Barb has caught the selvage bug, I gave her a few selvages last week and look what she made for me!
isn't' t it adorable!
I love it. NO I am not saving selvages I just keep telling myself that even though I keep seeing wonderful projects made with these...

Barb is in dire need of more of this pink fabric

I am hoping some one out there in blog land can send her a fat quarter or 2 or 6!!!!!
We all know what it is like to start a quilt and realize the best fabric for the design is the one you have very little left of

Will you check your fabric collection and see if you have a piece for her?

you can read her post about this fabric on her blog click HERE!

Laura is once again doing the 25 days before Christmas antique quilts on her blog!
If you love antique quilts you won't want to miss this!



one of my favorite little quilts time for him to come live in the sewing room for the winter
oh look at the bottom see a new little quilt started! another use for the never ending pile of strips
I think I see a lot of little nine patches in my future as well!!!!



and a few pears for a new applique project I will be working on with Lorre.

I love using 2 fabrics for leaves as well
So easy to do, a few pictures how I did these pears I am sure you can figure it out
For leaves I just cut the pattern piece in half and then make sure you add the seam allowance for both sides Fold down the darker color seam allowance from the freezer paper template no need to mark that seam and pin it while the other half template is still on so you have the guide line.

I always lay the darker color on top and thats what I appliqué to the make the pear/leaf one piece
The reason for this there won't be any shadowing behind your leaf/pear.



just peal away the other template and start appliquéing!

Finally all the blocks are made,
now to sew them all together! The quilt will be 75 x 80
It was fun to make this quilt top from the basket in a week, not bad. I admit I had to cut more strips I needed more variety and medium value strips.
As a result the basket has not been emptied :(
Maybe a log cabin quilt is the next, will that use up the strips?
any other suggestions to use up the strips?

The past few months I have been really enjoying seeing all the quilts with stitchery patterns used as blocks
as well as framed stitcherys out in blogland I have been successfully ignoring the urges to make one UNTIL I saw this on Kaaren's blog
I think I will be shopping for red floss today....
Thank you Kaaren for the free pattern!

A wonderful new book to add to your Holiday Wish list !




American Quilts
The Democratic Art 1780 - 2007
by Robert Shaw

A book filled with quilt history , many antique quilts pieced and appliqued for inspiration!
I had pre-ordered this book from Amazon months ago, have to admit forgot about it until it arrived the other day.
I am so glad I ordered it then! Its a wonderful addition to my quilt history book library
First it will live on my coffee table to read the next month or so and just learn all that I can from it.
Study the antique quilts in the book and yes add the sticky notes to pages that inspire me!

This quilt intrigues me
its the medallion , pieced and applique that I just love
Civil War Soldier's quilt 1865


Isn't this one amazing????
never in my life time could I make a quilt like this, it is just so beautiful
unless of course Janet or Deb could draft the pattern for me!



Ok If I ever say I am going to make this quilt you know I have lost it! Maybe my HST swap friends want to swap for this quilt too???


I love medallion quilts, when Penny posted this one I wanted to see this quilt up close and personal!
I am so glad she was willing to share the photos with us. Of course I want to see this quilt in person, just beautiful.
You will be inspired by Pennys blog as much as I am...oh yes I see a Grandmothers Flower Garden in my future now...a medallion quilt ....the list goes on , thanks Penny!
The perfect blog name too!
The Dedicated Appliquist

I just keep sewing those strips together and have to admit the basket is still overflowing
what fun making these blocks has been, its mindless sewing yet I love the result!
Sometimes the simplest quilt blocks turn out so graphic and appealing to me.
Its nice to make a quilt from my fabric collection .
My strips are 1 1/2" cut and the block will be 5" finished.
incase your inspired to make one using your scrap basket!
I cut the strips down to approx 6 1/2" then sewed 5 together
alternating light /dark,yes there are times I did medium/dark
I like the look! I may just have to make 2 of these quilts, one to donate :) then maybe the strips will be used up!
you think? Sorry to say I doubt it!!!
I think I will make a mini quilt using this block as well.
Here check out Janet's quilt she started using her fabric collection and a simple block yet graphic result, yes we have been having conversations about making quilts from our stash and using traditional blocks.
my next quilt from the scrap bin I am thinking little nine patches :)

check out Tara's blog
she has incredible pictures from various quilt shows she has been to lately

Its time to use up some of these strips I have cut!
decided I needed to tackle the THREE , 1 1/2" bins and baskets of strips.
I hope to empty this basket with my next project.
Nine patches, four patches or maybe a rail fence quilt
maybe all three...oh yes at least one will be a little quilt!
First step cut them into smaller strips

then start sewing and playing...

I love little quilts...I love looking at them, I love making them especially when they are inspired by antique quilts !
Imagine my delight when I opened up this blog today....
Oh My Gosh is all I can say.
I can only dream of having a wall of little quilts in our home some day...some day soon!
You will SEE a few of these reproduced next year when I do my little quilt a month personal challenge!

Yesterday at the quilt show I went to they had a raffle for little quilts, yes I tried and tried and tried to win one, I didn't
I did get a few more ideas there as well. Barb was in charge of the little quilt raffle you can see some of them on her blog!
It was a great show. I came home very motivated thats always a good sign!

Salinda Rupp blocks
78, 79, 82 and 84
I wish I had more of that green in the first block on the ends, don't even remember whose it was
would be wonderful for my Mary Mannakee quilt




looking for a piecing project where I don't really have to think...
found this pile of tumblers I swapped with a few friends and though oh this would be great to just piece together...
started putting them on the wall and well not that motivating to me right now
do I just put the rest up and sew it together and have another top done?
or put it away till Jan/Feb when I will be ready for spring, even though they are saying the "S" word for tonight :)

yes I am still making hst for the ocean wave quilt, long term project , I need another 850 of them I think !