Hello Out There

I made this in 2006 with swap blocks from a Yahoo Group.  Remember Those?  I love a simple strippy quilt, don't you? 

It is official; this is longest break I've taken on my blog but I'm still committed.   Thank you so much for continuing to read and comment.  I write it for myself, but I love the little community that has stayed with me over the years.

This a very old nine patch that I made with swap blocks from my Piecemakers group in Illinois.  I love a simple strippy quilt, don't you?

I've stalled a little on my daughters DWRQ, but I've made progress.

I got called out a little on FB for using so many pins.  I know I wouldn't need this many with just two fabrics, but when you are adding the pieced arcs, it really helps and doesn't distort or pull the seams on the arc.

So I've been busy with Mr. Fun who had a knee replacement about 11 days ago.  What a nice dog visitor at the hospital.

Lots of meds to administer.  Home PT and recovery is going very well. 

It has been a pretty fall here in CT.  Azure blue skies and pretty oranges and yellows.

I hope this caterpillar makes it before the frost.

My town is having their annual scarecrow festival.  I love to take coco and check them out.  How cute is this one?

and Frida 

On a recent family trip to Washington DC, we visited the African American Museum of History and Culture.

I was thrilled to see this Amazing Quilt in person!  It was made by Jesse B. Telfair, circa 1975.   She was fired from her kitchen job for  registering to vote.  

I'll be working at the polls next week, so please keep a thought for me and our Democracy.

xo

Finally Fall

Happy Official Autumn! (in the North)
One of my favorite quilts for fall "Harvest Baskets" ala Gwen Marston inspiration.

It was so cool that we made a fire and sat out.  Marvelous!  My boys look like twins :)

New Flash:  I have a new item in my Etsy Shop - a 1 oz. white basting glue with a mirco tip and build in cap. $5.00 plus shipping.

 I'm working on my 2nd Whig Rose Block.  I don't get much time to sit these days but when I do I love stitching on this project.

End of the season for my annuals.  I really enjoyed this mix.

 I LOVE moss roses (portulaca).  They open everyday when the sun comes out.

I'll plant more of this next year~ they are drought resistant too.

I did a little fall decorating by my kitchen sink...you know where I'll enjoy it often.  The cardinal was glowing on this rainy day.

 My theme was New England houses.

 Easy Food Hack:
Spread refrigerated crescent rolls with pesto (this is a Costco brand and is excellent!) sprinkle with cheese and bake.

I was very luck to get this last photo - they go very quickly here!

Lastly, I hung my Sumptuous Stars EPP Star quilt for the fall.  It is always fun to see old friends.  I use the Hang it Dang It  and as I've said before:  it is the PERFECT accessory for hanging quilts.

It's Fair Weekend - woo hoo!!! Hope you are doing something fun too.
xo

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