Cherry House Quilts

Take a peek!

Here's a peek at City Green, one of the quilts in my new book City Quilts.  This photo was taken of the quilt on the design wall, pre borders, pre quilting, pre being finished, but I had to capture these clear, beautiful colors.  I can't say enough about the beauty of solids, I think they almost have the appearance of colored glass.  Yesterday, I was searching around on the internet for something, and found a link to the work of Josef Albers...whose work I was a little acquainted with, but not very well.  I found this, which I thought incredible, and a little like my quilt.  It made me happy, and made me think that my work was on the right track.

I'd like to tell you a little about this quilt, if you would indulge me.  The quilt has 100's of small blocks, with very narrow sashing.  The colors are meant to shimmer, like sun and shadow through the branches on the ground, in the woods.  I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to arrange the blocks, or explain the concept in a pattern.  I was truly struggling, trying to convey what I had envisioned, without much success.  So I did what I have taught my children to do, from their youngest days...I prayed.  I pleaded with God to know how to do what I was trying to do.  In an instant, I knew.  I was shown how to arrange the blocks, how to sew it together, everything.  I was, and am so grateful for answered prayers. 

The entire book from concept, to the quilts, and all the work involved was a journey that I felt compelled to take, pushed a little even. 

My sincerest thanks to everyone for your kind words, and good wishes about my book.  I hope you will love it as I do; and of course I hope you will make lots and lots of quilts.

Cherri 

News, News, more News...the happiest news in all the land

   
Dear Quilty Friends,

I am so excited to tell you that I have written a book with C&T Publishing!!!!!!!!!!

As you can see right over there <---- it is called

CITY QUILTS - 12 Dramatic Projects Inspired by Urban Views

12 quilts - all solids, nothing but beautiful Robert Kaufman solids!!!!

This project has taken 1+ years, and it has been the best, hardest thing I have done, aside from raising my children.

I hope you will love it, and I hope you will buy it!  As Linus says to Charlie Brown about the Great Pumpkin, " He'll come here because I have the most sincere pumpkin patch and he respects sincerity."  This is a most sincere quilt book, and everyone respects sincerity!  I have so much to say about the journey, but I'll save it for another day. 

Thank you for being my friends,

Cherri

P.S.  Meant to say that it is due out in May 2010

An update, a sale, a quilt along, and more...

First, and foremost, a huge thank you all who have donated quilts for the wounded at Fort Hood.  The first quilt arrived yesterday, and I'm sure the trickle will soon become a flood of quilts.  Luke was telling one of his wounded friends about the quilts that are coming; this young man was so touched, and sent his thanks and gratitude in advance.  This young man was shot, and has a bullet lodged near his spine.  The bullet will not be able to be removed, due to the possibility of further damage.  Considering what these soldiers have gone through, a quilt seems a minor thing, but they are so grateful.  My heart melts into a little puddle every time if I think on this for too long.

Onto other things...

• We will be starting the Scrap Quilt Along soon, soon, soon.  We will begin with the Fruit Stripped Gum quilt, then make Children's Lit.  The supply list, badges, Flickr group info, and schedule will be posted by Saturday.
• Has anyone seen the new Quilt Sampler magazine?  One of the featured shops is hanging a great version of "I Do".  I don't think those kind of things will ever stop being a huge thrill to me!  Makes me giddy :-)
• Remember when I said that with the new store, I could see which pattern was the most viewed?  At the time the top two were City Park, and I Do...well City Park has definitely pulled ahead!  To really test these statistic I've put both City Park and I Do on sale, with 10% off, we will see who ends up the winner of this little race.  The sale will run from now through next Wednesday.  No codes, nothing to enter, the prices have already been reduced!
• Speaking of City Park, with the next printing I'll be making a change to the pattern - changing it for the better.  If you are familiar with the pattern, you will understand what I'm about to explain...the colored solids in the quilt are indentified by number, the new patterns will have an image that shows the block placement by color number.  Quilting by numbers, so to speak.  
• Well it is definitely time to get back to the business of being in business, new quilt patterns are on the horizon - our first new release will be City Breeze, which I'm quite sure you will LOVE!  After that some beauties with new Moda fabric, then it is a couple of baby quilts which are always too precious! 

That is it for me today my friends...I must say I feel so much closer to the quilting community at large, by this amazing coming together as mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters to give something of comfort back to those that serve and protect our nation.  Thank you again for all that you have done!

Cherri

Lizzy's Parade

 
Have you seen the new Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts Winter 2009?  If not, you should check it out!  On page 74 you will see Lizzy's Parade.  I thought it the perfect title for a quilt featuring "flags" from Lizzy's Red Letter Day fabric. 

On a personal note, I can't adequately express the joy I feel in creating a quilt with my daughter's fabric...truly a dream come true!  It's one of those strange occurrence that instead of it being a dream in the far off distant; maybe never to happen future, it is happening now - and it is as wonderful as I imagined; which is also a sweet surprise!

Well that's it for me today...have a happy Sunday,

Cherri

Open for business, plus a 10% off sale!!!

Our shiny new pattern store is open for business!  Check it out here, or click the PATTERN STORE button to the right.

I'm so excited, a proper pattern store, it's pretty fancy if you ask me.  In honor of our new store I'm offering a 10% discount now through Sunday.  How to get the discount?  Enter the word BUMP during the check out process. 

Thank you for your patience through our bump in the road, as always we appreciate your loyalty, business, and support!

Here's another beautiful fall photo from webshots...wouldn't this be the perfect little thinking spot? 

Cheers,

Cherri

A bump in the road

For some time now Lizzy has been prodding me to change our pattern store from what is; functional, to something it should be; efficient, and nice.  I haven't done it for a myriad of reasons, mostly because it falls to the bottom of the priority list. 

Well, I just found out that our little store is broken, so what was at the bottom of the list, has magically moved to the VERY top.  Between Lizzy (thank you Lizzy), my son Luke (thank you Luke), and myself; we are on the road to getting a new store.

Thank you in advance for your patience, and I do apologize for any inconvience this may have caused you.  We should be up and running soon, and back in business!  In the interim, if you would like to order any pattern, just order Best Wishes (the only button that seems to be working :-\  ), then in the comments note the pattern you would actually like, and I'll get your order to you.

Mean while, sit back, relax, and enjoy this beautiful image that I didn't take; but downloaded from webshots (love them!), and by then hopefully all your worries and cares will be washed away, and we will open for business!

Cherri

I DO too!

Another day, another pattern...must be time for Market! 

Words cannot express how much I love this fabric - it is the coolest thing I have seen in a long time.  It was the perfect fabric for the next quilt in our I Do series.  Lizzy and I have been having lots of fun thinking of names for the quilts to follow...i do more; i do as well...you get the idea! 

So if you love circles, and you love this amazing Moda fabric I DO suggest you create our latest I DO!!! 

In creating this quilt, and playing with it once it was complete, I discovered that 51'' x 51'' not only makes a great size for a wall hanging, but it is also a great lap size quilt, plus this quilt would be perfect for the coolest baby on earth!

The pattern will be available on October 5th, to pre-order purchase here:

  

On the 5th all of the new patterns will be updated and available in our pattern store.

A special thanks to Lizzy for creating the pattern cover, and to Jessica for being the model!  Notice the quilt covering her?  Check out the Paris Flea Market Map fabric, right under the O - another of my Moda all time favorites!

My Best Wishes to you!

 

Introducing Best Wishes our newest Cherry House Quilts pattern, and the first pattern in our Salutation series. 

A polite expression of greeting or goodwill

Greetings indicating respect and affection; regards

A word or phrase of greeting used to begin a letter or message

We hope you will cherish and enjoy these traditional quilts, reminiscent of the past - as treasured as a dear letter from a loved one

 

Best Wishes was created using Moda's 3 Sisters' Aster Manor Fat Quarter Bundle.  These delicate florals, and beautiful paisley prints work perfectly for this very traditional pattern.

Two options included with the pattern are a paper pieced block, as well as rotary cutting instructions.  

The pattern will be available on October 5th.  To pre-order, purchase here:

In the works...

There is so much going on it is a challenge to keep up with it all...quilts, kids, market...all exciting, all lots of work!

Let's start with kids, namely Miss Elizabeth House...Lizzy to you, is home for a visit, and to even add more excitement, I think Ashlee and Melissa are coming home too!!!  Luke and Becky will have little Benjamin blessed (christened) on Sunday, so it will be a wonderful family gathering - which truly is the best thing in the world to me.  When all my children are together, I am at my happiest - completely, joyfully, gratefully happy! 

Next is quilts of course, to be honest it is quilts, quilts, quilts...new patterns, market around the corner, that kind of thing. 

I DO believe that all of our I DO fans will be pleased with an up and coming pattern using Moda's amazing Authentic line - I can't tell you how much I love that fabric!  Circles, circles, and more circles...gotta love it!

And on the heels of that new quilt and pattern will be the next quilt in our City Series called City Breeze...this will be our first pattern with two size options offered, one size will be a large quilt, and the other size will be our Baby Breeze for little ones.  Check out these glorious colors of Kona Cotton Solids from Robert Kaufman for City Breeze.

I loved your stories and comments about your best fabric finds, I can't tell you how much I wished I had been along for your shopping/garage sales adventures - what bargins - thank you for sharing them!  If you haven't had a chance, be sure to leave a comment to be entered into our Wee Play Charm Pack drawing here...our drawing will be on Saturday.

Until then,

Cherri

Playing fast and loose with value!

Light, medium, and dark...quilters live by it in terms of value, right?  But I love switching things around, and taking what once was a light, or a medium light, and having it play the role of a dark.  I utilized this throughout this quilt, it helps create visual variety and unexpected surprises across the surface of the top.

The fabric is 3 Sister's Aster Manor by Moda, and the quilt will be off to the machine quilter's tomorrow.  Cherry House Quilts is starting a new series of traditional quilts called Salutations; an homage to all things beautiful and traditional like letter writing, and quilting.  This first quilt in the series is called Best Wishes.

Happy Sunday,

Cherri