Cherry House Quilts

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

Thank you so much for your kind outpouring of support in regards to my story. It is hard is talk about, and your gracious kindness is humbling to me. Since it isn't a subject I discuss often, I am always taken aback by how prevalent domestic violence is, and how many lives it touches.

I'm a little under the weather, and Market is days away, so this will have to be brief.

The sisterhood of women is a beautiful thing, and I am so grateful for all of you!

xoxo,

Cherri

The Gospel of Quilting

This past week I was invited to speak to the wonderful Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild members, and to teach a workshop at Harper's Fabrics. I have to say that it could not have gone better! Everyone was kind, warm, and welcoming - it was a dream come true! What was I so nervous about? We all come to the table with a love of quilting, a love of fabric, a love of sewing, and it seems; a love for others.

My topic for speaking to the MQG was me; my story, my journey, the path from the beginning to now. I thought I would share I few things that I shared that night, some things that have shaped my life, the lives of my children; and unbeknownst to anyone - the lives of those that I teach to quilt.  I know these things are very personal, and I hesitate to share them; but maybe in sharing them someone else could find some hope.

For too many years I was in an abusive marriage, when it finally ended I was very grateful, but completely numb. For one whole year I couldn't sew, couldn't touch my sewing machine, I couldn't buy fabric (horror of horrors), I couldn't do anything. I would look at my sewing machine longingly, and wish that I could sew, but I couldn't.  Miraculously I started to get better, my healing began by sorting and petting fabric (only a quilter will appreciate this, I think), then I began to sew about a million string pieced blocks - mindless sewing was all I was capable of at that point. Next I began to sew the blocks together - not for any purpose, I just wanted to see them all together. After several months, I began to start making quilts out of all of those blocks...the healing was well underway. To a degree, quilting saved my life. That was in 2004, 6 years later I have a quilt business, a book, and all of you!

Quilting has the power to heal, the power to build confidence, the power to rebuild a life, and the power to bind people together. I am so grateful for quilting!  My passion for teaching quilting is this: if someone believed they were not capable of creating something of beauty, and a teacher showed them that they could; their perception about them self would change, because something they once believed true, was proven not true. How could that affect other areas of their life? It is a ripple in the water occurrence, one change in perception about one self, changes everything else. That is the Gospel of Quilting! That is why I teach, and that is why I share my love of quilting with anyone that will listen. 

 
Thank you for allowing me to share this with you, and thank you for your kind comments &  encouragement! Thank you Jacquie & KCMQG, and thank you Elaine and everyone at Harper's! 

xoxo,

Cherri 

Wish me luck! (please)

 

Hi sweetest friends!  This is more of a 'hi & bye' then anything else.  I'm off to Kansas City tomorrow to speak before the Kansas City MQG, and then teaching a City News workshop at Harper's Fabrics!  Speaking a lot...like, all the time; comes naturally to me. Speaking before audience is unnatural to me. I get pretty nervous, and Lizzy's says that I'm silly when I'm nervous; which is so hard to believe (not). But I can do this - that is what I always tell myself, when something seems overwhelming challenging. 

What am I going to talk about?  City Quilts of course, my love of quilting, my love of solid fabrics, and for the first time ever; I'm going to tell my story. What story would that be? My story of why quilting means so much to me. The photo of this quilt called Fields of Gold is tied to my story, and what I will share. I wish everyone that loved me could be there, smiling to let me know that whatever happens, I will be alright.

I'm talking about quilting, one of the things I love best in the world; in front of a bunch of quilters, who also love quilting.  So really we are already friends, right?  Yes!  And why should I be nervous in front a bunch of my friends?  No reason; none at all.  I can do this...wish me luck!

xoxo,

Cherri

More luggage!!!

 
 Finally, finally, finally the cable/internet/phone are repaired...thank goodness! But it seems that not everything was a loss, because you guys are loving the luggage quilt!  THANK YOU!!!  I've tweaked it* (name that movie/line) a little, and made some improvements. I like the bags stacked in front of the others.  I never imagined this quilt would see the light of day, I was just playing & designing; it's a matter of working out electronically (or pencil & paper) of what is going on inside my twisty head. A couple of comments that surprised me were from wives who said this was a quilt that their husbands would approve of...I never thought about that being an issue for anyone. Do we need more husband friendly quilts? I can do that! I haven't been in the husband business for a while, but mine wasn't particularly particular about quilt subject matter. 

You had some questions; so let me answered them here:

• Designed in EQ or Photoshop:  EQ7 - I don't own photoshop
• How did I do a post with no cable/internet?  Day job!
• Yes, CARRY ON...a very apt quilt name...I was thinking City Travel...but you know me!

Alright sweetest friends...thank you again for your positive comments.  I definitely can turn this into a pattern.

xoxo,

Cherri

* Tom Hanks in You've Got Mail (love that movie) 

When all else fails, design!

I'm having the worst day!!!!!!!! Our cable is out (since Sunday, no less)...no internet, no phone, no tv...it feels like we are on a desert island; without the island.

In order to calm down, and not think brutal thoughts about the scums at the cable company, I designed a quilt...it's what I do when I'm trying not to think terrible, unkind thoughts.

What do you think?  Maybe it's appropriate that I'm creating a luggage quilt, since you know; we are living on the proverbial island. There is some method to the madness.

 
Thank you for your inquiries about the House's House quilt, the pattern will be available soon.

Okay, I'm going to take some deep breaths, and try to not be so filled with frustration.

xoxo,

Cherri

Look what's finished, and look what's new!

 

House's House all finished, and Finn gave it his blessing!  Next up, the binding, and quilt pattern!

What's new? Lizzy House - my fabulous, famous, fabric designing daughter, has released her first set of patterns...3 quilt patterns, and 2 embroidery patterns!  Let me tell you, they are amazing!  Check out my favorite one; Castle Treasury! It's a beauty!!!

Pop over here to check them out!

 
Which one is your favorite?

Have a happy weekend!!!

Cherri