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

October Stuff

Happy Humpday!  Thank you for all your nice comments on my recently finished Alice Payne Quilt.

We had a little weekend getaway to the Adirondacks last weekend and I did a little early morning stitching in a real log cabin.

I almost look like this painting.

The drive up from CT was absolutely gorgeous!  the colors were at peak.  We had a wonderful visit with friends.

I'm working on a new applique project.  Here is the first block.

It was inspired by this oakleaf and reel quilt that Mary is working on during my recent visit.

I make freezer paper patterns that can be re-used.  The staples are key to getting a good cut.

Here is another quilt I saw on my trip.  This is Sheila's Sunflower quilt.  Isn't it fabulous?  

It was inspired by Jan's Antique quilt.  You can see Jan's post about it here.

Making new friends has been an unexpected and wonderful benefit of being a blogger.  I recently met Jackie from England who wrote me and suggested we meet for coffee during her US trip.

 I felt a little nervous about meeting a complete stranger, but Jacky and her husband were absolutely delightful!  I didn't even need to use my "fake eye appointment" for a quick getaway.    She brought me a sweet gift of this pincushion and needle keeper.

Isn't that clever?  Thank you Jacky!

Thank you, Wendy of Constant Quilter, for sending me this surprise Halloween Fabric.  It is by Moda and I've never seen it before.

Thank you, Rondi for a surprise package with this fabulous little quilt complete with toile' and HAND fan quilting.   I just love it.

Here is the back and the other fun Halloween goodies that she sent. Thank you Rondi for the wonderful surprise - Wow.

Swap Update:

I'm still waiting for some packages.  As soon as they are all received I'll be swapping and mailing out the swap.   

While you are waiting how about a new recipe?

A Copycat recipe for Panera's Squash Soup.  It's really good!  Here is a link to the recipe.   I cut the heavy cream and the cream cheese and added a little more brown sugar.  MMmmmm  autumn..........

Have a great week!

xo 

Alice Payne - Finale

Alice Payne Finished~

Finished size is 76" x 76"

Like Alice, I also used cheddar for the binding.  I really like how the fans in the corners turned out.

 I also used muslin on the back.  It is great for seeing all the hand quilting.  Still need a sleeve and label.

It was nearly 1 year to the day after completing the top, and about nine after starting the hand quilting.

I went to Illinois last week to visit my dear Mary who purchased the original (on right) in NYC in 1995 and gifted to me in 2013.  I felt it was important for her to see it first and in person.

We had an "Alice Payne Day" at The Piecemaker Applique' group.

Kathy S. made a replica of the original.   It is great - as is everything that Kathy does.  Here is her finished top.

The first version created was a group effort with 16 of us making one block each (I made the strawberry block).  We held a raffle for the blocks and Betty won and used green for the sashing.

Here is Susan's finished contemporary version.  Susan included her own bird design.  I love to see these personal touches.

Here are a couple of sneak peeks that I posted on instagram.

Luckily, all turned out just fine - no running and just the right amount of puckering.

Chicaoland was my home for over 40 years.  I know I'm back when I stroll through here:

A beautiful sky as I headed back east.

I have been welcomed back with a mailbox stuffed with wonderful broken dishes blocks!  Wee - it's been fun opening all the packages.  I'll be sending reminder emails this week to swappers - deadline is in 5 days and I'm waiting for about half of you.  eeeek

Thank you again for the encouragement on finishing Alice Payne.  I'm intending to work on a pattern this winter.

Have a great week!
xo