This is such a very sad day for the stitching and quilting world. On July 4th, we lost one of my very favorite designers, Barb Adams. Barb was one half of the duo that made up the Blackbird Design team. Alma Allen was her dear friend and the other half of this duo. I was first introduced to their designs in 2014 when I stitched the first of many Blackbird Design projects, Summer, Autumn, Winter. The walls of my home are adorned with many of their designs.
In the Spring of 2019 I had the pleasure of attending a Blackbird Design retreat held at Dyeing to Stitch in Virginia Beach. I met Barb and Alma and had breakfast with them one morning. I am forever grateful for that opportunity.
From Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs:
My dear friend, Barb Adams passed away on the morning of July 4th. It’s so hard to imagine what life will be like without her. I will miss our daily talks, extensive travels and the excitement we felt as we developed new ideas for projects. Barb always said she didn’t want to quit working and leave so many unfinished ideas on the table. She called me two weeks ago and asked me if I could come back to Kansas City and go to the doctor with her. I will be forever grateful she called me. She gave me the gift of her presence these final two weeks.
Barb was always kind and compassionate. Her sense of humor was quick and came at unexpected times. The surprise of it could bring uncontrolled laughter and tears to my eyes. Her sense of personal style was classy! Some of my favorite times with Barb were spent in the shoe department of Nordstrom’s. As we both wore size 11s, we could both try on shoes the other had chosen. With all of the booths we set up at wholesale markets and all the heavy boxes of books we had to haul, we said we had to have Excedrine to spend time together. I told her all of my worst times were spent with her. But really just being with her made those times better. She never ceased to amaze me with her mastery of color combinations and design ideas. Many of her quilts and cross stitch projects were based on patriotic themes. As the fireworks light up the sky on the 4th of July every year it will always have a special meaning for me. Leave it to Barb to make sure she exited with fireworks! Blackbird Designs will never be the same without her.
The entire cross stitch community will never be the same without Barb. Barb will forever be remembered as an icon in the stitching community. I have to agree with the other half of this dynamic duo when Alma exclaimed Barb left us with the excitement of Fireworks on Americas birthday. Alma, you are in my prayers as you grieve for your beloved friend. May she rest forever in peace.
It is a true loss to the needlework industry. She gave beauty that we could recreate!
How sad to hear this news! I will treasure my Blackbird Designs books and fabrics even more than ever before. I will enjoy the memories of my excitement as I began a new project that Barb had a hand in developing. I am a quilter not a cross stitched any longer..
May God be with all those mourning.