Meet Mary Frances Wood of Virginia

Mary Frances Wood of VA makes these charming blocks that include selvages when she is between quilting projects. She makes them without foundation fabric. She just sews the selvages together then trims the block to the size she wants. Mary Frances says that this carefree sewing is very relaxing. Her happy heart shows through in her work, doesn't it?

Take a look at the block with the triangle above. The center has a 3-D optical illusion that I really like.

Her selvage quilting style differs from that of Gail Mitchell (the maker of the "Cat Mat" featured in the sidebar). Mary Frances features the printed part of the fabric, just adding selvages like the spice in a stew. Gail Mitchell, on the other hand, features the white stripe with the writing and uses hardly any colored printed part of the fabric at all. I love the results of both methods!

Gail Mitchell's Cat Mat

Gail Mitchell in Eastern Canada just made her first selvage quilt, and what a stunning quilt it is. She says it was fun and only took a couple of hours to make. Gail calls it the "Cat Mat," and it measures 15 inches square.

Every selvage quilter has her own signature style, made up of her choices of selvages, how wide she makes each strip, and how much of the printed fabric she reveals. Gail's style is awesome; using practically no printed part of the fabric, those color windows really stand out! I love it. Her kitten loves it too.

Visit Gail's blog at: http://www.quilt-knit-run-sew.blogspot.com/.