[ATTACH=CONFIG]373257[/ATTACH]Here is a close up of my Sunny Lanes. Ignore the strange borders - this was a quilt back and I had to make it fit the front. I used 2 1/2" squares - the pattern calls for 2". It's a quilterscache pattern.

http://www.quilterscache.com/S/SunnyLanesBlock.html

My daughter thought she hated scrappy, but she likes this one. I wish justflyingin had shown her yellow one.

Is it advertising to tell you about Katharine Guerrier and her new ebook on Scrap Quilting from Rainbow Disks? She's an expert on scrap quilt designs, having written several books on the subject.

One of my favorites is the (easy) spider web from quilterscache.com; in fact I am working on one right now and love it.

Yours is very nice. My yellow one isn't quilted yet. :( But the plan is to finish it this winter, hopefully!

I found mine. [ATTACH=CONFIG]373276[/ATTACH]

Check out Bonnie Hunter's Bow Tie quilt...she just completed it...its stunning. Instead of the cheddar background, you could use a calmer color. I'm with you on postage stamps...i have a top that's 4 years old and it's so crazy i can't bring myself to quilt it. I think i'd go blind.

Oh, and check out Bonnie Hunter's leaders and enders method. You end up making a scrap quilt while working on something else. Just last week i made 25 9 patches while working on another project. Double the fun!

I like scrappy blocks with wide, plain sashing. I too, need a little room to rest my eyes.

Sometimes simplicity could be the answer. How about a simple 9-patch quilt. You can use your scraps in either the X's or the crosses then add a solid in the rest of the block. The solids would tie it all together, even if it's as simple of either solid white or solid black.

I'm currently taking my scraps from projects that I'm cutting and turning them into 2.5" squares and bagging them. I took part in a 9-patch scrappy swap so I can also use these blocks in this venture. I'm planning to make 2 twin summer quilts for my son's/guest room to make it more homey and welcoming in a white/neutral theme.

Just some thoughts.

Tricia

Pick a solid - white, cream, black, red, navy - and have that be a unifying color throughout the blocks. It will tone down the scrappiness that you may find difficult to look at.

Like you, I was hesitant to go scrappy, but last Christmas my daughter made an urgent plea for a nap quilt---3 weeks before Christmas. The time crunch almost forced me to take the plunge. I chose a D9P and used the 'grab bag' approach with the only rule being 'no identicals touching.' At times, I had to force myself to use the square I pulled from the bag because it literally screamed at it's neighboring piece. With the pressure prodding me on, I did it anyway, and that may be one of the prettiest quilts I've made. My advice: just do it. You won't be sorry, and I think you'll see that it's very liberating. Have fun!