Center Medallion Star with Fans in the Border

Here's a quilt I made years ago when I cut my stash into 1" strips. That action inspired lots of good quilts.

 I love this one! See all the fans in the border? View pattern for making fans. 

These fabrics are mostly oldish prints. Think: Lucy Ricardo's dresses. I like how the black print looks with all these colors.

Shirley's Selvage Tote

This selvage market tote was made by Shirley McIntyre of Illinois. She used a pattern by Jodi Nelson featured on Pleasant Home. Shirley says she has plenty of selvages now that her friends know she has a use for them.  Nice job, Shirley! I like the gray striped fabric next to the selvages.

Ferris Wheel! The Fun Way to Make Fans!

Here it is: the Ferris Wheel Quilt! If you don't want to bother with paper piecing or fabric foundations, this quilt pattern is for you! These fans are pieced "by-eye." Once you get the hang of it you'll find uses for these clever blocks in lots of quilts. (For example, going around the corners in borders.)

I like how it looks like a wheel when you use striped fabrics.

Here's another variation below. The "by-eye" aspect is more evident in this red and pink variation.

The whole quilt measures 65" x 81. This quilt is really fun to make, and really packs a punch.

Please spread this quilt around the Internet: Pinerest, your blog, flickr, or FB. Use any of the photos. Thanks so much!

The link to the pattern is: https://www.etsy.com/listing/181236785/ferris-wheel-quilt-pattern-fan-quilt-fun?ref=shop_home_feat_1

Also, scroll down to enter the current pincushion give away.  :)

Pincushion Give Away and Bucket Lists!

I made this earthy pincushion by knitting 2 rectangles using wool. I felted them, sewed 'em together, and stuffed it with polyfill. Then I needle-felted the green moss and added the pinsies. 

I can't make just one! See more here.

 Enter by leaving a comment below. 

Tell us something that's on your Bucket List. 

Random winner will be announced on Friday the 7th. 

Shirley McIntyre's Love Note Pillows

This fabulous Love Note Pillow is the creation of Shirley McIntyre of Illinois. It's about 12" square, made with a handkerchief and embellished with buttons, yoyo's, ribbons, and crocheted lace. I love how she used postcard fabric to make the envelope in the middle. She suggests giving it as a gift with a special note, gift card, or other special gift in the pouch. See more at Old Fancywork Quilts. Nice work, Shirley!

P.S. How about using some interesting selvages too?

Improv Fans

This is the quilt that's growing on my design wall. These fans are fun to make. No paper, no foundations. 

More on this soon!

Selvage Sheep Quilt by Lois Cox

Lois Cox of California finished her selvage sheep quilt. The bright green background really makes the sheep "pop." It measures 70" x 71." Nice job, Lois!

Rainbow Selvage Quilt

This gorgeous selvage quilt was made by Natalia in Vladivostok. Her blog is: MishiNata. 

You can translate the blog into English by clicking "Translate" at the top of the page.

The photo below is a close up. Most of her selvages don't have writing. Nice work Natalia!

It's interesting how each quilter has her/his own style for arranging selvages. Some are mostly white, others are colorful, some have lots of color windows, and so on.

Pincushion Giveaway and UFO's

Tell me how many ufo's* you have. I don't know my exact number, but it's over 50. I prefer piecing to machine quilting, obviously. I'll get to them someday. This backlog doesn't bother me.

Want to see more pincushions?

*A "ufo" is an unfinished quilt project.

Hexagon Quilts Down Under

Look at what Melinda and the quilters at Quiltsmith in NSW Australia are up to!

I love these fussy cut hexagons. Wow! 

Want to learn the best way to make hexagons? See the post about Julia Wood's and Peggy Rhodes' recent book: Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts. 

Quiltsmith also has an online fabric store specializing in reproduction and Oriental fabrics.

Elena's Selvage Tote

Beautiful selvage tote bag by Elena has a pretty green batik bow. Nice quilting too. Good job, Elena!

Mom's Selvage Quilt

This stunning selvage quilt was made by someone's mom. Dancingshiba has a flickr page where she posts pics of her dog...and this quilt made by her mom. So that's all I know about the maker of this quilt. Kids :)

I love the wide selvages and the quilting in the white spaces too. Nice job, Mom!

Little Purse Giveaway

This little purse ornament is filled with pretty fabric scraps. It stands 4.25" high and might look cheery in your quilting studio. You can open it up and change the contents if you like. You can change the ribbon too.

To win, just leave a comment. Tell us something that you have in your sewing area for decoration or inspiration. Random winner will be chosen on Tuesday Feb. 25.

Selvage Quilt by Kathleen Loomis

Kathleen Loomis calls this selvage quilt "Jaunty F." Made in 2005, it measures 26" x 30."

Here's another quilt by Kathleen. It's one of her Postage series quilts.

What a talented quilter!

Basketweave Selvage Quilt

This selvage quilt was posted by Patchwork Posse from Utah. She saw it at the Home Machine Quilt Show. If you know who made this stunnning quilt, please let me know. 

Steph's Quilt

This "Line Art" quilt was made by Steph from Indiana. She featured a post on her blog answering all the questions she's received about this quilt: Steph's Stuff. Pretty quilt!

Steph likes scrapbooking, photography and quilting. She's a SAHM of 3. Before all that she was an attorney. 

This quilt reminds me of my pattern: The Stacks. 

Selvage Blocks by Lois Cox

Lois Cox of California (Bay Area) made these sample selvage blocks, 

then decided to make the sheep quilt first.

She's making more sheep and she'll add the words: "Counting Sheep to Sleep." 

Such a clean and cute shape for the little guys.

Lois does it all! Applique and piecing. She was having a very creative day! Nice job Lois!

You might remember Lois' World Strata quilt (shown below). Click here to see that post too.

Connie's Red Selvage Quilt

This pretty selvage quilt was made by Connie and featured on the Finely Finished Quilts blog.

The red squares act as their own foundation. 

1. Cut the red squares. 

2. Lay selvages diagonally across half of the block. 

3. Top-stitch the bound edges. 

4. Arrange the squares any way you like.

Vintage Basket Quilt

Antique African American Basket quilt from New Jersey, made in the 1930's, sold on eBay.

Photo posted on Pinterest by Wendy Rohde. See all Wendy's Pinterest boards.

I love the colors and fabric combinations in this quilt.

Valentine Smiles

I hope you have lots of Valentine smiles today. 

Inspired by Mrs. Billings

"Gypsy Billings at Midnight" quilt by Roslyn Littlejohn, inspired by the 1805 Mrs. Billings Coverlet. Featured by Karen Styles' blog. Be sure to visit her blog to see more quilts inspired by the one by Mrs. Billings. Wow!

Vintage Op Art Quilt

"Layered Fans" quilt c. 1920, New York, featured on the Wonkyworld blog. This tied quilt from Laura Fisher's collection was made from solid color fabrics. I really like this one!

Op Art Quilt

"Hip to Be Square" quilt by Kent Williams of Wisconsin was featured on Art Quilts in 2010.

I love the colors in this quilt. Kent makes large quilts but the exact dimensions for this one weren't given.

Read more about Kent Williams.

Wanda's New Quilt

This gorgeous quilt layout is on Wanda Hanson's design wall. You know her from the Exuberant Color blog. I'm always so inspired by Wanda's quilts, and this one makes me want to run to my quilt room and get busy! I can imagine a quilt like this with some selvages here and there. Nice job, Wanda!

Olympic Quilt

This beautiful Olympics quilt was made by Marlene of KISSed Quilts in 2012. Take a look at her post for a tutorial. Also read about her connection to the Olympics here. 

I've been in Big Sur, California (below) with my husband and two sons. We had a wonderful time. 

Back home today and enjoying watching the Olympics.

Selvage Boxes by Tonya Alexander

Tonya Alexander from Eye Candy Quilts in the Pacific Northwest made these selvage covered hat boxes. She shows you just how to do it, starting at the beginning, below. And the story is charming too.

But that's not all! Wowzers, take a look at her quilts! Yayy, Tonya!

Selvage Seats

Gail, The Cozy Quilter (from Ontario, Canada) used selvages to cover some sewing stool seats. She gave them as Christmas gifts. Gail says she didn't even put a dent in her selvage collection!

(Yes, that was her Stacks quilt in yesterday's post. She is one busy quilter!)

The Cozy Quilter's Stacks Quilt

Gail of The Cozy Quilter blog in Ontario, Canada made this Stacks quilt for a baby girl. She used lots of novelty fabrics for some "I Spy" fun. Pretty quilt!

Gail's rotary cutter is in the time-out chair. Her finger got some stitches, and the good news is her husband is washing the dishes for a few weeks. Stop by her blog with get well wishes.

See The Stacks pattern.

See all the patterns.

Pam Smith's QAYG Selvage Quilt

Pam Smith of Quilt Art Studio made this new 48" x 48" selvage quilt using a quilt-as-you-go method. 

She sewed the selvages directly onto 7" x 28" strips of Warm and Natural batting,

 then she cut the strips into squares. 

Pam's is the most beautiful facebook page I've ever seen. 

Also visit: Quilt Art Studio on Etsy. You'll be inspired.

Nice job, Pam!

Here's another gorgeous quilt by Pam. I love the bright prints on the white background.