Weekend Project

I guess I have always been one to make presents for holidays and birthdays, and at the last minute I decided that this year should be no exception for my niece's third birthday. This sweet doll dress may look a little familiar to you... but change the fabrics and colors and it looks like a whole new dress. I chose the fun and bright fabrics from Heather Bailey's "Pop Garden" collection because my mother-in-law just made a "birthday dress" for my niece using the same fabrics. And what better way to say "I'm super special" than to have a matching dress for your favorite doll? ... speaking of Heather Bailey, she will be introducing a new fabric line at this year's International Quilt Market along...

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Herbstmarkt auf Gut Retzen

It always seems to get pretty quiet around here right before a show. Having other things on my plate the last few months, sewing has taken the back burner, but there is always that one last push before a show and it has felt good to get back into the swing of things. We just finished a small, family style Herbstmarkt (Fall Market) and now that the dust has settled, I have a little time to share. Among the exhibitors was a retired gentleman that has been making willow baskets for years, and is really something to see an age tradition carried on.A market in Germany just wouldn't be a market in Gemany unless there is a Crepe stand there. From savory to sweet, the filling choices are endless, and...

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Amy Does it Again!

Even though it is only the middle of September, I am really excited for October to come, but not necessarily because I'm a "fall lover". Actually my anticipation for next month has nothing at all to do with the weather, the changing season, or autumn traditions, but with fabric. So why is October the big month? Because every year the International Quilt Market is held in Houston, Texas where all the fabric designers introduce new fabric collections, products, and ideas. For a fabric lover, I would imagine that it would be safe to describe it as just about the closest thing one can get to "heaven on earth".It almost makes me feel like a kid at Christmas time, knowing that there will be lots of...

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Fall Palette

After sitting in my garden yesterday and enjoying tea on a beautiful fall afternoon, I scanned my garden, or at least what is left of it, and came to a realization... the fall color palette is one of my favorite combinations of color. For some reason I have always been drawn to deep pinks and purples, but especially in combination with warm oranges, yellows, and reds. I know that it might be a little boring to stay on one side of the color wheel, but these colors just speak to me. So much so that these are the inspiration colors in my living room... my favorite room in the house.Since living in Germany, I have never appreciated a warm summer so much, which makes leaving this one behind especially...

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Stacks, Stacks, and More Stacks

Are you a stack person or are you the kind that has to have everything filed away and in it's neat and orderly place? Personally I am a stack girl. One can generally find "organized clutter" all over my house... usually in a stack. For some reason organizing things in stacks just works for me.I'm working on a new set of "stacks"... more wallets for the show coming up this weekend. I am really excited that purple is the trend color in Germany right now... and I just can't get enough. I have always been a "purple girl"... so much so that it is often mistaken for my favorite color.I would love to stay and chat a little longer, (as everyone knows that I can) but the stacks are calling.... "sew me,...

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Fall Inspirations

I'm really excited about the new fabric collection from Valori Wells with it's warm and earthy range of colors... just the perfect fabric for the start of fall. Finding her inspiration from nature and the Oregon landscape, this talented designer not only designs fabric, paints, writes books, designs patterns, and is a photographer, but she is involved in the family business with her mom which just happens to be... a quilting shop.I had fun whipping up a few little projects of my own... adding to the stack of wallets with coordinating key chains for an upcoming show.Still in the mood for using fall colors, I dipped into my "August Christmas stash" for inspiration. I love natural stones and found...

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Fields of Grain

This is the time of year when I see my husband's eyes light up like a kid in a candy store, like a boy with a new dog... all because it is harvest time. Harvest really is a special time of the year... like no other. I often ride on the combine harvester with my husband and every year he tells me with the same enthusiasm as the year before... "just think, this is our daily bread, our year's work, how we feed our family and feed others." When the mountains of grain are piled up to the ceiling in the storage barns, it is awe-inspiring to catch a glimpse of this small part that his family plays in the big picture. This year an "Erntefest" (harvest celebration) was held, which is basically just...

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September Weekend

Weekend plans are spending time with the family... which means speaking lots of German. I can't help but to be a little sad that summer is fading, cooler breezes are blowing in, days are getting shorter, and long sleeve shirts are being pulled back out. Am I the only one? Wow... can't beleive it's September alrea...

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Ribbon Projects

I just love ribbons. I think that if I were forced to choose between buttons or ribbons, life would just end up being too cruel. I just got a restock of ribbons yesterday, and there were few new colors and designs that are begging me to create something with them. I think my favorite of the bunch is Patty Young's, Kiwi Birdie Damask ribbon with a fresh punch of lime green and pink.Two new ribbons from the talented Jessica Jones were added to my collection. If you have never stumbled onto Jessica's blog, How About Orange, it is worth your while to stop by. She is always posting all kinds of clever project ideas.Oh, what you can do with ribbons! Here are a couple of projects ideas found on Patty...

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