Cherry House Quilts

Time to give back - Fabric Give Away!

Since this past May when the girls all left for school & adventure I have concentrated, and focused on my business Cherry House Quilts.  I had goals that I set for myself like publishing my patterns, having my first quilt exhibit, going to Quilt Market with Lizzy dream, and getting a website started (still a work in progress).  So lots of goals have been met, and quilt market is over - so it's time to give something back.  Our woman's group at church is having a quilt drive for MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital so it's time to make some scrap quilts.  I love scrap quilts - they are my favorite!  Like I've said before, I used to purchase scrap bundles from my LQS.  My favorite activity used to be bringing home those bundles and sorting them by brights, pastels, florals, etc.  Needless to say - I have lots of scraps. 

I have a plan (I always have to have a plan - it's the only way to stay sane), I'm going to make three scrap quilts for this quilt drive, then I'm giving the rest of my bright scraps (good beautiful fabric) and fat quarters away.  I've got too much fabric, and not enough time - so I'll share the wealth. 

Here's the deal...leave a comment about your best use of scraps , we'll pick a favorite on 11/15, and they are yours! 

One down, two to go!

It's cold somewhere

My daughter Melissa just sent these photos of a recent snow storm in Idaho.

It's hard to fathom when in Houston it's been in the mid 80's.

I wonder if she will still be this enthusiastic next May???

 

Quilt Market Encounter

Market was amazing, and if you ever have the opportunity to go, you should.  Before we left for Market on the first day, Lizzy said, "you know, if you see any famous people you are going to have to be cool, right?"  Sounds like a statement from a person embarrassed by their Mother on a previous occasion (think Alex Anderson, and Kaffe Fassett).    Well, we did see lots of famous quilters, and I behaved well (for the most part).  I am a devotee of Diana McClun - one of the first quilt books I ever purchased was Quilts, Quilts, Quilts.  Well, she was standing in her booth, and Lizzy was busy looking at beads across the aisle, so I decided to introduce myself, and tell her what an influence she has been to me.  She couldn't have been more kind!  So I'm talking to one of my quilting idols, and she is asking why I'm at quilt market, I explain that I have a pattern company with my daughter, and that she is trying to find a manufacturer for her fabric designs, etc, etc.  At some point I show her my patterns, and by now Laura Nownes (who is also amazingly nice) is there, and another lady.  They are looking through my patterns, and we visit for a few minutes.  I'm looking at the name tag of the other lady...and something about it is familiar, but I can't place it, and it's really bugging me.  I excuse myself, walk over to Lizzy to see what she is doing, and then it dawns on me...the other woman is Dale Fleming!  I had been saying her name over, and over in my head, like a mantra...dale fleming, dale fleming, dale fleming...trying to recall who she was.  My mind finally clicked, and I think I said rather loudly..."oh my gosh, you're Dale Fleming!!!"  Like some crazy person I said, "your circle, I've done your circle in my pattern".  I pull out the pattern for "i do", and showed her that I referenced her on my actual pattern.  She threw her arms around me, and said that I had made her day.  She said that she was always so happy when a quilter found a way to use her circle method.  It was a crazy, happy moment.  She said she loved the quilt, and she asked if she could keep the pattern!  I was never so honored!