beadtex

back home

2012-01-27T13:10:00.002+01:00

Wednesday afternoon I arrived in Munich airport and had an easy ride back home (in my own car)
It felt so good to be back in my own bed, that I slept until 4.45 PM on Thursday !!!!!! even Nelli was exhausted to have me back and slept so long
Today I started to unpack my luggage. The big suitcase got damaged, but British Airways will pay for it. Just this nasty paperwork

Try to get back to earth (from quilters heaven)
This was a wonderful journey with many memories and we met some quiltfriends in reality, which was really great. More about that later, I promise.

We spent the last days in Ontario (LA area) at the Road 2 California Quiltshow and we hadn't WiFi, so no postings of the last part of the trip so far, sorry

During the next days / or weeks I'll show pictures of the trip

shopping at JoAnn's and Piecemakers

2012-01-18T02:44:00.002+01:00

Today Julie and Deb have fun at Disneyworld and the three of us dropped them off before we shopped at JoAnn's. For the German readers who don't know JoAnn, they have really good prices and a lot of items on sale (30 or 40 %) AND you can get coupons Online, this time we had a coupon each good for a 50% discount of one item of your choice. I couldn't resist to buy an Ott-Light, running with batteries - very light weighted, easy to carry without access. I used the 50% coupon for a cute purple crafttote I LOVE !!!! Unfortunately the Martha Stewart punchers had been on sale (30% off) - tari tara tirallala
Searching for special needles we need for the Sue Spargo class we counded find there somebody pointed us to the "Piecemaker" quiltshop. That was one of the first international shops I ever realized. My friend Sabine L. from Hilden made a really amazing Piecemaker calender quilt (with the railroad, mill, chickens ....)
So we had a 15 minute drive to Piecemakers, which is a wonderful shop!!!! The people there have been so friendly and helpful, nice decoration and wonderful stuff to buy. The hit was their kitchen: the offer a potluck type all-you-can-eate for just 5$ !!! Funny was the soup, it was Polish cabbage soup, delicous. And the cakes have been wonderful
Always we are making short decisions and have special moments to keep in our memories. In fact we have been not to far away from Huntington Beach, so had a 20 Minute stop, took some pictures, found shells and enjoyed ourselfs.
Again, it was a wonderful day!!

M & L fabrics

2012-01-17T17:28:00.002+01:00

yesterday our first trip went to "M & L fabrics"
I couldn't believe how big that store was when we stepped in. For the German reader: imagine a ALDI shop and multiply it by 2 or 3
Prices starting at 2.49 $, even the Kona solids have been sold for 3,59.
The expensivest stuff was 10,49
Bonnie shopped there too and showed us the "right" cheddar fabric, she talked about on her blog several times.
The 9of us had lunch at http://www.knotts.com/
more later

Los Angeles area

2012-01-16T18:10:00.003+01:00

On our way south we stopped in Malibu for an icecream, unfortunately it wasn't possible to have it at the beach. Most of the beach is blocked by private homes or the ask for 25$ just for parking nearbye - crazy. Caroline is doing really great driving, even in Los Angeles, which is crazy.
We arrived at Florine's house on Friday and together we drove to Hollywood to see "The Wicked" in the Pantage theater. Even with not understanding every single word it was wonderful, fantastic costumes and the theater is from the 20s (?) -

On Saturday Caroline and Julie drove to Ontario airport to pick up Kim and Deb, while Florine and I made the trip to Los Angeles LAX airport to pick up Carolyn from Maine. Now we are 7 of the Caravanquilters group here!
In the morning we stopped for lets say 10 minutes at Michaels, that's a craftshop and I bought some scrapbooking stuff - just a little bit. But it was hard to decide what ;-)

Yesterday (Sunday) Bonnie Hunter gave us a workshop nearbye together with friends from Florine: "My Blue Heaven". I'm working with a Jelly Roll: Mocha Mint
This was really fun!
We went to "California Fish Grill" the 7 of us and Bonnie Hunter with Sherry. The food was delicious, I had fried Shrimps with fries.
The evening was spent relaxing in the livingroom, checking mails

Today we will see "M&L fabrics" - I'll report later about it - pictures ???

in San Luis Obispo - meeting Elaine

2012-01-15T03:24:00.002+01:00

On Wednesday we had a wonderful with Elaine, who took us to her favorite winery and offered a winetasting to us - delicious BTW
She drove us around to a lovely pier and her favorite quiltshop who has a lot of Jo Morton fabric in stock. Couldn't resist .....
We ended at Steamers, right beside the beach and a wonderful dinner with a colorful sunset. Margarita's where part of the fun
We are shure we made a new friend, Elaine is a darling!
Thank you so much dear

On Thursday we picked up great picknick boxes, called baskets and a real picknick later. We took the route # 1, later highway 101 and 135 to Carpenteria, that's south from Santa Barbara. We got some laundry done "fluff and fold"
The night was spent at the Holiday Inn, with 2 doubles and 1 sofabed. In the Delgados we had good mexican food and again Margarits .....

Friday was the first day we had sandals on the feet and weared 7/8 pants. It was about 25°C and we had icecream in Malibu, unfortunatly we haven't been able to get to the beach, because of private houses.
When you find a parkinglot you have to pay 25$ - that's crazy!!!
Around 12.3o PM we arrived at Florine's house in Brea (Los Angeles area). We did some groceryshopping to make Tiramisu and Mousse au chocolate and got ready to leave to Hollywood at 4 PM. It was a real long drive and we got to the Hollywood Blvd. "The Wicked" was the hightlight of this day. First we got Pizza nearbye. The car got parked from the guys at the parkingplace - for 15$
It was a wonderful evening

stay tuned - more to come

bis San Luis Obispo

2012-01-11T17:24:00.001+01:00

Montag, 9.1.
Wir sind heute von Pacific Grove südlich nach Carmel gefahren - ein SEHR schöner Ort, in dem irre teure Häuser auf winzigen Grundstücken dicht an dicht stehen. Ein toller Strand, teils mit Felsen davor an die die Wellen klatschen. Vereinzelte Surfer
Wunderbare Geschäfte, SEHR teurer Juweliere mit SEHR schönem, teurem Schmuck!!
Nur zum Nase-platt-drücken
Wir trafen uns mit Barb, ihrer Mutter und Tochter. Die Mutter ist aus Nürnberg und bereits 1965 eingereist.
Durch Zufall gingen wir ein winziges Lokal, in dem eine ganz besondere Athmosphäre war: Griechisch, Italiniesch, Tunesisch, Libanesisch - von allem etwas. Ich hatte Ravioli gefüllt mit Shrimps und Crab in einer wunderbaren Pestocreme, mit Parmesan darauf. Dann kam der Koch in den Gastraum und sang eine italien. Arie. Ich hab versucht es als Video festzuhalten (zumindest zum Teil)
Vom Haus bekamen wir wunderbare Baklava als Dessert und ganz leckeren frischen Minztee.
Das war ein sehr gelungener Besuch!
Ich fand eine nette lockere Jacke in schwarz/lila die reduziert war - jippidi
Nachdem wir noch ein Eis geschleckt haben gings dann zu besagtem Quiltshop und in einen Supermarkt,um etwas für den Abend zu kaufen. Wein unter Anderem .....
heute habe ich was Hübsches für Moni gefunden -3D Lesezeichen, typisch Californisch eben
In dem Quiltladen, den wir besucht haben "Packporch quiltshop" wird am Mittwoch Kaffee Fassett seine Bücher signieren. Ich habe ein Fatquarterpaket (8) in pink/purple gekauft, das ich für mein Sue Spargo Projekt verwenden möchte. Hatte bereits ein Charmpack gekauft.
Ansonsten war nix extra erwähnenswert, aber ich hab heimlich 2 Fotos gemacht.
Im Stübchen haben wir die beiden runden Tischchen zusammengeschoben, emails gecheckt und beantwortet, Kassensturz gemacht und gequatscht. Heute wollen wir mal früher ins Bett gehen.

Also, für morgen ist geplant, am Morgen aufzubrechen und an der Küste nach Süden zu fahren
- die landschaftlich schönere Route - ca. 140 Miles
Am Abend sind wir mit Elaine zum Essen verabredet.

Dienstag 10.1.
Pünktlich um 9.oo brachen wir auf und starteten über den 17 Miles Drive ( 9,59 $ )
Es ging durch eine sehr gepflegte, luxuriöse Wohnanlage für die Schönen und Reichen nach Carmel. Dort hat sich Caroline prompt verfahren, weil Marylin (the GPS) landeten wir in einer Wohngegend und stolperten über ein Schild „open house“ und Caroline schlug vor, das Haus zu besichtigen (steht zum Verkauf). Sie sprach dann auch mit der Eigentümerin und erzählte die Wahrheit, dass wir nur mal schauen wollten. Das war wirklich lustig – hat mir sehr gut gefallen – aber 1.195 000 $ …..
Dann gings südlich über die „1“ – eine traumhafte Route entlang der Küste. Eine Aneinandereihung der Superlative. Spektakuläre Aussicht, beeindruckende Wellen, tolle Lichtstimmungen.
Bei jeder vielversprechenden Sicht haben wir gestoppt und Bilder gemacht. Ich hab auch Filme mit dem iPhone gemacht. Ein kurzes Stück fuhr dann Julie (die Linksverkehr gewöhnt ist) – Caroline sprach es dann aus, dass sie sich besser fühlen würde, wenn sie fahren würde.
An einem Aussichtspunkt haben wir gehalten und an einem anderen getankt und nen Kaffee getrunken. Auf einem Felsen sahen wir Seelöwen und lustige kleine Vögelschwärme, die am Strand rumwieselten und immer ganz dicht an der Brandung blieben. An Pebbles Beach hatten die Leute Steine zu kleinen Türmen aufeinander gestapelt.
Kurz hinter Hearst Castle stoppten wir an einem Parkplatz, bei dem eine große Seeelefanten ruhte.
Viele Weibchen, zum größten Teil mit Jungen – WOW !! 2 Mütter schienen um die Jungen zu Kämpfen.
Gegen 17.15 waren wir am Applefarm Inn in San Luis Obispo, genau in dem Moment rief Elaine Petrik an, mit der wir für 18.oo im Restaurant verabredet waren.
Wir hatten uns auf Anhieb viel zu sagen und es war eine sehr entspannte Atmosphäre und viel Gelächter. Gespräche über Quiltmagazine (Quiltmania Vintage) und Swaps, Jo Morton …..
Ich hatte Potato Pancake mit Apfelkompott und Creamcheese sowie hot Apple Cider (mit Zimtstange)
Danach sind wir noch im Shop herumgestöbert und haben und für morgen mit Elaine verabredet. Um 1o.oo haben wir Besichtigung im Heast Castle gebucht, also zw 11.30 und 12 denken wir, sind wir zurück.
Photokarten gespeichert, emails + Buchhaltung + Tagebuch geschrieben

Monday morning update

2012-01-09T17:59:00.003+01:00

On Friday we took the car and drove to Berkeley, where we stopped right in front of a wonderful scrapbookingshop by fortune. Wasn't I lucky? actually I was in heaven ..... The girls walked to the quiltshop 4 blocks away, but said it wasn't worth the trip. We than took the route north and west to Sausalito because we hadn't seen the place enough. There we where happy to find what we looked for everywhere in SF: a Cable Car charm for the Pandora ! YEAH
The sun went down and we had a beautiful to San Francisco and the Golden Gate and the sunset.
On Sunday we left SF and drove down to the San Jose area, where we had an invitation from Connie (http://conniescrafts.blogspot.com/), she served a nice Brund with quieche and fruits. Her husband and she showed us the amazing amount of wonderful quilts she made so far, including a gorgeous Dear Jane, Silvias Bridals Sampler and her Barbara Brackman Sampler. In her sewing studio she showed us her projects she is actually working at.
We had such a great with her
- thank you Connie!!
Afterwords she escorted us to the Quilt- and Textilmuseum in San Jose. Some early quilts from Mrs. Patera catched my interest.
BTW: this was the first day we had sandals and short sleeves!
On our way south to Santa Cruz the landscape was hilly and on both sides of the highway we saw big pines and redwood trees.
When we left highway # 101 and came to the # 1, the view changed totally. The earth is covered with black plastic nearly everywhere, strawberry fields - looked strange to me.
In Capitola we left the road and touched the beach to get a first impression. Surfers and families enjoying the sun everywhere. Of course we had an icecream cone (peanutbutter and cookies/n' cream for me)
Around 16.oo we reached the next destination: Pacific Grove
We are staying at the Wide a Bee Inn - little cottages in a row
The whole village is located right to the beach under big trees
At the end of the street at the "Fishwife" we had a wonderful evening with a glas of chardonny.
Today we are going to Carmel and to meet Barb. She is a friend from our small, private Yahoogroup of Dear Jane friends - we know each other from the Retreats in Shipshewana.
On Tuesday we are happy to meet Elaine P. for dinner in San Luis Oispo, who is also a part of the Dear Jane community worldwide. We are staying at the Applefarm Inn. It seems we'll have a quiltshop hop on Wednesday after Hearst Castle with her.

Can you read that we enjoy the trip?
YES WE DO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

to be continued

San Francisco

2012-01-07T08:38:00.002+01:00

We arrived on Wednesday here in San Francisco, it is indeed a fabulous city!
Julie, Caroline and me are missing Becky who had to cancel the trip in the last minute.
We rented a car at the airport and drove to the King George Hotel, which is located in the Center (Union Square)
We do have to connected room, feels like a suite (but not really very luxury)

On Thursday we bought a day ticket for the Cable Car and drove the whole route up to Fisherman's Wharf.
There is a lovely view to the Golden Gate Bridge and a lot of tourist stores. We had a lot of fun to watch into the shops
We went up to Ghiradelli, where I couldn't resisted to have a icecream cone - it was delicious
We hopped on the Cable Car again to go the Chinatown. This is really another world, interesting to see the herbshops and all this lovely jewelry shops. I do love very light Jade and found a wonderful bangle and today I bought a coordinating little dragonthing I'll frame with tiny Japanese glass beads for a necklace. I do own another Jade bangle which is carved already.
From Chinatown we drove again by Cable Car to Market Square and entered the Westfield Shopping mall. We had a lot of fun in the Very Bradley shop, Julie bought some things there. We also got a Pandora charm for each of us to have a memory of this common journey.

Today we got picked up from Randy who drove us across the Golden Gate Bridge, where we stopped to take pictures, but it was really foggy. We had a short stop in Sausalito, which is a lovely village right on the border (pretty houses and lovely shops)
She took us to a fancy restaurant (Buckeye Roadhouse) and we had a nice dinner
We left her at the Chinatown to buy something we forgot yesterday and on the way to the hotel we got to Britex fabrics.
This is fantastic store on 4 stages with a wonderful range of all kind of fabrics, ribbons, buttons and other goodies.
We are making plans for tomorrow and Sunday, when we'll leave SF and driving south.
We got an invitation of another Dear Jane Quilter to see her quilts at her home. We booked the rooms for 2 nights in the Montery area. Next stop for 2 nights is in San Luis Obispo and one more night in southern St. Barbara is booked as well. Than we'll stay at a friends house and go to the theater in Hollywood on the 13th (the Wicked).
We enjoy each and every minute and have a lot of fun together!
Tomorrow I'll try to post pictures
That it for now.

3 week journey

2012-01-02T17:21:00.007+01:00

While I'm packing with my personal chaos system ;-) I'ld like to say good bye from good old Germany.
Tomorrow my journey to California starts!
I'll travel with Caroline from Belgium, Julie from Australia and Becky from Illinois. Sightsseing, meeting friends, workshops (with the scrapqueen Bonnie Hunter and Sue Spargo), attending the Quiltshow "Rd2Ca"
** a once-in-a-lifetime-event **
** a dream comes true **
last but not least it worked out due to DH's generous sponsoring
Ich danke Dir!

giveaway

2011-12-13T16:36:00.004+01:00

Right now I'ld like to invite you to visit Bente's blog.
She is giving away a 50 $ gift certificate from the Fatquartershop. Hurry up, it's ending today

Life is getting in the way, but I'll post some more pics tomorrow afternoon.

won a fantastic paper giveaway

2011-12-10T18:17:00.002+01:00

Barbara is running a really special blog, love to visit it daily
I wrote about the giveaway I won, today the fantastic Christmas papers arrived! 20 pieces, 12" each - one better than the other

DANKESCHöN Barbara!

Christmas production

2011-12-10T16:25:00.002+01:00

this year I finished 3 christmas projects: the cornucopia, a tabletopper and a cardholder for the christmas post coming in

Impression of table decoration

A D V E N T - day # 10

2011-12-10T16:21:00.004+01:00

by mistake I opended # 11 today, hmmmmm Nougat - LOVE it
tomorrow I have to open # 10 now

Ines "surprised" me today with 12" cardstock and patterned CHRISTMAS paper.

A D V E N T - day # 9

2011-12-10T16:16:00.003+01:00

Since I traveled to Shipshewana in November 2oo5 I'm in love with Cardinals, bought one which is sitting on our (real) tree every year now. DD gave me cute napkins today - with Cardinals on it

Inside parcel # 2 of the day # 9 I found cardstock in pretty colors, ready to use for cards - THANKs

A D V E N T - day # 8

2011-12-10T16:08:00.005+01:00

talking about machine applique these days with Monika - and what did I found today?

yummy chocolate AND "Heat'n Bond" - will give it a try soon, she says it's much better than the German "Vliesofix"

Inside Ines' cute little box with a star on top of it I found, YES chocolate again AND a lovely little unicorn stamp

Lucky

A D V E N T - day # 7

2011-12-10T15:58:00.004+01:00

all 3 goodies at one place:

Today my scrapbooking shash got envelopes with a pretty inside in a lovely turquoise from DD

Delicious Marzipan from Niederegger a very famous factory in Lübeck was in the red and white wrapped package from Monika today

thankful here

Glück im Spiel

2011-12-07T14:34:00.002+01:00

Da ich ja offensichtlich gerade eine Glückssträhne habe und nun schon 2 x gewonnen habe, versuche ich es hier ein drittes mal.
Eingeweihte wissen, dass ich nicht nur schöne Stoffe zerschneide und winzige Glasperlen auffädele sondern auch Papier verscrappe.

So fand ich Stempelwiese's blog und sie feiert gerade Geburtstag. Da verlost sie ganz wunderbare Päckchen mit goodies von Stampin Up.
bitte Daumen drücken - oder selbst mitspielen :)

A D V E N T - day # 6 / Nikolaus

2011-12-06T13:41:00.007+01:00

Today was nearly like Christmas!

DH's little cutie looked out of his tote and is now hanging on a key of one of the cupboards from the Gründerzeit

Ines violet box opened up with yummy chocolate, a cute heart AND a special Falzbein/bonefolder made from Teflon. Perfect to tool to fold paper, YES we both are in scrapbooking as well.

Like always the order doesn't mean anything:
Monika wrapped Vitamins for the Adventkalender AND sent a parcel separate!
Inside was the prettiest little round box I've ever seen

and yummy chocolate .... so many calories ....

Can't believe I won again!
Barbara had a giveaway and I'm one of the 3 lucky winners of a Christmas paper package! Isn't that cool?
I should buy a lotterie los

A D V E N T - day # 5

2011-12-06T13:31:00.005+01:00

Moni sent Eierlikör/Advokaat. When my children where small enough to believe in the mystery of Christmas and Nikolaus I had a ritus every evening before the 6th of December.
I put a plate with some cookies for Nikolaus and another little bowl with eggnogg in front of the door to feed the Nikolaus and his reindeer.
My daughter insisted to follow this rule
until she moved out :-)
THAT's why I got this little bottle today

Nikolaus (chocolate) was one day early, but neverless welcomed!

Ines wrapped the heart so trendy and it is in my favorite color actually! will find a nice place in my studio

A D V E N T - day # 4

2011-12-06T13:14:00.007+01:00

sorry for beeing late, but daily life comes first ;-)
DH's tote was filled with delicous cappucino balls - hmmm

The packages in the striped red/whie paper are from Monika, she knows that I love soap - DANKESCHööN

In DD's lovely wrapped box I found a cute tee-"egg" in heartshape - so cute!

Am I lucky? on top of all I won a fabricpackage from a quiltjournal on Facebook

happy dancing and getting nervous, it's under one month now - before I start my big journey

A D V E N T - day # 3

2011-12-03T11:34:00.004+01:00

In DD's parcel with the number three was also a lovely tiny clear stamp and some stickers for my christmas cards, which are still do produce
DANKESCHöööN, Ines

The little tote of the day was filled with yummy chocolate, one is already gone :-)

Today my scrapbooking stash got one more cute little christmas stamp added

- did I mention it is cute? and yummy Lindt chocolate - hmmmm

A D V E N T - day # 2

2011-12-02T11:45:00.004+01:00

DH spoiled me with yummy chocolate - hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Today I want to show you the opend box from my daughter, filled with 24 packages, isn't it so pretty. Ines is just a darling.

In parcel # 2 I found a cute tin with selfmade cookies inside - yummy !!

Monika wrapped a breakfast board for quilters with spools, cute! and really needed handcreme - DankeschÖÖÖn, Moni

Christmas market in Ulm

2011-12-01T15:42:00.005+01:00

Yesterday Heidi and I had a wonderful time together. We made a trip to Ulm and visited the christmas market, right beside the Ulmer Münster
We walked into several shops and bought little things here and there. One of the best stops was at Heike Redlinghaus's yarnshop. A tiny, but exquisite shop, wonderful luxury yarns, books and samples. I couldn't help myself, I "had" to buy a wonderful mother of perl button, about 2,25" diameter - a beauty

And Heide bought some new knitting needles I had never seen or heard about before:
KnitPro cubics!! yes needles aren't round anymore, they are cubic. She even bought some for me!
Can't wait to give them a try

At least we had a delicious cake and a cappucino with a fantastic view to the christmas market - couldn't be better

Adventcalendar for DH

2011-12-01T15:39:00.002+01:00

This year I sewed a cornucopia and filled in the gifts for DH
it's filled with some gifts, not all are fitting at the same time, so I have to fill it daily ....

I hope, he like it ;-)

big Surprise # 3 !!!

2011-12-01T15:36:00.001+01:00

Again, the sequence doesn't meen I like one of them more than another!

DD Ines made a wonderful really big box for me, which was the first present in a row of 24! it's about 15" one side! really big - inside are cute little packages,
can't wait to open 3 surprises per day !!!

Am I happy? YES I am, happy dancing here

big Surprise # 2 !!!

2011-12-01T15:32:00.004+01:00

Firstable, the # are just to show how many Surprises I got, not to value them !!!

My friend Monika sent a parcel filled with 24 little parcels, nicely wrapped in red and white striped paper. I store them on my beloved rose fabrics in a drawer.

Today I found a pretty fabric

Dankeschön, Moni - bist ein Schatz

big Surprise # 1 !!!

2011-12-01T15:18:00.003+01:00

DH surprised me in the morning with a lovely girland of little bags, one for each day until Christmas (what we are celebrating on December 24s)
so cute!

lucky

A D V E N T

2011-12-01T13:51:00.005+01:00

this card was enclosed in the Adventcalendar I sent to my friend Monika
on her blog is a pic of the little parcels/gifts

I'm blessed this year, I got 3 (three !!) Adventcalendar, one from my husband, one from Monika and last but not least a real big box filled with 24 parcels from my daughter! She made the box herself (she is a bookbinder) - LOVE IT !!!!!!!
pictures later

2012 Free-Motion Quilting Challenge

2011-11-26T15:21:00.002+01:00

Sewgal started the 2012 Free-Motion Quilting Challenge her blog. I couldn't resist and jumped right into the FUN, even knowing I can't participate in January

happy dancing here

2011-11-26T14:54:00.003+01:00

Yesterday arrived a lovely envelope from Cyn from California, whom I'll meet in January in person!
She sent me this cute tiny teeny ear bud thingy

I took her pic
THANK YOU so much, my friend

purpose for 2o12

2011-11-25T23:15:00.003+01:00

YES, I know I'm very early to announce my purpose for the New Year, everybody is prepairing Christmas, me too BTW
BUT it just came to mind - so here it is:

NEXT year I'll keep track of my finished projects
I think, I finished a lot this year, but didn't wrote it down or posted everything here on my blog.

Off to work on my secret projects

no, I didn't disappeared

2011-11-23T12:07:00.003+01:00

got just lost in the middle of christmas AND travel preparation.

BUT I'll show you something soon

quilt-as-you-go

2011-11-10T15:12:00.005+01:00

My LQS offered a quilt-as-you-go-workshop some time ago and I jumped right into action. DD's boyfriend's birthday came to mind. And I wanted to pracitce this technique, never did before, just knew by theorie how-to

sorry the pictures isn't perfect, but give an idea

Glad that Tom liked it :-)

tricky 9 patch Youtube tutorial

2011-10-27T22:20:00.003+02:00

right now I enjoyed the blog from Barb. She is showing wonderful pics of her quiltgroup, their work and homes. During one of their Retreats they taped a Youtube: it explains a very clever timeconsuming way to sew 2 Nine Patchs at once - so easy!
hope you like it too

Mill Girls Quilt-Along

2011-10-26T15:58:00.007+02:00

Anne Ida posted on her blog about the Mill Girls Quilt-Along
Jennifer Chiaverini is the famous autor of the Elm Creek books and a great quilter. I was lucky to meet her in Shipshewana in November 2oo5, she had a trunkshow at the Dear Jane Retreat. FANTASTIC quilts and very nice woman. Just in time begore Christmas her new book The Wedding Quilt will come out.

Several members of the SBS-and-other-Elm-Creek-Quilts yahoo group are sewing Mill Girls blocks. I tried it and of course my first block turned out to be too small. Didn't think of the scant seam allowance - but the block will find a nice place someday I'm shure (maybe a cushion). Pressing is tricky too .... just my experience
Thanks Anne Ida for helping!

and for your amusement:

can you believe, I noticed it when I looked through the camera! not before ....
But it pointed me to a border idea - time to stop sewing?

ein wunderbares neues Büchlein in meinem Studio

2011-10-22T13:57:00.003+02:00

danke Martina's super Rezension auf ihrem blog habe ich sogleich den shop der Lieselei besucht und siehe da, schon gestern hatte ich dieses Kleinod in den Händen!

Ich fürchte die Libellchen können süchtig machen
Übrigens, Hilde's blog ist auch stets einen Besuch wert

lazy here, taking care of my cold

2011-10-22T13:45:00.003+02:00

planned to be busy in my studio, but it turned out, I'm on slowmotion mode, due to a cold. But the weekend isn't over now ....

Red and White quilts, influenced by the extraordinary exhibition in New York

2011-10-22T13:39:00.003+02:00

In southern California is a fantastic quiltshop_ Temecula Quilt Company
They have been influenced by the extraordinary exhibition early this year in New York and asked for red and white quilts. This month they are showing the results in their shop - FANTASTiC quilts!!!!! hope over to their blog and look at this beauties!
Perhaps I'm able to see this shop in January, just hoping

Hexagon Swap - part IV

2011-10-10T14:23:00.004+02:00

Today I'll show you the other 3 hexagons I sewed for my swap partners:

Tomorrow I'll show you the finished freemotionquilting excersice result.
YEAH, it's ready to get on the wall

Hexagon Swap - part III

2011-10-09T16:58:00.005+02:00

Yesterday I was lucky to have a very good free motion quilting class at my LQS. More of that later.
When I came home -late- I found the envelope with the 4 swapped Hexagons I got from Barbara, Birgit, Claudia and Jutta.
I love the blocks!!!! each is different - all together they are spectacular IMHO

What do you think?

THANK you so much ladies! I am very lucky with your designs!!!

beading - is finished !!!

2011-10-07T16:29:00.001+02:00

Emma is ready get out!

Hexagon Swap - part II

2011-10-07T12:52:00.002+02:00

Angelika asked about details of the swap:
1. Finished size 8 cm one side
2. devided by makers choice
3. Every participant asked for her own color choice
4. 5 women of the group swapped
5. I asked for black and white with red accents

this is the 2nd block I designed and made for me

more ideas are floating around in my head - even for the arrangement

Hexagon Swap

2011-10-05T17:14:00.004+02:00

a small, private Yahoogroup asked to swap Hexagons, 8 cm ( ~ 3,1" )
devided on our own choice
Today I'll show you the block I made - for me

Everybody asked for their own colors/fabrics, I choose black/white/red
The swapmom asked for blue / she showed her blocks already:

pictures of the other blocks / in different colors not before the participants got there blocks, sorry

beading

2011-10-03T18:10:00.003+02:00

work in progress, not ready yet

the pattern is from Hedi
DANKESCHöN, Ammersee war Klasse!

pictures of work in progress

2011-10-01T21:27:00.005+02:00

In February I was lucky to have 3 ( YES: three! ) workshops with the amazing Bonnie Hunter from North Carolina. She wrote 3 books, run a fantastic blog AND last but not least offeres dozens of FREE patterns on her site. If you don't know Quiltville klick on the LINK and enjoy
I learned some really good tricks and had a lot of fun. Birgit Klein from PatchCom, The Blackforest Quilter and Mrs. Schultz-Schwanitz from Nadel und Faden have been wonderful hosts.
I started 3 quilts: Cathedral Stars - here is a first impression

I changed the direction of every other block with red in it - to get a woven effect.
and
Virginia Bound - pic soon, it's nearly done
and
Star Struck

Next January I'll have another workshop with her in -
TADA - drummroll
C A L i F O R N i E N !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(My blue heaven, just in case you want to lurk)

If you are wondering, I just cleaned my SD cards of the camera and realzed I never posted pics here.

Today I had a lot of fun at a beaders meeting in Munich
AND
went to the vernissage of a Quilt exhibition of a friend of mine.
Pics tomorrow

13 pieces

2011-09-30T10:47:00.003+02:00

are sewn by Linda Franz' handpiecing method.
Love her DVD, which comes with her 2nd Quilted Diamond book

new outfit

2011-09-27T14:45:00.001+02:00

LOVE it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DJ - E 2 Merry May

2011-09-27T12:33:00.002+02:00

counting

2011-09-23T09:53:00.002+02:00

I’m running a Dear Jane group at the LQS for one year now, explained all the different techniques.
I teached about measurement of sashing and border tris, Linda-Franz-method, how to add the scalloped edge,how to cut real bias binding two different ways and so on – all the basics.

This week I asked the girls to count their blocks and pieces to get an idea
how much we got done in 12 months.

It’s a little bit hard to push the ladies, some have to take care of their (old)parents or are still dealing with children. Two of them are big gardeners and in harvest they are really busy – you get the picture.

I have the counting of 8 of us – the summary so far is:

388 blocks, 6 triangles, 4609 pieces

The funny thing is, most blocks (109 !!) have been made from a woman who wasn’t shure
about handpiecing and how much DJ blocks she’ld like to sew ;-)

Hope to get the missing numbers of the other participants next month.
Even the pieces of the 109 blocks hadn't been counted - so the final # will be much bigger.

I made 26 blocks for my taupe Baby and 1 tri AND 10 blocks for the European Birthday swap. And some example blocks in white/winterblue which I didn’t counted.

I have to give the Baby more attention and make more progress, otherwise it’ll not get to Belgium in 2o13.

Amish Quilts und die Kunst der 60er Jahre in Kaufbeuren

2011-09-09T11:43:00.003+02:00

Yesterday I made it to an exhibition called „ Amish Quilts und die Kunst der 60er Jahre “ ( Amish Quilts and die art of the 60s / Minimal Art ) in Kaufbeuren.
An example:
an Amish Center Square from the Lancaster area and Josef Albers.
What’s common and where does the ideas come from?
Imi Knoebel’s “Revolver III” also worked with the square.

Tumbling blocks from Ohio and Victor Vaserely.
The lady who explained the background had really interesting informations.

I took some pics to think about later, especially Imi Knoebel’s work touched me.
But I don’t allow myself to start something new right now. Have to finish my WiPs first and some projects, which have to be ready to travel with me to California in January. Ah, and there is Xmas this year as well, doesn’t it?

BTW: there was a movie about the Amish (50 minutes). Lots of lovely sceneries, especially the barn building of the whole community was quiet impressive. I knew about, but have never seen it in action before.
Well worth the trip IMHO
The exhibition is open until November 6th

ok, I'm off the puter now to start working on my houseduties and WiPs ;-)

Theme of the week: hoarding

2011-09-09T11:16:00.002+02:00

Cate Prato, Online Editor of the Magazine "Cloth Paper Scissors Today"
just wrote interesting thoughts to the theme of hoarding too.

I started quilting in 1982 and still have some fabrics, or may I say swatches of fabrics ( with memories of course ) from my very early years. Why do I still have them? They are mostly not my taste anymore, maybe I may cut them down to 1,5" strips and follow Tonya Ricucci's idea called Lego tutorial?
I think it's really amazing what she is doing!!
Of course Bonnie Hunter is working with stripes again - who wonders?
Doesn't her title "Red Strings In the Sunset" sounds wonderful?

Stash or hoarding

2011-09-06T21:41:00.002+02:00

Due to the fact, that we are moving in a 3 year interval the amount of stuff in our household is an issue more than once. enough said ;-)

Tricia Waddell, the Editor in Chief Stitch Magazine posted an interesting thought lately:
Hoarding is a primitive instinct. But it is not necessary for your survival as a fabric artist. In fact, having a limited selection of fabrics forces you to be more creative and make better design decisions. You learn to alter the fabric that’s available or even to create your own by dyeing or painting or surface design.

That's something I have to think about seriously! Any thoughts?

Nelli - once again

2011-09-05T23:37:00.005+02:00

Cyn asked to see our American Cockerlady "Nelli" - so here are some pics

this picture was taken the day she won our hearts in November 2oo3, she was 15 weeks:

do I have to say, we are in love with this cutie?

Featherweight

2011-08-26T14:58:00.007+02:00

Due to the discussion about a FW 221 offered on ebay in the States I'll show my baby here (again). The seller is asking
- attention! - $1,200.00 !!!!!
Isn't that crazy?
My baby is called Angel Edna,
due to her # AE o7777o, built in the US in March 1936
YES, it runs still with the 110 V machine and I bought a converter to run it with the European 220 V
BTW: I paid ~ 308 $ in 2oo5 .....

our DJ group got some input

2011-08-25T14:00:00.005+02:00

The Janiacs, meeting and learning together in Höchstädt once per month (1 year now) met last Saturday to welcome my friend Sabine Lohse. She finished her version of the Dear Jane patterns ~ 2ooo, it was for shure the -before-EQ-aera. So she draw all the blocks on her own with EQ 5(?)

It was a great AH and OH in the room
Some got overwhelmed, like "I'll never reach that goal" or "I'm not that perfect" and so on - but at the end I hope it got more motivation to work on their own Baby.

Sabine also brought her wonderful Piecemaker applique quilt

AND last but not least
her Quilted Diamonds blocks,

all done by hand and partly assembled to hexagons.
Again she designed her own layout - this is going to be a gorgeous quilt too.
Due to the fact that I influenced her with the beading-bug she don't quilt anymore -
until now I hope ;-) She promised to work on her Diamonds again

Überraschungen sind etwas Wunderbares

2011-08-12T13:14:00.002+02:00

Vor wenigen Minuten klingelte es und ich bekam ein kleines Pakerl von meiner Freundin Monika - einfach so
Eine sehr schöne Karte, sehr gut duftende Seife, ein kleines Herz, eine Webkante und 2 spannende Bücher
U N D
ein superschönes Nadelkissen - in meiner aktuellen Lieblingsfarbe
Vielen DANK Moni!!!! bist ein Schatz

Surprise! My best friend Monika sent me a little parcel, just for fun
a wonderful card, nice smelling soap, a little heart, selvage, 2 books
A N D
an embroidered pincushion in my favorite coloration
THANK you so much, Moni

do you remember Sesamstrasse?

2011-08-12T12:08:00.006+02:00

Today Karin, the shopowner of my beloved LQS is celebrating her birthday. The next 4 weeks I have to survive, because the shop is closed: vacation! buhuhuhuhu
Tonya Ricucci and Elizabeth Hartman are doing GREAT letters and words, both on their own way. I did letters in the past and was shure I'll come back to them again and again. In fact I do have at least two projects concret in the planing status :)

Karin and I are nearly the same age and I remembered the scene from Sesamstrasse, when Ernie (or Bert?) opened his trenchcoat and asked very mysterious " do you want to buy an A?" - or B, C, D .....
loved this - hope she has the same memories ....

So I made Karin a " K "

Principessa

2011-07-05T13:06:00.003+02:00

Yesterday my husband came home with this cute little so called "principessa"

Isn't she funny?
She is standing on my old Singer threadle under the Dear Jane embroidery
greeting me with her smile when I'm climbing up the stair

my POTC filler squares

2011-06-18T15:50:00.005+02:00

are identic in construction to Carols from Postcards from Panama - but the effect is quiet different
because I made a kind of checkerboard
I do LOVE Carols version also, it separates the blocks much more than mine do.

The 2 first sections are filled in -

I'm very pleased with the result!
BUT
what do you think, would'nt it be clearer to change the green fabric in the filler squares to the pale yellow one? your options are more than welcome
This is going to be my summer 2o11 project

the pictures don't justice the fabrics - but we do have grey, rainy weather - sorry

Bavarian Castle tour

2011-06-18T15:00:00.008+02:00

Early this month my DH and I spent 3 days in the southern part of Bavaria, called Ostallgäu to celebrate his birthday and to visit the 2 famous castles.
First night we stayed in Füssen:

like always: click on the picture to see it big

On Friday we visited
Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein
This places are a MUST for every Germany tourist ;-) worth the visit!

We made a little tour to Maderhalm,
a little village between Sonthofen and Oberstdorf.
Lovely landscape!!!
here are some impressions of our tour with the Nebelhornbahn

typical cows - love them and the sound of their bells

We made it up to the little Alm you see in the distance. The flowers in the meadow smelled - couldn't remember this special memory

We liked the place so much, that we rented a little flat for our sommer vacation!

Wouldn't you like to travel there too?

Accuquilt - giveaway

2011-06-18T14:06:00.003+02:00

after a blog-break I'm here again ;-)
thank you for your patience

Here you (and me) do have the chance to win 3 Go! Cutter Dies.
Due to the fact that I don't own a Accuquilt cutter - but a Cuttlebug (from my scrapbooking department ) I'm dreaming to use the dies with my green bug.

more about our little trip early this month later

New project: Lucy Boston, patchwork of the crosses (POTC)

2011-05-04T12:57:00.005+02:00

Early in April I made a trip to a nice little exhibition near Munich and got infected with a new/OLD bug: english paperpiecing! Elongated hexagons ( 1 inch ) are my new obsession. Lucy Boston made this special quilt many moons ago. Linda Franz wrote a lot of interesting details about the maker on her site. Linda offers a new printing technique to print the pattern onto the fabric, very clever - maybe you'll give it a try
I like the old fashioned way, "lieseln" over the paper, nice and quiet
I'm using Civil War fabrics and a creamy/yellow background fabric.
Carol from Panama is working on her version of POTC in powerful colors, absolutly beautiful! She found a very clever idea to assemble her blocks. Due to the facts that I think it's boring to sew 24 identical hexis around the blocks AND I'm short with just 2 yards of background fabric I asked her for her permission to use the same design - AND she agreed!
Thank you so much Carol

here are my first 3 blocks (have to get the seamripper out to remove some of the outer yellow pieces)

for some unknown reason the colors are not nearly the reality, maybe I'll take new pics after my bead-workend-retreat !!! YEAH, I'm lucky to stay 2 days with beading freaks from all over Germany at the lovely Ammersee
hugs

charity babygirl quilt for "Lünetraum" / Lebenshilfe Lüneburg

2011-04-18T19:00:00.004+02:00

Last weekend I finished a babygirl quilttop for my friend Monika's charity project. She is sewing and collecting quilts for childs with special needs in Lüneburg, her hometown. Unfortunately the colors aren't real in this picture, but you get the idea

Thank you Rosa for the reminder, YES the blue scraps have been sent from Canada ;-) THANKs my friend

fleamarket goodies from the 30s or 40s

2011-04-18T18:40:00.004+02:00

Yesterday we had fanstic sunny weather, just right to go the local fleamarket.
We found cards with vintage glass buttons from the 30s or 40s, made in the czech republic. One of the cards is so pretty I think I have to frame it ...

happy hunter

my red mini wallhangings

2011-04-02T17:29:00.002+02:00

Inspired from the special exhibition in NY several bloggers reacted their own way.
Pat Sloan visited NY and created a special blog with LINKs to several other websites, many pictures! Enjoy the journey through the www

Taryn asked for showing red and white quilts on our blogs, come on - did you made one? If so, show it and post on her blog.

In 2oo8 I made some Minis to give them to friends, Redwork made from the Winter Wonderland pattern / Crab-Apple Hill design. I think, I have to make at least one more: for our household

spectacular exhibition in New York

2011-03-27T14:52:00.004+02:00

These days the people of New York are able to visit an extraordinary quilt collection of 650 red and white quilts at the Park Avenue Armory March 25–30 !!!

Infinite Variety:
Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts

I'ld love to see them in person - but ....
I can show you some LINKs to pictures
Martha Stewart posted 37 pics on her blog
The American Folk Art Museum presents it here
Here is a Flickr album of the Museum
NY Times posted here

The museum announced a free app for the iPhone - but I couldn't find it - if you get it - please send me the info!

Taryn is running an interesting blog and influenzed by the exhibition she asked her readers to show their red and white quilts - worth a visit!

enjoy

Bente's Leselotte

2011-03-22T13:52:00.002+01:00

ist zu gewinnen - vielleicht hab ich ja Glück

2011-03-20T13:57:00.003+01:00

I have to post several times to tell you EVERYTHiNG
about my adventures with Bonnie Hunter and the Retreat I attended.

The time with Bonnie Hunter (BH) was really special, she is a darling!
Full of energy and creativity, a joy to meet with!
I was in contact with for more than 8 years we tried to remember,
as mostly it started with Dear Jane - smile
I traveled from Thursday until Monday evening.
Stuttgart is just 2 hours from my actual hometown, but I organized the trip like a real vacation, choose just a very simple hotel to keep the cost level low.
No problem I was there just to sleep ;-)

My first stop was at the home of Susanne,
she is running THE big Yahoo group for quilters in Germany and has a webshop.
But the interesting part now is:
she is an expert for Featherweights!
When my husband was in Afghanistan in 2005 I got some extra money from him each month
and I bought a FW from 1936 with an 110 V engine.

It was not really running and made a terrible noise. Of course I bought the right converter, because we do have 220 V.
My friends DH gave my baby a nice cleaning and oiled it but it still did not run nice.
Susanne showed me all the little holes to oil and the parts which needs the lubricant – AND
YEAH it’s buzzing like a bee now!
Another problem was the tension of the belt. Now I know,
I have to move the engine to get the right tension – lession learned.
DANKESCHöN Susanne !!!

Thursday afternoon I visited the quiltshop in Schönaich, who organized the first workshop “Cathedral Stars”.
Tiny, but nice shop – they sent me over to the workshop location to say hello to Bonnie.
Bonnie greeted me like an old friend and I saw the participants busy sewing on their 4 patches and pieces.

Thursday evening 2 friends from a private Yahoogroup arrived.
Since 2oo5, when I was in Shipshea I’m part of
the Caravanquilters (that’s the name of our little group).
Valerie is French, now living near Paris and is running a Longarm business. She moved several times during the last years: Brussels, Belgium and Chicago area
Carolyn is from Maine and was just traveling to Rome, where her daughter is studying. They both came to the Stuttgart region just to see Bonnie and her trunkshow! It was so much fun to meet Valerie again and Carolyn first time!
We had a lovely local meal in a little restaurant near bye and a long chatting later in our room, lots of laughers.
On Friday they made sighseeing at Mercedes and a local chocolate factory
I was lucky to have the Cathedral Star workshop
BH is a real good teacher, such an inspiration!
Everybody was lucky and busy –
a nice meal has been served as well for lunch.

This report will be continued soon
YES - pictures are coming too

Tilda blog-candy

2011-03-19T17:47:00.002+01:00

Denise's blog is worth a visit, not only because of her giveaway
Especially for Tilda-lovers
good luck

H O P E

2011-03-19T13:21:00.002+01:00

After nearly 2 weeks on journey I'm back home.
I'll post about my adventures during the next few days, yes pictures will be shown as well.

The horrible news we all see daily from Japan are so overwhelming, I can't find words for. Tanya's blog is one of my favorites for some time now. Actually she is posting about the situation in Japan of course. On friday she posted such a touching video, I have to share with my readers! I believe in future
Go visit her blog and send her some encouraging thoughts

back on earth - from scrap HEAVEN

2011-03-02T16:43:00.003+01:00

I left on Thusday morning and came back on Monday evening. Mentally I'm still with Bonnie :)
All I can say: it was FANTASTiC to meet with Bonnie Hunter, the Black Forest Quilters and many talented quilters. Especially to spent some time with Valerie from France and Carolyn from Maine was so special to me. They are both members of a little private Yahoogroup of Janiacs I'm part of and drove from Paris to Stuttgart!

Firstable I visited a quilter, which runs a webshop and is an expert for
Singer Featherweights (they are rare in Germany!) I own a FW from 1937, but it didn’t run smoothly. She showed me all that tiny holes needing oil and the part I have to add lubricant. After she moved the engine to get the right tension for the cord. My darling is running and sounds happy now!
Her husband will fix a problem of the electric cord and send it to me
THAN I can use it – YEAH !!! Dankeschön Susanne!!

Drove a little bit around and walked through Herrenberg, a historic village nearbye.
Around 4 PM I peaked into Bonnie’s workshop and said hello.
She is such a darling and we talked a little bit. In the evening Valerie, Carolyn and the 3 french kids arrived at the hotel. We left immediately to a little restaurant and had local food, beer and a lot of chatting.

On Friday morning the Cathedral Stars workshop took place – I missed Caroline from Brussels, who had to cancel the trip because of bronchitis and astma!!!
First time ever I used the Easy Angle and Tri Rec rulers – very clever, will never do
halfsquare triangles the oldfashioned way.
In the evening Bonnie held her trunkshow at an formerly officers club, where the
Black Forest Quilters having their meetings. It is an American/German club, very creative, supportive and active. Would love to be part of this guilt.
The Trunkshow was FANTASTiC !!!!!!

Barb posted a really sweet post about Bonnie's visit to Texas! She enclosed 2 youtube video from the trunkshow - This way you can get an impression about the scrap queen. Thank you Barb!

On Saturday I attended the Virginia Bound workshop at the guilt.
I’m using woven plaids, made in Bangladesh – first time my SewEzi table was built up
PERFECT !!!
In the evening I had dinner with Aby (the organisator) and Bonnie -
We had a lot of fun!

On Sunday the Star Stuck workshop was held at Nadel und Faden, located in an old building from ~ 1700
Just 9 participants, lovely shop – bought the perfect 2 grey fabrics for the sashing.
Needless to say I crashed into my bed every evening!
On Monday I didn’t rushed back home, instead I enjoyed the lovely landscape around Stuttgart and got to a little village with big outlet stores of many famous designers. I was lucky to find a perfect fitting chocolate brown jacket with coordinates trousers.
Had a soup in another old village (Blaubeuren)
Right now I’m prepairing our house for the visit of my daughter Ines and her friend Tom.

Monday I’ll leave to visit my friend Monica in Lueneburg, together we’ll go to a Retreat with 6 women from Hamburg.

Tomorrow I promise pictures!

happy greetings

3 days in a row I was in scrap HEAVEN

2011-02-27T22:45:00.002+01:00

I was lucky to meet the Queen of Scraps itself: Bonnie Hunter from www.quiltville.com

Tomorrow when I'm bach home I'll post pics - so stay tuned.
good night

75 year old beauty

2011-02-23T12:08:00.004+01:00

5 years ago, while my DH served in Afghanistan I bought a Singer Featherweight, built in 1936. I got infected with the FW bug at the Dear Jane Retreat in Shipshewana, which I attended also in 2005

Unfortunately my little darling doesn't run smoothly - so I asked a wellknown lady in the Stuttgart region to have a look at my FW. Holding my breath - and hoping that I can use this beauty SOON
I'm still busy cutting fabrics. 2 workshops are prepaired, now off to cut my Bengali woven plaids, my friend Gabi bought in Bangladesh. I'm going to use them for the Virginia Bound workshop.

working on Sunday?

2011-02-20T13:24:00.001+01:00

not really - but
I'm busy cutting stripes and tris for the Bonnie Hunter workshop "Cathedral Stars"
First testblock will be sewn SOON
Excited

wishing everybody time

2011-02-19T17:22:00.002+01:00

to live
to love
to be creative
to relax
whereever you are

I'm prepairing the fabrics for 3 Bonnie Hunter workshops !!! Bonnie is such a creative, generous quilter, can't wait to get to meet her.
YEAH, I'm going to meet the Scrap Queen herself next week
totally excited here
I'm going to make:
Cathedral Stars
Star Struck AND
Virginia Bound !!!!!!!!!!!!!! (is in her book Scraps & Shirttails)
have a nice weekend

Yellow Submarine

2011-02-15T14:09:00.002+01:00

DH surprised me yesterday with a lovely little white Thomas Sabo box,
inside the funny Submarine - LOVE it!

Dankeschön!!!!!!

The Princess and the Pea * Prinzesschen auf der Erbse

2011-02-15T13:18:00.003+01:00

The_Princess_and_the_Pea

During my last visit at my friend's house I took this picture of Nelli
"Prinzessin auf der Erbse" is a fairytale from Hans Christian Andersen

BTW: her look tells she know she don't has to lie on the batting ....

Valentine - picture

2011-02-14T14:43:00.005+01:00

today I can show your the whole picture ;)
Mostly I followed Karin's instructions, I just didn't hang 3 stuffed hearts to the bottom and hanger
AND
I changed the "sleeve" idea into hearts
I used cardstock and thin batting inside

before the binding come on the edges I sewed a tiny folded strip (Paspel called in German) to the edges

and thats it:

its about 16,5 / 20 inches

I know that was a new start, but it is also a finish!
I did much better than in the past ... smile

wishing a lovely Valentine

Valentine - preview

2011-02-13T17:01:00.003+01:00

My LQS offered a free workshop for Valentine
Beside my plan to work on my Baby Jane and finish UFOs this year I started a little wallhanging. It is nearly ready and will be hanging tomorrow!
here's a little preview - more tomorrow

have a nice sunday

J 3 Rick's Volleyball Net

2011-02-05T17:08:00.002+01:00

was appliqued for some time and today I added the tri-corners

hugs

the 4th kite for the Christmas Row Jane

2011-02-05T14:18:00.003+01:00

is done.
I made 3 kites with F 7, so I made G 6, besser known under the name "Papa's Star" in 3,5 inch and added the same frame to it
the inner star war really tricky ... - but the result is worth the struggle!

wishing a sunny weekend

C 11

2011-02-04T10:37:00.001+01:00

C 11 is done - I love this fabric!

I also finished the 3,5 inch Papa's Star - that was difficulty,
will add the outerpieces to get a kite tonight - pic tomorrow
hugs

February gift

2011-01-31T15:39:00.003+01:00

Today I bought a gift for me to present the compound with the members of a private Yahoogoup I'm part of.

Most of the ladies are wearing this friendship knot

love it

slowly, but constant

2011-01-29T14:49:00.003+01:00

is my Baby growing
Last block I finished is G 8,
YES all the points are fine, just the picture isn't good

BTW:
27 days until I meet Bonnie
AND Caroline, from Belgium
AND Valerie, from France
AND Carolyn, from Maine
we 3 are members of a private, little Yahoogroup who met at the DJ Retreat in Shipshewana! isn't that exciting?

DJ class and

2011-01-27T12:58:00.003+01:00

Last Monday the 1th DJ classes took place.
I showed the progress on my Row Jane and explained the measurement of the sashing and triangles. How to add the kites and the scalloped border. The mainfocus was on F 5 this time to explain handsewing.

While I was in the shop somebody crashed my car ............ grrr its younger than one year. Of course mine is the Ibiza ...

slow like a snail

2011-01-23T17:10:00.003+01:00

this weekend I spent many hours in my studio, working on a Christmas Row Jane
made in 2oo5 with participants from the States, UK and me. Susan
was one of the ladies. It waited 5 years now to get finished. Due to the fact that I'm teaching a Dear Jane class locally I'll get practice with the border and scalloped edges on this UFO - NOW
I asked for input on a private Yahoo group and Barbs proposal was to add stars into the kites - because of the Christmas fabrics
I choose F 7 Star Struck for 3 corners and will do G 6 Papa's Star in the 4th corner. To get it matching I'll do it it 3,5 inches and frame it like F 7

Unfortunately I made the wrong fabric choice, it would have been much better to have a red background and a golden star ....
But I learned a lot - stay tuned

Next question:
would you do the fabric of the scalloped border
in creme/golden or in red ?????????????
HELP please

a n d BTW: there are 3 spots left in the pay it forward game ....

Pay it forward 2011

2011-01-16T17:53:00.002+01:00

Pay it forward 2011:
I promise something handmade to the next 4 people who leave a comment here. However, to be eligible, you must repost this status, offering something handmade to 5 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011.
One person signed in already: Caroline... - WELCOME!!

This game is supposed to be continued

I posted this also on my Facebook account - and will close here, when I got 4 more people

Excited !!!! - just 45 days from today

2011-01-10T18:37:00.006+01:00

Caroline from Brussels and I are two of a bunch of lucky quilter who are going to have a workshop with - TADA - YES - drumroll - with
Bonnie Hunter from North Carolina
She is running a fabulous blog and has a GREAT website with many, many FREE patterns - especially for scrapquilt lovers. Watch the right side of the screen under "Free Scrap Quilt Patterns"
She is such a generous, clever and efficient person. She teach how to use scraps!

Caroline and I met via the dearjane community and visited each other more than once. In 2oo5 we where supposed to travel together to the DJ Retreat in the lovely Amish village Shipshewana, Indiana. Unfortunately she had serious health issues, so I had to travel on my own. Glad to meet her again!
Like another Janiac ( hi Rosemary! ) we started counting the days:
45 days until we meet near Stuttgart.

"Cathedral Stars" is the workshop we are doing together on Friday.

In the evening we'll see Bonnie's trunkshow

and to make it complete I was lucky to get a seat in "Star Struck" on Sunday, which is planned in violet and green mainly.

I played with EQ to plan ahead the size I like, no need for that big quilts here.
YES, I know both patterns are on her website for free, but I think it is much more fun to meet her in person!
happy dancing here

My taupe DJ 23-0-0-208

2011-01-09T17:51:00.003+01:00

During the weekend I managed to make 2 Birthday DJ blocks for a Janaic from Finland in white-on-white/blue. The blocks for the next Birthday are prepaired in musling/red/orange.
For my baby I did M 12, pic later
- my printer just isn't cooperating, due to missing ink .....
wishing everybody a nice Monday

H 12 - Hannah's Heart - variations

2011-01-07T13:57:00.005+01:00

Due to the fact that I'm the frontwoman of a Dear Jane group at the LQS I'm in charge to analyze the blocks more seriously than I would, if I just sew my Baby.
H 12 is an interesting block, which I sewed many times before for various charity projects (healing hugs quilts)
When I looked at this welknown block seriously I realized the difference between the original block made by Jane Stickle and the scetch Brenda Papadakis signed.
Somewhere in the worldwideweb I found the way to do it closer to Janes' version.
Unfortunatly I don't remember where - so if somebody knows the IT adress please let me know, I'ld love to give credit.

I pieced 8 triangles for the heartshapes ( see my picture from the back ) and appliqued the outer frame of the background fabric on top of it. This was a littly tricky because of the sharp points ....

The white-on-white / icy blue version is going to be an addition to some swapped blocks I have so far. A new built European Dear Jane Club is swapping Birthday blocks in colors we ask for - so my frosty blocks will get some company during 2o11.

I 1 is also finished - so it reads now
My taupe DJ 22-0-0-189

A 6 Dad's Plaids

2011-01-06T15:41:00.001+01:00

simple, but pretty and ready

A 3 - Hunters Moon

2011-01-05T23:39:00.004+01:00

is just reday - made during the TV evening
tricky block

- will have to prepair another one for my students later to show them how to do this block
The 2nd block will me made from my white-on-whites and frosty blues with silver
Now my signature line is reading
My taupe DJ 20-0-0-151
http://beadtex.blogspot.com

my first DJ block in 2o11

2011-01-05T18:54:00.003+01:00

is a compensation for the simple M 10
somewhere I saw an interesting block which I signed in EQ. Today I made it from my taupe fabrics - very little contrast here ....

WELCOME: HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-12-31T18:21:00.002+01:00

Happy New Year to everybody!
we are celebrating the easy way, just the 2 of us -
AND the scared doggie of course, Nelli hate Sylvester
too much noise outside

HEALTH, love, friends, creativity and time that's what counts the most for me

Frohe Weihnachten - Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T13:19:00.003+01:00

Den Besuchern meines blogs wünsche ich ein frohes Weihnachtsfest und eine schöne Zeit im Kreise Eurer Lieben

"Zwischen den Jahren" wünsche ich Euch Zeit zum
Faulenzen, Lesen, Spazieren, Nähen oder Quilten,
Sticken oder Stricken oder an der Eisenbahn
Ich werde hoffentlich einige DJ Blöckchen nähen können -
und was habt Ihr geplant?

Merry Christmas to my English spoken readers
Enjoy the free time before the New Year arrives
I hope you'll have time to be
lazy or read or walk or sew or quilt or knit or embroider
What do you prefer?

doppelte Chance

2010-12-13T13:57:00.002+01:00

Juchhu - Ilona verlost die gleichen Goddies wie Irene vom Bastelzimmer
wenn das nix ist ...... viel Glück

Chance

2010-12-13T13:53:00.002+01:00

heute möchte ich auf ein tolles Candy hinweisen, das allerdings ich zu gewinnen hoffe ;-)

Engel

2010-12-11T17:22:00.002+01:00

Wer einen Engel sucht und nur auf die Flügel schaut,
könnte eine Gans nach Hause bringen.
( von Georg Christoph Lichtenberg)

8th of December

2010-12-08T15:51:00.005+01:00

Today I got a cute little santa and Mrs. Dr. Susan bucket (to translate the German name: Frau Dr. Elke Eimer) - so funny

and I finished 2 DJ blocks: B 3 und E 1 during TV time in the evening

Nikolausi * Teil 2

2010-12-06T10:42:00.006+01:00

Morgens dauert es immer ein Weilchen, bis ich RiCHTiG wach bin .....
Nachdem ich nun schon gut eineinhalb Stunden wach war entdeckte ich ein verstecktes Pakerl mit einer sehr interessanten Form

Dem Papier nach zu urteilen, muß mein Mann zumindest beim Einpacken geholfen haben.

Wir hatten dieses hübsche Tablett vor einiger Zeit an einem Sonntag im Schaufenster gesehen und er ist dann extra nach Nördlingen gefahren. Die Verkäuferin meinte erklären zu müssen, dass es so abgeschabt aussehen MÜSSE - worauf er sagte, er wisse das nenne man Shabby Chic .... Ihr Gesicht hätte ich gern gesehen.