Cherry House Quilts

2 minute tip #3

#1 pet peeve for me...running out of bobbin thread in the middle of sewing, and having no other bobbins ready to go. New cure - having lots bobbins ready to go at all times. When I've got a few minutes, and lots of empty bobbins I just start filling them up. Basically I only use gray, black, off white, and white for piecing so those for are what I always keep on hand...about 5 of each. I do have this silly internal game I play late at night, I say that I can't stop sewing until the bobbin runs out - do you ever do that?

Do you purchase your thread by the spool or the cone? I purchase Gutermann thread in gray, black, off white, and white by the cone, so it makes thread for piecing a real bargain.

xo,

Cherri

CHQ Quilt Along - What I've learned from you!

Your love for Quilt Alongs has been a revelation to me...thank you for sharing why you join, participate, and love them! It has been humbling to read your sincere feelings about these community projects, about the opportunity to learn from each other, to make new friends around the world, to see each others projects, to see how your quilts are different, and yet the same.  Some of your are working with solids for the first time, and if you know me at all, you know that solids are near and dear to my heart, so much so, I wrote a book about them! Many of you mentioned the bonus of a quilt along keeping you on track, and getting the quilt finished. I'm honored to host this quilt along, and inspired to hold many more.

On the Flickr group, Paula started a conversation about what color quilt would they create. It has been interesting to read the choices being made, and the reason behind the choices. Some folks are purchasing fabric especially for the project, and others are pulling from their stash. Have you picked a color?

I'd thought I'd share a few colorways that I designed, but rejected...maybe you will fancy one of these too!

  
 
Remember you have till the end of the day to enter the drawing for one of four free fabric kits from Robert Kaufman.

The quilt along starts on February 1st...just days away!!!

xoxo,

Cherri 

Quilt Remix Blog Tour

Hello everyone, welcome to day 9 of the Quilt Remix blog tour! I'm so honored to be part of Emily's tour, and to have the opportunity to review her fabulous book.

One look through Quilt Remix, and it is plain to see that Emily's view, and unique spin on traditional patterns has given old familiar blocks new life. Not only that, but we have the added bonus of seeing her quilts in two different fabric styles.

A subject that continues to fascinate me is the traditional quilting vs. modern quilting conundrum; which camp do our quilts fall in, which type of quilter are we? The quilts of Quilt Remix acknowledge the traditional, while firmly standing on their own. 

Here are a few questions that Emily kindly answered...

I love the reoccurring theme of exploding blocks and really seeing the elements of the blocks in the Storm at Sea, Ohio Star, Trip Around the World, and Lone Star quilts.  Is this something that you have been exploring for sometime, or was it new to the book?

It was somewhat new to my quilting life, but something I've always done in my art and photography life. It's always fun to take a neat shape and step back, really look at it and see what else you can do with it.

Your Dresden Plate, Irish Chain, and Flying Geese take a definite twist on traditional patterns. Have you made these quilts in their traditional setting, and thought "what would happen if..."?  Or did your unique approach take another path?

I've never made any of those patterns in the original setting. When I started quilting I didn't really like any the traditional patterns so I started off drawing my own. They weren't modernizations of traditional quilts at that point, just fun-with-geometry type quilts. When writing the proposal for this book, I knew I wanted to do something modern but needed an inspiration to pull it all together and make a cohesive book. I looked back at the route I went to get to that point and figured the fabulous tradition of quilting + modern takes = wonderful.

Your quilts whimsically dance from traditional to contemporary, do you find your audience does as well? Do you have more quilters in one camp or another?

I think my camp tends to be the more modern crowd but at the same time, my quilts aren't so modern and abstract that they completely leave behind the traditional crowd. Nine of the patterns are shown in 2 different fabric collections -- one more on the modern end and one more on the traditional end. It really shows how versatile the patterns are.

Was your journey to publishing what you thought it would be?

Pretty much. Everyone at C&T was great to work with. I knew basically what the writing, illustrating and sewing would be like. After that there was a lot of unknowns since it was all new to me but it went very smoothly. I must admit though, I did go through a couple too many bottles of TUMS in the process.

If you would love an opportunity to win a copy of Quilt Remix, leave a comment for a drawing to be held on Sunday, January 23rd.

One more day to go on the tour, be sure and stop by all of the other sites for additional opportunities to win a copy of Quilt Remix, and to read more insights into Quilt Remix.

Ready for the tour dates?

• January 10th Sew Katie Did
• January 11th Pink Chalk Studio
• January 12th Jay Bird Quilts
• January 13th Allie’s In Stitches
• January  14th p.s. i quilt
• January 15th House of A La Mode
• January 16th Connecting Threads Blog
• January 17th WhipStitch
• January 19th True Up

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

Can you believe it took 3 hours to write this paragraph?

The gridded arrangement of blocks is the foundation of a traditional patchwork quilt.  Simple or complex, the symmetrical organization of the selected components is key to all of the decisions that will follow.  Once you gain mastery of the construction process in terms of fabric preparation, seam allowances, and block construction, creating any gridded quilt you desire in within your reach.

How do you condense all that quilting construction is into so few words?  It wasn't easy.  But how do you also convey that it is completely doable, that anyone can learn it, that it isn't magic, it's math.  Sure, there is artistry involved too, but there isn't any mystery.  So many people I know, upon learning that I am a quilter say, "Oh, I could never do that!"  I want to shake them, and say, "Yes you can, you can make anything you want".  I am so passionate about telling the whole world (or anyone that will listen), that you can make a quilt, you really, really can! 

In a large part, that is what City Quilts is all about, it's about believing in yourself, believing in your ability to create, believing that you can translate an idea, an inspiration, a vision into something of beauty.  To me, this is the best part of teaching - finding someone that wants to learn, but doesn't believe that learning is possible, then showing step by step that they can create a quilt.  Somehow this often translates to other aspects of their lives...they say, 'if I can create this quilt, that I never thought I could make; maybe I can do __________ too'.  It's incredible to watch! 

Okay my friends, back to work for me...but I will leave you with the precious photo of City Sweets, inspired by what???  Petit Fours of course!

xoxo,

Cherri

Radio Interview with Pat Sloan and Prizes...lots & lots of prizes!

Hi sweetest friends,

I know I blurbed (is that a word?) about this the other day, but this is OFFICIAL, like really, really officially OFFICIAL.  As in, I am going to be on the radio with Pat Sloan; if I were Elaine Benes, I would push someone over and say "GET OUT!" 

So here are all the details:

DATE: 4/12/10

TIME: 4:00 PM EST

PLACE: http://toginet.com/shows/creativetalkradio

PRIZES!!!  Should we talk about prizes?

5 Kona Cotton Solids Charm Packs courtesy of Robert Kaufman

A copy of City Quilts courtesy of C&T Publishing

A bundle of patterns from Cherry House Quilts from ME!

How to enter?  Leave a comment on Pat Sloan's blog anytime from 4/12 through 4/16

We are going to be chatting about quilting, my book, the Modern Quilt Guild craze which is sweeping the WORLD, and much, much more.  I hope you will listen in, and send me some good, positive thoughts, and maybe say a little prayer for me that I won't say anything too dyslexic, or backwards.

Cheers,

Cherri

Modern Quilt Guild Phenomenon

Have you seen all of the Modern Quilt groups popping up all over the place?  It is something that I have been watching gain momentum for several months.  I first noticed it on the Flickr Fresh Modern Quilt Group, quilters asking other like minded quilters if anyone else in their areas were interested in getting together to quilt.  Alissa @ Handmade by Alissa seems to be the godmother of this marvelous occurence, with little baby groups sprouting up, not only all over the country; but around the world!

Just today over on Elizabeth's blog I saw her calling for quilters in Portland, and she had a link to the Modern Quilt Guild's website.  On the right hand side of the page, all of the set up guilds were listed, but no HOUSTON.  So, I did it; I bit the bullet and started one for Houston.  The thought of a new kind of supportive, do your own thing guild appeals to me; no quilt police allowed!!!

Here is the link to our Houston Group, we are brand new; just hours old.  If you are in Houston, or the surrounding area, please feel to sign up!  Any information regarding the group will be posted on this page.

Cherri

A quilt for Hayden

This long weekend has a been a good time to wrap up a bunch of unfinished projects, because the little lull that I've had since finishing the book is about over. 

The quilt that I'm finishing currently is for my BFF's little grandson named Hayden.  I'm using some of Amy Schimler's adorable frogs, and lots of Kona Solids!

I've scattered colored dots across the surface of the quilt...a frog needs somewhere to jump to right?

I'll finish it up in the next few days, and send it on it's merry way!

How is everyone coming on your Fruit Stripe Gum quilt along?  Let me know how you are doing, and if you have any questions.  Remember, Thursday, putting our top together.

Have a good week,

Cherri

The winner of the quilting class is...

Hi everyone!

I wanted to announce the winner of Annie Smith's 11 week beginner quilting class is Celeste!  She doesn't have a blog (that I know of), but I'm hoping she will communicate back with us, and let us know how she is enjoying the experience.

Don't despair if you didn't win tonight...I'm going to have a terrific challenge, and giveaway next week.  Think Amy Schimler's super awesome fabric  and Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solids!!!

The fabric in the giveaway is a treat from my friends at Robert Kaufman, and I think you will love it!

Cheers,

Cherri

2nd giveaway in one week!!! Teleclass with Annie Smith

Two giveaways in one week...can you believe it?  How about a drawing for an 11 week online class with Annie Smith beginning October 2nd.  The class is geared for beginning quilters, creating a sampler, with beginning techniques taught.  Does this sound perfect for you, or a dear friend who wants to learn to quilt?  If so, sign right up!   

Before you do, let me tell you a little something about Annie...she must be, without a doubt, one of the kindest quilters in the industry.  To know her is to love her!  I'll never forget meeting her, and the blessing that it was, being seated next to her, at Lizzy & I's first industry dinner.  I was so nervous and anxious; and who should I be seated next to, an Angel!  Truly, she couldn't have been more kind or more welcoming, and I will always be grateful for that encounter. 

To learn more about Annie, her quilting podcast, and the class, pop over to link above and check out the schedule.  If a beginning class isn't suitable for you, be sure and check out Annie's other classes. 

How to enter the drawing?  Leave a comment!  The drawing will be held on September 27th. 

I am so excited about this drawing...how I would have loved a class like this early in my quilting days...oh, the embarrassing mistakes I could have saved myself :-)

Cherri