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!
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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!
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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!
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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
35 diamond quilt pieces top
total 44 diamond quilt pieces -
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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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
Dress 19 – Failure
I imagined my life so beautiful, working and next to it my art! The perfect “work life balance”.
The feeling of having failed as a woman and wife was one thing, but now there was also the fact that I had failed in my professional life and that at the age of almost 50! I was being overtaken left and right by younger people with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I sank deeper and deeper into bitterness, self-pity, anger and envy. A constant sadness accompanied me.
My art drifted further and further away. There was only work, my couch in front of the TV and my endless tiredness. I dragged myself through the gray life.
A very lonely time!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
Sewn as a tiered skirt, quite wide at the bottom
Off-the-shoulder top
Organza sewn to the top / bottom with ribbon
35 diamond quilt pieces pieced and sewn on -
fabric
fabric
4 m cotton and synthetic fabrics for skirt and top
4 m thin fleece skirt
0.5 m batting top and cuffs
2 m organza embellishment
Total 10,5 m -
colors
colors
Different gray and black fabrics for top and bottom part
Orange for organza
Brown wooden buttons, red, white buttons -
buttons
buttons
43 buttons top
236 buttons skirt
12 buttons cuffs
Total 291 buttons -
material
material
1 hoop skirt top narrow bottom wide
3 zippers
Velcro fasteners
Dress 20 – Everything came differently
My annual employee review was coming up. I knew that my performance in the past year had been anything but optimal and far from perfect. This realization alone had almost torn me apart inside. Was there still a future in the company?
Things turned out differently! My job was split up and an additional person was hired. My tasks were now focused on the back office, no more business trips and I was allowed to reduce my work week to four days.
This was my chance!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
Sewn as a tiered skirt, quite wide at the bottom
Off the shoulder top
22 Black diamond quilt pieces pieced and sewn on
18 diamond quilt pieces sewn on from cork
4 diamond quilt pieces for gloves
Total 44 diamond quilt pieces -
fabric
fabric
4 m cotton and synthetic fabrics for skirt and top
4 m thin fleece skirt
0.5 m batting top and cuffs
0,2 m cork embellishment
Total 8,7 m -
colors
colors
Various gray and black fabrics for top and bottom pieces
Cork in light brown for diamond quilt pieces
White and brown buttons -
buttons
buttons
88 buttons top
304 buttons skirt
4 buttons cuffs
Total 396 buttons -
material
material
3 zippers
2 m silver chain for top and bottom
Velcro fasteners