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!

FFF - Random Stuff

Hello out there....anyone home?  It seems very quiet in Bloglandia.

I finished my little cathedral Window dolly quilt - or so I thought.

I feel it would be better looking on my little bed if it was just a few rows bigger.  Easier said than done~

On the home front - here is a mountain of empty boxes.  It is literally the size of a SUV.   Our refuse service will do one free pick up to recycle, so we're holding off until we're done.  Goal; next Friday.

I have a many walls that currently look like this:

Interestingly these are the same background wall colors and also the same sample colors.  This is why it's important to do different walls and look at different times of day and lighting.

And finally.   I am a self admitted stamp nerd and here are the new offerings from the U.S. Post office:

Johnny Cash; love him.  Emancipation Proclamation; Abe Lincoln love.  Lighthouses; live in a shore town now.  Yea!

I'll be back soon with a new quilty tool and a newly acquired antique quilt to share.

Fun For Friday - OMG! Quilt Surprise

Happy Friday from hot, HOT, HOT Connecticut!

Last weekend we went to a wedding in Indianapolis.  It was lovely and what a huge quilty discovery was found at the Columbia Club where the reception took place.

My long sought after, much appreciated, and endless source of inspiration - Political Campaign Bandanas!!!

I was so thrilled and whipped out my camera as fast as I could.

Here are two of my quilts that were inspired by political textiles.

What a huge quilt surprise~  Here is another one, meeting my friend, Mary, who lives in the Indianapolis area for a drink.

And finally, I guess the new trend at weddings is to have a fun photo booth.  It was really fun.  You leave a strip for the bride and groom and you get one to take home!

Boy you can tell we haven't been out lately :)

Have a great weekend and stay cool!

Fun For Friday - Chocolate Lab and Cake

Hello from Connecticut~  I hope you are having a great summer.  Our move was long, wet and difficult, but we are here and the unpacking has started and will continue for some time.

Coco is missing her fenced yard and freedom.  She'll be getting an invisible fence soon but in the meantime, I made her a frozen treat for fun.

Freeze in a bowl:
Beef or Chicken Broth
Water
Miscellaneous treats (I used rawhide and jerky strips)
Miscellaneous rubber toys (if your dog likes them)

We put it in a plastic bowl on the deck.

We soon lost the bowl and I assisted to keep it from sliding around.

Coco moved to the grass for a better biting angle.

Then the front yard, where she kept a suspicious eye on me.  Our drive way winds around this large rock outcropping.  I am planning to do a lot of planting around it this fall and in the spring.

Success!  She finally got the rawhide out.  That's our new home behind her.  Not an older traditional home I had hoped for, but we love it.  It is set on 2 private acres.  Quite a switch from Jersey :)

And now for the beloved humans in my life - Copycat Chocolate Cake from Chicagoland's Portillos Restaurant.

On our recent trip to Illinois we made an emergency stop for Chicago Hot dogs - Oh my.....

All the recipes on line are the same Click Here.  Surprise a cup a mayonnaise - just like my friend Maureen's recipe. 

They all use Betty Crocker Frosting, but I always make my own.  Click Here for the one I like best.

Portillos' version here:

And Mine:

I hope your summer is filled with fun, family and some stitching - see you soon.

Quilts = Priceless

Hello!

Here is an update on the Cathedral Windows doll quit.  I try to get a little done here and there.  I've really enjoyed this process.

My moving date is finally about 1 week away!  Since I consider my quilts priceless, I've moved them all to a friends' house.

I didn't count, but Margaret is a trusted and dear friend and is so generous to offer her home as a storage for them.

I stacked them up and wrapped them with sheets.

This is a big bundle~

Here they are at Margarets house.  bye quilts.....see you in July.

On the home front, the sewing room is closed for business.  I have pre-organized everything for the packers so I'll know what is where.

It was a sad day when I took down the design wall.  I'll be replacing it and maybe I'll do a tutorial. It is so easy to make.

Sad....I'll never have another sewing room like this one.

On Sunday I celebrated the end of my Jubilee year.  I am grateful to my friends and family for making it a special day. 

I want to share this great gift that I received.  (I actually got 2 from different people....guess they know me :)

This is an icicle that you freeze and insert into a bottle of wine to keep it perfectly chilled.  It can also be used to quick chill red to the perfect temperature.

Brilliant! 

I don't know when I'll be back, but thank you all for the support during this move.  I hope to come back with fun and inspiration from Connecticut.  In the meantime, happy sewing!