15 Minutes of Play Block
 

I haven't been quilting, so my bossy mentor suggested that I check out the 15 minutes of play website - and it was fun! I have to admit I don't quite get the entire concept, but I think I will buy the book and check it out. Here is my first block, or "material."

If any of you have an idea of what else can be done, would you share? Thanks much!

i'm not familiar with the concept, but your block is very interesting.

I've not seen this either, but several of these together would make a pretty quilt.

Victoria has a ton of quilts - her own and from swaps - on her website:
http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/

Oops, sorry, that was her blog.

Here's her other site:
http://www.15minutesplay.com/


It's all about making fabric out of your scraps - the itty bitty ones, and then using that to make blocks.
I have to say she (and her "followers") has come up with some striking creations.

As I toss scraps, it's not quite for me - I don't have the patience - but I certainly can appreciate how well she's marketed the whole concept (and herself) in the quilting world, online and off, over the last few years.

yes, she really has done well for herself.

Thanks for the added info - I really appreciate it!
Nancy

That is really pretty. Love all the fabrics together.

really cool-I have 3 of those fabrics.

Really cool block!

Pretty block, you could make lots more, in scrappy colors, sash or no sash and sew them together. First of all I would press them real good.

Thanks for the nice words and the suggestions! I appreciate it!

15 Minutes
 

Hi Nancy!
15 Minutes is getting you to Look at your scraps in an new way... I ask people to try to not piece in Straight linear lines as that provides linear thinking... (which is fine for regular sewing (strip sewing)) But if your trying to break OUTSIDE the box, and try new things, they sewing NOTHING, (willy nilly scraps) into something that is USEABLE... The abstract nature of what you have made, HELPS you to think more creatively in how and what will be your next step...

Cut up that piece you made, add in some angles, slash through it, add more directions... Then LOOK at it... in small increments of time, you will start to THINK about what you have made, start to SEE patterns, or color combinations you might not have thought to try... break your creative process down into 15 minutes and really look at what you've made to find confidence in your own choices, and your own quilts...

That's a bit about what 15 Minutes is about... I hope you enjoy the book... It's atool BOOK to inspire you!
Try something NEW today, even if it's for only 15 Minutes, it grows your TOOLBOX of creative tricks!
Best to you,
Victoria

Hi ALL!
15 Minutes is getting you to Look at your scraps in an new way... I ask people to try to not piece in Straight linear lines as that provides linear thinking... (which is fine for regular sewing (strip sewing)) But if your trying to break OUTSIDE the box, and try new things, they sewing NOTHING, (willy nilly scraps) into something that is USEABLE... The abstract nature of what you have made, HELPS you to think more creatively in how and what will be your next step...

Cut up that piece you made, add in some angles, slash through it, add more directions... Then LOOK at it... in small increments of time, you will start to THINK about what you have made, start to SEE patterns, or color combinations you might not have thought to try... break your creative process down into 15 minutes and really look at what you've made to find confidence in your own choices, and your own quilts...

That's a bit about what 15 Minutes is about... I hope you enjoy the book... It's atool BOOK to inspire you!
Try something NEW today, even if it's for only 15 Minutes, it grows your TOOLBOX of creative tricks!
Best to you,
Victoria

I'm so glad I found this today! I was about to toss my itty-bitty scraps that are too small for anything and mis-matched, but now I HAVE TO TRY THIS!! Especially the 'make your own fabric' part!

Hmm... stick with a color theme, and instant baby quilt?? :thumbup:

Thanks, Victoria! I am amazed that even when I try to get out of the box, I unintentionally end up in the box!! I will do some more of this, cut this up, rearrange and add. Can't wait!!
Nancy

Victoria,
Then do these quilters use these in an organized pattern? I think that is what the making of fabrics is about, they can use these for diamonds, or squares, of 1/2 square triangles, etc? Thanks,
Nancy

That's the beauty! IT could lead you to use it as a "PIECE OF FABRIC" and cut it up into any design of quilt, Or, it may lead you on a FREE PIECING quilt of it's own mind! Let it tell you what the next move is... ;-)
examples: it could lead you to something entirely free pieced like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bumbleb...57625209965761

or:
use it and enhance it as it is like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bumbleb...57625209965761

or:

cut it to fit your traditional blocks...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bumbleb...57625209965761

Possibilities are endless... :-)

Have fun playing!

I have never hear of the '15 minutes of play' but I do like your block. Thanks for the nice suggestions. Thanks for posting.

http://www.15minutesplay.com/

Have a great PLAY day!

First time hearing/seeing of this technique...........loving it........ah, another book to buy...off to her site to place my book order!!!!! Then down to my sewing world and dig those scraps out of the trash bag and sew them up and wait for the book to be delivered!!!!!
thank you, Victoria, for the great new way of not wasting fabric.........

I've followed the blog for a couple of years, and these are very creative women. Look at some of their past challenges to see what I mean. I seem to remember one challenge done in solid fabircs where they interpreted a painting or at least someone else's work. They were quite inspired.

I also remember seeing (somewhere) a quilt someone had made with many green blocks that were done crazy quilt style (started with the 5-sided piece). It just sparkled. Just writing about it makes me want to go start one--off I go :) Donna

An interesting idea. AQS mag posted a Mile a minute" quilt idea that was very similar about 15 years ago.

This is the first I've heard of "15 minutes......" as well. I've been doing this type of fabric play for quite some time, but with very small bits of fabrics, but after checking out the website I have more to experiment with. Thanks for sharing.

It's my first time to hear about "15 Minutes" but somewhere I saw a similar concept and I LOVE IT!!! I used the material I made in a baby quilt (of course it was linear) but I didn't have to think about anything. I really love making string/crazy quilts.

definitely a new way to look at things

I did a quilt this past year and it was the most fun and relaxing sewing I have ever done. It is pretty much mindless and I sewed quite randomly. Here is a picture of it in progress. I have gotten many compliments on it. I did post it here on the board. The quilting is spools, needles and threads. I named it...When Life Hands You Scraps.

It's an interesting concept. Thank you for sharing. It's kind of a controlled scrappy look.

OMG - what an INTERESTING concept...kind of a combination of crazy quilting and string/scrappy quilting...making your own length of "fabric" by using all your scraps...intriguing....might have to be on my bucket list!

I have been playing with this, and I run into trouble when the blocks have pieces hanging all over the place, and I don't know what edge to sew to next. I think I need to see the book, but my library doesn't have it yet. :(

Sort of like paper piecing, it helps to have a straight side - or close - when adding pieces:

http://www.15minutesplay.com/2010/07...5-minutes.html


eta - corrected link.

I always start out with a long strip, then add different size pieces to that, then cut those apart and add them to another strip, etc. until I get a piece of fabric big enough to cut a block.

Miss Eva,
I was revisiting this thread, and this is a great idea! Sound easier than the 5 sided piece to start with.

Looking really good :)

I made a small quilt using that method, kinda. just kept sewing and recutting and made them into crumb blocks about 4 1/2 sewed them tog with black and came out great. just have to quilt it now