That’s one of my quilts appearing with Sam and Jess Gensic, cinematographers extraordinaire!  Okay, I guess I’ll have to own up to the fact that Sam is my nephew and Jessica is his lovely bride.  They produce amazing wedding cinematography (and commercials, and some other really cool creative films!)

They were married during a really busy time in my own life when I didn’t get much time at the sewing machine, so the wedding quilt I promised them didn’t actually get completed until sometime around their fifth anniversary. (I even had to sneak in a baby quilt for them before I completed the wedding quilt!)

Well, it appears that the quilt is now well-loved, and playing a cameo role in their business. Nothing makes me happier!

And please check out more of photographer Nicole Morehead’s beautiful work. She gets credit for Sam and Jess’s portraits. (And the baby portraits in her gallery are redonkulously adorable!)

We focused on the gorgeous cemeteries like Montparnasse and Pere Lachaise, trying to see as many famous tombs as we could.

Pere Lachaise itself is worthy of a week of exploration, so we power-walked our way to a small selection for this trip.

We also went down into The Catacombs.

If you can get through the morbid history, the sheer volume of the bones of millions of Parisians re-entombed there, you will find a little bit of design inspiration.  I tried really hard not to see the artistry. It became easier as we walked along because we were simply overwhelmed by the place and wanted out.

So while we skipped around the city from tomb to tomb, I sought other sources of inspiration.

Like the Dome in Galleries Lafayette–circled with all of the individual designers’ retail spaces (I think I’d only need, oh, about three weeks here each season to take it all in!)

Or perhaps more appropriate for a short visit–the chocolate bar aisle (this is only a fraction of the entire chocolate display) in Lafayette Gourmet, where you can find incredible edibles.  I love big department store food!

A quick Metro ride from L’Opera to Trocadero at dusk brought us to the Eiffel Tower just in time for Friday night sparkle! Hearing the throngs of people gasp in unison as the light show began was worth having to always share the Eiffel Tower with throngs of people.

The Pantheon has a large number of famous people entombed there.  It also has gorgeous domes to inspire, should you look up.

Ditto Les Invalides, where Napoleon is entombed directly below this glorious dome:

And, of course, a quick run through The Louvre to see the highlights, including my favorites:

The Nike of Samothrace (Winged Victory) is my favorite piece in the Louvre.  And check out that dirty girl Psyche . . . . she got around! That’s her with Cupid in marble, and with Hermes in Bronze.  I love how she makes Hermes’ toes curl!  We also spent a little time in Musee d’Orsay, where I got to introduce my son to Dante and Virgil in Hell by Bouguereau. No pics allowed in the galleries, but this work screams to be experienced up close, anyway.

I was unexpectedly impressed with the Musee Rodin.  Wow.  I’d never really been very interested in his work–I certainly am now.  I can’t wait to go back and stroll through the gardens a little more leisurely.

I’d like to return to sweet Hotel du Nord when I have time to ride one of their bikes along the Canal St. Martin (or maybe use Velib when the US finally gets around to having Chip and Pin credit cards–but that’s another tale) And maybe if I’m really lucky, I’ll get to plan a trip around Pour l’Amour du Fil.

Care to come along?

A few weeks back, I was in Rudesheim, Germany, just days before

How do I do that?  Don’t answer that!  This time it’s just because I just don’t pay attention to international shows–because otherwise I would have changed my trip around to attend this one!  In any case, I fell in love with Rudesheim.  My son and I spent a day cycling through the vineyards along the Rhine. It was truly inspiring. I now want to spend more time along the Rhine when I can cycle a little more leisurely–and perhaps enjoy the wine, too!

And Cologne!  Wow!  The Cathedral is enormous.  We climbed the 500+ spiral stairs to the stop of one of the spires–making me think twice about my lack of fear of heights. I was thrilled to finally see Gerhard Richter’s controversial window–a modern interpretation of traditional stained glass.  My camera just couldn’t do it justice.

Some German friends recommended we go take a stroll through Frankfurt’s Palmengarten–an incredible botanical garden complex.  We initially planned to just stop by to humor them, but ended up spending nearly an entire day there.  By the time we left, all of the other things we had planned to do were closed for the day–but we really didn’t mind.

"Life is Short, Art is Long"--Goethe (Goethe Gardens, Palmengarten)

Oh, Germany!  I had no idea I would love you so much!  But I should have phoned ahead and let you know I was coming.  Maybe I could have found an open fabric store in my serendipitous strolling of your streets.

I did love your quilt magazines.  Good thing I brought an extra bag to haul them home with me!

And what do you think Tim Gunn would have to say about this look (in a small shop in Wiesbaden). My daughter calls it “Booblashes.”

Coming Soon:  To Paris!  To Paris!  Mais bien sur!

So what have I been up to lately?  Plenty!  Kid Number 2 graduated from HS.  In our house, rather than throw a big graduation bash, we head off on a European adventure.  Last year Kid #1 and I hit the streets of Paris.  Kid #2 and I had a little bigger trip.  And so, to the quilty-ish part of our tour.

Amsterdam is my new favorite city.  I really had no idea it was so beautiful.  And peaceful (although that might be a result of the nice smells wafting out from the coffee houses . . .)

I adored strolling around, enjoying all of the wonky architecture along the canals.

We found exactly one colorful house inside the Singelgracht (outermost canal in the older part of the city.)  There may have been more, but I’m sure there must be historic restrictions.  And this one was on a small alley.  And right on the #5 Tram line, just a few steps away from Koninklijk Palace and Nieuwe Kerk . . . .

Birdblocks Quilt Shop!  I passed by on the tram a few times on our way to and from our hotel before I was able to finally stop in during regular business hours.  Merel (Mrs. Scissors!) was there with a smile–and some gorgeous colorful yardage!

Next door, there is a sweet, upscale traditional Dutch fabric store.

I tried to find some of the market fabric vendors that I read about in advance online, but didn’t have much luck.  Nor did I have enough time to pursue them too heartily.

Being avid cyclists, my son and I really enjoyed all of the bicycles–although we didn’t ride anywhere in the city.  We’re saving that for our return trip.  I do believe I will be going back to The Netherlands.  Next Up:  Deutschland!

Gorgeous Crazy Eights by Bits ‘n Pieces quilt using Anna Maria Horner Good Folks:

And a yummy purple/lime/black & white flying geese star featuring some of my own favorite Jason Yenter dragonfly fabrics:

And a gorgeous scrap quilt she made for her daughter:

There’s also a visiting quilt-in-progress.  Larisa Key’s Fat Quarter Frolic in Patty Young’s Flora & Fauna:

Quilty visitors are always welcome to come play with fabric at my house!

I never wanted to admit it, but this quilt is forcing me to come to terms with my middle-aged eyesight.  Ott Light and funky reading glasses to the rescue!  Anything to keep me from having to ask my kids to thread needles for me.

I’m glad they finally made it up there, because I was spending a little too much time with them and starting to doubt myself.  All it took was seeing them on display, and I fell in love in a whole new light.

This is the first time I have had anything on display (with the exception of the permanent installment of the West Lafayette Public Library’s Leaf Quilt) in 10 years.  It’s a little scary, but I’m really happy with the results.

My in-house graphic artist, Kiwibug, did a great job as usual on the promotional material.

Now I’m back to piecing little green hexies.  And I already have a concept for my next series work.  I might just be a quilter after all.

Happy New Year, all!

Seating is limited at my house, so the kids (even the grown up kids) get big floor pillows and sprawl all over the place.  Curling up under quilts has become part of the evening, and  a few years back I set a goal for myself to have a new quilt each year for friends to cuddle up with as we enjoy the evening’s poetry.  This year makes three quilts I have finished “for the party.”  It has proven to be the only way that I make myself new quilts–but I’ve done it!   Now I just need to figure out what selection of poetry I will recite.

The only quilt I’m making for Christmas this year will be put under the tree with my own name on it.   Sorry, everybody else!

I’ve had this pattern from Bit ‘n Pieces sitting around for quite some time, along with two big FQ packs of Woodstock by Isadora Phoenix for Benartex.

I was about 2/3 of the way through the quilting two days ago when I ran out of the wonderful King Tut “Shekels” (#985) thread I’d been using.   So after finishing up my quick little feeling-sorry-for-myself dance, I got online and ordered some more directly from Superior Threads. My hope of finishing this up before Christmas was nearly lost–I didn’t really think it was worth paying for “Extreme Measures” shipping.  And St. George, Utah is pretty far away from Indiana.

But what to my what to my wondering eyes should appear . . . in my mailbox a little more than 48 hours later?   A Superior package!

With Superior Thread!  I love this stuff–their colors are gorgeous.  Speaking of color–did you notice my purple Christmas tree?  It was a gift from that chromo-indulgent husband of mine.  Border’s have them in their stores this year.  I secretly wanted one, but didn’t think I should spend the money on it.  Mr. Wonderful couldn’t resist when he found them 50% off one day a few weeks ago!

He even let me put Captain Kathryn Janeway at the helm.  I think she just ordered me to get back to work on the quilt.