Thursday, November 10, 2016

Open Quilt Surgery - STAT!!!

Hello - Warning these photos of quilt surgery may be difficult to see for more sensitive quilters.
I was all set yesterday to my equiptment outsite to photograph my Alice Payne quilt, but then it started to drizzle - darn it!
Later I realized there was a weird line on the quilt below the pink flower in the bottom corner....huh???
It appears to be inside the quilt!  you can see it a bit better in B&W.
I set up a tray of instruments - the chocolate was for stress management, just in case).
I unstitched the flower applique (so as not to disturb the quilting) and peeled it back.  The problem is gone below, as this was a re-enactment.
I used my sewing tweezers to reach down and get it out.  It came out in a few pieces.
Here is a very blurry photo of the extraction....I think the brown piece was in the seam allowance of the stem and then moved when it was washed.
All joking aside, the surgery was a success.
I still need to suture it and I'm waiting for a cloudy day to photograph.

I've been playing with my solid broken dishes since my last post.  I really wanted to pink to work.....I tried a total of 4 different shades.  I don't know - not loving it.
 I thought maybe puddy.....
 I even tried chocolate (in honor of coco) and a deep butterscotch....
Hmmmnnn......I have a new plan on the wall and will share that one soon.

Tuesday, Hanna and I worked the polls and helped over 4700 voters in our district.  It was 16 1/2 hours of election work and a long 21 hour day for both of us.
For us it was about helping the process of free elections.  How you feel about the outcome is not part of Fun With Barb - so NO comments.....please!

We decided to dry the herbs from the garden this year, so I rigged up a simple rod in this south facing window.  Looks like my Christmas Cactus is going to bloom for Thanksgiving.
We are having a lovely long and colorful fall this year.  Maybe we do every year and I just forget.
Monday evening I'll be presenting my Scrap Quilt Lecture and a Trunk Show for the Penn Oaks Quilt Guild in PA and having a visit with Kelly of Pinkadot Quilts.  Visitors are welcome to attend and I'd be happy to see you - here is their website.

xo

45 comments:

Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts said...

Lovely post - and I appreciate your Fun with Barb comment rule;). The solid broken dishes are so graphic - can't wait to see what you do with them. It will be stunning! I agree - this fall has been outstanding.

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Oh my goodness, you scared me! Glad you quilt survived. Your swap blocks look amazing (as do mine) and I can't wait to see what you do with them! Looking forward to your visit!

Janet O. said...

I am so relieved that the patient lived!! But I have to say, for stress management I choose a higher grade chocolate. *LOL* I tease my Mom over her love of Hershey's chocolate, telling her that compared to some it is like brown wax. But, to each his own. : )
With colors that bold I would probably try black or navy, but that is a far cry from the pink you originally wanted.
I used to be a poll worker for decades. Then just 3 or 4 years ago our county went to mail-in ballots. I miss poll work.
I am holding my breath that my Christmas Cactus will at least bloom by Christmas. No sign of buds at this point. What color is yours?

Linda Swanekamp said...

I have taken out my broken dishes blocks a number of times and can't figure anything out. Can't wait to see your solution.

Judy in Michigan said...

I bought a little Christmas cactus today - it has many blooms on it. Hope I don't kill it before Christmas - my last cactus bloomed for a few years and then I killed it (I guess). I'm dangerous (I guess). Glad your quilt survived the surgery. It's a beauty!!

Cheryl Lynch Quilts said...

I hope to make it Monday night and do a little shopping with you on Tuesday๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ‘

Chantal said...

You have the steady hand of a brain surgeon. Happy to hear Alice is on the mend and all is good now. Phew! That was a close call. (X^D) I love the butterscotch fabric the best. It reads almost like cheddar on my computer and that would be a great choice too, I think. Whether it is a regular Fall or an extended one, enjoy the colourful leaves while you can because where I am, they have all blown away! ;^)

rondiquilts said...

You crack me up! Both of my cactus have buds. One I've had for several years, the other is new to me so I'm excited to see what color it will be.

Rondi

Rachaeldaisy said...

Oh I was nervous about your AP quilt but I should have known everything would be okay when you're there to save the day. It's fun to see you broken dishes experiments. I know you'll wow us with the result. I always love seeing your window scapes, those herbs are so pretty and your cactus knows it's job is to flower at Christmas. Such beautiful fall colours.

Karen said...

I have has a loose thread or two that I have had to remove from beneath after a quilt was done. I used a needle and worked it out that way. Cute post, Barb

Unknown said...

You are so funny. Great post!

Phyllis said...

That quilt was in the best of hands with Dr. Barb and it looks like the surgery was a success :-))!

Donna said...

Beautiful quilt! Thank you so much for not allowing political commentary on your quilt blog! I could not believe all of the quilt blogs commenting on the election! Even if I agree with your point of view, I don't want to know!!! I read quilt blogs for quilting stories and I will read the news for political and election coverage! Thank you again!!!!!

Quilting Babcia said...

Happy to see your quilt was able to be surgically repaired and didn't require chemotherapy! Both of our Christmas cactus plants bloomed for Halloween, then again around Valentines Day. They have also changed color of the blooms since we bought the first one, it was a lovely unusual peach color when we first saw it, now the flowers are cream with pink stamens.

Unknown said...

LOL!! This post really made me smile! Your quilt is just beautiful!!

The Cozy Quilter said...

So glad that surgery was a success! You are a skilled surgeon! I have not started to play with my broken dishes yet. They will have to wait until the Christmas sewing is done.

christine said...

Congratulations, Dr Barb. The patient seems to have fared well. I have not even looked at my swap blocks...definitely a '17 project. I would love to come back to Penn Oaks, my old guild, to hear you Monday but I will be in MD not PA. But then again, if my daughter has her baby over weekend & I can slip away.....

Barbara said...

Great post, Barb! Happy to hear the surgery was a success :) Can't wait to see what you come up with for your solid Broken Dishes blocks. Knowing you, it will be fantastic! Thanks for your Election Day service! Dried herbs look so nice hanging in the window. And, yes, it's been a beautiful fall :)

Jean Etheridge said...

I enjoyed reading this, and I love your sense of humor! Thanks for a good read!

Wendy Caton Reed said...

So happy to hear the patient survived the operation! Great work Dr. Vedder! You are the third person who has told me their Christmas cactus is blooming for Thanksgiving. I looked this morning and sure enough mine is budding too. Wonder why??? Looking forward to the Broken Dishes reveal. Have a great day.

Quilter Kathy said...

OMG you are hysterical! I laughed right out loud seeing that photo of you with a mask on!
So glad the surgery was successful, but now... how will the recovery process be???
Do you think the patient is up for paparazzi just yet?!?

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I just about choked on my cereal when I got to the photo of you with the surgical mask. LMAO!

Chantal said...

Oh my goodness! Surgery on that beauty must have been stressful. So glad it worked out well in the end. It must have been fun working the election with your daughter! What are those bushes called in your garden that are so brilliantly red? They are all over here too and I said to my hubby we need to plant some.

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

You are so brave! But I would have had to see what I could do about it also. I noticed a piece of yarn coming thru to the front of Baltimore Garden from the trapunto yesterday. Need to get the ladder out and give it a tummy tuck today.

Kyle said...

Your post was a real hoot! Your surgical skills are so keen and so precise from years of training. Another quilt saved. Way to go, Dr. Barb!

Ruth said...

It seems like the fall leaves are so lovely this year - and I think, every year, Even when lots of them have already fallen, the trees look beautiful! Even DH mentioned that they are prettier this year, but like you, we probably forget that we said the same thing last year! I'm happy to keep politics out of blogging.

CecileD said...

You succeeded in this delicate surgery Dr Barb ! Great job ! your patient didn't cry and it is safe !
I'm going to play with my swap blocks too and thank you for the pink fabric ! I love it :))
I wish you a lovely weekend!
Xoxo

Linda in NC said...

You are too funny! Glad the surgery was a success. Did you have to break out the emergency instrument in the brown wrapper?

Anonymous said...

Thank you for being a good citizen and assisting with our free elections......AND for asking for "no comments" about the results. We've all heard enough about that. Your quilt is beautiful and your surgery skills are as excellent as your quilting. :-)

Janet said...

I'm glad the surgery was a success. I'd never think of something like that working itself loose in the wash! Your fall color is glorious! Wish I could come to your lecture and trunk show...

Linda O said...

Haha, such a funny post!! Glad surgery was successful, and thankful you had the emergency chocolate available, just in case! :) Looking forward to seeing what you decide for the wonderful broken dishes blocks. My Christmas cactus doesn't even have a bloom yet, so we'll see if anything happens in a month or so.

O'Quilts said...

Oh what a lovely cheery post...thank you...

Kim said...

Why did you wear a mask? I love that quilt, so glad you could fix it.
Thank you for giving your time to help your community vote....a very important
part of being an American. Happy Sewing!

Debbie said...

I agree with Janet O, black or navy. It would give it an Amish look.

Barb said...

Thanks Synthia!

Barb said...

Thank you Jean

Barb said...

Thanks Diane

Me and My Stitches said...

I had no idea that you were such a skilled surgeon! I would go for the black or dark as well, but that's just me. What a long day at the polls for you. I am really surprised at how many people do not vote.

Lori said...

Whew! I've had that happen before and it is frustrating! Glad all went well.
Such pretty color outside your door.

Aunt 'Reen said...

LOVE...love this post Barb!
It was smart of you to have cut away the background behind the larger applique' blossoms.
Sure made that extraction a bit easier.
Congratulations and Thank You for the service you and daughter provided to voters.
Big job, long hours and wonderful patriotic gesture!

I'm looking forward to seeing the final background choice you made for your solid broken dishes blocks and quilt. I know it will be wonderful!
Hope you have a restful weekend after your busy week!

pandchintz said...

Well done Doctor Barb, glad the surgery was successful and that the patient is doing well!!

Thimbleanna said...

You're hysterical! It looks like surgery was a success -- and what a cute surgeon you make! I definitely think we're having a long and colorful fall. Not as colorful here as past years, but definitely longer! Happy Fall!!!

Roxanne said...

I <3 your Alice Payne, as you know! I've been dabbling in a bit of backstitch applique to try to prepare for your pattern. No hurry, I have a lot to learn!

Teresa Rawson said...

Love the post, surgical tray and mask included! Thank you for your election service.

Kevin the Quilter said...

If ever I am in need of a quilt surgeon, I am going to choose you! Thanks for your election patronage!