I joined our local quilt guild and the ladies there are always making really beautiful quilted projects. Everything from purses, table linens, clothing, home decor, every sort of thing you can imagine.
I use "orphan" blocks for purses and sometimes table runners. I usually make throw quilts for charity, and sometimes I can combine left-over blocks into a sampler type quilt. But usually I tend to be a bit more controlled.
A neat pattern for a simple envelope purse is here: http://buzzingandbumbling.blogspot.com/2011/04/tutorialleftover-block-envelope-bag.html. I've probably made a dozen of these as quick gifts. I use back to front binding and instead of hand sewing the seams, I use the zigzag stitch on the sewing machine.
I FOUND YOU Elgar!!!! Thanks for the cute purse pattern - I will have to make some for my granddaughters!!! I would like to branch out more into items like this. I've seen some very creative things done with quilting!!!