New Pattern: Little Flags

This new quilt looks like little flags fluttering in every direction. A light and airy modern quilt with a traditional saw tooth motif. I love how Maika Christensen machine quilted this for me! 

Take a look at the pattern.

The photo was taken at Laurel Ridge Farm in Litchfield, a few miles from my house. There must be a million daffodils in bloom there now. The owners invite the public to visit during daffodil season. We go there often.

It's My Birthday! The Big 6-Oh!

 Landmark birthdays don't usually phase me, but I've seen this birthday coming for about a year now. My quilting buddy Helen says I'm just now hitting my stride. Okay, I'll go with that. Thanks, Helen!

Isn't this sewing machine amazing? It was made by my niece Amelia who lives in Vermont. She's 15 and very talented and creative. When she asked what kind of a cake I wanted, I said something pink and crazy. This really surprised my socks off! The "fabric" is fruit roll-ups. The thread is an Oreo cookie with extra layers of filling. (Without my glasses, it really looks like thread!) And look at the stitch length dial! Hehe, a cracker with dabs of chocolate. And there's a big cookie on the right (around the corner; you can't see it) for lifting the needle. The presser foot and needle is made from two packages of Pez candy. The part of the cake above the needle (the arm?) was made from Rice Krispie treats. The cake is vanilla and the frosting is vanilla cream. It was yummy too. We had so much fun. I sent a photo via phone to my quilter sister in MI. Right away she wanted to see a photo of the back too. Haha. Thanks, Amelia! XOXO

Sneak Peek at Sea Breeze Quilt

My new quilt "Sea Breeze" was expertly machine quilted by Maika Christensen in Utah. 

I think she did a fabulous job! Thank you for making my quilt so beautiful, Maika! For her email address, see Comment #1.

Today I'll bind and photograph the quilt, and then show you the whole thing tomorrow. There will be a pattern too. Happy quilting!

Springtime in Rhode Island

Yesterday my DH, DS and I went to Newport, Rhode Island to enjoy springtime. It was beautiful but cold and windy by the ocean. These photos were taken at Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum. 

Then we had a delicious seafood dinner at the Mooring in Newport (photo below is from their website). I had the swordfish which was wonderful. We arrived early for dinner and it was nice and quiet. By the time we left it had filled up and was pretty noisy, so I recommend off-hours if you like quiet. 

Just one more photo: Marble House, below. Isn't it a classic? I think this should be the location for our Selvage Blog Summer Retreat. :)

Aleesa Kobi's New Selvage Quilt

Aleesa Kobi's beautiful new selvage quilt is called "On Edge." It measures 62" x 83." It was something of a family project as her mother-in-law contributed her selvages and her husband Jeff Rehwaldt of Deerwood Quilting in Kasson, MN machine quilted it! You don't hear that every day! Jeff used the Wind Swirls pattern by Dave Kapka. The quilting thread is So Fine Pearl.

For foundations, Aleesa used recycled dryer papers. What a good idea.

Nice work, Leesa!

Susan's Finished Top!

Susan finished her quilt top yesterday and here it is. She and her quilting buddies took this photo. They all loved the quilt, of course. Yayy, Susan! Nice work!

Can you guess how many scrappy rectangles there are in this quilt? 442! It sounds like a lot, but when I made mine, it didn't even take a noticeable bite out of my stash. 

Susan's Sunshine Quilt!

Susan Lewis in Jerusalem is making the Sunshine Quilt! Isn't this fabulous? I love how the center is so warm and sunny, and the borders are cool. She said the quilt is fun to make. I think so too. Nice job, Susan!

Selvage Tote Pattern Available

The pattern for this charming selvage tote is available from Karen Neary here. Nice work by Edda.

It measures 14" x 14" x 5."

Etsy Enables Immediate Delivery of PDFs!

Starting today, when someone buys a PDF pattern on Etsy they receive it immediately!

That's good news for quilters in far-away time zones who don't have to wait for me to wake up. 

When we're ready to sew, we don't want to wait around, right?

Here's my newest pattern: The Stacks, a modern scrap quilt. Isn't it pretty? This is fun to make too.

Photo - First Prize!

My photo "Teatime" won first prize Tuesday evening in Southbury, CT! The competition is stiff (especially with my Mom also being a camera club member!), so I was delighted. Haha.

Jewelry With Water

The beads on this necklace have water in them! This is the creation of Vivi in Charlotte, NC. She also has  earrings. See more of her work at Sun n Moon Cafe.

Blue Selvage Organizer

 A first selvage project from Sand and Sunshine in Florida: a "sewing machine organizer and serger thread collection bag."   The blue selvages were a gift from her friend. It took only one day to make this. What a nice neat job too! Now she can find her scissors and tape measure. Thanks for the inspiration!

Shannon's Recycled Art Clock

This rolled paper clock has the dazzling look of a scrap quilt, don't you think? There are rhinestones among the paper too. This is the creation of Shannon in San Antonio, Texas. Her Etsy store is SHANNYBEEBO.

Thanks for the creative inspiration, Shannon! 

I'm Going to Ireland!

I'm going to Ireland in June with my sister, Mom, Mom's cousin, and her 2 daughters. Mom's grandmother came to the US from Waterford, Ireland around 1900. We'll travel around the perimeter of the whole island for a week. I can't wait. I'm reading up on Irish history now. Very interesting! 

This is a photo of the Cliffs of Moher on the west coast. 

I hear the Limerick Quilt Center is a good destination. Any other suggestions?

I found this quilt label in a Google image search for "Limerick Quilt Center." Haha.

Night Ice LED Earrings

These LED earrings are made by Night Ice. They light up when you attach the battery on the back, behind your ear. Night Ice earrings come in 6 colors, $25/pair. I think they're pretty, but I can't imagine when I would ever wear them. Maybe they'd be a fun gift for my son's girlfriend. 

Low Volume Pre-Cuts at Fabric Fascination!

Look at this! A package of 250 pre-cut 2 1/2" squares from the Kaffe Fassett Collective for Westminster Fabrics. All light colors! I could have some fun with this! Available from Kym at Fabric Fascination. Enter SELVAGEBLOG and you get 10% off because of course you are all VIPs.

I wonder what Westminster does with all the selvages when they make these collections. I've asked them for some selvage bundles for a giveaway here. Stay tuned!

New Sunshine Quilt Pattern!

Here it is! Volume 22 in The Perpetual Quilter series: Sunshine. This easy quilt is a stash-busting scrap quilt that's fast and fun to make. Are the triangles a pain to measure? Hah! No measuring here. This is definitely liberated quilting. 

Yesterday was warm, but windy. After I took this photo (above), the quilt blew right off the fence.

I love making scrap quilts. Team up with a friend and trade scraps to get an even bigger assortment.

More info here.

Machine Quilting by Jill Schumacher

Jill Schumacher of California says that machine quilting is like learning to ride a bike. Isn't her quilting beautiful? She offers classes, workshops and retreats. For details visit Quiltmaker to the Queen. 

Jill has quilted more than 550 quilts! I love the hummingbird!

Anna Chan's First Modern Quilt

This stunning quilt was made by Anna Chan of California and recently exhibited at the San Francisco Quilter's Guild show. The title is: "All is Bright Upon that Cross." It's her first modern-style quilt. 

Fantastic job, Anna!

New Architextures Fabric

I've been on the lookout for interesting "low volume" (light colored) fabrics, so I was pretty excited to find this new fabric by Robert Kaufman, one of the "Architextures" collection designed by Carolyn Friedlander. And take a look at the selvage in the photo below. I think that funny shape represents a tree (from above) on a landscape plan. 

Puff Quilt and How-To Video

This puff quilt was made by Katie Olson of Serendipity Studio in Washington. It measures 46" x 38." She used a soft, minky fabric. The ruffle is a nice touch too. They're also called bubble, biscuit, or Yorkshire puff quilts.

There is a video by Rose Smith on You Tube showing how to make a puff quilt. 

Have you ever made one? I haven't, but it looks like fun.

Vintage Quilts in Mississippi

I've been attracted to "low volume" modern quilts lately. Here's a vintage version of the quilt that I was thinking of making! Haha, "what's old is new again." 

These quilts are offered for sale on Etsy by Amanda Knox in Mississippi: Magnolia Avenue.

I like the way the maker of this circles quilt made the square blocks obvious. It has a soft translucent look which is very charming.

The maker of this quilt arranged some of the blocks in groups of 4. You can see some darker blocks to the right of the "6" sign. These quilts make me want to get right to my sewing machine!

Visit to Purl Soho in NYC

Yesterday my sister (and quilting buddy) Eileen and I met in NYC for a day of fun. The highlights of our day involved The City Quilter, Purl Soho (shown in the photos), and lunch in Chinatown. Great weather for walking too and we covered a lot of ground. Had a wonderful time.

Purl Soho offers a beautiful selection of yarns, fabrics (including Liberty of London, and all the Kona solids), colorful folds of felt (you can see them in the top photo), and other related goodies.

They also have loose tea in case you want to add that to your knitting experience.

This chunky yarn looks like it would be fun to knit. Behind the cash register they had scarves on display knitted in every color of this yarn. I should have taken a photo of them to show you. The colors and the luxurious texture are so pleasing to the senses!