QUILT OF VALOR

More than 4 years ago I was happy to be part of an award ceremony for Quilts of Valor, presenting quilts I made specifically for two great veterans: my husband and a long-time friend of ours. It was the first Award Ceremony by the local Quilts of Valor chapter, Liberty Piecemakers of Huntsville. To read about that occasion see this post: Quilts of Valor Award Ceremony

Recently I was honored to receive a QUILT OF VALOR.  The Quilts of Valor organization began in 2003 with the of goal of providing veterans touched by war with the comfort of a quilt. As the QOV website says:  "A Quilt of Valor unequivocally says thank you for your service,  sacrifice, and valor in serving our nation." Today any veteran is eligible to receive a Quilt of Valor.  

The quilts are meant to be presented in  a public forum, honoring the veteran for their service and recognizing when, how, and where they served. 

From the front

From the back

All of us and women from the local QOV chapter, Liberty Piecemakers of Huntsville

It was a cold and blustery day in early November. The quilts were awarded alphabetically and I was happy to be first:

In  my brief remarks I said "The smartest thing I ever did was go to an interview with the USMC Officer Selection Officer my senior year of college. His first question was "What makes you think you are good enough to be in my Marine Corps?"  I now know that is the EXACT right first question to ask anyone who thinks they want to be a Marine. It was 50 years ago I earned my Eagle, Globe and Anchor and it feels like yesterday.

I was later told my quilt had been made specifically for me by two dear friends. While the pattern may look simple, "nothing says Love like partial seams!"

April and Suzie hard at work on my quilt:

Veterans are now often told "Thank you for your service". I always felt odd about that and wasn't sure how to respond. Now I say "It was my honor to serve."  Those were the greatest years of my life and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Thank you to all who are currently serving our country. And to their families, they share the sacrifice too. I hope all veterans who want a Quilt of Valor will receive one.

For more info on Quilts of Valor see the official website: Quilts of Valor Foundation

Thank you to the Liberty Piecemakers of Huntsville for this wonderful gift. I will cherish it always.

Barbara 

CRANBERRY CHUTNEY AND LOCAL CLASSES

Each year around this time I share my recipe for CRANBERRY CHUTNEY. And each year at least one person says "This is now a "must have" on my family table!". I have been making it for almost 50 years. The holidays would not be complete without it.

You can always find this under my RECIPES tab above, but just to make it easy, here you go:

CRANBERRY CHUTNEY       

Barbara Black       

1 bag fresh cranberries, 12-16 oz                    1 cup water

1 cup sugar, can be less                                   1 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cup brown sugar, can be less                     1 cup apple, chopped

1/2 cup raisins                                                  1/2 cup celery, chopped

2 t cinnamon                                                    1/2 -1 cup chopped pecans

1 1/2 t ginger

1/2 t cloves

1/4 t allspice

Simmer cranberries, sugars, raisins, spices, and 1 cup water uncovered in 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until juice is released from berries, about 15 minutes.  Reduce heat; stir in remaining ingredients.  Simmer uncovered until thick, about 15 minutes.  Refrigerate covered or freeze.  

Batch can be doubled--use large saucepan.    NOTE:  I always double this--DO NOT DOUBLE THE SUGARS. Keep extra in the freezer.  This will last from Thanksgiving until Christmas.  I buy fresh cranberries in early November and freeze them for later use. 

Over the years, I've made a few changes, the best being to reduce the amount of sugar.  I doubled the recipe and FORGOT to double the sugar, and it was BETTER!  

About 10 years ago I added chopped pecans and that was a huge hit at my house, kind of makes it more "Southern".  The kitchen smells amazing while this is cooking, puts you in the mood for holiday food.  

People who don't like cranberry sauce like this, and I am always asked for the recipe--now I can direct folks here.  You can save it to your Pinterest Boards too--see on the right side.

And your house will smell scrumptious while it's cooking:

Currently, I am "on sabbatical"--meaning I am home until mid-March 2026. That gives me time to get lots done AND teach a few LOCAL CLASSES.  These are classes I teach all over the country and LOCAL FOLKS have been asking for a chance to take them here at home.

This is the ONLY TIME in 2026 these classes will be available.

THE VILLAGE, AKA QUILTERS SCRAP HOUSES:

January 23, 2026, 10-4, Southern Charm Quilting. Register online here: SOUTHERN CHARM QUILTING

Take one of Barbara Black's most popular classes she teaches all over the country. Create your own neighborhood with houses, trees and stars. Learn paper-piecing for the Quilters Scrap Houses and Trees, and to quickly make Tiny Stars with points that don’t have to meet. Looking for a group project everyone will love? This is it! Sample is about 52”--you decide how large your neighborhood grows. The Class fee includes a detailed pattern, paper piecing patterns to use in class and patterns to make more copies for your personal use.

CHARMING SAMPLER:

March 5, 2026, 10-4, Southern Charm Quilting.  Register online here: SOUTHERN CHARM QUILTING

1800's reproduction fabrics

KAFFE CHARMING, contemporary fabrics

Now is your opportunity to take this very popular class Barbara Black teaches all over the country. Learn a variety of blocks in a small size, making them fast and fun! You will learn tricks that will improve all your quiltmaking going forward. Guaranteed to teach you a few things you don't already know. Class fee includes detailed pattern, paper piecing patterns to use in class and patterns to use later for your personal use to complete the quilt.

I hope to see you in these classes. They always fill when I teach them away from home. Don't miss your chance to join me for great classes AND sleep in your own bed.

And Happy Thanksgiving to all! There is always a reason to give thanks.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

OUT WEST!

 I recently enjoyed a trip to the Sierra Nevada mountains for Lynn Wilder's Retreat. She does retreats 3-4 times a year for about 35 women. I was happy to be invited to join them this year as we wrapped up Laurel Ridge, Lynn's Block of the Month design for The Quilt Show. You can still get the patterns FREE as a Star Member: Laurel Ridge Block of the Month 2025

Here are just some of the the highlights in photos:

My accommodation for the week was a lovely cabin a few doors down from Lynn's cabin. Her friend offered to host us--we had the cabin to ourselves all week.

View off  the deck of our cabin

Lynn Wilder and Pati Violick, Director of Marketing Marcus Fabrics, my roommate for the week

My room

The kitchen

A welcome card, homemade chocolate chip cookies, champagne

View from the Loft above

View from  the Loft

The next day 5 of us made the 2.5 hour drive to Yosemite. It was a glorious Fall day and we enjoyed the trip, my first to a western National Park:

To prove I was there

Candace, Pati, Gwyneth, and Lynn

El Capitan

The next day Retreat began, with setting up the large room and Lynn's "pop-up shop". Many hands made light work. Attendees came about noon and the sewing and chatting began:

My Laurel Ridge was finished there

Lynn's Laurel Ridge on display

The door prizes donated by Marcus Fabrics

The first dinner was Appetizers, Desserts and Wine, brought by the attendees. The food all week was good, this was really great:

Lynn's sister, Gail, even remembered from my blog that I like Moscato--she kept my glass ready each night. Thanks, Gail!

Each evening there was Show and Tell. This is a very accomplished group of quilters. Here is just a glimpse:

Angi is knocking this one out of the park

Linda made this in a class with Jean Impey

Lori makes art quilts mostly--this is made by burning in the black lines

Gay L brought her Color My World--I believe it's the most well-made of any I have seen. Completely flat. She is now inspired to finish it.

Melinda worked on this much of the week

For MORE PHOTOS from RETREAT, check out Lynn's Blog: Sew'n Wild Oaks blog There is so much to see there.

I worked on two ongoing projects:

Border blocks for TEXAS STAR and Old Italian blocks for MY NEXT LIFETIME QUILT

Read more about those here:

TEXAS STAR

SUMMER SEW A LONG

Monday morning we got to watch Alex Anderson live as she revealed the 2026 Block of the Month quilt, Game On!, designed by Becky Goldsmith exclusively for The Quilt Show. Here I am watching:

Now I could pull out my Solid Kit and start working on Game On! I had printed the patterns and instructions at home so I was ready to begin:

For more information on this FUN quilt, see:  Game On!

One evening I gave my presentation TIME MANAGEMENT FOR QUILTERS. It is always well received and I enjoy giving it. Many watched:

The next night Pati gave a presentation about how fabrics are designed and made--it was very informative. Prices will continue to rise and manufacturing quilting fabric in this country will not happen again. 

All week I watched these women  making quilts, friends and memories. It was so good to be with them. Many return at least once a year, 10 of us were first-timers. There was a mother daughter daughter team who kept SO BUSY it was hard to get their photo:

The only problem for me was I didn't get a power walk all week--no cell service outside Wi-Fi in our cabin and the Lodge, meant I could get hopelessly lost and it is BEAR country and MOUNTAIN LION country. Windy roads that all look the same, no sidewalks, steep drop-offs to driveways or woods. No, I just had to stay in and sew after walking with Pati to the Lodge most mornings.  

And the food just kept coming. Each day the snack table grew--I called it the OH NO! table. Homemade goodies and some of my favorite store-bought goodies added to the challenge. Thankfully, I only came home up 3 pounds and they were gone quickly:

A well-run retreat is a super experience, a chance to get away from the duties at home and make new friends. There were gifts, laughs, and so much more. I am happy I was there to enjoy it.

My flights there and back were mostly uneventful. Returning the first day of the "slow down" of flights was worrisome but the 2 hour delay leaving Sacramento was due to equipment, not cancelations. The 3 hour layover I expected in Atlanta became a one hour layover and I arrived in Huntsville at 11 pm, as expected. 

And now I am home for a few months so it is time to get something done!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

WHILE I TRAVEL

 When this posts I will have just returned from a week out West, to Yosemite and Arnold CA, for Lynn Wilder’s retreat. There will be a big post about that soon. 

We walked

We snacked

We sewed

And we laughed and learned:

I gave my presentation “TIME MANAGEMENT for QUILTERS”. It was very well received. Here is just a taste of it for you, my top 3 Tips for Time Management:

Top Tips for Time Management. Click this link to read that post.

Enjoy and I’ll be back soon!

Let’s quilt.

Barbara