the girls in Mülheim

i have some friends ... wonderful friends who I met at least ten years ago ... they live in and around Mülheim, Germany ... toooo far away. they are an amazing group of ladies who do *everything*  they are a constant source of inspiration and companionship.

angela dyes the most amazing fabrics, beads, quilts, does mosaic and much more i haven't seen

elisabeth makes things from paper, beads, quilts and loves on her sweet little grandboy

gila felts, beads, sews, makes hats, quilts and runs her little studio called Kunst Stücke "pieces of art" ...
gabi beads, quilts, knits and more
helga specializes in things teeny eensy weeny .. the littlest beads, mini patchwork and knits
hildegard quilts, embroiders, teaches, stitches, etc, etc.
roswitha quilts, teaches and does 100 more things than i know about
sigrid quilts, crafts and collects mini things

i could tell you more and i am sure they will remind me of everything i have forgotten but it has been one of those days.

twice this group has banded together (in different configurations) and flown across the big pond to visit my husband and i in the pacific northwest.  many of you have met them and if you didn't i hope someday you will.

you see - they all belong under the willow tree and i'm really hoping i can convince some or all will sometimes contribute to this blog.

last tuesday i got to spend the WHOLE day with them.  what  blast!

it's always fun to see who's working on what.  and i got to show them my DOTS!  and i'm happy to say some of them caught the contagion and are already addicted.  see what they did!

Gabi's gone dotty with Kaffe

Gila has a huge batiks collection

Angela dyes her own fabrics

Got Dots?

Check out Jovita's new Quilt-Along ... Got Dots?  

Click here to find out more here - p.s. there's a give-away too!!http://www.jovitaspatchwork.eu/gotdots.html

First timer

Okay, this is my first attempt at anything having to do with a blog. Wish me luck! Thanks, dear Jovita, for inviting me! Deb

A give-away because I need your ideas ...

Look what I found today ... well, it wasn't really lost but in the midst of clearing up and organizing my new, wonderful studio ... I "found" it again.

It's one of those things that surface from time to time and brings back a ton of memories.

The fabrics remind me of one of my favorite baby dolls - I think her dress was made out of a reverse of the polka dot.  White dots on red.  The dots and blossoms are flocked, the content is some kind of polyester blend.

My sewing skills ... ahem ... leave much much to be desired.

• Not a single patch is square.
• One patch is pieced - curved no less - rather resourceful if I may say so myself.
• The seams - hehe - not a single one is straight, or even.
• Some seams are sewn double.
• One seams has a huge pleat it in.
• Not a single corner is matched.

But how can you not love it.  I've been thinking of ways to display it.  Hoping somehow I could show the front and back.  Frame it?  Quilt it?  Add to it?

I'm not sure ... although today I think I came up with something I could love but I'm not sure ... it involves the new color in our courtyard and some oh-so-very adorable "Little Red Hen" fabric that makes me think of my childhood - in a good way.  Surprisingly "Not I said the Little Red Hen" was a common phrase of denial in our household.  It's stuck with me.  

For now - I have finally stuck the block to the bulletin board in my new studio to look at and gather ideas.  Because I think it finally needs to feature here - a reminder of how far I've come and all the things I still want to do!

Do you have any ideas for me?  I would love to hear them - add a comment below - and next week I'll pull a random winner to receive a sweet little package from me!