My Paula Nadelstern Top

This is how to spend a cold winter day! I couldn't wait to get these blocks together and I LOVE it! The photo doesn't show it quite square, but it will be when I quilt it and hang it properly. I think I'll do that in FL in March.

I didn't mention, for you non-quilters, why it is a puzzle quilt. There are 6 repeat blocks made with the same pattern pieces, but using different fabrics in the blocks. There are 16 (I know I said 25, but that was not correct. Guess I couldn't count ... or type. I was probably thinking about the other designs that are still running around in my head!) blocks and I made 2 blocks twice and 4 blocks 3 times each. That was a huge challenge because they had to go into one quilt and I had such a variety of fabrics. I didn't buy ALL new fabrics as I have quite a stash already. I think that's why I'm so pleased with the end ... almost ... result.

I haven't heard if the new babies are here across the street, but I have to do their "I Spy" first. Allison was scheduled for a "C" section today.

If you want to see the individual blocks up close, check out my previous blog. I labeled the blocks so you can see which blocks use the same pattern pieces. I did change the one block 6 so it is pieced as the other one ... a change from the Nadelstern block 6, but still using the same pattern pieces. I just oriented half the block differently because I liked the way the center looked.

Puzzle Quilt

When I went to my first quilt workshop in the early 1980's, I agonized about what fabrics I should bring. Did I have the “right” ones for the project? Was there enough variety? What did the teacher have in mind? I probably had more questions and I expressed my frustration to a classmate. She said she never fussed over that because she just concentrated on learning the technique. From there on I adopted her view. And it worked.

Until I took Paula Nadelstern’s puzzle class. I bought the “perfect” fabric ... until I worked with it. I used the fabric and certainly learned the technique, but it just didn’t work. See? I matched most of the parts, except for that one center block, which I didn’t notice until I posted this picture. But that wasn’t the problem.

Paula kept telling us that “more is better” and she was right! The more blocks I made, the prints I used became smaller and not as large as in this first block. These are puzzle block # 5.








So I’m using these 2 and the first one I made will be a pillow. Next I became obsessed with all the possibilities. These are so addictive! This was my next block and the camera came in very handy. The blue corners did not work for me, but I like the corners now.




Can you believe it? This is the same block pattern as the one above! Yes, the exact same pattern pieces were used in block # 3. The blocks are from Paula’s Puzzle Book. There are 6 blocks in the book and Paula has us making 2 of each. And then I was off and running ... well, that’s stretching it. I’ve never been known to do anything fast, but slow and steady was my way.



Next came block # 1:





And then block # 4:








And I never noticed that I turned one of the parts the wrong way on this until a couple of weeks later. See it in the lower left corner? I’m so glad it was not in the middle!




Block 6:





There. Done. Now to find a sashing. I went to Patricia’s House of Fabric’s because I knew my daughter, Cindy, was taking a class there so I’d take a peek at her work and have help picking out the fabric. Cindy had already gone home (I thought the class ended at 4, but it was 1). Pat Pauly was still there so I laid out my 12 blocks and she ohh’d and ahh’d appropriately and we picked out a purple batik. Chuck was also there when Pat said, “Have you thought about making it a square?” I hadn’t, but Chuck thought it was a great idea. So in 1 week I made these 4 extras:







So now all I have to do is put the sashing and cornerstones with all these blocks and quilt it. It isn't as polished as Paula's quilts, but she has done many more of these, but I really like the blocks.

Please don't hold your breath waiting for the finished product as my next quilt is another "I Spy" for a new baby and that will preceed this one.

Renate Neeman

It was a perfect day today. First, the sun shone and that is so welcome after all the snow and gloom we've had. Next it was a quilt club day and that's always a wonderfully inspiring day. Then I met Renate and last ... I picked up my wedding ring. I took it off to knead my stollen and had a difficult time getting it off. It seems I have arthritis in the ring finger knuckle & then when I finished the kneading, I couldn't get it back on. So off to the jeweler to get it enlarged ... and they found that I needed the prongs repaired, too. Since it was Christmas, it took longer. It looks like a shiny new ring.



Here I am with Renate Neeman. Thanks, Ulla, for putting us together. It was such a pleasant visit ... about 2.5 hours. We did not run out of stories to tell each other. We both came upon our history recently so it was interesting to compare notes. Renate, also, was not as aware of all the historical drama as she was shielded. Renate is older than I am, but she was in Germany during the war so her story is different than mine but she felt she was sheltered with family & then a family that nurtured her when she went to Amsterdam, she did not feel like she had a difficult life.

Renate gave me a copy of the manuscript translation that her mother wrote shortly after they arrived in the states and I will read that tonight. I understand a Weinberg is mentioned, but after talking to Renate, I'm not sure it's a relative. The English version is scheduled to be published in the spring by Ulla. Renate had the German version of the book that has the memoirs in it and showed it to me. It seems Renate's cousin met Ulla because the cousin is in the book where I'm mentioned. After the book was published former school mates contacted Renate, just like our press conference. I love the connections!

It was wonderful to meet Renate today. I'm sure we will meet again.

Weinberg Saga Continues

Last night, a little before 6 P. M. the phone rang. If I'd had an clue what this phone call would be about, I would have taped it or taken notes. The woman introduced herself (I'll put it in my blog after I ask her if it is alright & for now I'll call her R. N.) and told me she got my name from Ursula Bernhold. I remember Ulla asking me if it was OK if she gave my information to her. Of course I accepted. Especially since she had some of my family history.

When I asked how she got the information, she chuckled and said it was kind of convoluted. (That sounds like how I got my history.) It seems R. N.'s family is Jewish, from the Wesermarch area and managed to escape. I think she said they hid in Amsterdam(?). Sometime after the war they came to the U. S. Sometime after that R. N.'s mother wrote her memoirs and when she died R. N. received all her things, including the memoirs which were mixed up with the rest of the items. R. N. didn't know they were there. So they, like Opa's writings, languished somewhere.

In 2002 R. N. was going through all those things and found the memoirs. After reading it she asked her cousin who lives in (Oldenburg?) Germany if she would like a copy and the cousin said yes. The cousin was familiar with Ulla's research and asked Ulla if she was interested. Ulla was and these are slated to be part of a book that is expected to be published in the spring. But R. N. has a partial English translation and has offered that to me now.

I finally had the sense to asked R. N. where she was calling from and she said Buffalo! That's right around the corner! I don't know if she is going to send them or give them to me when I meet her on Jan. 14. It seems she has a doctor here that she visits once a year! I'm so excited to meet her.

And the reference to Weinberg? It seems Opa (perhaps Dad) was offered a political position in Brake, but only if he would become baptized. He refused.

Now I'm so curious about all the new found information. Stay tuned, as surely there will be more!

Working on ...

Just before Christmas I was asked what I was working on and couldn't tell because it was for my brother (who has quite a few cowboy boots and coyotes rooming in his area) & sister-in-law. They called and thanked me so here they are!

I found the pattern online and apparently liked it so much I ordered it ... twice ... once about 3 years ago and then again this year. When I found the Christmas coyote fabric I knew I had to get busy. The directions were clear, but not easy. The stocking itself was not difficult, but the pieced front with similar sized pieces had to be carefully placed and not interchanged. I would have enjoyed templates, but that probably is not as accurate when sending the pattern online and using different printers. They were fun to make as I enjoy a challenge. I actually made 3 of them & kept one for us. There is nothing in it, but it looks good hanging at the fireplace.

Good book!

Just a quick note before we go out to dinner. I belong to a book club where we each buy a current book and then pass them around to each other. I get to read books that I may not choose. I got "Losing Mum and Pup" by Christopher Buckley and loved it! It is witty and yet reverent. I'll read other books by Christopher Buckley. Thanks!

Christmas Tree

Look at our beautiful tree! We haven't had one in 15 years ... we've decorated the house, but no tree because we have been with either of our grandchildren for Christmas. This year we have been invited to be with Cindy & Charlie.

So, now I'll tell you how we happened to get this lovely tree. We were with Paul & Lisa & Amanda & Kendra for Thanksgiving and Lisa asked me what we were doing for Christmas. I said we were staying home. Then she asked me if we would get a tree. I said that we weren't because our house was too small to have one. Lisa mentioned that there are lovely, slim, lit artificial trees available. She even pulled them up online, but nay ... too much money for a nice one ... we have plenty of decorations without one ... who needs it? End of conversation.

So I went on my merry way. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week-end with good food and wonderful visits with people in and out all week-end.

A few days after we got home the doorbell rang and it was a delivery of this big box. Chuck wanted to know what I ordered, and I hadn't. When we opened the box it was the tree ... from Lisa and Paul and is our Christmas present! It fits in our front window perfectly!

It went together perfectly and even has a remote to turn the lights on & off. I had fun digging out all our ornaments and with the empty spots I filled in with dried hydrangeas from our garden.


Then I tried to put the angel that Cindy had needlepointed for us years ago as a tree topper, but it was too heavy and kept falling down, poor thing. That's when I fashioned a few hydrangeas into a bouquet and it is light enough to stay in place. The angel sits on the valance near the tree and looks beautiful there.

Cindy put up a small tree and asked me if I wanted to borrow the tree skirt I made for her and it works ... but I'll make one for our tree in 2010. That's what I need ... another excuse to quilt. ;-)

And we like it. It won't shed and has 3 easy pieces to put together and no watering. Great way for us to have a tree.