Sorry, but you know that "random" with a kit with sixteen fabrics is not the same as "random" with a huge scrap basket with oodles of fabrics.  Glad I could give you a giggle for the day.

There's "chaotic random" and then there is "methodical random", right?

I think I mentioned this on the former forum once before, years ago. DS was working on his math PhD (his topic was in geometry) at the University of Illinois and was home for Christmas break. He came into my sewing room (formerly his sister's bedroom) and I was struggling with a scrap quilt problem getting it scrappy enough.  I sighed and said "Random is hard" and  he nearly fell over laughing at me. 

"Mom" he said with tears of laughter running down his face, "there are guys in the  math grad program at U of I who are almost suicidal because of their thesis work on the chaos theory and you are upset over a quilt!?!?!?"

I still maintain that random is hard in quilting.  I just do not say it when my DS is in the house. 

I was laughing as you know how I would approach random.  random = spaced evenly across the area.

I approach it as no fabric touches its identical twin. 

I absolutely  and totally concur about random.  My brain just doesn't do random.

I've tried the brown bag technique and still want to micro manage.

I once had to piece a totally random quilt for a client and eventually had Mr Pirate write an algorithm for me that told me exactly which random piece of fabric to use next.

I thought the result was *horrible* but the client was enthralled and thrilled ... which is the point.

Pirate (PIRATE_SR) said:

eventually had Mr Pirate write an algorithm for me that told me exactly which random piece of fabric to use next.

If Mr. Pirate lived within a reasonable distance I would try to borrow him.

As it is, I'm doing fairly well on this particular quilt all by myself. After all, I gave birth to a PhD geometer.

Brown bag doesn't work for me either. Half the time I have to dig into the brown bag about five or six times minimum to find something I like.  The other half of the time I just go with the second or third try. 

Monkey's.... that's what's happening here in my home.  These blocks came to me in a scrapbag already cut and the 4-patches partially sewn on the first quilt. The second I made the 4-patches from my stash. They will end up with my Project Linus Group.

Monkey quilt @#1                                      Monkey Quilt #2

THEN I'll continue work on the 10" 4-Patches that I'm making into Disappearing 4 Patch blocks due to the colors in each block. 

Just returned from a 7 week trip to the Midwest.  Got caught in the March 3rd AND March 14th Blizzards. I do NOT have any cold weather clothing, haven't had it over 50 yrs.  I wore my cousin's coats and stayed inside as much as possible.  Only went this time of year due to some family legal issues that were concluding.  May NEVER go back.  LOL

I call most of my scrappy quilts - controlled scrappy!  I usually have to control them in some way.  

Oh me too.   Random and I don't really mix!

Well, I have not been here for a week because I have been on a family history and genealogy trip to North Carolina and Georgia.  Learned some VERY interesting history about my family, lost count of the old cemeteries we visited, and took dozens of photos.  I still have not uploaded all of the photos to Facebook for the relatives who were unable to go on the trip with us.

The last thing my sister and I did before I flew back home was to visit the John C. Campbell Folk School, located in Brasstown, North Carolina.  What an amazing place!  They give lessons in an y type of art or craft you can imagine.  I am now trying to figure out a way to go back and take some classes there.  If you ever get to visit the place or take a class there, do it.  In the meantime, check out their website and their catalog of classes:

https://www.folkschool.org/  

Your pics on FB were amazing, looks like you had a great trip, could be a road trip in your future!!  I'll drive-LOL!