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-




Monday, May 31, 2010

Remember.............

On this special day, take time
to pause and remember those
who have, currently are, and will in the future 
serve our country
making it the great land it is!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Road Trip!


We are headed for Toronto, Canada
for a family function!
Have a great weekend,
see you Monday night!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Spotlight on my Thimble Collection!

My mother in law collected thimbles
from her travels all over the world.
She started a collection for me as well,
and now I add to it whenever I travel.
I love to look at them,
and revisit places I have been!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Cameron's pillowcase

Cameron is Coby's sister, whom I made
my first pillowcase for last week. 
I wanted to get an idea of what Cameron would like.
She is almost 7, and is a big purple fan!
Her request was for Jewish stars.
As soon as she said it, I remembered that
I had this fabulous fabric in my stash!
I hope she loves it as much as I do.
I think it is awesome, just like her!

Monday, May 24, 2010

More Searching at the Fabric store...

Another Anna Marie Horner Bohemian print!
See my link on the sidebar to my Etsy Shop!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

No time for sewing today :(

I ran a ton of errands today.
Whatever extra time I did have,
I spent perusing amazing quilts from the 
Blogger's Quilt Festival 

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Bohemian by Anna Maria Horner Designs for Free Spirit


Don't you just love this fabric??
I bought some the other day,
and went back for more today.
I will be listing some on Ebay and Etsy
over the next day or two!

Friday, May 21, 2010

My Black and White Selvage Zinger!

Today is the beginning of the
Blogger's Quilt Festival!
Click on the link above, grab a drink,
and be prepared to be amazed at the talent!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Black and White Selvage Zinger!
with quilt back showing:
The quilt label:
Some close ups:



I love how colorful it is, and can look at it
and find something new to "read" every time!!

A special thanks to Susan Losapio at Mouse Creek Quilts
for her incredible work on the longarm quilting it!

It all started in June 2009,
when I ordered Karen Griska’s book
 “Quilts from the Selvage Edge”
I became so inspired by this “new” way of quilting!
I love the color and variety that is achieved by
“making” your own fabric with selvages.

I set to work, first by cutting the selvages
off my entire stash. Next, I investigated other
ways to obtain selvages. The great women at my LQS,
Mouse Creek Quilts began saving selvages for me.
I bought them from wonderful people on Etsy and Ebay.
But my favorite story is how I got my
proving that it never hurts to ask!!

Fast forward, and I have made a Black and White Selvage Zinger,
I still have one unfinished
a selvage circle that will be a bread cover.

A tremendous side benefit has been having the honor
to be featured on Karen Griska’s Selvage blog many times!
I even discovered a
Along the way, I have met many wonderful women,
now friends, who have sent me amazing selvages!

My playroom/computer room has become my
and it makes me smile every time I enter it!

One of my favorite experiences was bringing the completed
Black and White Zinger to show it to the women at the library.
They took such delight and pride pointing out all “their” selvages!!

I am also so grateful to Amy for the Quilt Festival.
Last fall, I thought, why not start a blog so I
could participate, and I have enjoyed blogging so much!!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Coby's pillowcase!

The finished pillowcase!
supplies: click to enlarge for detail
full pillowcase:
Ever since I read about the
I have wanted to make some.

I wanted to make one as a trial before I donated any.

I was at a local fabric store and saw this fabric,
which shows basic sign language words and pictures.
I immediately thought of Coby,
a friend's son who is on the autistic spectrum,
and uses signing to help him communicate.
He is a delightful child, with an absolutely
fantastic personality, as well as an infectious smile.
He underwent successful open heart
surgery as an infant, and this week
marked the fourth anniversaryof his operation.

My friend and fellow quilter Doris sent me this link
and it was terrific.

Have you made any pillowcases yet??

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Fun In the Mail from Jenny!

Jenny, who purchased some
Heather Ross fabric from me on Ebay,
sent me some selvages!
She is so creative in the way she packaged them!
She laminated the selvages into a package!

My favorite?
The bottom selvage
futue-ella by Alexander Henry!
Jenny, you are a ROCK STAR!
Thanks again for the selvage treat!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

14 years later and finally hung on the wall

FACES!
15 years ago, we were walking our kids-
in their stroller-
thru a mall with my in laws.
I noticed this needlepoint canvas,
and remarked that I liked it.
My wonderful mother-in-law
bought it for me!
I finished it not too much later, and
then never got around to framing it.
I finally did, and just love it!!

Monday, May 17, 2010

I've been thinking...

about turning my living room,
that we NEVER use
into my sewing studio.
I would need to have overhead lighting installed,
but otherwise it would just mean outfitting the space
as I would if I moved my studio to the basement,
which I am also considering but would
rather be on the main floor of the house.

My wish list so far:
  • Design Wall
  • Oversized Ironing Board
  • Counter High Cutting Table
  • Fabric Storage
  • Sewing table with drawers for storage of supplies

I bought Studios magazine for inspiration.
Now, I am turning to my
wonderful readers to ask:
  • what do you love about your sewing space?
  • what would be your must haves?
  • any product recommendations?
  • what you'd do differently if you were designing your sewing space again?
  • Any book recommendations on studio design?
  • anything else you care to share?

I appreciate any coments and suggestions you have!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sunday at the Mouse

I stopped by Mouse Creek Quilt Shop
today, just for a quick hello while I
was running my errands.
They had just gotten in this awesome
Robert Kaufman fabric, part of the groove collection.
I had to get a FQ!
They had it dispalayed with this coordinating fabric,
which I already had purchased in Lancaster!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Fantastic Ebay Find!

Eyes Wise by Luella Doss and Robin Fleming for FreeSpirit.
click to enlarge
I got an amazing price for these 14 half yard cuts!!
They are not my usual palatte,
but I love them!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Sew-Steady has been ordered!

Hands down, the Sew Steady was
the recommended machine extension unit.
I ordered it yesterday, and have
decided to wait until it arrives to
machine quilt Sophie's Quilt.
I hope to finish up some other
unfinished projects in the meantime.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Have you wordle'd yet?

I have blogged about this site a while ago,
I spent a few minutes there today.
I entered my blog URL
and this was generated.
So much fun!!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Quilt Sampler X 2!!!

I bought the latest Spring/Summer issue today,
and hope to read it cover to cover tonight!
I won the final issue I was missing-
Spring/Summer 2005 on Ebay today as well-
Once it arrives, I will begin reading
them in order of publication date!!
I have only read the most
recent 2 years up until this point.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Dots!

I needed a small piece of this fabric
for a project I hope to start soon.
When I went to my LQS, it was gone!
I had just seen it a day or two before!
Lucky for me, my friend and fellow quilter Doris
offered a scrap from a project she recently made.
Quilters are the BEST!!!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

It's all about the Moms....

Wishing all the Moms a wonderful day
surrounded by those you love!!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Mail call!


I won the Fall/Winter Issue 2006 of Quilt Sampler
on Ebay, and it arrived today.
I onkly need one more issue-
Spring/Summer 2005
and I will have them all!
Hours of entertainment!!

Friday, May 7, 2010

It's all about Marisa today!


Here I am with my beautiful, amazing daughter Marisa
before she headed to her Junior Prom!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Sewing Machine Extension Table

My husband and kids told me today that
they will be getting me the sewing machine
extension table I have been thinking about getting
 for a few months as a Mother's Day present!

Now to narrow the choices down and decide which one I want.

Choice A:
Sew Steady Custom Made Portable Clear EXTENSION TABLE for Freearm or Flatbed Embroidery, Sewing, Quilting, Serging & Craft Machines by Dream World USA

Choice B:
Add-A-Table

These are the two I have seen so far.
I have a Kenmore sewing machine; they don't
make an extension table for their machines.

I would love feedback if anyone has one-
brand, model, size, pros and cons, etc.
Also, do you find you use it and that it is helpful??

I welcome any and all comments and advice.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

I ask you....

could you have left the fabric store without this great fabric?
I could not!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

No garden gloves for me...

I got alot of comments that
people found gloves to be hot.
I was at Joann's the other day, and found these
Dritz Machine Quilting Finger Grips.
Hopefully, I will find time to test them out later today.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

These are a few of my Favorite...

 BLOGS!!

I was "talking" to a fellow blogger the other
day about "seeing" each other on some sites.
She found some new (to her) blogs recently
and when she signed up to Follow, 
she saw that I was already there as a follower.
I guess we hang around the same places!
I replied that I see a lot of the
same people following where I go.


It made me think I wanted to ask for everyone’s
top 5 sites WITHOUT repeating.
I bet it will be quite the list!!
 
I'll go first!
 
It should come as no
suprise that my #1 is
 
#2 is
 
#3 is
 
#4 is
 
and #5 is
 
What are your favorite quilt places to "hang out" on the Internet??
Leave a comment telling your favorites!
 
I will compile a list at the end of the week with links!!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Noveau Letters by Michael Miller


I won a yard of this fantastic fabric
on Ebay last week, and it arrived yesterday!
She even sent along a sample
of how it can take color beautifully!