You draw more people with honey rather than vinegar. Yes life can be awful, but you don't need to throw that around. I'm glad you found a place. Maybe your kids don't need negativity either, think about it? Verbal vinegar is not positive either. Look on the bright side, we all have troubles that we don't need to spread, there is always someone worse off than me. I got cancer, but i'm not dying, I have a list of nasty food intolerances, and more diagnoses as I get older, can't get off the floor wihout help anymore, more energy would be good, but, still got all my limbs....so I count my blessings. You aren't homeless yet. So at least that's a plus. Quilting gives us the "I did it feeling," so good! When you can make it instead of buying it, you win again. Have you made any storage baskets? Project size with a clear vinyl window in a side pocket for the pattern is a good idea. Keeps all the bits together. If your nice fabric is limited, try a printer, copy your bits and cut the paper to see if it works first. A design wall can be a spare curtain rod and brackets or a pair of nails, string, pegs and your batting. You can make a room divider from 3 pieces or 4 of heavy cardboard, try a fridge box? if you want a stand alone movable one, with nothing in a wall, or just lean it on a wall, It doesn't have to cost much. The batting can be used again after. Do you have design boards? Make some from cardboard and scraps. Stack the pieces on them for full blocks, they all end up empty after you are done. You can store one, on top of each of your scrap bins, as you cut those scraps up. Hold finished blocks or the bits for a set of them on a board, to take to your machine. Finished blocks can sit on top too, for neat storage. Best to not get them lost. Accurate cutting can help, you have rulers, use them properly sometimes, with chain and web piecing you can get stuff finished and out of your way quicker. You can cut your own pre-cuts, strings and crazy patch bits from all your scraps. 5" squares make great easy baby quilts, or many strangely patterned bits are good for I-Spy efforts for older kids or adults. Crumb 5" squares can be alternative squares in quilts, etc. you can cut odd 10 or 12" pieces from scrap, and use them as is or cut down later. If you have lots of 2 or 2 1/2" spuares you can use them to sew, between sewing other patches to end up with 2, then 4-patches 16, 9, or anything and put them away until you have enough done for a scrappy quilt, or use them up in smaller gifts. Sew crumb block bits to save thread ends. 9, 1" squares makes a tiny 2 1/2" 9-patch unfinished? Add a few bigger ones for a cute block? You can decide to throw out tiny bits or stuff dog beds with them. Add borders onto small blocks, make them into 4-patches or whatever, Your Choice. Whatever works for you. The Lady at the quilters forest is doing a list of free scrap buster videos, easy patterns, maybe have a look? Tiffany at Tiffany's quilting life has a lot of scrappy ideas too. It will take time, but you will get there.
You draw more people with honey rather than vinegar. Yes life can be awful, but you don't need to throw that around. I'm glad you found a place. Maybe your kids don't need negativity either, think about it? Verbal vinegar is not positive either. Look on the bright side, we all have troubles that we don't need to spread, there is always someone worse off than me. I got cancer, but i'm not dying, I have a list of nasty food intolerances, and more diagnoses as I get older, can't get off the floor wihout help anymore, more energy would be good, but, still got all my limbs....so I count my blessings. You aren't homeless yet. So at least that's a plus. Quilting gives us the "I did it feeling," so good! When you can make it instead of buying it, you win again. Have you made any storage baskets? Project size with a clear vinyl window in a side pocket for the pattern is a good idea. Keeps all the bits together. If your nice fabric is limited, try a printer, copy your bits and cut the paper to see if it works first.
A design wall can be a spare curtain rod and brackets or a pair of nails, string, pegs and your batting. You can make a room divider from 3 pieces or 4 of heavy cardboard, try a fridge box? if you want a stand alone movable one, with nothing in a wall, or just lean it on a wall, It doesn't have to cost much. The batting can be used again after. Do you have design boards? Make some from cardboard and scraps. Stack the pieces on them for full blocks, they all end up empty after you are done. You can store one, on top of each of your scrap bins, as you cut those scraps up. Hold finished blocks or the bits for a set of them on a board, to take to your machine. Finished blocks can sit on top too, for neat storage. Best to not get them lost.
Accurate cutting can help, you have rulers, use them properly sometimes, with chain and web piecing you can get stuff finished and out of your way quicker. You can cut your own pre-cuts, strings and crazy patch bits from all your scraps. 5" squares make great easy baby quilts, or many strangely patterned bits are good for I-Spy efforts for older kids or adults. Crumb 5" squares can be alternative squares in quilts, etc. you can cut odd 10 or 12" pieces from scrap, and use them as is or cut down later. If you have lots of 2 or 2 1/2" spuares you can use them to sew, between sewing other patches to end up with 2, then 4-patches 16, 9, or anything and put them away until you have enough done for a scrappy quilt, or use them up in smaller gifts. Sew crumb block bits to save thread ends. 9, 1" squares makes a tiny 2 1/2" 9-patch unfinished? Add a few bigger ones for a cute block? You can decide to throw out tiny bits or stuff dog beds with them. Add borders onto small blocks, make them into 4-patches or whatever, Your Choice. Whatever works for you. The Lady at the quilters forest is doing a list of free scrap buster videos, easy patterns, maybe have a look? Tiffany at Tiffany's quilting life has a lot of scrappy ideas too. It will take time, but you will get there.