PRACHTIG!

Yes, for me - the past week was PRACHTIG! (My fluency in Dutch has a long way to go) BEAUTIFUL!
Friends, Fun, Fabric and Fun.

If you have followed my blog since I began, you know I have had an interest in Dutch fabrics since the 1990's.  I used to travel to Amsterdam for work. Dutch Fabrics was a favorite stop. I have completed a few of their quilts from the last two books.

Imagine my delight last year when I invited them to visit Minnesota and they accepted!  Petra Prins and Judith Ebbelaar visited Minnesota on their recent USA trip.

We had originally reserved an appointment to the storage room in Lincoln Nebraska at the International Quilt Study Center. With a change of plans that had to be cancelled. We were unable to make it to the Iowa Quilt Museum either. Darn flu and March weather!

We did have fun.
Velma the decided to come out of hiding.

She LOVED the ladies and a few times had to go into her own room for a nap in the sun to leave us in peace.

Maybe she wanted us to look out the window at the deer?
Or pet her instead of beautiful fabrics?

Yes, the deer came out and made an appearance.

Early morning or at dusk, they come out to raid the feeders...they are definitely suburban deer.






After a rest, we spent some time pulling things out of the vault to examine.

This is Petra and Judith looking at an antique quilted piece out on the tables.

These are study pieces, so yes - touching and examining with care is encouraged.  We wash our hands frequently to remove any oils or soil to protect the fabrics.  I do have gloves for others pieces.

Petra fabrics are printed with high quality and fine attention to detail.

We used a magnifier to compare examples.

I love this fine, fine dot in the Dutch Heritage line and plan to order more color ways of it.  See link above to order. (or on my blog side bar)
If you have any questions please let me know. The postage is always less and they only charge exact postage.

We looked at Petra's quilts from her trunk show.

All lovely!!

I had seen some of the original antique quilts, and photos in books. It was a special treat to see them in person and have Petra tell me about reproducing them.

Examining the use of fabrics and placement of color.

How beautiful!!

An extra special treat for me, Petra brought the antique "Conversation" quilt.

We placed the two quilts side by side on the sofa.

What a delight to see the two quilts side by side.

I was so enthralled I forgot to take a photo of Petra with the quilt.

Petra's Quiltmania Quilt Along

I even held the quilt and looked a the conversation prints in detail.  Later we got out some of my antique conversation prints and I shared some with Petra.

Fun.

I really like how my Hexy Stars quilt colors blend with the
Dutch Heritage fabrics.


Lovely hand piecing.

Judith enjoying some fun (sick? ya, sure!!!)

After some relaxing and fun, we did leave the house!

Remember, fabric, fun and food!!

There was shopping.

The evening they were expecting 12" of snow in Northfield, we went to Reproduction Fabrics to shop and visit Margo.

Margo shared the artwork for her new lines coming out soon - fun to see! She also gifted us with some of her new paper products that use artwork from her Dargate fabrics.


Let's just say...a bags of fabric came home with us.

We had lunch at a cute cafe on Main Street.

On the way back to the cities we stopped at Eagle Creek Quilt Shop and shopped the sale and regular

fabrics. Imagine the laughs when we found sale bolts in the bathroom...

There was time for sewing, as we heard the snow warning - well, the snow never came.

We looked at the original and reproduction and variations of the Noah and Matilda Quilt.

Just a light dusting of snow the second to the last morning.

There were meals here. Including some local specials, wild rice chicken soup and 

Minnesota Hot Dish.

We had a lovely meal out at a favorite Italian restaurant.

We enjoyed some spicy food with margaritas.

(Let's just say that is not my hand, however I enjoyed one too)

I had a mini class from Judith on a new to me appliqué technique.

Great fun!  I understand Gerda does her hexagons by creasing first.

I was so fortunate to be gifted with this beautiful c.1850 Dutch

Tape Measure. I plan to research the makers mark and will 

post about it later this year.

Thank you for this treasure!!!

Thank you for the many happy memories.

Also, this wonderful hat from Marken for my ladies bonnet collection.

Painting by Rudolf Possin, Markem Museum

Here you can see the lace addition.

The style of the hair is just as important as the bonnet.

Thank you Petra and Judith for taking time from your vacation

schedule to visit from Washington DC to Minneapolis! Read more about

their travels on their blogs.

SO many happy memories made!!

Happy Stitching,

Dawn