Dress 11 till 20

Dress 11 – Hold out

What now! I was 40 years old. Professional life and further education stood still for years. What do you do with the rest of your life when the meaning of existence is gone! I tried to resume my crazy former life. I quit my secure job.

The cut of the skirts gets a third part, a black tight-fitting underskirt, this symbolizes the unprocessed emotions that lie deeply hidden. The top and the skirt are colorful and with a lot of exaggerated bright buttons that mask the countless disappointments.

I showed a crazy life!

 

  • sewing technique

    sewing technique

    tiered skirt as underskirt, seam allowances on the outside
    sewn to it diamond quilt piece, all small triangle pieces,
    edges sewn together with zigzag stitch and loose threads
    off-the-shoulder top, fabric quilted with free-motion quilt pattern
    belt part of the top
    simple straight pattern for the tight skirt
    32 diamond quilt pieces
  • fabric

    fabric

    6 m cotton fabric for top and the diamond quilt pieces
    4 m lining fabric for back of top and diamond quilt pieces
    2 m cotton fabric for the skirt
    1,5 m elastic cotton fabric for the underskirt
    2 m tulle
    3 m batting for the top and diamond quilt pieces
    Total 18,5 m
  • colors

    colors

    different red colors for top
    all colors of the rainbow for diamond quilt pieces
    bright red organza
    all colors except green for the threads
    black underskirt
  • buttons

    buttons

    6 bling-bling buttons top
    131 bling bling buttons skirt
    8 bling bling buttons belt
    117 buttons petticoat
    4 buttons gloves
    Total 266 buttons
  • material

    material

    Velcro fasteners
    mesh gloves for the cuffs
    Half hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces

Dress 12 – Batice

I tried to stretch my clipped wings again.

I started my small business – Batice – textile art, workshops and travel. I gave patchwork and quilting classes in a neighborhood center, accompanied textile trips through Peru, started my first quilt series and wrote a book about it. I earned almost nothing. We lived on my husband’s income.

The skirt is made of beautiful colorful fabrics. The diamond quilt pieces are like wings spreading out to fly again. The gentle breeze slowly turns into a strong wind. But the tight petticoat remains and becomes heavier and heavier.

This time reignited the life energy in me!

 

  • sewing technique

    sewing technique

    Diamond Quilt Pieces as Half Dresdner Plate Patterns
    quilted with different freehand quilt patterns
    sewn to the pleated skirt on the upper side
    daring off-the-shoulder top
    quilted different freehand quilting techniques
    simple straight pattern for the tight skirt
    17 diamond quilt pieces-Dresdner plate
    70 small diamond quilt pieces
  • fabric

    fabric

    6 m cotton fabric for top and Dresdner Plate
    1 m lining fabric for back side of top
    2 m cotton fabric for skirt
    1,5 m elastic cotton fabric for the underskirt
    1,5 m batting for top and diamond quilt pieces
    Total 12 m
  • colors

    colors

    orange, light blue and yellow backing top
    all colors except green diamond quilt pieces
    yellow, purple and different red for skirt
    black tight petticoat
    all colors except green for the threads
  • buttons

    buttons

    3 buttons top
    18 silver plated claws top
    51 buttons skirt
    27 buttons skirt hem
    136 silver plated claws skirt half Dresdner
    148 black buttons petticoat
    Total 229 buttons - 154 silver plated claws
  • material

    material

    Velcro fasteners
    white cotton gloves of my father for the cuffs
    half hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces

 

Dress 13 – money directs the way

The self-employment did me good and gave me self-confidence again. I traveled a lot in the sign of textile art, worked for big exhibitions as a “free-lancer”, sewed my own quilt series and almost finished writing the book I had started.

My heart was in art, but the financial side dictated a different path.

The moment had come for me to take another paid job. We moved to Switzerland. I started back at the bottom of the career ladder after having lived abroad for over 20 years. The transition was very difficult for me.

A beautiful skirt, which for me represents the office working day, balanced, correct, diligent, without ifs and buts. The tight-fitting petticoat became heavier.

The art had a break!

 

  • sewing technique

    sewing technique

    The skirt is made of 8 blue and
    the cape from one big diamond quilt piece
    different blue pieces of fabric sewn together
    off-the-shoulder top with two straps
    from small diamond quilt pieces
    simple straight pattern for the tight skirt
    collar and cuffs sewn and pinned together
    8 diamond quilt pieces reversed
    1 diamond quilt piece as cape
  • fabric

    fabric

    4 m cotton fabric for top, skirt, cape and diamond quilt pieces
    1 m cotton fabric as lining for back side of top and skirt
    0,5 m lining fabric for back of cape
    1.5 m elastic cotton fabric for underskirt
    3 m batting for top, diamond quilt pieces and cape
    0.5 m white cotton fabric for the collar and cuffs
    total 10,5 m
  • colors

    colors

    top, skirt and cape different shades of blue
    black underskirt
    blue, grey and white threads
  • buttons

    buttons

    30 pearls top
    36 beads skirt
    24 beads outside cape
    38 beads inside cape
    3 beads gloves + collar
    131 buttons underskirt
    Total 131 beads - 131 buttons
  • material

    material

    Velcro fasteners
    4 metal clamps for the cape
    half hoop skirt supports the skirt

 

Dress 14 – not without art

Despite the long working days, I couldn’t let it go. I needed my art to survive.

I finished my book and found my publisher in my former Dutch neighbor. For weeks and months I flew regularly to Holland on weekends. A very exhausting time, but I rediscovered in myself the fire for a certain cause. On March 7, 2011, the vernissage and book presentation followed by three weeks of exhibition took place. My art, my life, I was in seventh heaven.

The skirt is symbolic of the “little black” dress, daring, almost sexy. I can be seen again. The sash embodies success; my success in giving birth to something, not a child, but a book and a quilt series.

This moment gave me the feeling of bliss!

 

  • sewing technique

    sewing technique

    15 diamond quilt pieces are sewn together into a sash
    sewn together, pieced and quilted with meander pattern
    off-the-shoulder top with a small strap
    8 diamond quilt pieces are sewn directly to the top
    serve as skirt
    simple straight pattern for the tight skirt
    12 diamond quilt pieces top
    15 diamond quilt pieces sash
    4 diamond quilt pieces gloves
  • fabric

    fabric

    1,5 m elastic cotton top and diamond quilt pieces
    1,5 m lining fabric for backside top and skirt
    1 m cotton fabric for diamond quilt pieces
    1,5 m elastic cotton fabric for underskirt
    1.5 m batting for top, diamond quilt pieces
    0.5 white cotton fabric for the collar and cuffs
    Total 7,5 m
  • colors

    colors

    black for top and skirt
    all colors except green for sash
    black underskirt
    all colors except green for felt and wool
    all colors except green for the threads
  • buttons

    buttons

    30 beads sash
    10 beads gloves
    59 pompoms straps + skirt
    232 buttons petticoat
    Total 40 beads - 59 pompoms - 232 buttons
  • material

    material

    velcro fasteners
    wool and felt for pompoms
    black gloves

 

Dress 15 – Second choice

Reality caught up with me quickly. The office job was waiting for me again. The working world demands certificates and diplomas. Life experience is given less weight. I tortured myself through two years of in-service training. My meager free time became even less.

My relationship was crumbling. My husband had been unable to work for a while due to illness. So, in addition to work and continuing education, I took care of the household and organized everything for him. The roles were suddenly reversed. I wore the pants and tried to master our life situation. I was exhausted, sad, bitter and angry. I longed for my art. Everything I did felt like second choice.

There are sad faces hidden in the diamond quilt pieces and top. Suspenders connect each piece. It’s a spasmodic clinging of life’s ideas and circumstances. There is no freedom of movement. The red buttons symbolize the growing inner anger.

Everything felt like second choice!

 

  • sewing technique

    sewing technique

    Diamond quilt pieces are all in the shape of a
    waistband sewn
    off-the-shoulder top with two suspenders
    collar and cuffs sewn together and tucked in place
    simple straight pattern for the close-fitting skirt
    11 diamond quilt pieces
    11 zippers
    22 suspenders clips
    12 diamond quilt pieces - black underskirt
  • fabric

    fabric

    2 m cotton fabric for top and diamond quilt pieces
    2 m lining fabric for back top and skirt
    1,5 m elastic cotton fabric for underskirt
    1,5 m batting for top, diamond quilt pieces
    0,5 white cotton fabric for collar and cuffs
    Total 7,5 m
  • colors

    colors

    light, medium and dark blue for top and skirt
    white, light, medium and dark blue for collar and cuffs
    black underskirt
    white, light, medium and dark blue for the threads
  • buttons

    buttons

    121 red buttons top
    10 red buttons skirt
    5 red buttons gloves + collar
    123 gray buttons petticoat
    Total 259 buttons
  • material

    material

    Velcro fasteners
    11 zippers
    24 suspenders clips

 

Dress 16 – alone again

The circumstances of life had changed for both of us.

I had resumed my intense former life and had increasingly gone my own way. My husband also dealt with the situation in his own way. This finally resulted in irreconcilable differences. So after 20 years of marriage we had drawn the line. We bore each other no grudges. Now we both went our separate ways.

I was bitterly disappointed that we did not make it. We severed our ties. One heart became two again. I had never shed a tear over this, I had also hidden this deep inside me.

After intense days of work, I returned to an empty, cold apartment. A deep feeling of loneliness developed.

I was alone again!

 

  • sewing technique

    sewing technique

    The diamond quilt pieces sewn as a log cabin as a heart
    Simple straight pattern for petticoat
    1 Diamond Quilt Pieces Top
    8 diamond quilt pieces are sewn directly to the skirt
    2 large diamond quilt pieces for cape
    2 diamond quilt pieces for the gloves
  • fabric

    fabric

    3 m cotton fabric for top and diamond quilt pieces
    2 m lining fabric for back of top and skirt
    1,5 m elastic cotton fabric for the underskirt
    1.5 m batting for top, diamond quilt pieces
    Total 8 m
  • colors

    colors

    black, grey, red, pink for top, skirt, cape, cuffs
    black underskirt
    white, grey, black and red for the threads
  • buttons

    buttons

    71 pearls top, skirt, cape and gloves
    185 brown and gray buttons underskirt
    Total: 256
  • material

    material

    Velcro fasteners
    11 belt buckles

 

Dress 17 – Stars and stripes

I was caught up in the daily grind of work again until I received an invitation to be a guest exhibitor at the largest quilt show in the world in Houston, Texas. The joy was unbelievable and so began a memorable quilting adventure for me.

The preparations were enormous. I mobilized all my strength and my entire quilting network. So in November 2014 I presented my quilt series “This is how it started” in Houston, Texas.

I enjoyed every moment of this unforgettable exhibition – the size, the people, the art, the experiences, the sharing, new connections…my quilt world. I had the deepest sense of belonging and bliss.

Stars and stripes – a skirt in the style of glitter and glamour.

My heart was beaming!

 

  • sewing technique

    sewing technique

    off shoulder top
    88 diamond quilt pieces sash
    simple straight pattern underskirt
    20 diamond quilt pieces top
    20 diamond quilt pieces gloves
    Total 128 diamond quilt pieces
  • fabric

    fabric

    1.5 m cotton fabric top, diamond quilt pieces
    1.5 m lining fabric back top, skirt
    2 m synthetic fabric diamond quilt pieces, sash, gloves
    1,5 m elastic cotton fabric for underskirt
    2 m batting top, diamond quilt pieces
    Total 8,5 m
  • colors

    colors

    black for top
    blue, gold color for extended top
    gold color for sash
    red, blue, white shiny for stars
    black underskirt
  • buttons

    buttons

    150 glued buttons top
    181 glued buttons
    57 glued buttons gloves
    59 pompoms straps + skirt
    213 buttons petticoat
    Total 660 buttons
  • material

    material

    Velcro fasteners
    11 pins from visited quilt show

 

Dress 18 – Madame Perfect

My heart belonged to art, I realized this in Houston. Now I knew what I wanted.

I decided to change my job with the ulterior motive that I would then have more time for my art.

Full of joy I started the new job. But somehow I couldn’t concentrate and made a lot of mistakes. I liked the job very much, but nothing wanted to succeed. I was tired, worn out and disinterested. This was new for me. I didn’t know what the problem was. I tried with all my strength to keep up the perfect world.

A perfect skirt for a perfect life, right! Up close, however, is anything but perfect. The buttons are stuck and the petticoat with the hidden feelings and emotions gets bigger and heavier. Walking is difficult and you have to be very careful not to fall, as in my daily life.

The facade was crumbling!

 

  • sewing technique

    sewing technique

    Sissi skirt sewn in two layers
    diamond quilt pieces sewn to the bottom edge
    Off the shoulder top decorated with organza
    11 diamond quilt pieces top
    17 skirt
    6 underskirt
    4 gloves
    Total 38 diamond quilt pieces
  • fabric

    fabric

    4 m silver fabric, part skirt
    6 m sheer silver skirt
    6 m lining fabric for skirt
    2 m cotton for diamond quilt pieces
    4 m organza
    1,5m elastic fabric for underskirt
    2 m batting
    Total 25,5 m
  • colors

    colors

    Silver for skirt, top and gloves
    Pink for lining and decoration
    Black for the underskirt
  • buttons

    buttons

    Glued diamond buttons
    47 Skirt
    21 Top
    21 belts
    6 cuffs
    Total 89 glued buttons
    17 beads on skirt
    324 buttons petticoat
    Total 341 buttons and beads
  • material

    material

    Velcro
    hoop skirt supports the skirt

 

Skirts 19 and 20 are in progress, thank you for your patience!