This time last year

Vacation is over, and it's time to get back to real life...I'm not ready, but it is time nevertheless.  Normally I do a end of the year review, but the end of the year got here so fast, I was hardly prepared.  If I had a chapter for each year in the book of my life, the title for 2009 would be called THE BOOK.  Writing CITY QUILTS  was an all consuming project...I could write a book, about writing the book.  I'm not sure how the process works for other people but for myself, for the most part it was a very solitary, isolated time. 

As soon as the girls headed back after Christmas to their respective lives in other states, the work began.  This time last year boxes began arriving from all over the country - fabric and batting filled my living room.  I remember the day 2 huge boxes arrived from Robert Kaufman, well over a 100 yards of Kona Solids in every color imaginable.  There are 12 quilts in the book, so I set up 12 cardboard boxes, labeled every box with the name of the quilt, and divided the fabric according to a master fabric list.  All around the living room boxes labeled with CITY names such as CITY SWEETS, CITY CIRCLE, CITY HARBOR; on and on they went.  I thought, "how will I ever make 12 quilts in 5 months?"  To this day, I still don't know how I did it, plus work a full time job, run Cherry House Quilts, as well writing the book on top of everything else.  It was a crazy intense time, I can hardly talk about my book without crying, not out of any particular emotion other than I poured my whole soul into making that book - it truly is the essence of me. 

My days began to have a regular pattern, I would go to work, come home, take care of the dog, get a bite to eat, and come up stairs to sew.  Pinecone would lie on my bed, Mickey would lie in his little bed near the ironing board, and Stella would lay on the fabric shelves.  My room, which at the time was my sewing room as well, was covered in fabric, quilts, plans, little plastic project folders for each quilt. The design wall was forever changing with each new quilt.

Here's a peek at City Aviation, one of the quilts in the book.  This is only half of the quilt, I can't wait for your to see it in it's full glory, the quilting by DeLoa Jones is incredible. 

As I said, it's time to get moving again, today I shipped off a quilt to Fon's and Porter for some issue of Easy Quilts magazine, look for the quilt called Bonneville, with beautiful batiks by Robert Kaufman.  Lots of new quilts and patterns due out soon!

May 2010 be wonderful for everyone of you!  I am so grateful for your kindness, support, and friendship.

love,

Cherri

Comments

[Patty]

Congratulations on your book, it sounds like it was an incredible journey.
I love the quilt in your header...so much so I ordered it. I can't wait to start it but for now I must finish up several other projects. I hope 2010 is brings you much success and peace too.

[badlands quilts]

Congratulations on your book... this quilt is wonderful, can't wait to see them all!

[Dallas]

I really like the city aviation quilt - can't wait to see more.

[nicolette]

Congratulations on your Book Cherri!!

The City Aviation quilt looks awsome!

[Jackie]

Sounds like even though it was an intense time, you really enjoyed it too. But the best part is to see all your hard work coming to fruition! Can't wait to see the book!

[Anne]

Just want to let you know that this is a book that I am really looking forward to getting. The city aviation quilt looks fantastic just from this preview.

[Andrea Harris]

Congratulations on a new year, a new book to launch and alot of exciting things to come!
Your quilts have inspired me so much to start my own personal project - a year of solids quilts. I view your quilts and get goosebumps - patterned fabric just confuses me. I feel calm with the solids.
I can't wait for your book to come out, I'll be the first one in line to buy it here in Canada!
Have a super year....Andrea

[pam]

I love that quilt! I am so excited to hear stories about the book. SEe you soon in MN?

[Jenny]

Congratulations on the book...
I think I would quite like boxes of fabric to show up at my front door! :)

although...not the deadlines!

[Cheryl Arkison]

A book is such an outpouring of your soul. Thank-you for sharing. (And for almost scaring me off the thought of the process.)

[brenda rowley gray]

old friends reconnecting....