin blocks from scrap fabrics from my stash and from the scrap bin at the workroom. I collected all my favourite scraps and then sorted them all by colour. Then I started creating little mini colour palettes for each log cabin block and so it began…

Here’s what I love about this. Each tiny block is an exercise in colour. I can try out dozens of different colour palettes without committing to an entire quilt or large scale project. I can be experimental, spontaneous and playful without worrying about the outcome. It’s soo much fun!

Also, I’m using up tiny scraps. A lot of these are leftovers from all my past projects or leftovers from YOUR past projects. I’ve been swiping your little scrap bin throwaways for months and finally I’m using them.

This particular block was inspired by a spread in one of my visual diaries. I’ve been making these visual diaries/collage/scrap/inspiration books since university. It is one of my favourite all-time activities to sit down with my bottle of rubber cement and endlessly arrange the bits and pieces of magazines clippings and ephemera that I collect. Every time I open one of my books I’m immediately inspired. This particular colour palette stood out and I gathered my orange, grey and navy scraps. These are colours that I never would have put together on my own, but they look so delicious!

A crafty nod goes to Jen, whose log cabin heart medallions made me want to do tiny patchwork.

It’s so satisfying to check stuff off my crafty list of things to do. Making fabric mushrooms has been on that mental list for a very long time, so I was really inspired when I saw Mon Petit Lapin’s post that directed me to this tutorial. Thank you, Rebecca!

I find projects that use up scraps of fabric especially gratifying. They make me feel much less guilty about the boxes of fabric bits that I’ve been hoarding for so long. You might notice that two of the mushrooms bear a striking resemblance to my new lounge pants. That fabric just seemed like perfect mushroom fabric and now I’m coordinating with my room decor. The orange mini floral is a scrap from a fabric I’ve used in many many projects.

I was even more thrilled to finally find a great use for my jar of thread bits. I’ve been collecting thread at the shop, hoping to recycle it one day. It makes an ideal stuffing for these mushroom softies.

This project is really easy, the hardest part was finding the right little stones to put in the base of the stem to hold them upright. Even still they are not very stable, but as a set, they seem to hold each other up.

Next up, I’d like to tackle a few projects from the Softies book. I especially like these sweet bunnies. I hope that Perfect Bunny won’t mind a few friends. My ultimate goal is to make some birds, a giraffe and a squirrel.

I’m incredibly inspired by these talented ladies – Ashley Anna Brown, Ann Wood, Rosa Pomar, and Tamar Mogendorff.