Off to Germany

We're off to Germany tomorrow ! We'll be stopping first to see friends near Frankfurt and Munich and then its on to Hannover-where DH is giving a lecture and then Berlin for 10 days (DH is giving a lecture there too but mostly it will be sightseeing!)

I'm looking forward to seeing the collection at the Textile Museum in Berlin...you can see why-maybe I'll get to see this amazing dress... or this wonderful lace curtain.

Of course, I am on the hunt to see some quilts but my German skills are so slim (ok, non-existent!) that even with DH's help, the hunt via internet isn't going too well! It will be dumn luck if we hit a quilt exhibit but I'll let you know!

Katrina, a German blogger, has kindly sent me a wonderful list of quilt shops and a link to the guild so that should help make this a quilty trip!

I'm taking my little netbook so I hope to be able to blog and check up on what everyone's doing while we're traveling! I've loaded my i-pod with free audiobooks from Librivox and lots of music so our plane and several long train rides should be ok....I'm thinking I can listen to an audiobook and still look out the window on the train-we'll see if that works!

The Phillies are in the World Series!!!Two years in a row! Totally amazing!

Floral Mock Log Cabin Quilt Finished

I finished this quilt last week and its already at home at its new owners! The patchwork pattern is a variation on the mock log cabin pattern, woodpile. Its fast and fun to do-all strip piecing. I used all florals and it has a very sweet colorwash look, I think. It is machine quilted with an overall cable design.

Its a lap quilt and I thought it looked a little long and narrow so I added an extra narrow border only on the sides-which gave me room for a little free motion quilting in a leaf/vine pattern with a few leafy hearts thrown in.

Here's a close-up of one block-you can see the cable quilting too, done in a variegated thread. I use my walking foot whenever I do cables-I just gently turn the quilt like you do for any curved sewing - such as sewing sleeves.

I just love the back of this quilt...it reminds me of the wonderful North Country whole cloth quilts I saw on our trip to England a few years ago. It makes me think that maybe I want to make a machine quilted whole cloth quilt. (BTW, the pillow is hand quilted!)

White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz

This is the first book of the Arcane Society novels that I’ve read and I’ve enjoyed it enough that I will look for others.

“Level-ten parasensitive Clare Lancaster (a human lie detector) has resigned herself to the fact that she may never find a suitable mate”…(ha! Of course, we know better.)

Clare, having lost her job, is free to visit when her father calls…and her adventure begins. She meets Jake Salter, her father’s new business consultant, and immediately feels a powerful attraction even as she senses that he isn’t being altogether truthful (but not outright lying). She can live with that-she’s made peace with her unusual gift by realizing that some lies are harmless (for example, small social lies -hmm, this is delicious J), and only gets upset when she detects that the lie is meant to cover up something dangerous or evil.

With Jake’s help, they plunge into an investigation of murder and more, making the world a safer place and finding love too. So if you like a bit of paranormal sleuthing (on a subtler level than “Ghostbusters”) and romance, you’ll enjoy this book. I know I did-so much so that I’m ready for another Arcane Society novel.

This is my seventh book review for the 2000 Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Vintage Thursday Thingie: Japanese Lacquer Box

Today I'm showing another item from my Japanese collection. This is a red lacquer box with black and silver decoration. Here's a pix of the black lacquer interior.

And a close-up of the design on the side of the box.

Lacquerware has been popular in Japan for hundreds of years. ..actually, archaeological excavations have uncovered lacquered items from thousands of years ago.This piece probably dates from the early 20th century, no earlier :). The box has been lacquered over a thin wooden box.

For more vintage treasures, hop on over Coloradolady.

Poppy Applique Quilt Border

I've basted the swag border onto the medallion center of my Mountain Mist Poppy Applique quilt.The original design called for two swag borders: I've eliminated the swag that butted right up against the applique flowers leaving lots of room for quilted feathers! I'm really starting to like the way this is looking!! Now to begin hand appliqueing the border-it shouldn't take too long...nice easy swags! :)

I'm posting this using my new netbook...oooh, I really like it-I'm calling it Baby! Its great for visiting everyone's blog-I don't have to worry about computer time (especially with the Phillies in the play-offs and DH following his favorite team through MLB.com) but I'm still working out the kinks for posting. I've also just started using Picasa and I'm still getting the hang of it, so one picture for this post (ha,ha!) is all my nerves could take! I don't know why it starts writing in the middle of the line...that is kind of weird...anyone out there with suggestions and helpful hints?...Help, please!

I'm having a great time looking at the over 400 quilts in the Bloggers Quilt Festival so if you haven't stopped by yet, do!

Fall 2009 Quilt Festival

Amy of Park City Girl is hosting the Fall 2009 on-line Quilt Festival and this is my entry. I posted about this log cabin quilt earlier here. It is a double bed quilt and definitely one of my favorites!
Make sure you stop by Amy's- there are hundreds of blogs participating!

Vintage Thursday Thingie: Japanese Umbrella

This is a vintage bamboo and paper umbrella that I got years ago in Japan. Closed, you can see the painted ribs, the brass top and the leather hanging strap .

Open, you can see the colored paper and how it is painted in bands like the ribs...where the ribs are dark brown, the paper is darker and where the ribs are red, the paper is lighter.

Here you can see the underside-I love the simple elegance of this umbrella. It can be used in the rain...the only problem is it must be left open to dry!
For more vintage treasures, hop on over to Coloradolady.