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

UPCOMING LOCAL CLASSES

 Winter is upon us and it's the time of year for local quilt shop classes. I have been working on samples and handouts and all is now ready.

In Chronological Order:

1. Southern Super Star Saturday February 3, 2024 Patches & Stitches call or go by to register. This is my perfect "giveaway quilt", easy to make, not real expensive to "quilt by checkbook", easy to personalize favorite colors:

Southern Super Star, about 75" square

2. Quiltmaking 101 Friday February 9, 16, 23, 2024 Patches & Stitches. I have taught beginners at Patches for 35 years, This is the latest pattern I am using. We no longer do it all by hand! Learn all you need to know from someone who knows how to teach and inspire her students:

A simple border and only 6 fabrics

A more complex border and more fabrics

3. On the Lily Pond Wednesday February 21, 2024 Southern Charm Quilting call, go by or register online. A replica of an antique quilt I own, this will teach you a lot about quilt design and how to make one block easy, not hard:

On the Lily Pond

4. Antelope Canyon Dit Dot Evolution Tuesday March 19 and April 2, 2024 Southern Charm Quilting, call, go by or register online. I love this pattern and it is even better made with Dit Dots fabric. Not hard to sew but easy to get confused. Let me teach you how to stay organized and be successful. A complete Kit is available so you don't have to agonize over fabric selection:

Antelope Canyon Dit Dot Evolutions 74" square

5. FULL CIRCLE SPECIAL EVENT with BARBARA BLACK May 6-10, 2024, Southern Charm Quilting call, go by, or register online. This 5 day workshop will teach you far more than you expect. Learn skills that will carry over into all your future quiltmaking. I am teaching this Workshop nationally and it is a huge success. Don't miss this last chance to take an all-encompassing Workshop locally.

See this Blog post about the happy students who took this Workshop in September 2023: FULL CLASS FOR FULL CIRCLE

FULL CIRCLE 91" square

So there you have it. I hope to see you in classes here in my hometown. Soon I am back out on the road teaching all over the country and on the high seas. Take a class with me while you can.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

FULL CLASS FOR FULL CIRCLE

 Recently, I was fortunate to have a full class of 15 dedicated students enroll in a 5 Day Special Event workshop at Southern Charm Quilting here in Huntsville AL. They worked hard for all 5 days and accomplished so much. I was so happy with how the class went.

Full Circle is a pattern by Wendy Williams. I saw the quilt in 2020 and determined I wanted to make one. When I was asked to teach it at Empty Spools Seminar in March 2024 I had to get the sample made:

90" x 90" 

I loved the fabrics I selected, some are 20 years old but real favorites of mine. The spectacular quilting was done by an amazing local longarmer Patty Wilson. I love everything about her quilting on this. See this blog post with more details of the quilting: Full Circle is Quilted

Hoping to get about 10 local students for this class here at home, I was thrilled when 15 enrolled. Five flew or drove in from out of state, the rest were local. Six states were represented in the group. They may have started the week as strangers but they left as friends. 

Everyone learned a lot and got so much done. As a teacher, you think you know what can be done in the time allotted but you are never sure until you teach the class. As I will have 24 students at Empty Spools I was eager to see if my plan would work. It does!

There is a substantial Supply List for this class and Fabric Selection is key. I offered a day at the shop where I would help anyone who wanted hands-on help picking fabric, about a month before the class. Here are my fabrics: 

Here are some photos to give you an idea how the week progressed.

The first day I gave each student a set of labels for each of the 9 blocks and Borders--they put them on their Ziploc bags to keep organized:

My biggest concern was Block 2, Flower Garden. It takes time to prep the circles and hand embroidery can take awhile. Most students got the stems sewn in place so they could move on--the hand work can be done later. Some used machine stitches for the circles so they got them sewn on: 

Learning to paper piece using freezer paper as a foundation was new for most students. The results were excellent:

Learning to sew curves is another technique this quilt project provides, it's not hard, just don't be in a hurry: 

By day Two we had made 4 "blocks": flying geese, checkerboard, flower garden, and houses, AND learned how to sew the arcs together: 

Mid-week we had a Field Trip--out to dinner at Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant for those who wanted to come. We had 17 including a few spouses. Joan snapped this shot and I'm glad she did. After dinner anyone who wanted to come see my studio was welcome since I live very close to the restaurant:

I was delighted my friend Jan Davis was in the class. She and I have a "mutual admiration society" thing going on. She is a local hero, having flown on the Space Shuttle three times. The first day I embarrassed her a bit by making sure everyone in the class knew who she was, most did not. Young women today may think women have always been able to do anything they want but many of us remember the struggle to succeed in a "man's world" should we have chosen to pursue such a career, as I did in the United States Marine Corps and Jan did at NASA.

Jan has just released her first book, Air Born,  the story of her dad's life as a B 17 pilot in WWII who spent 21 months as a POW. It also includes her own story as an Astronaut. Many of the students bought copies of her book which she graciously autographed, and she even posed for pictures with those who asked:

Jan with Sandy F: 

The week flew by for all of us. I told the students in advance to expect to be tired at the end of each day and they were. But they hung in there and were rewarded for their efforts.

THE WALL, the last day of class--I was so happy with how much was accomplished by each student:

Japanese/Oriental style fabrics from Lisa C:

Happy Houses and everything else from Kari:

How about making this quilt with Neutrals as Jan did: 

The mandatory "class photo" after "graduation". What a wonderful group of quilters this was, I am honored they chose to spend a long 5 days with me. They taught me things too:

There are just a few spots left in this class at Empty Spools Seminar March 2024 . See this blog post about Full Circle at Asilomar

If you prefer to take the class here in Huntsville, I am very happy to say I will offer it once again at Southern Charm Quilting May 6-10, 2024. The Class Fee includes 5 days of detailed instruction, the pattern, my 10 page Handout of "Changes, Tips and Clarifications", lunch the first day, a $100 gift card for store purchases, and a day when I will be in the shop for Fabric Selection assistance, about a month before class begins. 

I offer a huge "Thank You" to this fine group of students and look forward to seeing their completed quilts, whenever that may be. And a "Thank You" to Southern Charm Quilting, Cindy and her staff, for taking a leap of faith to offer a 5 day class with me. Several students said this was the perfect place to take this class. Those who slept in their own beds were happy and those who slept at the Spring Hill Suites hotel nearby raved about it. I hope you join us next year. Sign up now as I expect this class to fill with 20 students as people see what their friends have done so far.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

FULL CIRCLE IS QUILTED

I recently picked up my FULL CIRCLE quilt from the amazing longarm quilter, Patty Wilson, and want to show you her beautiful quilting. 

Patty's business is called SewN2U Longarm Quilting. You can find her on Facebook here: PattySewN2U. She is one of the most talented, thoughtful, hard-working long arm quilters I know. Look at how beautiful this is:

The back is almost as pretty as the front:

This class will be taught as a SPECIAL EVENT September 11-15, 2023, at Southern Charm Quilting, Huntsville AL. It is the only time this opportunity is expected to be offered here, in my hometown, and currently there are only 4 openings in the class. Register today if you want to learn a lot of amazing and maybe, challenging techniques. There will be 20 students--at least 4 are traveling here by air and auto just to have the chance to make this "Bucket List" quilt. 

The pattern is by Wendy Williams. I have written a 10 page Handout with helpful "Tips, Changes and Clarifications" to make the process of constructing this quilt achievable for most confident, dedicated quilters.

See this previous post about the local class:  Full Circle with student photos

Next year I will be teaching this at Empty Spools Seminar at Asilomar in CA. March 1-6, 2024. I have been told this class is almost sold out to the 25 student capacity. I have heard from several students who will be coming from all over the country. I am SO EXCITED about being part of the Empty Spools Faculty--this is truly one of my most important "Bucket List" jobs. And it is an event I have always wanted to attend. Now I get to be part of the Faculty.

See this previous post about Empty Spools: Full Circle at Asilomar 2024

If you want to make this quilt, I strongly recommend you join me so I can help you. It will teach you a lot and be a special part of your Joyful Journey as a quiltmaker.

I am diligently sewing the binding in place. For a quilt this size, 88" x 88", I allow 12-15 hours for the entire binding process. Hand-sewing the binding to the back takes the longest but is still my preferred method.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

FULL CIRCLE SPECIAL EVENT CLASS ALMOST FULL

The response to my local SPECIAL EVENT class of FULL CIRCLE has been fantastic. There are only a few spots left for the adventurous quilters who want to stretch their wings and fly. Now you don't have to travel to Monterey CA to take the class March 2024 where I will be teaching it at Empty Spools Seminar. You can sleep in your own bed. 

My top is done and currently with the longarm quilter. I love the colors I chose and how it came out flat and square:

This quilt will teach you a lot:

 Paper piecing with Freezer Paper

 Precision piecing of small units

How to piece curves accurately

How to make circles

How to applique, by hand or machine or both

Basic Embroidery stitches should you want to do them

And So Much More...

DETAILS and REGISTRATION can be found on Southern Charm Quilting's website: FULL CIRCLE SPECIAL EVENT

September 11-15, 2023  Class is 10-3 each of these 5 days

Southern Charm Quilting, 1847 University Dr NW  Huntsville AL 35801

Fee: $200, includes lunch the first day

Pattern Fee: $55, to be paid the first day  

  

The pattern is by Wendy Williams, who designed Color My World for The Quilt Show as the 2021 Block of the Month quilt. This quilt is easier than that one though it has a similar feel because of being a circular design. 

You DO NOT need the pattern prior to the first day of class. It is so important you wait for class instructions before starting this quilt. I have written an 8 page Handout with "Changes, Tips and Clarifications". You will receive it the first day of class with the pattern.

My Supply List provides excellent information for Fabric Selection. The amount of fabric listed for each block is for the entire quilt.

I am also happy to help you with Fabric Selection PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. Send me photos of your fabrics if you want help. 

Students are flying in from Houston, TX, driving from Atlanta and Mobile, and lots of locals have wisely decided to take this "once in a lifetime" 5 day class locally.

I did a "practice class" in March with 6 great women at My Joyful Journey Retreat. See how great they did  HERE

These women have become friends and continue to meet and encourage each other as they work on FULL CIRCLE. I got to see them recently. Take a look:

Cyndi has Quadrants A and B complete and sewn together:

Victoria is working on hers: 

Julie is making hers in Pittsburgh Steelers colors for a fan. She is also an engineer who has created several NEW DESIGNS for her quilt:

Sue is making progress on hers as well:

If you want to LEARN A LOT, IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS, and HAVE FUN, register online today for this SPECIAL EVENT. 

I hope to see you there.

Let's quilt.

Barbara