Cherry House Quilts

And now for something completely different

Introducing Finn, our sweet new kitty!  The other day I made the mistake of looking in the pet section of the local classifieds.  There, in black & white was a notice that said the "Humble Animal Control"  is a kill facility, and that this rescue group named "More Than Angels" was desperately seeking people to foster or adopt pets.  This group collects animals that have been picked up by the city, but not claimed.  They work through the PetCo, and hold adoptions every Saturday and Sunday.  By last Saturday afternoon, little Finn was mine.  He is a sweet, mild mannered boy that loves to be held, and loves to play.  Things at home though have been a little topsy turvy since I brought him home.  Stella and Pinecone are quite annoyed at me, but Mickey doesn't seem to mind, and Finn certainly isn't afraid of him...which is good. I'm not sure how long this adjustment period will take, but I think it will be alright in the end.  

Okay...back to quilting!  I am loving all of your comments, and ideas on how you would use the fat quarter bundles from Robert Kaufman.  Be sure and leave your project idea if you haven't had a chance so far.  The drawing for the bundles will be on October 7th.  
 

A Forbidden Love

Once upon a time one of my daughters was engaged (not Lizzy), the wedding was planned, the wedding quilt was made, everything was a go; except the groom.  In the end, it was the best for everyone, especially my girl; the biggest casuality seems to be this wedding quilt.  For a few years now the top sat innocently by, waiting to be a quilt, waiting to be loved.  The bride no longer had any love for the quilt, or for the fabrics.  What to do?  In her mind the quilt is tainted, but not for me.  I love this quilt, I loved making it; literally hundreds and hundreds of little 3 1/2'' blocks, arranged just so.  So I alone will love this quilt, but I'll keep this forbidden love to myself, lest anyone think me disloyal.  I can see it now, my girl comes home, and I'm stuffing this quilt into a closet...oh well, maybe she will forgive the quilt, maybe in the end, she will love it too!

 

Just for fun!

 

 

Do you ever need to do something just for fun?  Sometimes when I need a break from major projects, or a between thing, I make up these little log cabin-ish blocks, that are sort of like roses!  These litte roses are made from the tiniest scraps that I keep in a bag; that I can't bear to throw away.  Then I applique them to 6" scrap blocks that I always have on hand (another rainy day project that I love). So I baste these flowers with a water soluable thread, then stitch them down, raw edges and all.  I'll machine quilt the entire piece, add a binding, and I have a little quilt; a colorful garden.  As soon as it's finished I'll share it with you.  Aren't scrap quilts the best? 

What are your rainy day quilting projects, or what do you do when you need to remember that quilting is fun, and not a race to perfection?

Cherri

 

Florin a la Gilded Asian Elegance

 FYI - If you are looking for this pattern, the magazine is currently on the newsstands.  It is Quick Quilts Spring 2009 by Harris Publications...not Quick Quilts by McCall.  See the link below for an image of the magazine cover.

Aren't names funny? I named this quilt Florin 1. because a florin is an ancient Italian coin 2. because the fabric reminds me of beautiful, ornate Florentine paper, and 3. because it's a variation of a Chinese Coin.  I love stories about quilt names! When Quick Quilts published the pattern they renamed it Gilded Asian Elegance ...gilded asian elegance - such a fancy name.  When someone would email me about the quilt, they would say something to the effect of "I'm writing about the asian quilt".  I thought how interesting it was that the name influenced people's perception of the quilt.  I wonder if we do that with people, and their names too?  Is someone viewed differently because they are a Lizzy, Kate, Bill or Jimmy vs. a Elizabeth, Kathryn, William, or a James?

Some of you have said that you are having difficulty finding all of the fabrics for this quilt, so I wanted to suggest a couple of options if you are interested in using another fabric lines:

• Any grouping from the Imperial Fusion collection
• Fabrics from the Fairy Frost Collection
• Any gilded, ornate fabric group
• Batiks - I hadn't thought of it, but sweet Amy did...see the comments

Any of these ornate fabrics will work wonderfully with the simplicity of this pattern.  If you have your heart set on the shown Imperial Fusion fabrics, one of my favorite resource for finding seemingly obscure fabrics is www.quiltshops.com  

If you make this quilt, be sure and send us a photo, we would love to see your creations!

Cherri

Facebook has turned me into a 7th grader

First there was MySpace - but Melissa says, "Mom, nobody does Myspace anymore".  Then Typepad, then Flickr, then Twitter, then there is Etsy, but I don't have one of those, and now Facebook...oh my gosh, Facebook.  Facebook was something that my daughters used to keep up with college, and high school friends.  Facebook was where they told me to go to look at photos, if I wanted to see what was happening in their world.  Facebook - I am now on Facebook - how crazy is that?  Ashlee said, "I'm not sure how I feel about you being on there Mom".  Lizzy says, "Facebook is for my college friends".  When I told her I had just become friends with someone, she said, "they are on there too?  Have the quilters taken over Facebook?"  As if all of this isn't bad enough, who has time to quilt, or do anything?  I'm always checking my email, always checking if someone has written on my wall.  The girls would tell me about one of their friends, and I'd ask if they had spoken with them recently...they'd say 'no, they wrote on my wall'.  I'm thinking "wrote on your wall, why on earth would someone write on your wall???"...it's a facebook thing Mom.  I feel as if I've stumbled into a party that my children are attending, but where I don't really belong.  They are much too polite to tell me to leave, but they aren't quite sure why I'm there.  Another thing, I'm not automatically their Mom on Facebook, they actually have to confirm that we are related. 

If all of this isn't bad enough, you have to learn the right words for everything, I'm embarrased by how many times Lizzy has had to correct me.  I told her about something that occurred on TWEETER, she said "It's TWITTER MOM", then I asked her about something on EEEETSY, she said "it's Etsy MOM".  But the worst part has to be the Friendship Request - I've been reduce to a 7th grader, trying to figure out why someone hasn't accepted my friendship request, all I can think is...

• "did they get my request?"
• "do you think they've received it yet?"
• "maybe they got it, but maybe they don't like me"
• "why don't they like me?  I thought we were friends"
• "OMG if they accept _________'s request, but not mine, I'm just gonna die"

I wouldn't mind looking like I did in the 7th grade, but to think like I did in the 7th grader is a little much. 

Oh well, I wonder what the next online social networking thing will be?  I can't even imagine...much less keep up.

 Cherri

Trip to the North Pole

Every year Continental Airlines has a party for terminally ill children from M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital.  The party was held one of Continental's hangars at IAH today, December 6th.  It was such a special day with lots of activities for the children.  We had a cookie decorating table, Disney Radio had dance and hula hoop contests, face painting, pony rides, Mr & Mrs. Claus on a wagon, and one of the best activities was a snow ball fight with white bath scrubbies - everyone had so much fun!  Here's a photo album of our special day!Make a Smilebox photobook

Happy Thanksgiving & Lizzy Dish Giveaway

Does everyone the world over celebrate Thanksgiving?  I hope so!  The world will be a better place if we gave more thanks, and counted our blessing, don't you think?  I'm thankful for so many things - #1 would be my family...take a look at them at Lizzy's BFA show   My son Luke, plus my girls Ashlee, Lizzy, Melissa, and my sweet Mom.  Aren't they beautiful?  I get to see Lizzy in about three weeks for her graduation, and I can't wait! 

Lizzy's having a Lizzy Dish contest, if you are interested in winning some Lizzy Dish fabric (which isn't currently available in the stores) leave her a comment, tell her what you would do with some Lizzy Dish fabric, and something you are grateful for.  Leave her a comment here...easy enough!

We've had some great responses to our Lizzy Dish quilt called House Wares; everyone seems to be a huge fan of the polka dot border. 

Here's a photo of some fall leaves for your enjoyment - Happy Thanksgiving my friends!  Cherri

Snoopy Dancing Time!

The power is on...it is Snoopy Dance Time!!!

Isn't it funny, when you say "Snoopy Dance" everyone knows what it is, and everyone knows your level of joy!  Ashlee called me yesterday about 2:00 PM, and said, "I have some good news for you".  I knew when she said it that the power was on, and it definitely was good news!  Thank you to everyone for your prayers, kind words, and supportive emails, it truly has made these last two weeks less agonizing.  The first thing I did when I got home was to turn on and off light switches to see if they actually worked, then I open and shut the frig to see if it was actually cold...all of these novel things. 

Tonight it is back to sewing for me.  While without power I was able to get my next quilt all cut, and ready to piece, as well as reorganizing my sewing space - always a good way to begin a new project(s). 

I think everyone is going to really love the quilts that we will be churning out over the next 4 weeks.  Two quilts for Robert Kaufman, and two quilts for Andover.  The Lizzy Dish quilt is called House Wares - you guys are going to love it!

Here are a few more photos of the damage from Hurricane Ike - the citizens of Galveston were allowed to return to the island on Wednesday - it's hard to imagine that all of this destruction took place two weeks ago today.   Many people throughout the city STILL do not have power.

    

Hello from Houston

Hello from Houston!  Thank you everybody for your prayers and kind words.  I've been so touched by your sweet comments, and messages.  Take a look at these photos, the destruction has been incredible; I drive down the roads unable to believe what I am seeing.  The poor people of Galveston, Bolivar Peninsula, and Crystal Beach have lost everything.  I feel a little bit grippy over that fact that I still don't have power, then I give myself a little slap, and count my blessings.  Lizzy says that very little is being covered on the national media about what is happening here, but our problems still exist, and we are all trying to cope the best that we can.  It seems that these kind of crisis bring out the best and worst in people.  I have seen great generosity and kindness, as well as selfish, shocking behavior. 

All in all we are doing our best, and our trying to move forward.  The damage is devastating, and will take years to recover, but Texans are tough, hard working folks,  and Houston is a strong town. 

Hopefully the power will be working again at home, until then I only have limited internet access.  Thank you again for your prayers...I truly was blessed and protected, and I am so thankful!

Cherri

   

Yicks...Hurricane Ike!

  Holy cow!  Look at this storm, it's almost as big as Texas, which is HUGE!  Well my little friends all around the world, please say a little pray for us that we won't get washed away.  Friends of mine are under mandatory evacuation, and that is so scary.  This huge monster storm is suppose to come ashore sometime between Friday night, and Saturday morning.  All I want to do is sew, and work on my latest quilt design called Florin...doesn't this storm know that I have important things that I'd rather be doing?  In regards to this storm, I have visions of something of a cross between The Wizard of Oz, and Twister.  Actually I kind of envision myself huddled on the bed with Mickey, Stella and Pine sitting this thing out.

Oh well, I'm off to fill the car with gas, and buy some more dog food before the stores are empty.

Think a good thought my friends,

Cherri