Staycation

Axel and I have only ever gone on ONE real "vacation" it was 5 days into the eastern part of Germany. I loved it, we loved it ... I have some great pictures of this trip. It was moons ago, 6-1/2 years ago. It was a very stressful job due to a bunch of stuff going on in the shop and lack of available internet connections to put me at ease. I want to go back and this time enjoy every minute. And we did think about it, and we thought about the Ardennes, but then we re-thunk it all and decided this year a "Staycation" was our best option.

First, there's the dog to think about, then the whole problem I have with paying for a bed in July when *everyone* else is also on holiday and willing to pay top dollar when I have a perfectly good bed at home, and lots of little jobs we want to get done and and and ... so this year we're staying home and so far we're loving it!

We've got this plan, a 3-day rotation plan. One day we do whatever we want, one day we hit the road and go exploring (and have a nice meal out) and the 3rd day we work on projects around the house and garden.

Yesterday was our "do what we want." So first I made a set of reversible cocktail napkins and then I was browsing Pinterest .. seriously .. if you love to find quick and easy inspiration, this is the place!

See!



First I saw this, which got me curious so I found this and then this. So I plunked myself on the sofa yesterday and made this ...


But who can stop at one? So now this one is in the works. Oh, and I did a bit of tidying too and found the sweet little girl on the way ... just one of many little wooden things we bought on that trip to eastern Germany.



If you'd like to see more of our trip feel free to browse this little slide show I put together. It includes pictures of our first buying trip to find indigos and the process involved in creating them. Pin It Now!

Thanksgiving

Having an international marriage and sometimes being in the States and sometimes in Europe means that we often “move” Thanksgiving.  In fact this year, we’ll celebrate twice.

Last night we were joined by a dear friend, Ulrich and our Neighbours for a lovely evening.  We won’t talk about the turkey . . .  they’re different here . . .  But everything else was gorgeous and pronounced deliciously edible by guests who have never experienced Sweet Potatoes, Cornbread Stuffing and Cranberry Sauce (I add oranges and walnuts to mine).   But I have to say that the Broccoli Salad was the biggest hit.  For the most part (except the Turkey) I was very pleased with the results as well.  However, clean-up . . . well in our house, the holiday has been aptly dubbed "Day of 100 Pots.”  Axel’s family will visit the first weekend of December for another Turkey fest as it co-incides with his aunt/godmother’s birthday. 

As for projects and work this week . 

. .  I continue to work on the stars galore pattern.  I am sewing through it one more time and having it tested before releasing it.  But a kit / block of the month will be available for the colorway in this sample.

More Imperial arrived from Robert Kaufman this week too.  I can hardly wait to start sewing on this.  There’s a beautiful large peony floral in three colorways and the coordinates are outstanding.  All touched with a bit of metallic gold.  There is so much potential . . .
Convergence, 9 Patch Pizzaz, BQ.

Plus we’ve added lots more product and fabrics that are currently in our inventory . . . keep an eye on it, some of it’s in the Sale Corner.

 Lately, I’ve also been having fun with these balls.  In an attempt to spend quiet evenings with my husband, I’ve been working on these.  I can’t sit still with nothing in my hands so while we watch his evening round of news, weather and programs  . . . I’ve been playing.  They’re made from ribbons and silk and we’ll have kits available at our open house in February.
 

And we had so much fun with the Toybox panel drawing (won by Peggy who “never wins anything”) that we’re going to do it again.

Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving tradition and your name will go in a Pilgrim’s hat for a free 1/2-yard cut of any piece of the
Imperial or Florentine collection.

. . . mmm, cranberries!  Jovita

7 Comments 

TERI LEIGH

Hi Jovita!
Thanksgiving was not my favorite holiday growing up.  I was an only child.  My family was the marrying kind - meaning people in my family never said the word "divorce" but rather they were between marriages.  Since many of these people did not want to be in the same room with each other, I ended up being pulled here there and the other place so this relative and that could see me.  On top of that, Thanksgiving food is not my thing.  I have never liked turkey and I have never eaten sugar, so I ended up starving while others gorged on Thanksgiving.  My last Thanksgiving as a single woman was disapointing too.  My father and his wife were in the same town where I was at the time with plans to visit one of her daughters.  I was not on their agenda.  My then fiancee (now my wonderful husband) went to his grandparents for a traditional Thanksgiving and since we were not married yet, I was not invited.  I ended up making a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese in my apartment.
Now that I am a real live adult, I understand the real meaning of Thanksgiving.  It is not about the food.  It is not about traveling.  It is not about the super-giant-mega sale that starts at 4 AM on Friday morning.  It is about loving and appreciating the place you are in now.
Michael & I have had some wonderful Thanksgivings.  Some years, like this one, it is simply the two of us.  We are enjoying a quiet day at home.  Michael will make some egg and soy sausage sandwiches later on and we will watch a movie on DVD.  Then we will go work out at our 24 hour fitness center.  It is a good day.
For a number of years we went to an "Orphan Thanksgiving".  A married couple of friends would invite people who did not have local family and we would have a big potluck.  It was a wonderful time of just us grownups hanging out.
I was amazed at the different ways people celebrate the holiday when we were invited to spend it with Denise & Todd Kinsfather and their three boys.  I had never spent a holiday with children.  Remember, I am an only child and Michael & I do not have children.  It was a wonderful experience!  The boys telling what they were thankful for - so cute!  Then after dinner the four of us adults playing a board game.  It was a very special time.
However you choose to spend today, please remember to be thankful for all of the goodness that surounds us.

Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 11:22 AM

EVALYNN B.

Hi Jovita,
We just got back from our journey to Sacramento for Thanksgiving.  Had a great time visiting family.  It was funny that you asked for us to share a Thanksgiving tradition, as I was just thinking about my favorite during the long drive home......   IMy family had almost every Thanksgiving at our home.  My mom was/is an amazing cook so we were always thankful for that!  I always helped in the kitchen as well as my sister.  Mom always made sure we knew how to make the best gravy - it seemed to be a test of womanhood to her.  You had to know how to make good gravy if you wanted to catch a good man!  But my favorite Thanksgiving tradition was of my father carving the turkey and how he always made sure that the wishbone was saved and set up on the window sill to dry to be used for wishing for my little brother and I.   My goodness, how that silly wishbone brought so much excitement!  I hope that your days filled with happiness and warmth and that your wishes come true.  Happy Thanksgiving~

Sunday, November 25, 2007 - 10:40 PM

BARB ARNDT

Jovita, Long time,
I guess my favorite Thanksgiving tradition ( other than eating until I'm sick, and visiting with as many family members as we can cram into the house) is going to a movie after dinner. We argue over which flick to see and since so many other people seem to have this same "tradition" the theatre is full and noisy and just fun, even if the movie is not great, like the year I picked Bad Santa!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 07:34 PM

LESLIE

I love hearing about holiday traditions as I'm ever seeking to make traditions meaningful.  (Sometimes the same old thing done every year turns into a meaningless routine along the way.)  At any rate I think it is important on Thanksgiving to be thankful and think about and maybe talk about what it is you're thankful for.  It helps put things into perspective sometimes.  I love playing games after the food it cleared and the kitchen cleaned up: board games, card games, and, my favorite game, Scrabble.  But I do think my most favorite tradition is either sending people home with or being able to take home leftovers so that I can remember the day and the people and be able to enjoy that good food longer (I don't like to stuff myself at one meal.)  Sadly, I didn't get to take home leftovers this year but I do plan to make an apple pie soon.  I have a turkey in the freezer so maybe in Feb. or March I'll thaw it out and make a mini Thanksgiving dinner, be thankful again and coerce my daughter to play scrabble with me.

Friday, November 30, 2007 - 03:32 PM

LIZ SEVY

We have always spent Thanksgiving with family, and it usually turns out to be a casual, fun, and laid back type of day. We've tried many times to add new items to our dinner menu, but each one seems to be someone's favorite part of the meal! So it's usually turkey, cranberries, mashed and sweet potatoes, salad, stuffing and gravy - my favorite is a curried fruit bake that is just spicy enough to add some zing to the whole dinner. Then we gather around and put together a jigsaw puzzle, catch up and watch football. My favorite part is having a house full of people!

Friday, November 30, 2007 - 03:34 PM

ANONYMOUS

Our Thanksgiving has always been the traditional, all the family, turkey/ham salad, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing....this year was different as most of my adult jids and grandkids have been on the east coast this year (they are moving back here this next week, hold them in your prayers as they are driving from Virginia).
So, this year, Andy and I spent the day together.  My middle son, Brandonand his wife Stephanie sat down to an eerily quiet Thanksgiving.
I know this has made me appreciate family more...and Andy says he will try to not grumble when the grandkids get loud...which is frequent if they are all here (we have 7, with another due in June)
And, the 2nd best Thanksgiving tradition is the Turkey tettrazini on Sunday!.
Marie

Friday, November 30, 2007 - 06:57 PM

ANONYMOUS

Jovita:
Our family has the tradition of saying what we are thankful for, which cannot include family, food or friends  (the 3 F's).  This year we didn't know how thankful we could be, when my 29 year old neice waited until this time of the meal (her favorite by the way), to tell us that a melanoma removed on the 19th had "good news", and was not malignant.
Tamara

Saturday, December 1, 2007 - 08:16 AM

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Is it a Willow or a Wallow?

As promised here are more details about the new pillow I had on display for the QA show.  

I started in the middle and log-cabined outwards, but instead of working “in the round” – adding rows in a spiral – top, right, bottom, left, top, right bottom left.  I worked from side to side.  Adding left and right, then top and bottom, left and right, etc.  If I had added corner stones to each row it would have been more of a Courthouse Steps which you might want to try as well.

The top of my pillow is made entirely from our Jacquard ribbons and Westfalenstoffe, all imported from Germany.   (You’ll find a supply list below.)

The first step was to make a sandwich of muslin, batting and muslin.  This allowed me to quilt as I went, giving my pillow a nice firm feel.  All fabric strips were cut 2” wide.

I started with my initial in the middle and slid a strip under each side, pinning it so that 1/4 inch of the tan stripe was under the ribbon and 1-3/4” was still showing then top-stitched along the sides of my ribbon.

My next strip was added along the top and bottom by placing the cut strip right-sides together with the tan stripes – J – tan stripes and sewing an even 1/4” seam.  The next strips were added vertically in the same manner.  Ribbon came next, both top and bottom, so I pinned these in place, leaving 1-1/2” finished width showing from my previous horizontal row and top-stitched in place.  Then came another horizontal row tan on top   

and red/white stripes below.  These were again slid under the ribbon, leaving 1-3/4” unfinished width showing.  

After the next next vertical row of red/white stripe I got a little creative as not every row was symmetrical and the vine ribbon was mitered in the top left corner.  But this is where your imagination and individuality comes into play.  

After adding all my rows, I trimmed the top to 19” square.  I also quilted my back flaps, then added buttonholes before pinning the flaps over each other and trimming the back to 19” square.  Then I placed my top and back wrong sides together and zig-zag these layers together around the perimeter.  I was using my Featherweight and don’t have a walking foot but would recommend the use of one as my fabric want to pile up and ripple more than I would have liked.  

Rather than putting cording in my pillow I bound it.  The two layers of batting and 5 layers of fabric were thick enough that when I added a bias-cut double binding, my pillow has a weighty finish that really topped it off.  I cut my binding 2-1/2” wide and sewed it with a 3/8” seam.  My pillow form was 18” giving it a lovely filled out look.

I’m really pleased with the result and can’t wait to try more.  If you make a pillow, I’d love to see pictures.  I know some of you chose different color combinations and it will be fun to see how they all turn out.

                                                Enjoy!     Jovita

Oh – my question about it being a Willow or a Wallow?  Whenever I make a wall-hanging for a friend I aim for a standard pillow insert size . . . then add a pillow flap to the back, a hanging sleeve and I bind it as I would a quilt.  My friend then has the option of hanging her gift on the wall or using it on her sofa as a pillow.

What will you need to complete your pillow?

Pillow Front

   1 packet of Five Westfalenstoffe Fat Quarters (Red-Tan)
    Two 21” squares muslin
    One 21” square thin batting 
    Thread - I used Beige for everything so I could top-stitch without having to change.

Ribbon 

    One Alphabet
    9” Spring (Red)
    9” Poetry
    26” Vine
    16” Spring (Beige)
    18” Itsy Bitsy Vine (Tan)

Pillow Back

    Two 21” x 12” batting
    Two 21” x 24” backing fabric
    Three fun buttons

 

 

©  Jovita Goldschmidt

All images, text, and content on this site are the sole property of Jovita Goldschmidt and may not be used, copied or transmitted without her express consent.  All patterns and resulting product are for personal non-commercial use only.  You are welcome to  to link this site or a post from this site but please give appropriate credit for content. Any other inquiries please email me at jovita@peawink.com.

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Of Ribbons, Fabric and Sofas!

Last week I visited our very lovely Ribbon Factory in Germany and bought lots and lots of new ribbons for you. They had some lovely new designs plus some old ones in new colorways (see the Wild Rose pattern). We’ve also changed the structure of our ribbons so the price is per inch and you can purchase anywhere from 3” lengths.

I also have some new Westfalenstoffe in my suitcase, which does coordinate nicely with much of the new ribbon. Be sure to stop by our booth at the Quilters Anonymous Show – March 16th – 18th to see some of the wonderful things we’ve made from these.

This week, after recovering a bit, I returned to De Potterije, my local shop here in Lokeren. It’s a lovely shop with a wonderful mix of houseplants, flowers, quilting and gift items.

A few of you asked for pictures, so here you are. Check out their website http://www.depotterije.be/and scroll across the topbar to see more shots of the shop.

Some of you have seen the Amish 9-Patch Exchange that my group of students in Koblenz was working on – well I realized too late that I’d have to sew another two rows to make it long enough for Axel’s very long legs. De Potterije had just the right rose that I wanted to put between my 9-patches. We carry the same rose, but a different dye-lot and it’s amazing the difference it made.

The search didn’t end there today. It was followed on by a search for a new sofa for our living room here. Not an easy task I must say. First there is the difference in styles – living in a different country will do that. But then there’s once again the question of Axel’s height. Well seven hours, six shops and many photos later. I think we’ve narrowed the search to two that he needs to test drive. It would be nice to know that is sorted and he’ll sit comfortably while I’m winging my way back to the states.

Of course, the week would not be complete without work on the website and a bit of stitching. We’ve added more books, reworked the ribbons and written more descriptions for some of the batiks. I’ve appliqued a bit more on my Home Sweet Home blocks – including a few new blocks I’ll add to personalize my quilt. Axel’s father has drawn for me our new home here in Schellebelle, the house were we lived in England when we got married, the shop with it’s willow tree and the house I grew up in in Everett. It will be so nice to have these added houses to make this my own quilt and I look forward to sharing the finished blocks with you.

In the meantime, from our home to yours I wish you a lovely day!

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