gefaltener Stern - Anleitung in deutsch

Good morning ladies and gentleman! I know there are actually a few men out there that like to quilt and sew too, so I don't want to neglect you.

A few months ago, I came across a technique that I didn't know - the fancy folded star written by Maria Wallin of notonlyquilts.com. It looks somewhat similar to the folded trivet star that was seen a lot around in the 1980's and widely spread throughout Amish Country in Pennsylvania.

I kept this technique stored on my hard drive (as my son would say) until the theme of "stars and stripes" for the Doll Quilt Monthly swap approached. I pulled it back out and thought I could use this technique for my stars.

So, I made my little quilt and took it to my local monthly quilt group (guild); they really liked it! We decided I would show them how to make the stars using Maria's technique with her permission of course! Maria is a very sweet young Swedish woman living in/on Malta. She told me everything was okay, and I could go ahead with the translation of her technique/pattern into German.

I have made three stars now using this technique and all of them are very unique. The most important thing that I can say is, take your time and pull those fold snug, and make sure there is a flowing contrast on the fabrics you pick out for your stars.

I am looking forward to next month's Quilttreff to see what the ladies have done with their lovely folded stars. (I just showed them the technique, but didn't say how or what they should use them for.) Even though we all started out using eight different pieces of fabric, we agreed that using six would also look very nice like the one pictured above. Sabine, the owner of Quilt Oase, decided to use bright-light fabrics making the center spiral out. I personally think it looks very pretty, but she thought the fabrics got lost along the way. I hope to have more pictures next month from our Quilt Group.

You can download the tutorial in GERMAN. Or go to Maria Wallin's website for an English version. Oh, and don't forget to show me your finished stars!

Diese Technik ist mit freundlicher Genehmigung von Maria Wallin (notonlyquilts.com) von mir aus dem Englischen für Euch übersetzt worden. Die Anleitung darf nicht für gewerbliche, sondern nur für private Zwecke bzw. in unserer Patchworkgruppen benutzt werden.

Diese Technik geht schnell und kann mit geringstem Aufwand gefertigt (genäht) werden. Sie sieht am schönsten aus, wenn kontrastreiche Stoffe von innen nach außen gehen.

Hier kann man die Anleitung herunterladen. Schick mir auch ein Bild von Deinem Stern!!

changing seasons

As I look out of the window, I see large, beautiful trees left over from the former German military base. Oh, how I always miss the Carolina blue sky in fall, but this year I am pleased to see the large trees with there different colors emerging, something I missed in my former village. We even had one or two days of that rich blue sky right here in Leipheim! I am enjoying fall this year in Germany with all of the beauty around me.

I have been keeping myself busy working on new patterns, a possible customer quilt, and a future project for Moda Bake Shop. {{Shhh...I don't want to jinx any of those.}} Life if finally getting back to "normal" again.

A few weeks ago, we went to Nördlingen to a festival. (I really do love living in Germany with all of the traditional festivals and heritage.) We came across a stand with these very lovely HAND PAINTED Springerle. During Christmastime, I love to bake cookies oder Plätzchen. However, Springerle are not easy for me. I have a few different stamps and a rolling pin with the various shapes, but whenever I try to make these, they NEVER turn out! 

The very nice female ARTIST not only baked these (perfectly), she also spent hours decorating them! You have to click on a picture to see the details!! They also hat the cutest little matching hanging ribbon. I really wanted to buy one, and told her I would come back. I was so afraid they would not make the trip back home and would break, that I didn't buy ANY! That is so terrible of me, I know. I really wish I had gone back. Now, I just have to punish myself with these beautiful pictures. If I ever see them again, I will buy them. I already have a place in my kitchen picked out for them! If anyone knows where I can buy them, please tell me. I will be forever grateful.

appreciation

Hello everyone after a long break. Vacation was just too short this year. I looked forward to spending the days at the public pool and relaxing in the sun. Sometimes you get thrown a curve ball.

My father was having some lung issues over the last few months, and we suspected that it could be more serious. My sister was taking him to several doctors getting his lungs and back checked out, because he was having severe pain in those areas as well as massive coughing for months. Here in Germany, we made arrangements for my husband to take care of the kids during summer vacation so I could fly to the US to be with my dad. On the day I arrived, my sister, who is the only relative of my dad other than myself, picked me up from the airport. She informed me of the tragic news: Stage 4 Lung Cancer that has already progressed to the brain, lymph nodes, bones, and other organs in the body - radiation to his brain would follow the next day.

Cancer is terrible! It destroys the entire body, mind and soul. It hurts all of the family members around you. There is no easy way to deal with this subject except with a little bit of humor when you mind isn't turning your body inside out.

My heart goes out to everyone who has had to deal with lung cancer - survivors, family members, medical support staff and professionals, hospice volunteers and staff, friends, religious and social workers and groups. I would like to thank all of you for helping those of us in need and making this disease more comfortable and bearable.

If you are a smoker, please quit now! Don't make excuses anymore. The little bit of satisfaction you get from your cigarette is not worth this pain that you bring to yourself, your family and the friends around you. The risk of getting lung cancer is drastically reduced the longer you stay free of smoke. If you are a long-term smoker, please talk to your doctor about your smoking and about getting your entire body checked out. Lung Cancer is usually only detected in the last stage, because that smoker's cough becomes just a part of your daily life instead of a sign that something more serious is going on.