Largest Selvage Quilt in the World? From NZ

This amazing selvage quilt is the creation of Debbie Pettinger of New Zealand. It measures 84" x 84!" Can you imagine? This may be the largest selvage quilt in the world. If you know of a bigger one, let us know.

Her quilting friends helped her gather this bounty, and she still has selvages left over to start her next project. I love the light touch of color she added to this multitude of selvages. Yayyy, Debbie!

Whimsical Tree Block from Applique Today

Have you seen the wonderful blog Applique Today? Joanna is originally from New Zealand, but is now living in New Hampshire. You can find this block in her sidebar (on the left) and click for a tutorial. Such a simple and delightful block. Fancy binding on this little quilt too.

Also take a look at Leeann's blog Quilt Whangarei in New Zealand. She has a tutorial for a Disappearing Four-Patch block that looks tedious to make, but is quick and easy.

Christmas in New Zealand

Remember yesterday I said, "If you're in the blizzard, I hope you're warm and safe. If you're at the beach, send a picture!" Well Leeann in New Zealand did just that! This is what Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) looked like at Ruakaka Beach, south of Whangarei, NZ. Isn't it breath-taking? It was 86 degrees F and Leeann was swimming here. She says the sand is white silicon. Lovely. We're walking on white stuff too, but not as toasty.

Now that we have quilting friends around the world, I'm more aware of the fact that someone's enjoying summer when we're in the middle of winter. I always knew it, but now it's more real to me. I'm more aware of the fact that it's every hour of the day and night somewhere too. Hello to all our neighbors on Planet Earth.

Selvage Christmas Trees from NZ

Jenny in Wellington, New Zealand of the Romany Quilting blog recently made two selvage quilts using her Christmas fabric selvages. One is for a friend and the other is to keep. I like how the ric rac looks, and it covers up the raw edges too. Very clever, Jenny! Merry Christmas!

To read more and see the other quilt, click on over to Jenny's blog. Scroll down to the post on November 29.

Karen Jones' Selvage Bra - First Prize!

Karen Jones of New Zealand made this selvage bra/tote bag for a guild challenge. We see many unique selvage items on this blog, but this is the first selvage bra! Note the selvages were chosen for their appropriate messages.

Karen won First Prize at the Capital Quilters Exhibition in Wellington! Congratulation, Karen!

See more about it on her blog: http://myfatquarter.blogspot.com.

Karen Jones of NZ - Hand Bag Challenge

Karen Jones of Wellington, NZ created this lovely "hand-bag" for a guild challenge.

Above, you can see inside the bag. Wow, what a neat job!

Here's what she had to say about it:

"Well, last month I won Viewers Choice at my new Quilt Club in a bag challenge. We had to use the Club logo which reads Hand of Friendship.

So I rang some of my quilting friends and asked them to draw around their hands. I also rang my sister (who I have taught how to quilt ) and I already had my Dad's hands. He had enormous hands and we had drawn around them before he died.

I used these hand prints to feature on my square hold-all tote.... I also used 3 of my grandchildrens hands to make the HANDle.. and my oldest grandson's hand which were too big, I used to make a needle book. I used old buttons and cottons given to me by friends and my Mum over the years. It was certainly a challenge putting it together but I am so proud of my idea. And now everyone in my new Club knows me already."

Well done, Karen! What a grand entrance into your new quilt group. That bag is stunning.

See Karen Jones' blog at: http://www.myfatquarter.blogspot.com/

Textile Bookshop and Gallery!

Minerva is a textile bookshop and gallery, and the home of New Zealand Quilter magazine, in Wellington, NZ. If it wasn't 8,948 miles (14,401 kilometers) from my house, I think this would be my favorite bookstore! (I found this on Jenny's blog. See yesterday's post.)

This store has over 1,800 titles in stock covering all aspects of textiles/fiber art, as well as exhibits and gifts. See their website at: http://nzquilter.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=50 Imagine all the inspiration in there!

MYSTERY SOLVED: Remember the photo of Jill's selvage project? We were tryinig to guess what she was making. Well she has announced the answer: she's making cornices for the windows in their playroom! Now that's a good idea. I've asked her to be sure to send us some photos of that! Kathy has won the prize for guessing correctly.

Jenny's Selvage Apron

Jenny from New Zealand made this Christmas apron using selvage strips in the bib (see the close-up photo below). Isn't that clever? It remends me of those Bavarian style lace-up bodices. It was made for a challenge in her quilting group. I like Jenny's best. You can see more on her new blog: http://www.romanyquilting.blogspot.com/.

Thank you for all the book recommendations yesterday! I went to the library and got stocked up. We are getting snow and ice all day today. I also have some chicken and veggies for a pot of soup. Perfect!

Meet Sarah from New Zealand

Sarah is a stay-at-home mom with a husband and 4 young daughters in Auckland, NZ. She is also a quilter/blogger, and her "trademark" is red gingham. She made a crochet hook holder for her grandmother, then decided to make a selvage version for herself. Isn't this pretty? Notice how she added a bit of red gingham among all the selvages.

Sarah said her grandmother chuckled when she saw the selvage version. I think that's a good thing, but if you get a clarification on that, Sarah, let us know! You'll enjoy Sarah's blog: http://sarah-redgingham.blogspot.com/ She writes about scrapbooking, cupcake decorating, her daughters, crocheting, aprons, New Zealand,...it really is delightful.

Karen in NZ - Prizewinning Selvage Quilt

Karen Jones of New Zealand made the award-winning log cabin selvage quilt above. The theme was "Go Green," and she won First Prize in the Intermediate category, and Best Traditional quilt. The show was judged by Sandra Meech. Yayyy, Karen!

I really like this quilt! She made courthouse steps blocks, and then put them together in a barn-raising arrangement. And notice that there is just one red center square! I love that. (Nice balance with that red ribbon on the other side!) :)

Karen's friend Carol also made a selvage quilt (below) for the same event. You can't tell that she used selvages unless you can see it up close, because she used the printed selvages without writing. What a nice scrappy improvisational look. Good job, Carol!

Selvage Stashes Revealed!

Here are Jodie Carleton's selvages (above and below). Regular readers of the Selvage Blog know that Jodie is the maker of THE selvage dress, parasol, and chair! I don't know - this collection looks suspiciously neat and organized! Maybe some of you bloggers in Ballarat, Australia should make a surprise home visit! What do you think? Those are very cute boxes, I have to admit. :)

You can see what Jodie's up to at: http://www.vintagericrac.blogspot.com/.

Karen Jones in New Zealand keeps her selvages in plastic boxes (below). Just looking at them makes me want to start sewing some selvages together. Wow, that is a beautiful log cabin selvage quilt in the background! Send us a photo of it when you're done!

You all know Wanda Hanson of http://www.exuberantcolor.blogspot.com/. I love her colorful quilts; and her selvages are pretty too (below). She's thinking maybe it's time for another basket. Oh, I don't know; I bet she can get some more on that pile.

I love this photo of Martina Odenthal's selvage stash (below). Is that little statue charming or what? Martina lives in Cologne, Germany. You can see her blog at: http://www.stufenzumgericht.blogspot.com/.

More selvage stash photos on May 2nd! Thank you, quilters, for sending them in.

Selvage Log Cabin from New Zealand!

Karen in New Zealand has her selvage squares laid out and ready to assemble into a log cabin streak of lightning. This is so pretty. I love the green center squares. She almost changed her mind and made the squares red, but I'm glad she went back to green.

See her blog at http://www.myfatquarter.blogspot.com/ You get to see a bit of New Zealand as well as her projects.

Selvage from New Zealand

This is another selvage from Jane Prole who lives in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. I'm so glad she cut this selvage strip nice and wide so the stamps will show in the finished piece. Thanks again, Jane!

This Selvage is a World Traveler!

My friend Jane Prole from Bay of Plenty, New Zealand sent me this selvage. It has traveled from China to NZ to New York, and now through Cyberspace! If you know what the writing on this selvage says, please post a Comment below or email me at karengriska@selvagequilts.com.

Jane also sent me the selvage pictured in "Quilts from the Selvage Edge" that reads: "Villas of New Zealand." Thanks, Jane!