35th Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is Today

Don't we wish we were there? This is the largest outdoor quilt show in the world. The show started in 1975 when Jean Wells Keenan hung a dozen quilts outside her quilt shop, The Stitchin' Post in the town of Sisters, Oregon. The quilts were made by her students. Soon other quilters added their quilts to the display. Now they have 12,500 visitors who attend the show. They've raised over $50,000 for local charities since 2004. Wow! Visit their website at: www.sistersoutdoorquiltshow.org.

Two New Asterisk Blocks - Made With Ribbons

I was brainstorming about the asterisk block today and started wondering how it would look to use ribbons instead of pieced fabric strips or selvages. I orginally bought these ribbons to add to selvage quilts. The dots will add a nice touch, I think. I still have to try that.

These blocks were made for the month-long virtual white wedding celebration going on at http://www.virtualquilter.wordpress.com/ (Australia). Special days to visit are: July 10 (tomorrow), 17, 24, and 31. I'm going formal. (Heehee, it's virtual, so I'm ready. Do you like my new hat and lacy gloves? No, wait. I'll wear the outfit in the sidebar.)

You forensic quilters will notice that the block with the white ribbon is topstitched, but the black block above is just glued. Well, I can't find my black thread, and we quilters are "can do" people.

Marit's New Selvage Quilt

Marit of Norway recently finished this selvage quilt which was inspired by Stephanie's string quilt challenge on www.loftcreations.blogspot.com. What a fresh color assortment. Nice job, Marit! See more on her blog: www.quilt-it.blogspot.com. She has wonderful quilts there that you will enjoy.

Awesome Red and White Applique Quilt

It's been a year since Mary Monica (from http://www.funwithbarbandmary.blogspot.com/) won a ribbon for this wonderful red and white applique quilt. I love all the shapes. I think it would be such a lot of fun to make one of these. I like how it's symmetrical, except in the bottom corners. What a great job she did.

Asterisk Quilts Down Under

On July 3 some of our quilting sisters from Down Under got together to make Asterisk Quilts.
The members of Goldfield's Quilters who participated are: Margaret, Rachel, Brenda, Kay, Chris, Faye, Lorraine, Pattie, and Alison.

Margaret made the quilt shown at the top using 1800's reproduction fabrics, her favorite. Pattie made the quilt above, putting some big flowers right in the middle. Great idea.

Rachel made the quilt above using a pack of fat quarters. Don't these asterisks look like snowflakes? Alison made the quilt below for her grandson. Nice bright colors.

And here is the group. See more photos on their blog: www.goldfieldsquilters.wordpress.com.

You can click on the link in the sidebar to see how to make this surprisingly easy block. Feel free to use it for your group. Send photos to karen@onlinequiltmuseum.com.

Creative Tent Quilt

This creative tent quilt rocks! It was created by DeeRoo G. The blocks were made by ruthie, smoochee, crazyfun01, needles-n-notions, lizh2, and DeeRoo herself. (Yes, they have interesting names on flickr. Haha.) So, DeeRoo got these blocks and look how she put them together! She had the ties left over from an old duvet cover. Wouldn't a little kid love to open and close this tent? I would never have thought of that in a million years. Awesome!

See more at www.flickr.com and look for DeeRoo G.'s photostream. Also visit the Group: Old Red Barn Quilt Company. There's a lot to love on flickr for quilters.

Independence Day - Patriotic Quilts

This quilt is called "It's a Grand Old Flag," made from a pattern from The Whole Country Caboodle. I found it on: www.denebir.com/quilts/flag. I like this quilt. See the bits of red in the outer border? A happy touch, I think.

This stunning flag quilt called "We Remember" was made by mpeagler. Her blog is: www.quiltsandcreativity.com.

This classic beauty is called "Four Eagles on Cheddar." Maker unknown, 1880's, PA, 84" x 84." This quilt is from the Michigan State University Museum, from Kitty Clark Cole.

Have a great Independence Day.

Meet Erika from Austria

Erika from Austria made these lovely selvage pouches using a pattern from a Japanese book. She said they were a little tricky to make. Aren't they beautiful?

The taller selvage bag (above) was made from a "Tilda" pattern, and was easier to make than the rounded ones. See the zig-zag stitch she used to attach the selvages? Clever! You can read about these projects on Erika's blog: www.erika-meinscrapblog.blogspot.com.
She has a Translate button so you can read her blog in any language you like. :)

This is Erika's recently finished memory quilt. She used fabrics from clothing of many people, including her late mother. Very nice idea. There are some selvages in this quilt as well.

Selvage Jacket from the Netherlands

This gorgeous selvage jacket was made by Elsbeth Wallenburg of the Netherlands. She works at Dutch Quilts (www.dutchquilts.com) where she made some quilt kits from these beautiful Chintz fabrics. She saved all the selvages and created this stunning one-of-a-kind jacket.
Wonderful job, Elsbeth!

The Times They Are A Changin'

Okay, this is the twenty-first century. What's different? Other than the fact that you are reading this on your own computer. I was browsing on Amanda Jean's blog today, http://www.crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/, and I saw this photo in her tutorial. She says, "I wanted to save the selvages, so I cut them off first, then..." Well, okay!
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When I started using selvages about 6 years ago, the only mention of selvages was something like this: "First, remove the selvages..." (As in "throw them away.") We thought they'd behave badly in a quilt. Nuh-uhh!

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I like that logo between "Anna" and "Griffin" on the Windham Fabrics. I'd put that in a special spot. So pretty.

Meet Maca from the Czech Republic!

Maca z Kadane from the Czech Republic made this beautiful sewing machine cover. What a nice arrangement of selvages and little pictures. I like the binding around the bottom edge too. Good job, Maca! :)

This photo shows the Round Robin quilts that her quilting group made, 17 in all. They are on exhibit in the town of Ostrov nad Ohri. Visit Maca's blog at: http://macinkav.blog.cz/.

Alice Weickelt's Prize-Winning Selvage Quilt

Alice Weickelt from Fall Creek, WI won a prize for this selvage quilt at the Minnesota Quilt Show. Wow, great job Alice!

Thank you to Victoria of http://www.bumblebeansinc.com/ for this photo.

Quilt Diva Sends Me Her Only Japanese Selvage

Who would send you her only Japanese selvage? Gretchen (Quilt Diva) of the very creative blog: http://www.spicewoodquiltingdiva.blogspot.com/, that's who. See the selvage at the top of the photo above? The color windows in this Cosmo Textile selvage are in the shape of little strawberries. We're suckers for stuff like that, aren't we? Moda has some new selvages that are awesome too.

Then she included a selvage that says "Quilt Museum" in honor of my new website: http://www.onlinequiltmuseum.com/, even though this fabric is really from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. Next is Texas blue-bonnets, then Gretchen's signature "Quilt Diva" fabric. She says that little face looks just like her, but thankfully it doesn't. Finally, a selvage printed up-side down, from way back in the 1900's. So twentieth century, plain font, so serious.

Not only that, but Gretchen also made me a selvage book cover! She says it's the perfect bag for anything your heart desires. The lining was made from the same orange fabric that you see next to the pretty mother-of-pearl button. I love all the fabrics, so I took some close-ups so you can take good look too. I keep a Bible in this most of the time. It has batting in it and it feels so nice to hold. Am I blessed or what? Thank you so much, Gretchen!

Be sure to click on over to Gretchen's blog (see above). There's a list of things that you may not know about her, and they are pretty amazing.

Which Fabric Do You Like Best?

I'm shopping for fabric to use for draperies in our bedroom for our new house. I've narrowed it down to two. On my computer they both appear bluer than they really are. The acutal color is more of a light teal, "robin's egg green." But they're equally distorted, so we can still use these photos to compare.

The first one is shown in the 3 photos above. It has a subtle damask pattern in the background, so we'll call that one "Damask."

The three photos below show the other fabric. We'll call that one "Linen." The dark green in this one is a little cooler than the fabric above. (It has less yellow in it.)

They are about the same price; the linen may be a little less. I'll be making the draperies myself. Easy enough for a quilter, right?

So, which one do you like better? Damask or Linen? Thanks for your help.

Selvages from the 1800's

You all know of Barbara Brackman, quilt historian and prolific author from Kansas. She has a very interesting post on her blog about selvages, bolt stamps and bolt labels. The bolt stamp on the selvage above is from about 1800. Under the crown it says "British Manufactory."

The image above, printed on muslin, was found on the back of this Double Irish Chain quilt top. Barbara says this is probably a bolt stamp, like a selvage marking. It says: "Finished Soft for the Sewing Machine."

Above is an example of the paper bolt labels that were used in the 1800's. They became more elaborate as printing capabilities improved. Then, in the 1900's printing on the selvage became popular again. Read more on this topic at Barbara's blog: www.barbarabrackman.blogspot.com.

She even shows a selvage block by May Britt.

Edda's Selvage Totes

Edda of Kalamazoo, MI made these stunning tote bags, her first two selvage projects. She says they are great conversation starters. Her friends are saving selvages for Edda now.

In the top photo, you can see one red selvage among all the light strips. Isn't that great? Then the basketweave-style bag has lots of color. Nice job, Edda!

Miriam's Prize-Winning Selvage Quilt

Miriam in West Texas made this awesome selvage log cabin quilt, and as you can see she's been winning prizes (and cash). Now that's a good deal, considering the selvages are "free." These selvages are from her stash, and from her quilting buddies too. The quilt measures 70" x 70."
And she's almost finished with her second selvage quilt; I can't wait to see it. Yayy, Miriam!

Cottage Bliss in the Rocky Mountains

I visited a wonderful quilt shop recently and I wanted to share it with you, so I took lots of photos. This shop is located right near the Rocky Mountain National Park in the town of Estes Park, Colorado.

When you enter the shop you are offered a cup of hot tea, served in an elegant china teacup. As you look around, you might wonder if you've suddenly entered heaven. (I checked to see my car still outside, just to make sure.) Look at these silver bracelets, $10-$17. They are stretchy so you can easily put them on.

Such an elegant combination of fabrics, china, gifts, books, etc. A real feast for the eyes.

There were lots of quilts on the walls, but I was asked not to photograph them since they sell the patterns. Okay, that makes sense.

Aren't these beautiful fabrics? If we were shopping here together, I'd point to the bolt below (orange/pink floral) and say "Isn't this a pretty one?" How do you like this virtual shopping? :)

If you're near Estes Park sometime, you'll enjoy Cottage Bliss!