Cantaloupe

 Do you know what Cantaloupe is in Spanish?

Cantaloupe! ha ha.  I thought I would be clever and use the Spanish name but the yokes on me I guess.  These words are called cognates, the same word in different languages.

I started this quilt in February 2021.  To read the origin story of this quilt click here.

Can you believe how perfect this backing is for this quilt?

I did a combination of machine quilting and big stitch quilting.  I used orange, green and yellow thread to do straight line quilting on my sewing machine.

I then did big stitch quilting between each machine stitched line.  I picked different corresponding colors of Perle Cotton #8 for each "set" of colors.

Here is how I moved from string to string; by shuttling my needle between the layers.  

I quilted at the beach one day which was very fun.  I used my usual big hoop and loaded it loosely.  I use a #22 chenille needle.

I posted this photo on Instagram and got an alarming amount of likes. 

A few people commented on the cute little case I used for the cotton spools and quilting supplies.

It was a gift from Wendy Reed.   She found it in her travels and picked it up for me.  How sweet is that?  Isn't it charming?   I love it.

Here is my label.  I'm trying to rededicate myself to labeling all my quilts.  You can see the big stitch on the backing too.  I really like the texture of it.

Nutmeg helped me with the binding delima.   I thought about facing it, but went with my usual single binding instead (there is a tutorial on a tab above on how to do that).   I settled on a light green.

Hope you are having a lovely summer (or winter in Australia).  Are you hungry for a little Cantaloupe?  I sure am 😜

Thanks for visiting!

xo

Stay Calm

Stay Calm and Quilt On.  Many thanks for your kind comments about Nutmeg and her big adventure.

I took this photo last week in the early morning.  Mother Nature is amazing and I feel so grateful when I see her quiet beauty on full display.

I've been busy with all sorts of projects and I'm winding down my speaking and teaching schedule for 2020.

I shared my Scrap Secrets lecture taught my EPP Hex workshop with Colonial Quilters of Williamsburg.   They were very warm and welcoming as have all the groups I have visited.  Thank you all!

Here is my new project for teaching.

My theme fabric is the Ghastlies.  They crack me up.  Sadly they also seem to reflect the mood of a lot people I see.

It worked out really well on ZOOM, but I really miss teaching in person.

I'm booking 2021 and beyond so if you have a guild, feel free to pass on a link to my webpage www.funwithbarb.com (it redirects here where all the info can be found.)

I'm continuing to hand quilt my Whig Rose and will take some photos this weekend to share next week.  Nutmeg is obsessed with this quilt. 

 knock knock who's there?

Oh, it's you again.  She loves dark caves of any kind.  Monster.

I am finishing up my machine quilting on my Kitchen Sink quilt.

The more election returns I watched the crazier the quilting became. Noise, noise, noise.  Meanwhile the Virus spreads unmitigated. 

How am I feeling about the Election?  

I'm glad it is over.  

Stay Calm

Stay Home

Stay Well

Quilt On

xo

Cat in a Tree

 As a distraction from the Election,  I'm sharing the drama that played out last week with Nutmeg. 

It started  last Wednesday (10/28) evening.  Nutmeg usually goes out on the deck for a little while after dinner.  But she didn't come in.  I went out and called for her and finally heard her meowing up on the ledge in our front yard.

At 10 pm we found her 40 feet up in the air.   It was raining lightly and we called and called her.   She seemed too scared to try to come down.  We finally went in about 12:30 heart sick and scared.

We called the non-emergency line for the police and fireman.  They DO NOT rescue cats from trees.  

Here she is in the morning in the rain.  Still up in the air.  It was heartbreaking and we felt so helpless.

I took this video for Hanna.  She sounds so pitiful. 

We made dozens of calls including the Connecticut Climbing Club.  We went to REI and bought climbing equipment in case we had to do it ourselves.   We also looked into renting a lift but the ground is uneven and access isn't good. 

He can see her little head in the circle.

FINALLY an arborist said he's come and take a look. 

He agreed to go up.  He was very quiet and kind.  Here is about 4 feet off the ground.

He worked his way up talking very calmly to Nutmeg.  He also wore leather gloves because cat bites are no joke.

We stood by with a big sheet in case she freaked and jumped.....

We gave Mike a soft handled clothes hamper.  He was able to grab her and get in the bag and lower it gently to me.

Yay!  rescued!  We offered to pay Mike for his trouble and time and wouldn't accept it.  He said he has been doing this for 30 years and never takes a penny.  This renewed my faith in the kindness of people.

I have to tell you I sobbed with relief.  It was 16 long hours and I had no idea how it would end.  She was soaked to the skin.

Within a couple of hours, she was like "what?  what's the big deal"?

Did you know that I cat will stay in a tree for up to a week and then come down?  I can not imagine.

She did spend a lot time catching up on sleep.

And she stayed a little closer to me for a few days.

Does she feel bad?  No

Is she trying to go outside everyday?  Yes.

Is she the worst?  Yes

Do I adore her?  Absolutely.

Happy Friday.

Take Care.

Be Kind.

xo

Solidarity Block

Good Sunday Morning!

I received an invitation from QuiltMania to make a block for their solidarity project.  Please read more about the project on their website here.

They are asking for pink to red quilts blocks.  I knew a house was a good choice because this is where we have been to help the effort of slowing COVID19.

It started here.  I found a FQ of a beautiful pink French Toile'.

 I had to add a little personality to the windows.

I machine stitched the stems (as I almost always do)

QuiltMania has created a wonderful free pattern for this block here with diagrams and size instructions.

https://www.quiltmania-inc.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Block-11-Barb-Vedder-Instructions-and-diagrams.pdf

and templates here:
https://www.quiltmania-inc.us/solidarity-quilt-block-barb-vedders-block/

Here's a few photos of what's been happening around our house.
This beautiful Baltimore Oriole came for breakfast.  He is so stinking cute!

 Our Azalea shrub is really showing off.  We planted it about 4 years ago and it is finally really settled in.

 Nutmeg making a break for it through the kitchen window.  I really do need to find these screens!

The bird feeder was moved to the lower patio and my lounge chair and table are back for the season.  (yes, those are legs!  first outing of the year, lol)

 I took a pretend trip to Italy for cocktail hour.  I have wonderful memories of our trip there in 2007.

 When someone asks me "How are you Doing?"  during this Pandemic I generally feel like this.

This is a photo I posted for a IG challenge.  I'm mad about something.  I am holding my purple baton and I've undone my romper set top.

But most days are good days.  I'm blessed to be home, safe and dry.
Like this~

Stay well
xo