Now I know that vacation time is drawing nigh - I have printed a list of fabric shops in San Francisco, where I will be spending a couple of days after visiting my family in the Midwest US. No matter where I travel (and I love to travel!) I always google for fabric shops before I leave home. Fabric is the ultimate souvenir - unbreakable, neither heavy nor bulky. And I can use it - it doesn't collect dust nor waste space.

Why does it not surprise me that there's a shop called "Far Out Fabrics" on Haight?! I shall have to tear myself away to see the other sights of the city.

Creative energy is at a low point right now - I have a cold, thag you very buch. I'm trying to do low-energy things, such as cleaning my sewing room. While picking up pins from the floor (lucky me, haven't had to use the barefoot method to find them so far!) and placing them in the receptacle in my sewing table, I realized that uninformed watchers could wonder about that - it's a red frisbee. Now why would anyone think to place a frisbee on a sewing table?!

Well, the shape and material are appropriate for the purpose - unbreakable, flat, with edges high enough to keep things in it (it is, of course, upside down, sillies!) yet not so high that extracting them is a problem. And since it is an object that was lying around (one of those advertising gadgets we were given once upon a time), it could just as well be used for something sensible. It houses spools of thread that are about to be used though a different color is in the machine right now, needles and pins (so they don't get onto my cutting mat and ruin the edge of my rotary cutter), buttons that will be sewed on soon - yes, I'll do it tomorrow.

Besides, I'm a patchworker - we're used to keeping scraps and bits and pieces because we think we can use them some day - and we do! So putting the frisbee to use was quite logical, Captain. It used to be called "thrifty" - now it's "ecological". Patchworkers are on the cutting edge of recycling!

My patchwork Hobbit hole

The title page for my fabric book "The Road Goes Ever On" is basically completed now, as far as sewing machine work goes. I will now patch the poetry pages and sew them all together before doing the hand sewing details - buttons, embroidery, and some fluffy grass, plus a bit of hand quilting, will finish off my hobbit hole. When the pages are all together, I will also sew the road onto them, so that it continues uninterrupted from page to page. Final photos will be forthcoming in a few days, I hope. Here is what I've done so far:

While I'm working on the title page to my next fabric book, here are two more past projects. Like many quilters, I'm very partial to star patterns. The first is a miniquilt titled "Rainbow Log Star", made of log cabin blocks. The second is my interpretation of an aboriginal dot painting in an unusual color combination; my quilt wall hanging is called "Milky Way Memories". It reminds my of the starriest night I have ever experienced, in the darkness of outback Australia on my memorable trip there two years ago.

The two quilts are very contrasting in method and colors: one bright and colorful, a stylized individual star; the other almost naturalistic, with the dark blue sky and lots of tiny stars.

Paper Pieced Pillowcases

Continuing my show of past patchwork projects, here are two coordinated sofa pillowcases that I made as a gift last year:























Both are designs by Linda Causee, from this book:

My first fabric book

While I am waiting for administrative approval of my application for membership on the new textile arts forum Stitchin fingers I will post pictures of the fabric book I made last year. I took a class, taught by Christiane Kühr, at the annual Patchwork Guild conference in Berlin and enjoyed it very much! I had already been fascinated when I read her article on the subject in Patchwork Professional magazine and had decided to make my favorite poem from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings the subject. I ended up changing plans somewhat and using the cover with Tolkien's picture for a scrapbook which I take with me to Tolkien events and when meeting friends. It's a good place to keep my commemorative pins from various occasions (including seeing the Hobbiton movie site in New Zealand!). Since the pages are quite stiff, it is easy to have people sign them, draw on them, and of course embroider or sew on them.



I took my pictures and the poem which I had set up on my computer to the copy shop which then printed everything on my fabric. I have since then printed directly onto T-shirt iron-on paper myself, which works the same way. The finish is stiff and shiny, like plastic, which is fine for the purpose - though it does have to be ironed with care.



The cover is softer than the pages, with a thick layer between the visible surfaces. I decided to go for a clean look, so sewed the layers right sides together, then turned them. I allowed for additional thickness with more fabric for the spine; until it is needed, it's laced to hold it together.





The pages are backed (both sides) with a very stiff iron-on facing. I sewed them right sides together as well, leaving the side for the holes open for turning. I then sewed a sturdy twill tape to that edge to finish it and give stability before punching holes and eyelets into it. I sewed matching cords to the cover spine, which go through the holes and are tied together at the top. I also used my sewing machine's embroidery stitches to embellish and stabilize the page edges.



I like the loose-leaf principle for a book like this that is used as a scrapbook. It gives me the option of adding pages in time, as needed. I am currently working on a family scrapbook along the same line (which will be a gift, so I can't show it until after the occasion).

Blog Reloaded

This blog began as a travel report, coupled with a weather theme. Now I am changing the emphasis. The name I chose for myself back then - RainbowCatcher - already hinted at my interest in fabric arts, especially patchwork and quilting. Since blogging has become such an important means of communication in the world of creativity, I am now setting this up to be my patchwork blog. I will show pictures of my work; talk about projects past, present, and future; and hopefully exchange comments with other quilters.

Good-bye, "I weather the weather"; hello, "Sewing Rainbows"!

More to come soon.

April flowers > May showers?

After a few days of cooler weather we're back to sunny highs again. The plants, trees and flowers desperately need rain; we've never had to water the garden this early! Everything is blooming all at once now - the last fading daffodils and the first peonies don't usually meet, and the flowers of the month for May, lilies of the valley, will probably be gone by the time next month arrives. No wonder the bleeding hearts are mourning!

Record highs and early vegetation

This past weekend we experienced temperatures of over 30° here in central Europe! That's an absolutely unprecedented high for April. It's nice to sit outside in the sun in summer clothes, of course, but there is a downside - allergies. What with the vegetation being several weeks ahead of the normal schedule, hayfever and co. are wreaking havoc for those affected.

It has cooled off again, but there are early surprises when I'm out walking - like the scent of lilacs already blooming. And though I usually love the smell of flowers, there is one that I don't appreciate - broom. We have a big, beautiful bush in the front yard; it looks gorgeous, but its scent is overpoweringly unpleasant.

Back home/Wieder zu Hause

Unfortunately, Blogger made some changes while I was away, so that I couldn't blog directly from there. Now I've caught up with the new features and can write here again!

I had a wonderfully relaxing vacation, with just enough hiking and a few activities to enliven my days. Most of the time I spent reading in the sun on our little patio, floating in the hot baths at the spa, and walking around the kibbutz/botanical garden. Pictures will follow soon...


Leider konnte ich vom Urlaubsort nicht bloggen, da Blogger genau dann Änderungen durchführte. Nun habe ich die nötigen Erfordernisse nachgeholt und kann weitermachen.

Ich hatte wunderbar erholsame Tage, mit einigen wenigen Aktivitäten und Wanderungen, um die Zeit zu beleben. Ich habe viel Zeit lesend auf unserer kleinen Terrasse, in den heissen Bädern des Spas, and bei Spaziergängen im Kibbutz/Botanischen Garten verbracht. Demnächst folgen Fotos...

Schnelle Gruesse/Quick Greetings

Hallo vom Toten Meer - bei wunderbar warmem Wetter geniessen wir Wasser und Sonne, sowie die fantastische Natur und die Ruhe hier. Mehr in den naechsten Tagen...

Hello from the Dead Sea! We are enjoying the warm weather with water and sun, as well as the fantastic flora and the relaxation here. More to come...

Kangaroo Island

Continuing the pictures from Australia:
The two-day trip to Kangaroo Island was a highlight - there's so much to see there: seals and other animals, all at a respectful distance; environmental protection is a major priority on the island. The bus driver/tour guide showed and explained all the fascinating sights.


Our small tour group climbed the sand dune of Little Sahara, a task that's more difficult than it sounds. Sand gives way beneath one's feet!





The Remarkable Rocks are well-named; they're fantastically eroded structures...
















...as is the Admiral's Arch.

These pictures from an Australian zoo don't really need an explanation. I was able to get up close to the kangaroos and to the koala: The former were interested in the animal food I held in my hand; the latter only in the eucalyptus branches, so my wish to pet it was tolarated with equanimity. I attempted no such thing with the crocodile!

Back to Down Under

Time to show more pictures of my trip - first stop in Australia was Adelaide, a beautiful city. I spent most of my time in the city walking around and shopping in the arcades on the mall and in the market hall, a fascinating place!

Winter at last!

A couple of nights of temperatures well below 0° kicked off winter weather - I love cold, clear days! Walking was wonderful: breathing the clear air, stepping on crunchy frozen puddles, sunlight in my eyes. This morning we woke up to snow, not the extreme snowfalls that southern Germany experienced, just a sifting of powdered sugar that adorns trees and houses. We had no more severe incommodation than stepping or driving a bit more slowly and carefully early in the morning.

Unweather

The German language has an interesting word that can be used for inclement weather - "Unwetter": literally, "unweather". Now, I don't know its etymological background; one could, I suppose, argue the fact that the prefix would suggest the opposite of weather to be no weather at all! However, I assume that it intends to show the negative of weather, at least of "good" weather.

At any rate, the storm that has had such devastating effects not only on Germany, but much of Europe, is certainly a prime example of an "unweather". Many people died (at least 10 in Germany, and one of those deaths was local, a rare occurrence), others were injured, and thousands were inconvenienced by the total stop of train traffic (usually a fairly reliable way to travel here) and the delay of plane landings and starts. Roads were blocked for hours to clear away fallen trees - some still are today - and countless roofs are in need of minor or major repair.

Of course we're thankful to be spared, but who can ignore the suffering of those who weren't?

Natural forces in such extremes are fearsome. I haven't had to cope with masses of water inexorably flooding an area, nor with the terror of an uncontrolled fire, and I'm sure that an avalanche, whether earth or snow, must be horrible to experience. But sitting alone in an apartment in Florida last year while a tropical storm developed, and feeling the wind pushing on windows here yesterday scared me.

Happy New Year! Frohes Neues Jahr!

May the sun shine upon you this year, may the stars brighten your nights, and may there be just enough clouds to make beautiful sunsets!

Möge die Sonne auf Dich scheinen in diesem Jahr, mögen die Sterne Deine Nächte erhellen, and mögen gerade so viele Wolken sein, um schöne Sonnenuntergänge zu machen!


(picture: 'Milkie Way Dreaming', an aboriginal dot painting I bought in Australia)

...one foggy Christmas eve...

I don't like "Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer", but that line fit this year's holiday weather perfectly. The fog was the only white we got. Actually, it was lovely yesterday morning, when the fog froze and outlined everything beautifully. Even cobwebs look artistic when adorned with tiny frozen droplets! It did make walking a bit treacherous though, as the sidewalks and pathways were slippery.

In Germany, the standard New Year's wish is "einen guten Rutsch" - "a good slide" into the new year. Admittedly, that is meant figuratively, not literally; we'd rather not have icy roads...

Merry Christmas to all! Frohe Weihnachten!

May your holidays be happy and the new year filled with joy!

Frohe Feiertage und alles Gute im neuen Jahr!

Apologies to those few readers who still check this blog - it will carry on with pictures of my trip, but I am currently in the midst of holiday preparations with little leisure for other time-consuming activities.

To be continued...