Happy New Year

I have sadly neglected my blog for many many months, but one of my resolutions for 2011 is to post at least once a week. Times just seems to get away from me and I forgot or can't think of something interesting to blog about.

I making many changes in my shop and what I will be creating so hopefully I will have lots of topics that my interest all my followers.

So just to start of I am wish all of you a belated Happy New Year.

NATIONAL QUILTING DAY

This Saturday quilters will be celebrating National Quilting Day. To commemorate this day several of my Quiltsy Team had a challenge called the Nature of Quilting. Here are the beautiful and talented creations that my team members have created.

Flying Carpet Wallhangin from the shope of AnotherGhostQuilts.etsy.comThis is called Doree the Dragon Fly and comes from the shop of Planetpollyanna.etsy.comBotanical Gardens from the shop MoranArtandQuilts.etsy.comTrapunto Tulip from the shop of Quiltfinger.etsy.comPastoral Nature Scene by Bungalowquilts.etsy.comDresden Plate table runner by Clubaloha.etsy.comHand quilted whole cloth pillow cover by Serenstitches.etsy.comMountain Landscape Quilted Fabric Postcard by Sew Upscale.etsy.com Mini wallhanging by DebiDesigns.etsy.com

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Today we celebrate St. Patrick's and on Saturday March 20 we celebrate National Quilt Day. so I came across this gorgeous Celtic Wallhanging which not only represents Irish Celebrations, but shows just how quilting is another form of art.
This gorgeous piece comes from the shop of PennyFabricArt.etsy.com. Penny created this by using foundation piecing methodology. The peacock's head and body is a vibrant blue dupioni silk apkique with blue and silver beads, silvery embroidery thread and blue/white stone beads.

This is truely a work of art.

Saving Selvages

We have all heard the expression "You'r never to old to learn" well this phrase fits me

Now I love to create so this was right up my alley and I have decided to share this with some of you.

Selvages are the finished end of you material. They usual have the designers name, collections name and maybe a color key code to help with coordinating you fabric. All sewers will cut them off before they begin using their fabric and for me I always thru them away. Not anymore.

The first one I want to show is from the shop of Whimbrella.etsy.com.
She has created a chic eyeglass case. She made this from selvages of some of the most popular fabrics and lined it with tiny orange bird print form Moda. She also states that this would make a great case for carryingperfectly.

Recently a few of my Quiltsy Team members have taught me something new, to save the selvages after I cut my material and to create some wonderful and very useful items.
your rotary cutter to class.

My next feature is from the the shop of Bonbonsandmore.etsy.com.
She has created a hotpad or trivet from selvage ends and bound them together with a dark red binding. Every kitchen needs hotpads and this one will go with any motif you might have.


This adorable little skirt was created by Kimbuktu.etsy.com. She made this
for her granddaughter and I must say I think this is one of the most
creative items I have seen made with the selvage ends.

I searching for my ideas I also came across a great blog by Karen Griska, selvageblog.blogspot.com. She has also written a book with all kinds of ideas for using selvage ends. The book is called Quilt from the Selvage ends. I recommend checking out her blog.


So from now on I am saving all my selvages and hope to soon add my own creations to this selection.

BLOG WINNER

The winner of the February Blog Giveaway is Ann Woods of Quilting Frenzy.

Congratulations Ann, I have you bookmark in the mail for you

My Puzzle Quilt

A few weeks ago I post about the quilt I was making for my grandson and I referred to it as a puzzle. Well I finished the puzzle and here are my results. I must say I think that it turned out quite well. Since I called it a puzzle I also decided to quilt in a random motion with a pattern similar to a puzzle. I used a variegated black and gray thread.

When I started the idea of making a quilt for him skulls was not my first thought I thought of sports, he was the one that asked for the skulls. I started with the fabric and then found the blocks and from there I laid them out until I found the design I wanted.

I gave this to Riley yesterday and he was thrilled with it. When we left he was getting ready to curl up with it and watch his movies.

February Give Away

I find it difficult at times to keep up with interesting things for my blog. So to shake things up a little bit I have decided to do a February Giveaway. My goal is to get 100 followers on my blog or Facebook Fans.

This give away is designed with my quilting friends in mind, but anyone can enter. I have made two bookmarks with sewing charms attached to the end. One bookmark, the larger, has a thimble charm attached to the end, and the smaller one has a sewing machine charm on the end. Both bookmarks are silver plated and have swarovski crystal. Either one will make a great bookmark for you quilting or sewing books or magazines.

Now to win one of the bookmarks all you need to do is one or more of the following. The more you do the more you are entered.

1. Leave a comment about which of the two you like or would prefer.

2. Leave a comment and become one of my followers. ( promise to start having some
interesting post)

3. Leave a comment, become a follower and a fan of my Facebook Page artist.to/creationsbynoramarie

4. Leave a comment, become a follower, become a fan on Facebook and leave a comment on
my facebook fan page.

You have 4 chances to win and I will randomly choose a winner and the winner will receive the bookmark of their choice.