Pink and Brown Scrap

Some time ago I decided to cut up all the pink and brown fabrics left over from Dear Jane and make a scrap quilt. I cut a big basket full of pieces using a tumbler template, and randomly pieced them, using some of the mediums as lights and some as darks, which wasn't as successful as I thought it would be.

BUT the pile of fabrics never got any smaller ! I have pieced about half of the quilt which will be a twin size approx., but I seem to have more fabrics than when I started - are they breeding in the closet ??? SO, of course I will have to make another quilt using those scraps, I have an idea for a great Jo Morton pattern, where I can use up the rest of the pinks and even have an applique center - but who knows how much fabric will be left over if I do that !

Fascinating France

Just had to show you a few pictures from our vacation in France. We started out in Paris, went on to Gascony, then spent a week in Provence. We were lucky to have wonderful, late summer weather (even in October) and enjoyed every day outside walking, sightseeing and eating, of course !

Hier einige Bilder von unserem Frankreich-Urlaub. Von Paris bis Gers, und dann eine Woche Provence. Wir hatten unglaubliches Glueck mit dem Wetter, es war jeden Tag warm und trocken, und wir konnten draussen sein, viel laufen, alles Moegliche sehen, und selbstverstaendlich auch gut essen.

Voici quelques photos de nos vacances, de Paris, au Gers et puis en Provence. Il y avait un temps parfait, chaud et comme en ete.

Procrastinating Quilters Guild Show and Tell

For years I have been a member of the "PQs" here in Clearwater. Thursday we met for the first meeting after the summer, and everyone was encouraged to bring something they had been working on. Have a look at some of these pictures, the quilts are gorgeous ! I couldn't take pictures of them all, imagine twice as many like this, and you'll have some idea. I apologize for the picture quality - I am short and it's hard to see in a room full of people !!

Seit Jahren bin ich Mitglied bei den "PQs" in Clearwater. Am Donnerstag trafen wir uns zum ersten Mal nach der Sommerpause, und jede sollte ein fertiges Projekt mitbringen. Guckt Euch mal die Bilder an, die Quilts sind einfach wunderschoen. Ich konnte nicht alle fotographieren, man muss sich doppelt so viele vorstellen, um eine Idee zu haben. Es tut mir leid, dass die Bildqualitaet so schlecht ist - es liegt daran, dass ich so klein bin und der Raum war voller Leute !

More birthday .....

My friend knew that I have been looking for a particular kind of flowering tree since I saw one in France a couple of years ago ...... unfortunately, here in Florida it is considered a nuisance tree (I am talking about Albizia (mimosa), and we recently saw a small bush which looks similar. And lucky me, I was given it for my birthday ! It is the red puffy flower in the pictures. The others are just a few flowers from the garden, there is not much around at the moment, the heat and humidity here kills off most things in August.

Birthday cross stitch

Angelika sent me this gorgeous cross stitch for my birthday - I adore it, she knows exactly that three spoiled cats live in this house and pretty much run the place ! Visit her blog linked to the right here, to see more of her beautiful work.

St Augustine

We spent the last weekend in St Augustine, just a couple of days off to celebrate my birthday (sigh ...... I'm past the age of being excited to have a birthday !) The beach was lovely, a wide flat stretch of sand where you can ride your bike, take your dog, or even drive your car if you want to (yes, really !) I like walking around looking at the old buildings and little shops, there is even a very old one room wooden schoolhouse. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea.

Wir haben das Wochenende in St Augustine verbracht, einfach ein paar freie Tage um meinen Geburtstag zu feiern (seufz ...... ich bin nun in dem Alter wo man sich nur begrenzt ueber einen Geburtstag freut !) Der Strand war richtig schoen, breit und eben, man darf Fahrrad fahren, den Hund mitnehmen, sogar mit dem Auto auf dem Strand fahren (tatsaechlich !) Ich mag die (verhaeltnismaessig) alten Gebaeuden und kleine Geschaefte, es gibt sogar ein ganz kleines Schullgebaeude aus Holz. Hier einige Impressionen.

Spring Applique

I was very surprised that I have not posted on this blog for so long - it's because of my Boutis fever !!! Here are a few pictures of blocks I set up for applique during our recent Guild retreat. I am making a pattern called Gifts from the sea for my daughter's college quilt. Of course, I did start it a LONG time ago, and she is leaving for college this autumn ........ nevertheless, she has always loved the sea and this quilt has some of her very favorite things on it. Remember that these blocks are just cut and pinned, and will look better when stitched !

Mir ist gar nicht bewusst gewesen, dass ich so lange nichts mehr geschrieben habe - kann man nur meinem Boutis-Fieber zuschreiben ! Hier sind einige Bloecke, die ich waehrend eines Guild Retreats vorbereitet habe. Das Muster heisst Gifts from the Sea, und es wird ein College-Geschenk fuer meine Tochter. Selbstverstaendlich habe ich vor sehr langem damit angefangen, komme aber allmaehlich in Zeitdruck, da sie schon im Herbst an die Uni geht. Sie hat immer alles, was mit dem Meer zu tun hat, geliebt, und hier sind einige ihrer Lieblingssachen. Die Bloecke sind halt nur vorbereitet, und werden besser aussehen, einmal genaeht.