Cherry House Quilts

A Tiny Update

My tiny guy, little baby Alton is on the mend, and eating bubbles apparently.  Thank you all for your good wishes, and prayers.  I'm so grateful he is well - I love him so much!  I never knew that being a Grandma would feel this way...so much love!

The Girl Power pattern is on it's way...just a couple more days, and it will be posted here, as well as on Free-a-bee.  Also on Free-a-bee is an adorable little City Park Bird that Lizzy created as a free download, that you can applique to your City Park Quilt, or create a little stuffed bird - anything you like. 

Speaking of City Park, if you have a minute, go check out Robert Kaufman's website.  They have taken City Park in it's original color, and if you roll your mouse over the other two color ideas, it changes the color of the whole quilt, so you can see how it will look in the various colorways...too cool!!!

On a final note, a big thank you to Kirsten for the lovely things that she said about Lizzy and me on Annie's Pod cast #111.  We are so honored!

Happy Wednesday!

All About Houston

I've done it!  I just finished the design on the last City Quilt in the series, and I couldn't be more excited.  It's a funny thing, this series of quilts...they have all been inspired by the City of Houston.  I am not a Texan, I was born in California.  I didn't come here by choice (parents/high school...not exactly kidnapping).  But I married a Texan, and had four little Texas babies, and it has been their home - so consequently mine.  I must admit that I have begrudgingly come to love it; for now - it is my home.  This was discovered strangely enough at Quilt Market.  Lizzy and I were sitting at a table in the eating area, when this woman from NY, started saying what a weird place Houston is, how she couldn't stand how the city was so large, yet so spread out, and there was nothing to eat Downtown (not exactly true).  I thought, "hey, what's the matter with you, you can't talk about our town that way."  I was actually defensive about the whole thing.  Then I realized, it's my town too.  So I dedicate my last City quilt to this city - Houston.

Girl Power!

    Get your rotary cutters ready!  We will have a new FREE quilt pattern in a few days, and we are calling it "Girl Power!"  My daughters loved the Spice Girls when they were growing up (still do), so calling the quilt "Girl Power" seemed appropriate.  It will be made from these three wonderful fabrics by Amy Schimler, and Robert Kaufman.      

I received the fabric in the mail the other day, and it is gorgeous!  When designing a quilt, one of the first thoughts is "who is the recipient?"  Animal Crossing can be used by boys or girls, but mainly it was for boys - they seem so cheated on the cute/fun factor.  But Girl Power, is one for the ladies (little ladies).  If you have daughters, nieces, or granddaughters that have been wanting to learn to sew - this will be a great pattern for them.  Easy, but brilliant!   Happy Sewing!

color options

here are the color options for City Park. When we first started our business something that we felt really strongly about was, and still do is color. We are happy to provide ideas in the same quilt so you could see it anywhere in your life. Enjoy!

Kona Cotton Solids are available in all of these colors!

first color option: Hot

second color option: Coffee
third color option: Water

city park

To purchase City Park, click here.  Or visit our Pattern Store for all of our available patterns

Leftover Weekend

 

This is how I spent my weekend - making little projects to use up delicious, wonderful scraps.  I love the little zippered bags Nanette is making, so I decided to make some myself.  Zippers make me a little nervous, as I don't work with them very often anymore.  Not since that girls were tiny things, and making clothes for them was a daily event.  But I recently saw an example of installing a zipper on purses, and I thought "eureka, this will work"...so there's no stopping me now.

1. The first two little guys are pin cushions for Lizzy - leftover blocks from a special project.  They are stuffed with leftover batting - that I can't seem to throw away.  One night while watching TV I shredded several bags of leftover batting strips, that have now become FREE pillow stuffing.  Lizzy filled three pillows with the stuff...a good bargain. 
2. The little bag is only about 5" x 5", perfect purse size - the fabric is Lizzy's favorite Amy Butler fabric, with some satin ribbon sewn in for good measure.
3. A Valentines bag 5" x 10" made from beautiful Holly Holderman fabric.  There's a sad story that goes along with this bag.  A coworker's granddaughter, age 6 has terminal cancer.  Everyone at work is signing little valentines day cards, and we will put them in the bag, so she has a special place to keep them - and be able to read them over, and over again.

I feel so much better using leftovers from other projects; they get a second life.

Have a great week!

P.S.  Only a few more days until the City Park pattern is available

An update, a story, and some pictures

UPDATE:  Alton is home from the hospital, not better - still has pneumonia, but well enough to come home.  They have a nebulizer (breathing treatment), lots of antibiotics, and instructions from their doctor.  Hopefully he is on the road to getting well.  Thank you all for your kind wishes, and concern.

A STORY (with pictures):

Ashlee came home for a brief (1 1/2 day visit), it seemed more like a dream, than anything else.  Her record producer was coming to Houston to play a gig - as they say - so she hopped a ride, to come see me, and her sweet pup Mick.  Ashlee's record producer is Cary Judd, he's a professional musician - actually makes a living at making music.  They arrived Sunday night, as a we sat down to have dinner, I'm thinking to myself, "oh my gosh, this guy is famous, he plays concerts all over the country, and he's in my house, having dinner".  I made them sing for their supper (1/2 kidding), I just wanted to hear Ashlee sing, and Cary too.  So he's singing, and the same thought went through my head, that I just couldn't believe Cary Judd was singing a song in my home.  The visit was great (but too short), Cary's concert at U of H went well, and Cary has now joined the Mickey fan club.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:

A new preview of City Park, our latest quilt.  Just a few more days, and the pattern will be available. 

A Mixed Bag...

As I sat to prepare this post, and put up a few pictures I received a call from my daughter-in-law telling me that her baby (my 8 month old grandson) is in the hospital with pneumonia.  He's on an IV, and steroids.  They tried to put him on oxygen, but as with any self respecting 8 month old, he wasn't having it.   So now they are blowing oxygen AT him with some kind of tube.  A parent has to be with him at all times, so my son is pulling the night duty.  It breaks my heart to think of him suffering, and not being able to breathe. 

    This is Alton just a few weeks ago, when he was happy, teething, and much more chipper.

I'll save the other stuff for later - none of it seems very important at the moment.

My Idaho Winter

The first winter that I dropped Lizzy off at school was a sight to behold.  From her discription I think this year is about the same.  Everything is white...the sky is white, the ground is white, the trees are white...or so it first appears.  I was fascinated by beauty of starkness, and I decided then that I would make an Idaho Winter Quilt.  The realization that I came to after several days there - was that the white was really a mirror for the shade of the sky, the glare of the sun - the snow could be purple, or pink, or have a kind of glow.  Once Lizzy told me about coming out of class when the sun was shining, and it looked like everything had been covered in glitter (and that meant a lot to my girl who adores glitter). 

My tribute to Idaho...

   

Welcome to the Animal Crossing

Without out further ado, presenting Animal Crossing...

Animal Crossing Quilt Pattern - quilt size 44 x 44

Our first quilt pattern for 2008 - hot off the press, so to speak.  Easy to piece & quick to sew, with beautiful fabric from Robert Kaufman, and designer Amy Schimler.