Remembering Barb Adams of Blackbird Designs

Barb Adams (1951-2021) 

by a Kansas City Star artist

Very sad to see that old friend Barb Adams left us in a blaze of fireworks on

this past Fourth of July---as long-time design partner Alma Allen noted.

From Celebration of American Life

Barb was one of the cleverest quilt designers of the past quarter century. She and Alma met in a quilt class Alma taught. 

Barb and Alma

Besides both wearing size 11 shoes they had much in common and formed a seamless partnership, establishing Blackbird Designs in the year 2000.

It's hard to tell who drew what. Barb's florals and colors seemed to me to have a more gothic garden ambience but....

They had much in common---including a rare way of combining

tradition and creativity.

2012

They ALWAYS won "Best Booth" at Quilt Market

Barb's obituary tell us she and Alma designed 32 lines of fabric for Moda.

The Blackbird fabrics and books were extremely successful, creating a style. 

Both enjoyed cross stitch and were as successful in that area as in quilt design offering both traditional patterns...

And updates.

She's a woman who will be sorely missed.

See her obituary with a clever theme of her favorite Beatles songs:

tributearchive.com/obituaries/21620391/barbara-kay-adams/independence/missouri/speaks-family-legacy-chapels

I did a post about her a few years ago:

https://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/2018/11/past-perfect-barb-adams.html

Alma now lives in Colorado. Read her tribute here:

https://www.instagram.com/blackbirdalma/?hl=en