What's a "crumb"?

It's like a crazy quilt.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/30/6951.page A picture of the block

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/6951.page Tutorial on a crumb

I am collecting coffee bags, <they are 4 x 6.5 (or 1/2)> I plan to make them into a bag, I will line it with some odd fabric, but the coffee bags are plastic>ish, my husband has a coffee kiosk at a motor vehicle.

What a very neat idea!!!! I'll have to remember that one when I buy my house this year and have a garden. I want a place for birds to live!

I will post some photos soon!

Actually go to my blog! I think I have some of them posted in my December archive

www.comfortcovedesigns.blogspot.com

I have all my rows made, I just need to sew them together! I hope to do that soon

Someone beat me to the punch on the crumb question. What's a string quilt?

I have saved every piece of denim in this house about ten years. Haven't gotten around to cutting them up yet, but in due time I'm sure.

I have cut up my thinnest and most worn bath towels and converted them into hand towels. I also took a couple and didn't cut them up. I used them as padding when I made my own ironing board.

An idea I hadn't seen on here yet, but it is a bit of a pain. I have a TON of apholstery samples. I ran around to some interior decorators and asked if they recycle their sample books at all. I got a great big NO. I asked if I could pick up their cotton sample books when they were finished with them. I have to rip the books apart which takes a bit of umph to do and cut off all the industrial glue on them. I also cut of the label glued to the back. I haven't found an easy way to get the label off yet. Yes, they shrink like crazy, but I use pinking shears on the edges that already aren't pinked and just wash and go.

I find these fabrics to be heavy, beautiful colors and very versatile. They can be used for and in about anything. They have wonderful designs. I know some kids who, when they lay down, like to rub their fingers over something bumpy to be soothed. I've made some smaller twin tops in one of my charity groups, and these kids just love them.

Also, they are great for making a foundation pieced strip quilt. We used a thick white material for the foundation, and just stitched the strips on top.

I'm going to save all the selvages I cut off to crochet rugs or knit raggy scarves. Love the idea of saving the threads for the birds. Everyone is SO creative.

I loved your idea of using the tissue paper from old patterns to wrap gifts for friends, thats really clever

I am best with blue jeans. I have made about 20 rag quilts, a few other quilts, slipcovers and throw pillows, tote bags and smaller cosmetic/jewelry bags, and lately rag rugs on my loom. You can use almost the entire pair of blue jeans and pieces of denim after you cut out pieces for quilting and sewing by cutting it in 3/4" strips for weaving. I gave 6 rag rugs for Christmas this year. I have made jeans for my 4 yo granddaughter from an old pair of her uncle's, and I also cut out and save all the zippers. Zipper replacement is the most common alterations job I have, so this way I don't have to go out and buy them (22 miles away when Walmart finishes closing out their sewing dept).

I save a lot of the above, but two other things that come to mind are:

I'm a scrapbooker, too. Many of the items (papers, page protectors, etc) come reinforced with a heavy piece of cardboard. I keep the cardboard to wrap fabric around. I also make "bolts" of bindings ready to sew. They are all cut and pressed in half.

I keep the little plastic zippered pouches that things in the linen dept. come packaged in. Pillow cases come to mind. Those little pouches are the right size for cut pieces, scraps of a certain color or size, etc. I also use them with my scrapbooking supplies. Nice to assemble smaller items. And you can see what's in them.