Maria's Jane

I really didn't need another project. But here I am. 

My goal this year is to use up my stash of fabric.

So, I will start with all my bright (mostly flower) fabrics that I've been collecting. 

My background fabrics will be: white, black and a combo of black and white.

I'm still waiting for the Dear Jane book. Hoping it arrives early next week. 

Until then, I can only sew the basic blocks. 

Here are my first 3 blocks.

Wont you join us and share what your color scheme will be?

It's Official

There's a button or two or three ... or more

You can linky to our project here!  And read lots more about my quilt and the first part of our plan here.

We *know* you want to join us.  Maria and Deb from the Willow Tree gang are in for sure!  I think we have Karen convinced ... Jill and Cathy are talking about it and Lesley is thinking about it too!  This could be so much fun.

A Mini Quilt Swap & Roll Call

It's been a while so I thought I'd give you an update on what's been happening Under the Willow Tree.

Liz and I decided to do a mini quilt swap ... we had way too much fun, only a few rules and a lot of nail-biting (for me at least).  Our "rules" were pretty simple : we were to work with each other's favorite two-color combination, use half-square triangles and not be bigger than 12" square ...

My color combination was turquoise and red

Liz's was lemon and lime.


Imagine my total pleasure when I opened this!!!  I love it ... just what I wanted :)  It's already hanging and and eventually more of this will be displayed with it.

I  had fun to trying to meet Liz's requirements and I was in a real hotbed of quilting frenzy there for a while. Lemon and lime - like literally - like their skin colors?  Well, no, more organic really like apples and pears ... ok ... so I pulled tons of fabs and began cutting and cutting, playing and rotating.  I "cheated" a little and added a few sticks of red apple to come up with this.

But then I had quite a few triangles left over.  The only answer - USE THEM UP.  But be different.  So I added one of my favorite solid blues and voilá,  an entirely different quilt.  The triangles are 1" finished and I'm really pleased with the results.  My favorite bit ... the little vintage lemon beads I used as an accent cover-up.  It was rather hard to part with this little beauty, but because I was laid up my swap got mailed much much later than it should have so this was my consolation piece for Liz.

And since it has been so long I thought I'd do a little roll call too and update you on what the other girls have been doing Under the Willow Tree.

Maria has been a busy bee ... and already had two finished quilt tops under her belt by January 9th.  On top of that she keeps my mouth watering on a regular basis with all her yummy baking and cooking ... if only I could somehow transport myself into her kitchen on a regular basis.  Be sure to check out her blog to read and see more!

I actually haven't spoken to Dana for a little while but when we do talk it's like it was yesterday.  Man that girl can make me laugh.  She had me GREEN with envy with this adorable little snowman she stitched up for the holidays! He's an adaptation of Bunny Hill Design's March 2010 block of the month "Snowbound".

And Deb?  Well, Deb is going through a really rough time at the moment.  She could surely, surely use our thoughts and prayers right now.  She's been on my mind every day ... and when I don't think it will sound trivial or come at a bad moment, I'll ask what she's been working on and see if you'll post some of her beauties for you to goggle at.

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!