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

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

 A made this swag for Hanna.  Someone sent the fabric to me and I just can't remember who but thank you!  It is so cute.

I hung my Apple Core for the month.

Here are some of our other decorations.

 Hanna decorated a little tree with our glass Halloween ornaments.  The nail stickers are from TJMax.

Whew - the swap is complete and they are all on their way to the swappers.

 Here is a setting that I'm playing with with my solids.

Here's a real treat!  Have you seen this cake at the store?  I was sceptical but you use fresh eggs and fresh butter.  Hooray!!  I added a TBs of Kahlua to the cake mix and it added a lot of richness.  (I happened to make this on a Friday - hence the Margaritas, lol).

Hanna and I had some Halloween fun at the zoo.

 the sunglasses really make it, huh?  ha ha

Hope you have a Happy Halloween filled with fun and lots of Chocolate.
xo

On Your Mark, Get Set - SEW!

The Civil War Swap is CLOSED - I have sent an email out so if you didn't get one it means I didn't get an email from you.

The Modern Swap Group has about 10 spots left email me if you want a spot.

Making the Broken Dishes Blocks:

Method #1 - This is my preferred method, as it made the most accurate HST.

Trianges on a Roll - Thangle Method

Here is a link to Amazon.  You may also find them at quilt shops.

Place fabrics with right sides together and pin the paper to secure it.  I like to leave a little around the edges.  Be sure to line it up straight on the grain.  We don't want wonky blocks.

 It is so easy to follow the arrows - you won't miss a minute of the Olympics.

Use a sharp rotary cutter and ruler to carefully cut the units.

Once you have removed your papers, you are ready to press - please use starch as it helps keep them square.

Press toward the red (in both groups).

Please trim your dog ears before you continue.

Arrange your block before sewing.  I sewed several incorrectly while watching TV -  is is easier to mess up than you think.

Press the first units before finishing the block.  I used to try to skip this step - but don't it makes a real difference.

Press the last seam open for a nice flat block.

Viola'

Method #2 

Making 8 HTS at a time.  This works well, but it is necessary to mark the fabric and trim each unit.

Start with a 6 inch square of each fabric.

Mark a diagonal line cross-wise from each corner - sorry, it's a little hard to see.

Stitch on both sides of the drawn line.  I'm using white thread so you can see it - please use red for modern and off white for repro.

Cut the units apart using a good sharp rotary blade and ruler.

Press well to the red side.

Measure!! and trim units as needed - be sure to keep the angle square.  2 1/2" unfinished.

Snip those ears.

As in Method #1 - arrange and sew

 Press sub-units

 Press the last seam OPEN.

Ta Da!

If you like to do them 2 at a time that is fine.  If you have another method of making HST that is fine too as long as your measurements are correct.

Here is some inspiration!

 I love these used as a border in a medallion.

I have unlocked my Pinterest Board and you can see more here.

REVIEW:

• MAKE A TEST BLOCK FIRST! 
• HST units are 2 1/2 inches unfinished.
• Broken Dishes block is 4 1/2 inches unfinished.
• Use your very best sewing skills.
• Press as you go.
• Do NOT trim the final block.
• Make 2 sets of 40 blocks - 40 with one combination and 40 with another.

On you Marks, Get Set......SEW

Have fun and thanks for swapping!

xo