Anya's Selvage Sewing Roll

What a delightful selvage creation by Anya of Pennsylvania. Now she can travel in style when she takes her sewing on the road. Nice job, Anya! Visit her blog at: http://www.hillscreekquilter.blogspot.com/ and www.randomactsofstitching.blogspot.com.

Visit Kate & Co. in OZ

Yesterday while exchanging links, I met a lovely quilter/blogger: Kate in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She takes photos of things that inspire her creativity and posts them on her blog, of course. :) These were taken at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. Look at the size of that trumpet vine!

Visit Kate's blog at: http://kateoz.blogspot.com/.

Exchange Links?

If you'd link to the Online Quilt Museum on your blog, let me know and I'll put your blog (or quilt shop) on the Links page on the Museum. Thanks!

Use the logo above. Just right click on the logo and click on "Save As." You know this, right? The link is: http://www.onlinequiltmuseum.com.

Selvage Bag from Norway

I sent some selvages to my friend May Britt from Norway recently, and she made this charming purse for on-the-go projects. What a nice job she did! I like the red zippered opening and her mostly-white selvage layout.

Check out her blog: http://www.abyquilt.blogspot.com/. Have you ever wanted to attend a gathering of quilters in Norway? Well you can take a virtual trip on her blog.

Grand Opening Today: Online Quilt Museum!

Welcome to the new Online Quilt Museum!

Virtual luncheon. Please choose a seat.

This is a brand new cyber venue which not only features quilting Exhibits, but it's a place where you can have your own Gallery to feature your quilts. You'll also find free online Workshops, a Big Quilt Glossary for newbies, and there's a Quilt Challenge going on already.

When you have your own Gallery, you log in and enter as many quilt photos and as much text as you like. It's very user friendly. It may energize your creative journey to see all your quilts in one place. Friends and relatives can easily view them too. You may find that it draws traffic to your blog, website, Etsy or eBay sites. You may indicate if a quilt is available for sale. Include your email so people can contact you. This elegant worldwide quilt show is open 24/7. Free to visit; $4.95/month via PayPal to have a Gallery.

So I invite you to get a big cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy your first of many visits to the Online Quilt Museum: http://www.onlinequiltmuseum.com/. For the companion newspage and Quilter's Lounge visit: http://www.quiltersmuse.blogspot.com/.

There are 678 photos for starters. Yes, I've been working on this for years.

Comment here or in the Lounge. I can't wait to hear what you think!

Do you know what this is?

This is the "Quilter's Lounge." Come back tomorrow for a visit. Don't forget. Big surprise waiting for you!

Lizzy House Has Made Just One Selvage Project, So Far!

Lizzy House of Texas made this charming little woven selvage purse! You can see more photos and read what she has to say about making this on her blog: http://lizzyhouse.typepad.com . This idea is so creative!

I love her blog, and I bought her e-book. I had to smile when I read that she doesn't have the time or inclination to make stuff with selvages. (Of course, Lizzy.) She says, "It's not gonna happen." (Right. We hear you.) Then she goes on to describe the clever way she made this and how much fun it was to make. Just sewing for fun. Hey, that's great Lizzy! :)

But if you do make something else, send us a photo.

Thank you to Viki in Australia who alerted me to this great project.

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope your day is a sweet one. Maybe you can treat yourself to some good quilting time!

Zippered Flower by Kate Cusack

Here's a little Mother's Day flower for you. This zippered flower was made by Kate Cusack and she has a tutorial for it on: http://tinyurl.com/2ebard3. Would this qualify as "steampunk style jewelry?"

Thanks to Carla Barret who had this on her blog: http://www.featheredfibers.wordpress.com/.

Bluebonnets and Blue Zinger!

Kathy Wilcox lives in the hill country of Texas and this is the view from her sewing machine! The conditions are perfect this year for sunbonnets, the Texas state flower. Oh, I love it!

Wow, take a look at Kathy's new Blue Zinger! This is fantastic. And she did some stunning quilting too: feathers in the blue wedges and meandering on the selvages. She did this with her Bernina 440. Yayyy, Kathy! As my son would say, "Sweet!"

Kathy has made other selvage items too: a tote bag, pot holders, and tissue holders, but this takes the cake!

No Job Too Big for Sweet Home Quilt Co!

Can you believe your eyes? You are looking at 49 selvage bags made by the Sweet Home Quilt Co. in Conyers, GA. They co-sponsored a bus trip to the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah, KY and owner Melissa Morrison and her crew made a selvage bag/name tag for each of the participants!

The bags have a vinyl pocket for a name tag on the front, a pocket on the back, and a fancy button closure on top. We are so impressed! This goes in the Selvage Blog Hall of Fame. (Note to self: make a SBHF.)

Visit their online sites: http://www.sweethomequiltco.com/, and www.sweethomequiltco.com/weblog. If you live in the area, visit: Sweet Home Quilt Co., 1004 Green St. SW, Conyers, GA. 30012

Phone (678) 413-1611.

Today is the 59th Annual National Day of Prayer

Today we are observing the National Day of Prayer in my town of Litchfield, CT. The Bible says that if we will humble ourselves and pray, He will heal our land. I think we need it. We'll meet at the flagpole on the Green at noon and pray. I'll let you know how it goes.

Connecticut is the only state in the nation where this event will be observed in every town. Cool.

Today is also our 32nd wedding anniversary! We're going out for a nice lunch I think.

Mary Poppins Selvage Bag!

Meet Val in the UK. She created this lovely selvage travel bag, and recently took it on a one-week trip to Oxfordshire. She calls it her Mary Poppins Travel Bag. See all the beautiful photos on her blog: http://blog.bellabag.co.uk/. By the way, Bella is the name of her little dog. Nice job, Val!

Little Red Quilt House in Ohio

If you live near Medina, Ohio, check out the Little Red Quilt House and say hi to Karen Benke. They have their own quilt guild, they offer long arm quilting lessons (and you can use their long arm machines after you have taken the class), classes on lots of other quilting topics, and they make custom memory quilts for customers.

They also sell Moda Scrap Bags (3" strips), most of which have the selvage. They cost $11.99. Moda has great new selvages (color windows with interesting shapes). You knew that. :)

Sounds like a real dynamic place!

Prize-Winners Announced!

Here are the winners of the selvage packages!

1. Debbie in Jerusalem
2. Sew Cal Gal in California
3. Thelma of Cupcakes 'n Daisies in Indiana
4. Mary Grace in New England
5. Kay Jay in New Zealand
6. Kelly in Kansas, WhatUpDuck.com
7. Daryl Perry, Editor, The Ragweed in New Mexico
8. Robin at rsislandcrafts in Florida
9. Sara, Life at the Covered Bridge, Pennsylvania
10. Debi, Quilting With Debi in Rockwall, Texas
    

I will email you to get your mailing address. Packages shipped this week. :)

Field Trip!

You are just in time to depart on the Selvage Blog Surprise Field Trip! Hop aboard. We've been saving a seat especially for you. Would you care for some iced tea? Fruit or chocolates?

The first stop is Iguazu National Park, on the border of Brazil and Argentina. Feel the spray in your face? Next, a little bit of wildlife. I wonder if these parrots speak Spanish.

Isn't this a gorgeous passion flower? There are many varities in South America. Some are blue.

Now for some sewing time in Carol Taylor's quilting studio in upstate New York. It was so nice of her to get it ready for us today.

Ready for a break? Is your neck stiff from all that sewing? It's time for a little rest in the Carribean.

The evening's entertainment is a Beatles concert, specifically the last performance on Ed Sullivan. Special requests anyone?

Followed by dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Beijing, China. I wish this was a bigger photo. It looks like a nice place. These chefs said they'll make whatever we want.

Did you have a good time? Sweet dreams. Oh that looks very comfy! Nice view of Beijing too.

Tomorrow the 10 winners of the selvage packs will be announced.

See Kathi Price's Selvage Fabric Bins!

Kathi Price of Texas makes the most charming selvage items! Now she's making fabric bins. These 3 photos are all the same bin: front, back and inside-out. The fabric with all the words (Sweetwater by Moda) goes perfectly with the selvages, doesn't it?

Kathi is all over the web! She sells her kreations too. See them at:

http://kathip22.etsy.com/

http://kathiskreations.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/rathip22

Birthday party prize winners (packs of interesting new selvages) announced tomorrow! Scroll down to enter the drawing. (April 29 post)

Patty Altier's Jumbo Selvage Pin Cushion

Patty Altier of Akron, Ohio says "Go big, or go home!" This pin cushion is made from her African fabrics and selvages, and it measures 8" x 5 1/4!" Well okay then. Take a look at the big bead in the middle, perfect!

Patty is a big thinker. She's making a Millennium Charm Quilt using 2,000 different fabrics from the 1900's. She's also making a stone wall in her front yard, and she recently decided to move it 4 feet. I thinking I need a nap!

Take a look at her blog: http://www.thequiltlady.blogspot.com/.

Join the Selvage Challenge! Win a Featherweight!

Linda from Exton, PA is having a Selvage Challenge on her blog: "This-n-That Fabrics." Go to http://www.tnt512.blogspot.com/ for more info. The Grand Prize winner will receive a vintage Singer Featherweight! Can you believe it? I thought you should know about this! Good luck!

The blog party yesterday was so much fun! Thanks for all the Comments. I love to hear from you. My husband and I went out for lunch and hiked to a waterfall on the NY/MA border. It was so beautiful. Cool and sparklingly sunny. Relaxing and fun. Oh, and I got some Assam tea at Harney Tea. Yumm. Hugs to you all.

P.S. Those colorful candles are real! (Not made in Photoshop.)

Welcome to my Birthday Party! (10 Prizes Too)

Welcome to my birthday party! I'm glad you're here. This cake needs another 46 candles, but close enough. I found this photo on the Internet (that's how you get cake in Cyberspace) and I liked the candles. I never saw candles like that before. The cake looks a little scary, but it doesn't matter since it's virtual. No calories either. Pretend that it's surprisingly delicious! Oh my, what a lovely hat you're wearing.

And we have some party favors too. Leave a comment (say hello to each other) and you'll be entered to win a little package of interesting new selvages! There will be 10 winners announced next week. We'll take a virtual field trip to a surprise location that day too.

Tomorrow I'll tell you how you can win a vintage Singer Featherweight!

Selvages on Quilt Labels

Julie Sefton of Memphis, TN has been using selvages in her quilt labels and I think it's a terrific idea! In the label above, Julie credits the machine quilter as well as the fabric designer and manufacturer.

Visit Julie's blog at: http://www.quiltdivajulie.blogspot.com/. Julie's blog has been named one of "55 Rad Blogs" in the new issue Quilter's Home magazine. Yayyy, Julie! (By "rad" they mean funny, interesting and easy to read, in case you were wondering.)

This is what Julie had to say about the label below:

It's not pieced onto the back but stitched on so that it will be quilted into
the quilt. I used a Sharpie to write on the freezer-papered fabric, removed the
paper and heat set the printing, pieced a bit, pressed some more, and finished
with selvages (giving me woven edges and no turning under).

How clever is that? Good thinking, Julie!

Awww, 4th anniversary. Happy anniversary Eric and Lauren!

Call for Quilts! Log Cabin

Do you have a favorite log cabin quilt that you would like to share in the up-coming "Online Quilt Museum?" We'd all love to see it.

Please email photo(s) to karengriska@optonline.net. Include your name, where you live, and the title of your quilt. Jpegs as attachments, please, or I can get the photos off the Internet if you give me the link. Thanks!

I appreciate the beautiful quilt photos you've been sending!

Amish Log Cabin by Karen Griska.

Quilted Selvage Quilt, Close-Up!

I know I've shown you this quilt before (both when it was still a quilt top, and again after it was quilted). But I found this close-up and just had to show it to you because the detail is wonderful.
This quilt was made by Jacquie at http://www.tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/, and you can see her tutorial there (or click on the linked photo in the sidebar here on this blog). It looks like she used a fancy stitch on her machine to do some of the quilting! It gives the solid blocks texture. Wowzers, I like it!

Selvage Misprint

Jill from New Jersey found this interesting selvage from Marcus Fabrics. She says: "Apparently not concerned with misprints. Just rotect the copyrightp at all costs! Does this make this selvage a collector's item?" I think so! And they did it on three fabrics! Oh well, who reads the selvage anyway? :)

Be sure to visit Jill's blog and enter her give-away: http://www.cre8fmomquilts.blogspot.com/. (Remember she made the selvage cornices and the incredible selvage chair. Amazing.)

Poppyprint's Chinese Coins Selvage Quilt

Krista Hennebury of http://www.poppyprintcreates.blogspot.com/ in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada just made this little Chiniese Coins selvage quilt called "Happy Camper." Very creative! And the polka dot binding is perfect; it adds sparkle. It's hand-quilted and embroidered too. She has close-up photos on her blog.

Pam's Selvage Postcard

Pam Geisel from Ohio is a quilter who makes a wide variety of quilts, so of course she also uses her selvages! This is a selvage covered postcard. Did you know they travel through the mail just fine? Really. I've been lucky enough to get a few.

Take a look at Pam's blog: www.forquiltssake.blogspot.com.

Bunny Selvages from Moda

This is a new fabric (coming soon) from Moda by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs. Isn't it pretty, and look at those color windows! I like the Bunny Hill logo on the left in the bottom photo too. Times are good for selvage quilters!

You can see Anne's blog at: http://www.bunnyhillblog.com/. Thanks to Marga for the heads-up on this bit of selvage news. Marga's blog is: http://www.margashappypatchwork.blogspot.com/.

Call for Quilts! Group Quilts

Do you have a quilt where the blocks came from numerous quilters? Maybe a Block-of-the-Month quilt or a birthday quilt made by a group of friends? Quilts that result from the work of many different hands are tricky. Like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get!

If you'd like to share a photo(s) of your group quilt for exhibit in the up-coming "Online Quilt Museum" please email them to karengriska@optonline.net. Include the name of your group, who assembled the quilt, where you're from, and the title of your quilt. Thanks!

The quilt above was made by Margaret Cibulsky, Ellen Foster, Helen Beall, Karin Eckert and Linda Andrews, members of Empire Quilters in New York City. It was inspired by the December 2009 Block-of-the-Month, "Amish Buggy Quilt." I really like this one!

Call for Quilts! Optical Illusions

My sister Eileen Lovett in Rhode Island made this amazing thousand pyramids quilt that she calls "A Thousand Welcomes." I like how this quilt seems to have curves in it, but all the triangles have straight edges. And look at that binding!

If you've made an optical illusion quilt that you'd like to share with the up-coming OnlineQuilt Museum, please email photos (whole quilt and one or two details) to karengriska@optonline.net

Include your name, the title of the quilt, where you live and the name of the designer if you used a pattern. Jpegs as an attachment are best. (Or if they're on the Internet somewhere I can get them there.) Thanks!

Patty in Ohio needs our help to finish a quilt.

Patty in Ohio wants to finish up her Millennium Quilt. Her plan is to use 2,000 different fabrics to make this a charm quilt. So far she has 1,665 blocks. Patty needs 335 more. That's where we come in.
I bet we have a few 4" x 4" squares of fabric from the 20th century hanging around, right? I think I have a few. :)

To contact Patty, visit her blog: http://www.pattythequiltlady.blogspot.com/.

Jackie's Giveaway at CV Quiltworks

Jackie at http://www.cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/ has been doing podcasts for a year! The most recent one, #12 is about my new project, the upcoming Online Quilt Museum. To hear it, click on "Podcasts" on her sites, or go to iTunes and look for "Jackie's Quilting Chronicles" under the topic of quilting.

To celebrate her anniversary, Jackie is having a give-away. Two winners will get 12 fat quarters of their choice from her inventory of gorgeous fabrics. Wow! You have until the end of April to enter.