Picture "Published"! Mermaids

How cool is this... way back in March, I posted about some quilts made by my friend in PA - Amish and More Quilts.  She is totally amazing and has made some beautiful quilts.  Well, I received an email about it - 

Dear Astrid,
I write to you on behalf of the International Menno Simons Center Foundation at Witmarsum, Frysl n, The Netherlands.
We have seen this picture in your blog and would like to use it on the front cover of a little recipe book on Mennonite historical traditional food. The year 2011 is a special year for the Mennonites, because Menno Simons died 450 years ago and more commemorations in the Dutch Mennonite Conference take place. The International Menno Simons Center is organizing the reflection Path from Pingjum to Witmarsum, where Menno Simons was born and left the Roman Catholic Church in 1534.
One of the projects is 'Doperse diaspora', (Mennonite diaspora) for what we would like to publish this small recipe booklet. My question for you is: would you permit us to use the picture for the recipe booklet?

Of course I had to check with HJ, and she said no problem - but wanted them to know she didn't design it, she used a pattern.  She did ask for a copy if they used it and so they sent us BOTH one!

So even though I don't know any Dutch, some of these recipes might be worth translating! 

On another note, the mermaids are pretty much done, I just have to accessorize them and then finish the borders and "fluff".

We were at the lake this weekend so I also took some time out to read.   Oh well, back to the real world.

Some of the tree have already started to change colour, can't wait to go back!

Amish and More Quilts

Amish farming is hard work!

This is still in Lancaster, but taken at our last girls weekend.  I think the open buggies with children in them are the best, but this one went right by the house we were staying in.

 Here are some more of HJ's quilts, I think this one might just be my favorite.  I love the colours of fall and the leaves on this quilt are only sewn down the middle so they "flap"!  Love it!











How cute are her jars of fruits and veggies?  Although I'm thinking they may be better filled with chocolate and candy for my house!

  

Looking back, I really should have written down the the type of quilts they were when she was telling us.  So, if you're interested, I'll find out.

This is only a portion of what HJ has made, many have been given away and I didn't take pictures of every one she had there.  


HJ helped me finish a gift for my BFF while we were there, but I still need to get the hanging supplies before I give it to her and show it.  She did a fantastic job and even though she asked if I wanted to do it, I was lacking in confidence.  It sure looked easy, but we'll see how it looks when I try it!

 

Another fabulous weekend and we are already planning our next one!  I think some antique shopping is in our future too.

Quilts and a finished SAL!

After the quilt show, after lunch at Good 'N Plenty, after shopping at the Amish and/or Mennonite quilt shops, after spending the night in Lancaster, after shopping at some of the outlet stores, and finally, after another quilt shop and then lunch... we finally headed back to HJ's!  
HJ retired in December and moved to Pennsylvania from Virginia.  She moved next to her son and his family, into the nicest little house which has a HUGE craft/quilting room.  
She might be in the middle of nowhere, but she's in her own world here!

Here she is, showing her stuff.  She has made some beautiful quilts and I'll show you more on my next post.  Bet you didn't know that animals love shoes too!

 

I met DJ & Marie today to do some stitching and finally finished my first Margaret Sherry cat! I think my problem was that I was trying to make it look more like Max and couldn't quite get it right. Although it looks like there is a stain to the left of the cake, there is something wrong with the camera, not the fabric! 

I'm not sure if Max really cares for it, or maybe he's just interested in the cake!