Cherry House Quilts

Free quilt pattern anyone? Plus, a question for you!

    Do you remember this pattern?  It's called Tybee Island, and it was in a magazine last year.  Well, a year has transpired, and the publishing rights have returned to me, so from today through the end of the month I'm going to offer it as a free pattern!  I really love this quilt, and I hope you will too.  It's quick and fun, and visually it keeps you hopping.  Okay, that was the free pattern part of the post, now for the question??? 

08-05-09 We hope that you enjoyed the free Tybee Island Pattern...thank you!

Kathleen over at Magik Quilter has been suggesting that I do a quilt-along...to tell you the truth, I'm not exactly certain how to do one.  But, I've been reading and looking at lots of blogs, and I think I have it figured out.  So if you are willing to come along for the ride, I'm going teach my Little Bouquet as a quilt-along.  Lots of you have expressed interest in having the instructions; so here's a chance to use up your scraps, and we will make a little bouquet together!  Game?  Leave me a comment, and we will get started.  It will be fun, I'll learn how to do a quilt along, and you will make yourself (or someone you love) a fancy, schmancy little quilt!

I am so excited...I can't wait to get started!

Cherri

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!

 

Done and done!

  Little Bouquet 16'' x 21''

It's all done, my little bouquet of flowers!  All right, my self imposed play time is over, time to get back to work. 

This little project has caused me to reflect on some ongoing discussions that I've been reading on Flickr, about the difference between traditional, contemporary or modern, and art quilters.  In one conversation in particular it seemed there were some sensitive feelings regarding "art" quilters.  I think conversations and discussions are good, I think thinking one type of work has more value than another is dangerous territory.  It brings to mind conversations about "working moms", and "stay at home moms".  I think as women that we need to support each other period.  We heap enough negative stuff on ourselves, without our "sisters" adding more.  We don't know the motivation behind decisions made, we don't know one another's circumstances...all we know is what we see, and so often that is a window dressing.  We need to lift each other up, we need to love one another more!  Okay, that's my soap box, I'll go back to quilting now.

Thank you for joining me on little play journey, I've enjoyed your comments, and your reflections about your own fun & relaxing projects.  Anyone interested in making one of these?  If so, let me know, and I'll provide the instructions.

Cherri

A little closer to being done

 

Do you ever make assumptions about the quilt you are going to make, and find that what you assumed, and what is reality are two different things?  Before I ever started adding the little log cabin roses I had the quilt planned, and I knew where the roses would be positioned.  Prior to adding the flowers, on the quilt top I added vines with some glittery thread.  In my mind I thought this would work for the greenery of the floral arrangement.  I thought the quilt would be just the roses, and the quilting...that was the plan.  Well I finished sewing down all of the flowers, and machine quilted the entire piece, but it was somehow flat.  What did it need???  Leaves, a bunch of leaves!  It seemed a little backwards, since the quilt was already quilted - but, whatever - I just stitched them on top of everything else.  It looks better!  Tomorrow the binding, it's a purple plaid leftover from another quilt.  It's a good exercise to create something with only what is available, and on hand.  Creativity must take over, and rules and convention have to take a back seat.

I feel like such a rebel!

Cherri

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

 

Love Letters <3

Have you ever wanted to make someone a quilt, but couldn't?  How about a love letter?  I love making little quilts, more like a quilted greeting card, that is so special to give and to receive.  I made this quilt for my best friends' elderly mother.  This is a great opportunity to work on machine quilting, and use up some scraps.

The finished size is 6.5'' x 8.5'', which fits perfectly into a 7 x 10 manila envelope. 

Start with a 8'' x 10'' piece of fabric, and a piece of batting.

Prepare the fusible applique pieces, and place on the front of the 8'' x 10'' piece

Sew down the raw applique pieces, and machine quilt the remainder of the piece

Cut 1 7'' x 9'' piece of fabric for the back, and trim the quilted front to 7" x 9''.

With right sides facing sewing around the entire piece.

In the center of the back, carefully create a slit in the fabric, and turn the quilt inside out, poke out the corners, and press.

Create a 3 1/2'' x 4 1/2'' light colored piece of fabric with fusible (patch), to cover the opening on the back, and create a greeting.

Cover the opening with the patch, write your greeting, and press the entire little quilt.

Stick it in an envelope, send it in the mail, and make someone's day!!!

All Things Brilliant!

I love things done well, done creatively, done outside of the box...I love to watch an amazing play in a football game, I love to watch Elizabeth (Lizzy) create art beyond what I thought her capable of (and she's capable of soooo much), I love Melissa and Ashlee's song writing ability - to turn thoughts and words into amazing verses...I love all things brilliant!!! 

Years ago when Simply Quilts repeats were on HGTV & DIY; I would DVR them, then watch my favorite ones over and over, trying to learn, and take in techniques that were unfamiliar to me.  One of my all time favorites was the episode with Anita Grossman Soloman where she introduces cool cutting techniques.  I was blown away by the square on point - I thought it absolutely brilliant, and outside of the box.  In my mind, conceptualizing that, and figuring it out required a different kind of thinking - which is the coolest thing in the world...figuring something out that leaves convention far behind.

So, to the present: I had been given an opportunity to create a quilt with some wonderful new Moda fabric by 3 Sisters (which I have a crazy fondness for).  I wanted to create a square on point pattern, and I wanted to share Anita's method with the world.  How to share to the brilliance of Anita's method, and reference it in my pattern? All I could think to do, was to ask her...what would I say, "hey lady, you know that cool thing you discovered, can I share it with everyone?"   What would she think?  How would she react to my request?  I'm happy to say, the encounter was better than I could have ever imagined, she was kind, gracious (she even knew my work!), she said she was happy that I liked the process, and was happy that I wanted to share it!  My first unembarrasing celeb encounter!!!  Life is good!

For any interested in learning how to use her method for cutting square in a square block - here is the link: http://www.hgtv.com/videos/super-fast-rotary-cutting/4431.html

Here's the link to the pattern that Anita is using on the segment: http://www.makeitsimpler.com/square_on_point_pattern_aI9.pdf

The blocks are all cut, and going on the design wall as fast as I can sew them!  Hooray for a long weekend...sewing, sewing, sewing!  This quilt will be done before I know it.

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

Cherri