Sunday, January 31, 2010

Significant Objects - Smiling Mug

Have you ever heard of www.significantobjects.com? Writers are assigned an inexpensive flea market object and asked to write a fictional story to go with it. The objects are auctioned off on eBay and the profits go to charity. The $2 items sometimes sell for big bucks due to their stories (even though buyers know that the stories are made up).

What a great creative writing exercise! If you have some time, make a new cup of coffee or tea and get comfortable. These stories are fun to read.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

String Quilt Block

This beautiful string block is the creation of "jmbmommy" on flickr. She says it's a little fluffier than she intended, but I think it came out great. I love the colors. You could add a few selvages to these trees too. I don't know if you can see it in this photo, but the trunk is made from 2 pieces of purple fabric, one on the right half and one on the left. Nice job!

Friday, January 29, 2010

My Email is Working

If you have emailed me since Jan. 21, please try again. Thanks.

Fan Blocks for February BOM

The Empire Quilter's Block of the Month for February is this fan block. Take a look here to see an easy method for make them: www.empirebom.blogspot.com.

The only difference between these and the "popular string quilt blocks" is that the seam allowances gradually increase or decrease. So you don't have to cut wedges; you cut long rectangles. A picture is worth a thousand words, so take a look.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Warming up in Florida!

Above photo by Express Monorail on Flickr.com.



Above photo by Cory Dishbrow on Flickr.com.



Above photo by Jim Bricker on Flickr.com.


This week we visited our sons. My husband, a big-idea kind of guy, said "Why don't we go to Epcot for a day?" So we flew/drove to FL and had a wonderful day in Disneyworld. Our favorite area is the World Showcase in Epcot. You can "visit" China, the UK, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Germany, France, Norway, Morocco, Japan, and the US. The bottom photo shows part of the Japanese area. Each country has restaurants, exhibits, shops and entertainment. In the evening there is an astonishing fireworks/light show. It was great.


When you read this, we'll be dragging ourselves home and unpacking. I'll be back to checking my emails soon.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Sis Boom - Designer Jennifer Paganelli

Is this photo cute or what? It's from the website of fabric designer Jennifer Paganelli who has produced some of my all-time favorite fabrics. She says she gets inspiration from everything for her vintage fabric designs. She spent her youth in the Great Lakes region, her adolescence in the Caribbean, her college years in traditional New England, and her early career years in New York City. Now she lives in Connecticut, like me. I hope to meet her sometime.

Take a look at Jennifer's website and blog to see her fabrics and patterns. They are so gorgeous; you won't be disappointed. Visit: www.sisboom.com and www.jenniferpaganelli.typepad.com.

Since I've been paying attention to selvages I now know who designs the fabrics I love.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Barb's Whooville Selvage Quilt



Look at this whimsical selvage house (and tree) quilt by Barb from Northern New Jersey. It's called "Whooville." Didn't she do a wonderful job? The more I look at it, the more things I find to admire. To name just a few: the monkey in the window, the cat on the chimney, and the selvage strips placed askew in the tree. The background fabric looks like a snowy night to me, nice choice. Black and white fabrics are perfect with bright prints and selvages. Yayyy, Barb!
See Barb and Mary's blog: www.funwithbarbandmary.blogspot.com, and you'll see why they named it that. They have an awesome blog.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Selvage Quilt from "2 Hippos"

The quilter from "2 Hippos" blog saved her selvages in 2009. When Stephanie at Loft Creations announced her String Quilt Challenge, she was inspired to make a selvage quilt. After all, a selvage quilt is a string quilt, right?

You can see that she uses the "stitch and flip" method for adding selvages. That looks nice, but adds a little more bulk. I like her colors and the subtle diagonal seam. We'll have to wait to see the whole quilt, as well as all the other quilts in the challenge. It's all online:

See "2 Hippos" blog at: www.2hippos.blogspot.com.
See Stephanie's Loft Creations blog at: www.loftcreations.blogspot.com.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Wanna See Some Interesting Selvages?







Kay Rindall of St. Paul, MN found these unique selvages and took some photos to share with you. Rather than color "dots," these manufacturers use cats and strawberries. Why not? Thanks, Kay!
Click on "Labels" below to see more interesting selvages, and one of Kay's selvage projects.
Happy Birthday, David! (Our son is 23 yrs. old today!)

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Lynne's Selvage Quilt - 4" Squares!

Lynne Demeter made this amazing selvage quilt. It has 64 four-inch blocks! And take a close look at the border. Isn't that clever? I love it. Take a look at Lynne's blog: www.quiltsandcats-lynnedemeter.blogspot.com. Nice work, Lynne!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Flower Car

My friend Rose took this great photo at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. I love a whimsical display like this. I'm thinking of painting my wheels pink. My husband would like that!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Brenda's Selvage Tea Cozies


I'm sure you know Brenda from the Scraps & Strings blog in Manitoba, Canada. Take a look at these charming selvage tea cozies. I also like her black and white selvage block. It has no printed pattern showing, and hardly any dots. I like how she used that "Dick Jane and Sally" fabric in the middle. I learned how to read using those books. Good memories for me. Nice job, Brenda.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

New Blog from Canada - Quilt Sampler Journal

Stop by Darlee Byron's new blog and website throughout the coming year. She is featuring her favorite quilt books, and projects inspired by them. In February she'll be working from "Quilts from the Selvage Edge." Her objective is to try lots of new ideas in 2010, and she invites readers to participate. Take a look: http://www.quiltsamplerjournal.com/, and http://www.quiltsamplerjournal.blogspot.com/.

You may have already been following her on http://www.mumblescafe.blogspot.com/.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Selvage Quilts from Cape Cod


June Calender on Cape Cod has been making selvage quilts. The top photo is a little quilt (a "quiltie") that she made for a swap. June is originally from the Midwest. She lived in New York City for a long time, then moved to the Cape. I met her at the Empire Quilters guild in NYC. She has an interesting blog where she tells about her new life in MA and the projects she's working on: http://www.calenderpages.blogspot.com/ Hi June! I like that "Gems on Point" quilt.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Inspiration for Quilters

Does this sort of display make you want to start a new quilt? If this was my thread collection, I'd take all the spools out of the rack and rearrange them in a more pleasing way. Then I'd take a photo and rearrange them again. Some good music and a cup of tea, and I'd be happy all afternoon. Yes this would be a very expensive peg-board toy. I don't even want to know the price.

This photo would make a nice poster for my quilt room. I have a high-resolution image; maybe I'll make some. And it does make me want to start a new quilt. (What doesn't?)

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Jill's Selvage Circle

Jill Bunis in New Jersey made selvage wedges to form a circle! She has some great in-progress photos on her blog: http://www.cre8fmomquilts.blogspot.com/. You'll remember Jill made the selvage cornices shown here recently. She's thinking out of the box!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Jackie's Butterfly Love Wall Pockets

Take a look at Jackie's blog to see more great photos of her recent project. I love the colors in this. She does beautiful machine quilting for customers and for herself.

Also, see her post about clipping vs. not clipping those little "ears" you get when piecing. Tons of comments from readers, very interesting. You will like this blog!
*
The pattern for Butterfly Love Wall Pockets is from Stephanie at Loft Creations. You can see more of her beautiful work at: http://www.loftcreations.blogspot.com/ and be sure to visit her Etsy site too. There is a link to it on her sidebar. The prickly pear bags on Etsy are really nice!

Jodie's Softies

You've probably seen this, but I wanted to make sure. Check out Jodie's blog to see her wonderful new softies. She casts them in stories. She is so imaginative!!!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Spider Web String Quilt

This very up-to-date spider web string quilt was made by GoingSewCrazy. The crisp white sets off those pretty colorful prints just right.

Who would have guessed that in 2010 we'd like chartreuse...next to turquoise and kelly green too! Years ago I would have said "Ewww!"Now I think chartreuse goes with everything. What does that mean? That I just ride the tide of fashion (although usually about 10 years late)? I don't care; I'm just going to enjoy it.

When I was little my Mom told me that green and blue don't go together, red and pink were out of the question too. I think we're having more fun now, Mom too.

See more photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goingsewcrazy/3789901038/

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Computer Problems Finally Solved!

Now I'm going to sleep like a baby. Thanks for your suggestions. I remember saying (years ago), "Why would anyone need a personal computer?" Now I know. Nighty-night.