Adventures of a Novelty Fabric and Selvage Obsessed Quilter

Glad you stopped by!

I am a busy wife and the mom of 19 year old twins, a boy and a girl who are Sophomores at Syracuse University.

I have been quilting since the spring of 2008. I love novelty fabrics, colorful and unique.

Selvage quilting is addictive! Who knew the "junk" we cut off and threw out would be what I now save! I started a new tradition when I travel--visiting quilt stores! I particularly enjoy going to stores that have been named in the Quilt Sampler Featured Shop Lists-




Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Second stop- Sauder Fabrics

Sauder Fabrics
681 S Muddy Creek Rd
Denver, PA 17517


Love the colors in the dots and squares,
how cool is this keyboard fabric,
and who can resist donuts?
This is a panel and backing for a baby quilt:
Love pink, brown and white combination!

Another great store with
helpful staff and huge selection!

First stop- Hayloft Fabrics

Hayloft Fabrics
150 Moreview Blvd
Morgantown, PA 19543

Great store! Very helpful and friendly staff.
Great selection of novelties!

I was thrilled to find the fabric on the left-
Moda MAKE LIFE Silly Multi Fabric

Monday, March 29, 2010

Happy Passover to all who celebrate!

Busy days yesterday and today
spent preparing for tonight's
seder- festive meal.

I'm excited to use my new matzoh cover,
and my tablecloth fix looks great on the seder table!

I'll be back tomorrow with
photos of all the great fabrics
I got while in Lancaster
and at the AQS Quilt show

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Featured on the Selvage Blog.....


with the tote bag I whipped up to take to Lancaster!

I have to say it drew alot of great, positive attention at the show.
It was a great size, and held all my purchases perfectly!

The best was when I had an encounter with
Linda Baxter Lasco
who is a senior AQS editor.  
She helped Karen Griska with her AQS book
"Quilts from the Selvage Edge."

As I was leaving one of the exhibit halls, 
a woman calls out “Hey, you in red.”- (I was wearing a red t shirt)
She runs out from the booth and
approaches my friend Rachelle and I
Here is the conversation, best as I can recall it:

She asks have you written to Karen Griska about your bag?
I reply yes, I sent her an email Wednesday night.
Then I asked her if she reads Karen’s blog daily?
She says yes, so I asked if as she saw
 the selvage chair last week?
She says yes. I tell her I made it, and I introduce myself.
 Then she tells me who she is!
Then, she asks if I saw the recent selvage skirt, and I say yes.
She says “I made it”

It was fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If only I had thought fast enough to snap a photo!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Home from Lancaster and selvage giveaway winners!

The AQS Quilt show in Lancaster was absolutely fantastic!
There were so many amazing, inspiring quilts!
Wonderful vendors, and I had an awesome time!
Over the next few days, I will share lots of stuff!

Onto the selvage giveaway:
I used the number generator on
Random.org

The lucky commenters are:

Happy Cottage Quilter
SandyQuilts
Needled Mom
Mary
Jeanne

Congratulations!
I am sending you an email shortly;
please respond to me with your address and I
will get them out to you at the beginning of the week!

Thanks to everyone who left comments for me
and those who are now followers!
I appreciate your support!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Quick update from Lancaster

Having a wonderful time!
Visited many awesome stores and
got excellent fabric with COOL SELVAGES!
Tomorrow, we are heading to the show.
I hear it is fantastic!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Selvage tote bag is completed in time for Lancaster!

One side:
Second side:
 
Bottom:
(Hoping the black bottom will help keep it clean)
How I did it:
I sewed up the two sides, and then sewed
 three inches in to create the bottom-
sorry, I missed getting a photo!

Tote sewn together:
Lining sewn and in place:
Zigzag to join strap together
"ruler" trim:
Adding "ruler" to cover raw edges:
One side sewn:
Straps pinned on:
Black edging sewn on:
Underside of strap:

I love it!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Selvage tote straps pinned

I really had a busy day, but
managed to find the time to pin
the straps for my selvage tote bag.
Tomorrow is another busy day, but I hope
to get the tote bag sewn together!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Disco Dots!

I was lucky enough to snatch a half yard cut
of this OOP fabric on ebay for almost nothing!!
Love it, and excited to see the selvage possibilities!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Let the Sun Shine....

On this beautiful, sunshine filled day,
I am heading to NYC with
my daughter and her bff Lauren
to see Hair on Broadway!

Friday, March 19, 2010

"Spirograph" fabric

(Sorry the photo is blurry- I took it with my phone)
My local WalMart still sells fabric,
and every now and then
they have something great!
This fabric has a great "hand" to it, 
is really a great quality,
and was an amazing bargain at $2 a yard!
Just look at the great selvages!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Yet another selvage project begins!

I am heading to Lancaster, PA next
week for the AQS Quilt Show.
I decided today that I need a
selvage tote bag for the trip.
close up:
I'm happy with this side
the other side:
I am not happy with how "beige"
the middle section of this side is,
so I will play with it more tomorrow.
I still have to pin the straps.
lining fabric:

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Featured on the Selvage Blog today!

with my selvage chair!

It was truly a labor of love to re-do
this chair. and give it a new life!

I am going to giveaway some of my more
"sedate" selvages in honor of finishing the chair,
to help others discover or continue selvage quilting!
Many wonderful people have sent me
selvages- now I'll pay it forward!
I have quite a bit saved up, so I will send out 5 packages,
since this is the 5th time I have been
 featured on the Selvage Blog!!

Take a look back thru my blog
to see how I made the chair cover.
It was quite a sight to see!

There are a few rules, of course, but they are simple.

Leave me a comment here for 1 entry.

Become a follower of my blog, or if you
already are a follower, say that in comment # 2.

Blog about it and then come back and leave
me a third comment telling me about it!

Remember that if you don't have an email attached
 to your profile, please update it today.
 I can't reply to no reply emails.

I will accept entries of comments about
this post until March 25th,
then randomly draw the winners!

Good luck! I hope you have the luck of the Irish today!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Exciting news!

Last night, I received an email telling me about a special podcast

Here is what it said:
I just wanted to let you know that
my next podcast is about ready for iTunes and my blog.
Karen Griska, the selvage lady, was my guest interview.
We talked all about selvages and the projects
that are made with them.
Your blog and projects were mentioned!!

Jackie follows my blog, and leaves me
 wonderful, encouraging comments.
Karen has featured me on her blog several
times, and truly "invented" selvage quilting!

Both their blogs talk about the podcast today,

and Karen has generously autographed
2 copies of her book for a giveaway!

Head over to their blogs!
 You will be amazed and inspired like I am!

Listen to this wonderful podcast
and "meet" these wonderful ladies!

Monday, March 15, 2010

No time for sewing today..,

but I did get a major "decrapifying" project done!

I sorted thru all of the computer CD-ROM's, and
DH went thru the bin of keyboards, mice, cables, etc.
that we have collected over the years!

We ended up with 3 trash bags full
of stuff we no longer needed.

I feel so accomplished :)

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Selvages......from Nikki in Australia!

Last month, Nikki was
featured on the selvage blog
since she was gioving away her selvage stash.
I was lucky enough to have
her send some to me!
Aren't they fantastic?
Thanks Nikki!!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Big Reveal!!



The selvage chair is completed
and is upstairs in the playroom!
I love how it came out,
and am so happy that it will be used again !

If you want to see how I did it,
look back at blog posts from February 11th until today!
Here are a few photos of the finishing process.
Before:
I turned it inside out to pin the final seam up the arms:
All sewn, but not trimmed and stapled on:
Starting to staple and trim:
Side view of finished chair:

Friday, March 12, 2010

Happy Birthday, Matthew and Marisa!

Seventeen years ago today, you arrived!
You bring my life so much joy, pride, love and laughter!
Congratulations to 2 of NJ's newest licensed drivers!
Happy, happy birthday!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Assembly...finally!

I began by trimming the various pieces
Then I started sewing the pieces together
One arm on!
I am almost finished, just a little more to go.
I hope to have the chair ready
tomorrow for a big reveal!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tablecloth fix!

I wanted to join 2 102" tablecoths
together for the upcoming Passover seder table.
I mulled over several options, but saw something on
Sewing with Nancy this week that I knew
would work well and be easy to do!
First I cut 2 strips of fabric 3 inches wide by 70 inches long.
I used the batik fabric from my star
quilt which hangs in my dining/sewing room.
I put them wrong sides together, and
 then I pressed a seam down the center as a guide.
I did a wide zigzag seam thru the center.
Then I pressed each side to the center, making a "channel" for the each of the tablecloth edges.
Then I pinned the edge of the tablecloth into the "channel"
and did a zigzag stitch to secure.
Repeat for the second tablecloth.
Needs to be pressed, but I am very happy with the result!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Hoping to have time to sew tomorrow, but at least........

mail call was exciting!
A blog reader saw my post last week about
winning a back issue of Quilt Sampler,
and emailed me to see if I was interested in
some issues she was looking to sell.
They arrived today!
I got 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, Fall/winter 2005, and Spring/summer 2006!!
Now to find the time to read and enjoy them!

Monday, March 8, 2010

No time for sewing today :(

Took care of lots of "stuff" today.

But, the mailman brought me some selvages!!!!!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Quilter's Home back issues

I won 5 more issues on ebay!

Unfortunately, only got part of the
selvage chair back sewn today.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

No time to sew today and good mail!

My daughter and I went to the bridal
shower of a friend getting married later this month.

This was waiting for me in the mail today :)

Heading to read it now!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Side sewn!

I only have the back piece left to stitch down,
 and then I can begin putting it together!