When I am not quilting, I work as a scientist in environmental research. I have a doctorate in engineering and investigate environmentally friendly new ideas and developments in the energy sector. I strongly believe in making a difference and am a great advocate of education, support and encouragement of both children and adults. One day I would love to live in a world in which many children dream of becoming a researcher or scientist instead of a football star, top model or singer.

I tried my hand at many different creative hobbies, but nothing really stuck. I was fascinated by sewing, but an initial look at sewing pattern magazines really intimidated me. At some point, I started buying beautiful fabrics and a book with sewing instructions. I threw myself into the first project - a red clutch - and it actually worked! A patchwork book followed shortly thereafter and I fell head over heels in love with quilting. That was 10 years ago - since then I have been sewing quilts with unrelenting enthusiasm.

For me, it is the best hobby in the world - choosing fabrics and the creative visual process; working with clever instructions or figuring out how to create a pattern myself; the blocks as wonderful little interim results; letting loose with geometric or playful quilting designs; even the feel of the fabrics on my hands. For me, the monotony of the individual process steps is incredibly meditative. Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) is like a puzzle, trying to incorparate special details with fussy cutting shapes and images. Sewing by hand is pure relaxation - hand quilting is yoga on the sofa, ideally accompanied by a glass of good wine. English Paper Piecing (EPP) also relaxes me and is the perfect travel companion. And finally the finished quilt - either using it myself on the sofa, happily watching my children play with it, or falling asleep cuddled under it. And so often the experience of seeing the joy of the recipient of a quilty gift. I'm not good at expressing my love with words. Instead, I do it with quilts.

For many years I have been sharing insights into my work on Instagram through @quiltwerke, showing sewing tips, tutorials and enjoying the exchange with the awesome community of quilters. In 2020, I gathered my courage and turned Quiltwerke into a part-time job. I want to share my joy of quilting with others in the form of instructions and patterns for both beginner quilters and sewists, and those who love the world of quilting as much as I do. I work as a guest designer for subscription boxes with Barbara from the German shop www.das-mach-ich-nachts.com and have been writing patterns for sewing projects to go along with the subscription boxes since Autumn 2020.  Via my Instagram channel @quiltwerke and in YouTube live sessions I accompany the box release with instructions and tips about the sewing project. At the beginning of 2021 www.quiltwerke.com was born - I wrote my first quilt pattern, the Wood Tiles quilt, and set off on this new adventure. Will you join me?