Cherry House Quilts

Too Many Quilt Books???

This is the running theme...is it possible to have too many quilt books?  We are getting some great responses. So far Eleanor Burns is in the lead for the first book purchased.  I found that I have core books I return to again, and again...namely Diana McClun & Laura Nownes, Alex Anderson, of course my Mary Ellen Hopkins books, and Kaffe Fassett - just cause they are so beautiful.  Those are forever keepers.  Something that I have found over the years is that I'm really looking for inspiration more than anything.  Do you find that too, or are you wanting to make a specific quilt?

Isn't this a great outdoor sculpture from the Kansas City, Mo. library?  I love outdoor art!

If you haven't joined our contest, leave a comment about your first quilt book, or your favorite.  Be sure and tell your quilty friends!  We'll have our drawing on Sunday for the winner of these two great books. 

Too Many Quilt Books - Quilt Book Giveaway!

           I have too many quilt books...not as many books as in this cool photo, but too many nevertheless.  My first quilt book was by Mary Ellen Hopkins...I love her!  My mom taught me to sew, but designing quilts I learned from MLH's books.  Her method gives you the freedom to do whatever you want.  True, but ridiculous story - I was in California for a business trip, and I decided that I HAD to go to Mary Ellen's shop while I was there.  I was in Palmdale, her shop is in Santa Monica, but it didn't matter.  I get there and a 17 year old is behind the counter (nothing against 17 yr olds - I've had 4).  I said with a teenager's excitement for a rock star "Is Mary Ellen here?"  "No, she sold the shop; my Mom owns it now".  "Well, does she ever come here anymore?"  "I don't know, sometimes, maybe".  I was heart broken, I had driven so far...no Mary Ellen (I am such a dork with famous/semi famous people).  I did though pick up some fabric, and one of MLH's books...I hadn't completely lost my mind. 

Back to the TOO MANY BOOKS issue...I'm going to give them away!  Two books a week to one lucky person every week till I have just enough, but not too many.  Here's this weeks books...

Tea Party Time by Nancy Martin, and Making Quilts for Children by Elaine Hammond.  Just leave a comment, and share what your first quilt book was, or what your favorite quilt book is.  This Sunday we'll have a random drawing, and next Thursday we will start over with two more books.  Check back in a couple of days for the titles of next weeks books.  BTW - these are new, or like new books.

P.S.  I will ship overseas - it might take three months before it gets to you, but we have to make it fun for everyone!  Tell your friends - the more the merrier.

Cherri

Pure Joy!

Ashlee at Grandma's

I went to see what was new at Eric & Julie's blog (of Cosmo Cricket fame), and they have a little video of their daughter Abby, you've got to go check it out - it will bring smile to your face.  Their little Abby reminds me so much of Ashlee when she was little - I think they look alike too.  My Grandpa would have been proud of these feisty redheads, they had special place in his heart.

To see this great short video click here

Happy Thursday!

A Quilt's life - Part Two

This seems to be a thought provoking subject...thank you for your thoughtful comments. 

Maybe the quilts should be broken down into the following catagories:

• A Child in need - these I give away freely, my only hope is that they bring someone comfort
• Someone ill or in need of comfort - again, these are easy to give, and the hope is that the person receiving the quilt knows of your love and concern
• New Babies!  My only issue with giving these quilts away, is that I want these quilts to be loved... loved to pieces if need be.  It hurts my heart that they are hung on walls, or tucked into baskets - never to be used.  My thoughts always turn to the Velveteen Rabbit
• Guilt Quilt - have you ever been guilted into giving a quilt?  I have, how I resented every stitch.  The joke was on me though...I decided that I would make this quilt with every ugly fabric I possessed - Indian Corn, freakish pumpkins, the weirder, the better.  The lady I gave the quilt to thought it was beautiful - the most amazing collage of fabrics she had ever seen.  Shame on me...I know.
• Friendship Quilts - maybe these are toughest...like Amanda experienced, what happens when the friendship changes?  I guess your only hope is that the one time friend retains the best memories of the friendship.

I guess that in the end we do what we do for the love of quilting, for the love of sharing, and for the love of giving someone in need some comfort.  There is nothing on earth that makes me happier than to come downstairs at home and see all of my children and their friends wrapped in quilts.  Knowing that for a tiny window of time that everyone is safe, warm, and loved!

A Quilt's Life

If you've given away a quilt, I'm sure you will have shared some of these thoughts...

• Will the person I'm giving this quilt to, love it as much as I do?
• Will the person I'm giving this to take care of it?
• What if they don't appreciate it the way I think they should?
• What will happen when they die?  What will happen to the quilt?  Will it be treasured, or ditched at a garage sale?

These thoughts plague me when giving away a quilt.  I made a quilt called Sailor's Delight years ago for someone I thought was a dear family friend.  Up to that point, I think it was the best quilt I had ever made.  Somewhere between deciding to make it, and the time I was going to deliver it, our friendship sadly changed.  One day I announced to the girls that I couldn't give the quilt to this family.  They said, "what are you going to do with it?  It's not ours".  They were correct, the quilt wasn't ours...we loved it, and used it for a time, but it never really belonged to us.  This past Christmas I found it's rightful owner - my Mom.  She was so happy, she had loved the quilt from the very beginning (she knew who it really belonged to).  I also gave away another quilt at Christmas - my Mental Health #2 quilt.  It was time, and I was finally ready.  The person I gave it to had always loved it, and I knew it would be safe in her care.  It's a curious thing, being able to give something away, in a lesser way it's like sending my children out into the world.  They are mine - they always will be - but there comes a day when it's time to set them free, and let them find their way.

 

A Quick Hello & Thank You!

I'm popping in to say a quick hello!  Things for Cherry House Quilts are busy & hoppin' at the moment. 

Previously I shared that I'm doing a quilt for Cosmo Cricket for Market, well I've been asked to do a second quilt for this MAGAZINE!!!  I couldn't be more excited, and a little nervous.  This has always been a dream of mine to have a quilt in a magazine, and it's coming true!  Plus, I've been asked to design a quilt for these folks for a new line of fabric.  On top of that, I personally cannot wait to finish City News!  The top is done, and I'm going to start the quilting this weekend.  The pattern should be out within the next few weeks.  You will want to stock up on all of your favorite Kona Solids in every shade of red for this quilt, and you will need some black & whites too.

On a personal note, I want to thank Nicolette, Joan, Nanette, and Anna for your kind words over my little sad spell.  Wouldn't it be fun to all get together, have tea (or diet coke), and just visit?

When the children were small, and I needed them to hurry, I'd say "quick like a bunny" to get them to move faster.  Well, now I must say those words to myself, and dive in to get all of this work done. 

P.S. Lizzy has an museum exhibit starting today in Idaho Falls - I'm not sure if she has posted about it - she has been so busy.   I hope everyone will join me in sending her good positive thoughts & wishes.  It will be a huge blessing to her if she is able to sell all of her art work!

A Chink in my armor

The strangest thing happened the other day, I'm still not certain how.  At work we received a notice that an orchestra would be performing in our lobby for a short concert, and we were all invited to attend.  At times my mind is running at about 100 miles per hour.  In the space of a few short seconds, these are the thoughts that ran through my mind...

1. Orchestra - there will be cello players
2. Cello players - Melissa (my daughter)
3. I miss Melissa
4. I miss Melissa playing her cello
5. If I go to that concert and see any cello players I'll start to cry, because I miss Melissa so much
6. I can't go to that concert, if those orchestra members see someone crying maybe they will think I don't like their music
7. My friends asked if I was going to the concert, I said that I couldn't, and I started to cry.

How crazy is that?  I miss my children EVERY day.  Melissa has been gone since June, Ashlee and Lizzy years longer, and Luke two years before that.  I believe we put on armor everyday, just to get by, and survive.  But somehow, thinking about my sweet girl, playing her cello with such concentration & passion got to me, these thoughts got past all of the carefully applied protective layers.  Watching Melissa play her cello is a joy to behold - she has long, thin fingers that remind me of spiders in the very best way.  She never takes that as much of a compliment, but I think spiders & their webs are beautiful...the ultimate knitters!