Best wishes for 2o1o

to my visitors
Health, love, friends, luck, peace, time, creativity
comes in mind

All the Best to you
Brigitte

( green is the color of hope )

Franca's Giveaway

aus der Ferne versuch ich mal wieder mein Glück, diesmal gibt Franca nette Sächelchen an eine glückliche Gewinnerin

Sie bastelt für den ermittelten Sieger:- eine Tasse- eine Magnettafel- selbstverständlich eine Karteund zwar mit Euren Motiv- und Farbwünschen.Natürlich wird das Paket auch kleine Überraschungen enthalten, wie Papiere, Halbperlen usw. schreibt sie

SSCS 2oo9

dear SSCS Santa,
I would love to let you know, your parcel arrived safe at our house in Poland.
THANK YOU so much at first.
I have to confess, it's unnopened and waiting for our return to Szczecin on December 21th.

We are actually on dutytravel to our new location in Bavaria, southern Germany. Yesterday we signed the paperwork for the house we are going to live in. Everything is newly painted, pretty light woodwork on the floor and ready to move in. The area welcomed us with pretty cold weather and some snowflakes. Yesterday was a lovely little Christmas Market in the Castle. So we enjoyed the athmosphere and had a crepe - yummy

scrappy Xmas cards

today I finally made some Christmas cards, some more to go:

Nikolaus

Today Nikolaus came to our house - even without egg-flip.
When my childs where little, I offered an egg-flip for St. Nikolaus and some mild for his reindeer at the night before in front of the door. Every morning both had been emptied ............

I missed this tradition this year, but we was lucky!

My friend Monka sent 2 lovely Xmas placemats to warm our hearts - I love the fabric!

and see this cute card:









DH surprised me with - a classic - love it !!!

Nikolaus

Holler boller Rumpelsack
Nikolaus trug sie huckepack
Weihnachtsnüsse, gelb und braun,
runzlig punzlig anzuschaun.
Knackt die Schale, springt der Kern,
Weihnachtsnüsse ess ich gern,
komm bald wieder in dies Haus,
guter alter Nikolaus.A

von
Albert Sergel

Greta's Christmas Shadow Trapunto giveaway

Greta has a personal style to design her quilts with shadow trapunto. Actually she runs a giveaway of a lovely Christmas quilt. Visit her at http://www.cadouri-din-inima.blogspot.com/
and try to do your best. Good luck

SSCS 2009

Donna, our elf is the faboulous initiator and organizer of the
Secret Santa Christmas Swap 2009.
THANK YOU, Donna!!!!
She was mixing many swappers from ~ 15 countries worldwide and the rule is, to send the parcel at the 25th of November lastest. This is the 3rd year of the SSCS, in 2007 it has been 80, in 2008 we was 156 participants, 2009 - ???

I made it just in time yesterday - YEAH my parcel is in the air to somebody who - I hope - will open it not before Xmas. Of course I can't show what I sent, just a tiny, tiny detail .......

Test

Today I searched, I told you and got to the blog of Tina, worth a visit!
I asked her how to add the watermark text into pictures
AND
she kindly explained it to me immediatly
So here comes a test picture ( for my header perhabs )

Thank you Tina!!

several obsessions

Not only quilting is my passion ( for 27 years now ), even beading, knitting, reading and ( fairly new ) scrapbooking.
To get impressions I search through blogland
and got to Lorie's site
She is giving away a fantastic lot of goodies, especially SU stampsets, not avaiable in Europe
finger crossed here

Update on my Secret Sister gift:
I'm working on it and it's nearly ready to leave its journey to
?????????????????????????

Elaine's generous Thanksgiving (Quilting) Give-A Way!

Elaine just came back from a fantastic cruise to Alaska ( go visit her blog and see her pictures!! )
and now
she is giving away something quilty
thanks Elaine for the hope ;-) to win

new layout

Before I'm going to take pictures of my goodies I played around with my blog-layout and got to the blog who has this lovely christmas themed layout. THANK YOU !!!
The picture on the header is the fassade of the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin. Very pretty building and in a real good shape.

Helpful quilters worldwide

Today I got a GREAT priority envelope from Carrie, an absolutly stranger to me.
We met on a Yahoo group, where the American ladies talked about a magazine with a Bonnie Hunter pattern. I tried to get it here in Germany - no luck. I asked on the groupsite if somebody was willing to help - AND I got several offers!

Carrie offered to shop for me for other items as well and I asked for special notions: Kwik Klip (to safe my nails), Karen Buckley's Bigger Perfect Circles and her Stems, Steam-A-Seam and the fantastic C Thru Ruler 1x6 inches (perfect for drawing Dear Jane blocks and I misplaced mine)
Today I opened her envelope and found even 4 pieces of lovely fabric ( 2 Amish plain violet and yellow AND 2 bright pink / GREEN )
AND
tiny silver charms: a thimble, a sewingmachine, and a little "I love quilt" with a starblock - so cute !!!!
Many, many thanks Carrie - you are so nice!
tomorrow I'll show you some pictures, I promise

Giveaways

Speaking about luck, YES I was lucky: I was not hurt
AND I won a giveaway - TADA

Esther in down under runs a very interesting blog (and she offered a fantastic FREE pattern through the last months). She made several quilts in a special stencil technique with acrylic paint, I love her designs! She offered a giveaway and I was one of the lucky winners of the pattern "Tulip Delight Stencil Tablerunner" - YiPPi

I never worked the way Esther is teaching, but I started stenciling on fabric with Markal Oilpaints ~ 14 years ago. When my daughter was a little girl I stenciled a doll craddle and the dollquilt coordinating with commercial stencils. Can't wait to give it a try! Thank you so much, Esther and a speedy recovery (she is dealing with the flu actually)

Right now here you have the chance to win a Fat Quarter Bundle of Red Rooster's Pumpkins & Spice Fabrics by Whimsicals.
Hello! Yes, that's 27 fat quarters

Jeanne sent me to http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com, but can you believe that actually 474 comments had been written????

But don't worry, they are giving away 2 complete bundles AND a $100 gift certificate to Pumpkin Patch Primitives - isn't that great?

hurry over until Saturday, October 31st

or wish me luck - LOL

Bad luck

Yesterday wasn't my day:

what started as a shoping trip to Berlin ended suddenly with a damaged 4 months old car.

First the good news: nobody was hurt and it wasn't my fault

but my pretty new car isn't new anymore

A stupid young guy decided to make an u-turn without looking back

Before and after pictures:

7 %

the following reminders where written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, published of The Plain Dealer, a newspaper in Cleveland , Ohio US

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

This is something we should all read at least once a week

Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'
I'm in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves

weekend result

2 big blocks are ready to be put into cushion, including machinequilting.

Just have to sew the backings .... They will be a present for a dear friend this week.

ein sehr persönliches Gedicht

sorry for my english readers, today I'm writing a lovely peom I got from a nice friend, who sent it together with hand knitted socks, she made for me. I'm not able to translate it

Gestern erhielt ich ein kleines, leichtes, wunderbares, kuscheliges, herz- und fußerwärmendes Päckchen von Andrea mit einem Paar handgestrickter Socken -
ich liebe sie !!!!!!

Nelli passt NUR auf .....

Das liebevoll gestaltete Gedicht ist soooo schön, dass ich es mit Andreas Erlaubnis folgen lasse:

Ein Paar Socken, klein und fein,
sollen jetzt Dein Eigen sein.

Masche für Masche für Dich gemacht,
sind sie doch eine wahre Pracht.

Ich weiß, sie sind rosa, nicht grün und nicht blau,
doch welche Farbe Du wolltest, wusste ich nicht genau.

Nicht zu groß und nicht zu klein,
so sollten sie am Ende sein.

Sie halten Dich warm an kalten Tagen,
ein großes Vergnügen, sie dann zu tragen.

Auch halten sie warm den Fuß und die Zehen,
ein schönes Gefühl, darin zu gehen.

Nun fühl Dich wohl und zieh sie an,
aber lasse nicht die Nelli ran.

Mit ihren Zähnen spitz und klein,
macht sie Dir nur Löcher rein.

Sei gut zu ihnen an allen Tagen
sie werden Dirs danken, besonders beim Tragen.

Diese Socken, die möchte ich Dir schenken,
wenn Du sie trägst, kannst Du an mich denken.

Ist es nicht toll, wenn Frau so liebe Freunde hat?
Liebe Andrea: ich Danke Dir SEHR

freestyle houses

in my favorite coloration actually: purple, violet, lavender AND caterpillargreen with powerful orange roofs

When I spent some days at my friend Monikas home I was lucky and sewed the striped parts, some of her fabrics and some of mine ( I think she is doing one in the near future as well ) are included. Back home I needed some time to sew the freecutted roofs, now the rows are finished.
I love the result!!!

Did you notice my beloved KPM tomcat on the bookshelf?

Next is a green border and than a bigger purple one,
perhaps a black & white stripe in between???

what do you think about?
BTW, the quilt is for my new studio in our next house in Bavaria, we are moving to in February. I'll get a light grey comfy chair and this is ASKING for a quilt, don't you think so? Your help is more than welcome, please

TaDa
- and yesterday I ordered new Swarowsky crystals in a new color: Cyclamen Opal ( surprise: its a purple .... ) in France

October Basket BOM - tooooo clever

Today I'm in a sewing swing - nearly done with my striped houseblocks, only some more roofs and I can start to assemble the top - TADA

Then I just interrupted to sew my October basket quickly -
like usual I love to change it a little bit .... and see what happened

this darn handle will not fit !!!!
on to that later again - grrr

Need a victory first

2nd chapter to this story:

After the finish of my freestyle houseblocks, ( had to sew several roofs )

I redrafted a new handle foundation paper and came to this result -
not really happy, but finished

Like Brenda Papadakis mantra: Better finished, than perfect

Jelly Roll Giveaway

Thanks Rosa to point me to the Jelly Roll Week of the Missouri Quilt Co, they have a fantastic giveaway this week. If I am the lucky winner, I think I would wish to have Spring Magic Jelly Roll by April Cornell

starting a new BOM

This is just an appatizer of our BOM, which is starting actually TODAY.
Every month the members of the Yahoogroup'll get a new file for a BASKET block, if they finished the last one and posted a pic on the YAHOO Group.

This is the block of September,
which I made ( as a tester ).

I also made some other basket blocks

and various sizes to fill spaces between the different sized blocks later.

3 inch blocks & 3 x 6 inch

Because I love the chaos theorie I'll combine blocks from 3 x 3 " up to 12 x 12 "
of course I ordered some more background fabric, to be safe ;-)

Most of my blocks are still empty, but they'll be filled with flowers, some of them 3 dimensional, japanese folding technique ( Kumiko Sudo )

You'll be part of the fun??? so please visit Rosa's blog, she offers her help.

Polish impressions

.... this is just a short interruption of my blog-break,
because I'm on the road again from the end of this week until 11th of September:
next weekend we drive to the new town, we are moving to early next year to meet the owner of a house we are interest to rent. Hold the breath please!

We'll be back home on Sunday evening. Monday morning I'll change the cars and travel to my friend Monika, to spend 3 days with her - always great fun! -
She made great plans for me, so I'll sew a scrappy housequilt -
in: PURPLE & CATERPILLAR GREEN with ORANGE roofs & BLACK windows

Next stop is at my daughter's home in Düsseldorf, to bring Nelli to her (see her at the head of my blog) to sit her during the weekend, I'm retreating with ~ 50 women from all over Germany, Netherland and Suisse to play with tiny, tiny glass beads - making jewelry - can't wait

I spent the last weeks on vacation as well
(first trip to new region: Dillingen / Donau, near Augsburg in Bavaria)

2nd: short trip to Gdansk and Malborg and - pics later -

and 3rd:
a weekendtrip to Bolesławiec, formerly Bunzlau, wellknown for their fantastic potteryware

OK - first some pics of the castle, we stayed while in Bunzlau

and some of the typically pottery:

this is what came home with us .....

Do you know understand,
why the color of the writing is blue this time??

blog - break

sorry, no new postings here
just a little summer break
hope to see you here again later
thanks for stopping by

Blog Candy

once again a nice blogger ( Rachel )
is offering a lovely Blog Candy.
Hope to have luck one day ....

Busy sewing here BTW,
2 DJ blocks - G7 and K 13 - are ready to fly over the big pond somewhere
( TOP SECRET )

do you know Shadow Trapunto?

While I searched via the worldwideweb once I got to Geta's Quilting Studio's blog and was fascinated from her designs. So I asked for patterns, now she just gave birth to her first pattern e-book. To celebrate this big moment she is offering great giveaways!!!! I do hope to be one of the lucky winners ;-) but the price of the e-book is just 12$, that's not too bad

isn't the pattern lovely?

Helen is going to give a nice pattern away,
just leave a comment and post on your blog.

isn't the pattern lovely?

Scrapbooking Workshop

Three of the German ladies presented a Scrapbooking Workshop
to Andrea and Wenke, who are leaving Szczecin now.
That's how the Army life works ..... sad, but true.
We met at http://www.decou.pl/ in Szczecin &

Agnieszka showed us how to make a little book
- and we had a lot of fun!!!

Wenke in turquoise and Agnieszka in black/white


Christina (in red) and Susanne, both very concentrated ;-)

Andrea choosing from the clearstamps ( hard work, you see )

Here some impressions:

from the creative chaos on the table

TADA !!!!! this are our results:

Album made by Agnieszka

THANK YOU, ladies
for a wonderful time spent together