First One Done!

My first chain for FANE's Fiber Fall exhibit is finally finished!  Even though I only had two more 5" squares to make, I had a hard time coming up with a combination of fabrics that I liked.   I played around with a lot of different ideas, including incorporating a pinwheel block somehow.  I'm not very experienced with traditional piecing techniques but I found a great tutorial for a shortcut way to make them by the Missouri Star Quilt Company on YouTube (see it here).  I actually made a few in different sizes as you see below, but I still wasn't thrilled with it.  I just wasn't sure that it belonged with the other more improvisational-type raw-edge applique` squares I already made.

I was starting to get impatient about how long these two measly squares were taking me!  I kept going through my stash and going through my stash until I finally came up with this combination:

There was enough texture, contrast, sparkle, and visual interest to make a nice looking square.  Here's the result below:

 I chained them by size: 3", 4", 5", 4", 3", 4", 5" etc so there are only the three 5-inch squares but lots of 3- and 4-inch ones.  Even so, I had a lot leftover of the materials I created for them.  I'm sure I'll find another use for them sometime...  

I'm really liking the way the chain hangs and twirls in the air.  I'm glad I hung them on the diagonal. And I'm happy to be using up my stash!  A few years ago, my sister gave me a nice portion of the fabric stash of a relative of her husband's who passed away suddenly.  I promised myself I would make every effort to use up my stash before I kick the bucket, and I've kept that in mind even as I browse the aisles at JoAnn's Fabrics  ("Use what you have, use what you have...").  I've already got some ideas for the next chain that I'll create with the theme of "water" in mind.  I have tons of water-like fabrics, so it'll be another way to help use up more of my stash!