Thursday, August 8, 2013

FFF - There's No Place Like Home - Alice Payne

Happy Friday!

This is a busy post and I hope there is something for everyone.

I received an incredible Birthday gift from my beloved friend Mary;  The Alice Payne Album Quilt:


And here we are.  We've been close friends and confidants for over 20 years.


This quilt was purchased at America Hurrah in New York City on May 9, 1996.   It has been published in the 1997 Engagement Calendar and the American Life Magazine.

This is one of my favorite blocks.  It has a reversed appliquéd tiny eye and disintegrating black chain stitching from the beak.


This strawberry block has a center inscription that says:
"Jan 2 1856
Alice M Payne
her quilt in the 21 year of her age"


This block has the inscription:
"It is finish
It is finish 1858"


It was made in Pennsylvania, which makes me wonder of she was German.  I love the Bullseye block too.


Here is the setting behind our eating area in the kitchen.


And this is photo taken in natural light.


I had my first luncheon with NJ quilt friends on Wednesday.  Now it really feels like home here in CT.


Among the lovely housewarming gifts I received was a solar powered dancing butterfly and this ceramic snail that Norma (pictured behind me on the right) made.  I've named him Mr. Slugworth from the Willy Wonka movie.


For the foodies, I made this Loaded Baked Potato salad.  You can click HERE for the recipe.



Next time I'll share how I prepared the antique quilt for hanging.

Hope you had a fun week and have a wonderful weekend!


43 comments:

Janet O. said...

What a jaw-dropping gift, Barb! My goodness, that is some friendship!!
What fun garden gifts, too. I love Mr. Slugworth--great name. : )
As for the loaded salad, it looks loaded. How many would that bowl serve--just me?

Angie said...

Amazing quilt - how lovely! How lucky you are to have long-time quilting friends!

Donna~~ said...

Gosh, what a wonderful quilt! (And such a nice place to hang it too.) And best of all, how wonderful to have had a good friend for 20 years. Lucky you!

libbyquilter said...

omg~!!~you lucky Lucky LUCKY girl~!! to have a good friend for 20 years is priceless and that is one gorgeous album quilt. i tried to pick a favorite block but they are all fabulous in some way. what fun to think about who Alice was and what she was like. i'd venture to say that she was thrilled to have this piece finished: "It is finish
It is finish 1858"

:-)
libbyQ

Janet said...

WHAT A GIFT!!! Wow!! It looks marvelous in your kitchen. Each block is so interesting. I love the block with the little bird. Signed and dated too - what a treasure! What a treasure to have such a good friend too :0)

baukje said...

What a gorgeous gift she gave you. The colors are so lovely and so are the patterns. I really LOVE it. Do you remember we , month ago, 'talked' about the remembrance quilt you made for your beloved mother. I cannot find the blogpost. I made a small remembrance quilt for my parents and I want to link to your post about the quilt you made for your mother. Could you give me the link please...

Every Stitch said...

What a simply glorious gift and it looks superb hanging there! Many happy returns :)
Hilda

Mayleen said...

What a wonderful gift! The quilt looks great hung in your dining room.

I always enjoy reading about your quilting friends get-togethers because of the wonderful food, table settings and fun you seem to have!

Jan said...

Barb, this post really makes me smile. First, what a beautiful photo of you and Mary! From my many conversations with her, I know it made her more happy to give it to you than you were to receive it. She brought that quilt to show me right before I moved away and that's when they shared the block patterns with me. You know which block is my favorite...the one I've made for the center of my basket quilt! It looks absolutely fabulous hanging on your wall...I'm looking forward to your post on how you hung it.
It sounds like you're getting settled nicely in CT!

fiberchick said...

What an extraordinary gift! That quilt is just so beautiful and looks gorgeous in your home. What a great friend you have and what a great friend you must be!

Rachaeldaisy said...

Oh my golly that quilt is just amazing!! What a special gift from Mary!! It's definitely gone to the perfect home and looks wonderful hanging in your dining area. My favourite block is the one above the Eagle block. I love the way it's full of leafy branches and the bird is such a wonderful shape. It's great to see you having good times with friends!!

Kyle said...

You showed two incredible gifts. .. A beyond description quilt and the long lasting gift of friendship. Both remarkable.

Me and My Stitches said...

What an amazing quilt that you will cherish forever! And obviously such a great friendship :)

Julierose said...

What an absolutely gorgeous quilt! A treasure for sure...hugs Julierose

audrey said...

Oh I love this quilt! It's so intriguing that you can look at it forever and see new things. You have a wonderful friend.:)

Beth said...

Fantastic quilt and it looks perfect in your new home.
Looks like you and your friends had a great time together.
Always good to get the point that you can have people over. LOL

Ruth said...

What a gorgeous quilt! You are so lucky to be able to look at it whenever you sit down to eat - or pass by the eating area! It's so cheerful!

Tonya Ricucci said...

wow amazing gift and it looks fabulous in your new home. really sweet friends - the snail is great too.

Nifty Quilts said...

How wonderful!!! Happy birthday to you. I'm sure your friend knows that no one would appreciate and care for this quilt more than you.

Thimbleanna said...

WOW -- what a wonderful gift Barb! It couldn't go to a better home -- we know you'll take the best care of it!

Lori said...

What a wonderful gift and is perfect for you!!

Dawn said...

A stunning quilt, and I think it's great you can enjoy it daily. Glad you are settling in and had a visit from friends.
Very fun Friday post.

Sue said...

Fantastic gift and so pleased your settling in to your new life.

Linda in NC said...

Incredible birthday gift, indeed! Happy birthday to you. May your CT roots grow quickly and deeply.

Kim said...

Happy birthday to you! What a stunning quilt! It looks fabulous hanging! How exciting to have a group of quilty friends already! I need to get out and find some here!

Jan said...

How incredible! At first, I thought your friend made a wonderful replica & then I was gobsmacked - as you must have been!
Happy for you - the quilt looks grand on your wall.

O'Quilts said...

My heart is sooo happy with this post. I remember visiting American Hurrah so many times...I loved it, and now you have a quilt from there. This is a very very good post. Congrats.

Sue-Anne said...

What a treasure to be given! You must have a very special friendship. Your garden treasures are cute too.

OPQuilt said...

I've had fun reading over your blog for the last few posts, feeling like I've been transported from one place to another, living through your move in quicktime.

I'm glad you are settled, and that your birthday was as lovely as it looks. The gift of that quilt is such a tribute to your friendship--and such a wonderful thing to have hanging in a new house. It's really wonderful. Fun also to have a get together with friends to really make a house feel like a home.

Happy Birthday!

Vicki said...

What an amazing gift! You're blessed to have such special friends in your life - that the greatest gift!

Carrie P. said...

Oh, my goodness! what an stupendous gift you received. Thanks for sharing it.

OTquilter said...

I'm so glad you posted about the beautiful Alice Payne quilt. It really suits you and you've found the perfect place for it! I think I'd have a hard time focusing on breakfast! XO

Wendy said...

Mary is one of the most generous women I know. What a lovely gift!

Laura said...

Beautiful quilt, but more importantly what a beautiful friend!!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

I have chills looking at that gorgeous quilt! How lovely to have a close friend like that, she knows what you love!
I love how it is in a well used spot so you can see it all the time and think of her!
Sorry I forgot your birthday, happy birthday!

Kat McNally said...

Hi Barb,
Hope you're travelling well and 2013 has been good to you so far. What beautiful quilts!
I'm just popping in to let you know about a little #reverb-like blog challenge my friend Meredith and I are offering from August 21 to 31. It's called August Moon and it looks all set to be magic!
We'd be so excited if you joined us. You can find out more here: http://www.katmcnally.com/p/august-moon-13.html
Take care,
Kat xx

Vivian said...

It honestly looks as if that quilt was meant to be in your home. The depth of a quilting friendship couldn't be more clearly demonstrated than by such a precious gift. As mentioned in previous comments, I thought maybe it was a replica. But to receive the actual antique --wow !!
May it give endless years of smiles to you and your house guests.

Diane said...

What a stunning gift! That Mary is a GREAT friend!! The quilt looks perfectly at home where you've hung it. I'm sure the quilter would be pleased. It's always nice when I special quilt finds someone who truly appreciates it! Enjoy!!

Meredith said...

Quilters are the best that is what I think it says on my last blog post. I was teaching a friend how to blog she kept trying to add new posts but was creating new blogs, since the new set up I had to double check myself. Thanks for the comment.

The quilt is lovely. Quilters are great people.

Kim said...

Oh wow what a beautiful gift!
Now don't you think you should have a sew along and we'll all remake this quilt one block at a time after you study it and make a pattern for us all to follow? Hey let me know if you need any other ideas for you to do a lot of work for your blog followers okay? :0). Enjoy your wonderful Birthday gift, I do think it looks divine the way you have it hung!

Happy Sewing

Karen said...

That quilt has "come home". It does look like it was meant to be there always. So happy for you. And glad you had some friends from home visit.

Rose Marie said...

A gift of an antique quilt would just leave me speechless! A gorgeous quilt from a wonderful friend and it looks fantastic in your dining room!

Karen said...

How did I miss this post! I am drooling over your gifted quilt. It is wonderful. It would make a nice pattern.