Spreading Leaves & Cherries

The cherry cake quilt is getting closer to completion.  Its a really cheerful quilt to work on during dreary winter days.  Only four more applique blocks to finish and then I can sew it together and think about border choices.  What to do, what to do:  fancy  appliqued border with lots more berries, vines and baskets or just call it a day and add a plain border fabric?   Time will tell as soon as its finished!

Closeup of the latest finished block - its called Spreading Leaves from the Inspired by Tradition book by Kay Mackenzie.  This book is really great as it comes with a CD so you have options for 6, 8, 10 and 12 inch blocks all ready to print out.  Even though this is a six-inch finished block, I used the pattern for the eight-inch block as I wanted the applique to fill in more space.  I plan to use this book to make at least two more blocks as there are a couple more cherry blocks included.  Really appreciate you stopping by for a visit, and always enjoy your comments and feedback!

Laurel Cherry Block

Just finished the laurel cherry block last night. 

This is the halfway point to finishing this quilt!  Many, many thanks to my virtual quilting friends in the US, Australia, Canada and Europe for contributing the Lancaster cake stand blocks for this quilt.  I am really enjoying making the applique blocks so much.  So excited that a new quilt store is opening close to home today, so of course, I have to run over and check it out.  Fingers crossed they will have a selection of reproduction and prim fabrics!  Hope you all have a lovely weekend and time to get a few stitches in.

Cherry Seeds

Finished the latest block for the Cherry Cake quilt yesterday.  The pattern I drew for this block was inspired by an antique block and a Jan Patek block from her Millenium Garden quilt.

This is how the quilt looks so far - plans are percolating for a bird block, a house block and a laurel cherry block.  My thoughts today are with the brave people of Japan as they deal with the tsunami tragedy.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog and hope you find time to get a few stitches in!

Cherry Basket Block

This month has flown by, so wanted to post a picture of the latest Cherry Cake block before the end of the month - whew just made it!  This block is modified from a pattern in the 101 Applique Blocks book.

The number of appliqued blocks are slowly growing, and are very enjoyable to make.  Am prepping the next Cherry Cake block which isn't as involved as some of the others, but there will still be a fair amount of cherries!

Really enjoyed crocheting this Montana Tote designed by Knitting Architect for my daughter, Jamie, and she loves it. She asked me to make it when she found the pattern on Etsy here.  I'm in the process of crocheting a wheat colored bag for my daughter, Holly.  Its a nice, easy project to pick up and crochet a few rounds in the odd moment.  Its a nice, heavy bag with a long strap that fits cross body so its secure.  Think I will make one for myself next!

I sincerely appreciate all of you who stop by for a visit, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend!  Off to make a curried cauliflower soup to take to work for lunch during the week ahead.

Cherries Galore

This is the latest applique block finished for the cherry cake quilt.  The cake basket blocks were made by friends on a Reproduction Yahoo Group.  Our challenge was to make cake basket blocks for a block exchange using Lancaster colors.  This applique block was inspired by a block in an antique quilt I remember seeing in a quilt show some time ago.  There are a lot of cherries in this one, so I ended up using thin metal washers I got at the hardware store as templates.  After gathering the fabric around them, they got a good press and then sat overnight to cool.  It really worked well.

Progress so far - the cherry sprig applique block on the right is inspired by a block in the 101 Applique Blocks book by Nancy Brenan Daniel.  This is a great book which I end up return to over and over.  The middle block was made using a bias stem shaped around a glass for the template, and leaves from a pattern I made by folding freezer paper in half and cutting out a leaf shape until I came up with a shape I liked.  There are a total of 20 cake stand blocks, so will enjoy making more applique blocks to go in between.

Thank you for stopping by to look at the Cherry Cake quilt progress, and hope you have time this weekend to get a few stitches in!  Delicious foggy weather here in Northern California just right for quilting and a pot of soup bubbling on the stove!

Cherry Sprig Block

Just finished the cherry sprig applique block for the cherry cake quilt, and am deciding what type of applique blocks to make next.  

The applique blocks are so fun to make as they will all be different, and I'm leaning towards a bird/cherry block or an urn/cherry block as the quilt may get a bit busy.  Would love to hear your ideas about future applique blocks to include!

Treasures

My dear mother-in-law passed away last Sunday after a long illness. We were so fortunate to inherit some of the quilts made by her, her mother and her aunts. They are completely hand pieced.  These quilts were carefully packed away in her cedar chest and we never knew they existed. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Just love both of these quilts and feel so lucky to keep them in our family.  My husband remembers his grandma doing a lot of "sewing" when he was young, but doesn't recall his mom making any of these quilts.  It is fun to really study the fabrics and quilting designs up close. 
 
Back in the early 1990s when I first started quilting, I remember getting my mother in law her first rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat for her birthday, and showing her how to make a log cabin quilt.  She had a lot of fun making it, but never mentioned that she had made quilts before, using the traditional methods.  She was a beautiful southern lady who looked like a 1940s movie star.  She traveled across the country from Kansas City to California to marry my father in law, who had just enlisted in the navy in 1941.  She was only 16 years old!  Now I know where my daughters get their courage and independent streak!  We really miss her...

Red Runneth Over

So nice to finally have a finish and popped this quilt in the washer and then into the dryer as I was anxious to get the crinkly, antique look.  Didn't give it a second thought (or look) before drying, and rats, one of the red fabrics bled, despite prewashing the fabric!!

Will try washing it again with a color catcher and see if the red comes out.  My daughter, Jamie, told me not to worry, it just makes the quilt look more antique.  Bless her...  I'm happy with the echo quilting in the borders - boy did it take a long time though!  Thanks for any suggestions you have on getting the red out.

I'm happy to report that the color catchers worked like a dream and the red came out!  Thank you all for your suggestions!  -Dixie

Spencer Museum Quilt - Crown of Thorns Block

This block took a little longer to make as it has more complicated pieces, but I'm happy with it.  Had to piece the background, but I don't think its too noticeable.  Love the pieced fabrics that are used to make pieces in blocks in the old quilts - I think they add so much character.   Finishing this block means the Spencer quilt is 1/3 done!  Going to head in a different fabric choice direction with the next set of blocks.  Hope it works out!

Planted five different heirloom tomato plants, some basil, and a Japanese maple tree last weekend.  Also need to plant a bay laurel tree, but not sure where it will go.  Very excited about this as we use a lot of bay leaves in our cooking.  Reading Frida, a novel about Frida Kahlo written by Barbara Mujica, which is told in the voice of her sister, Cristina.  So far, its very good!

Birds and Berries

Happy with the colors in this block.  Its a design from the Blackbird ladies.  Aren't their designs wonderful? The weather this Spring is amazing, and the lupine flowers are in bloom now.  Everytime I see them I am reminded of our trip to Alaska.  I got the seeds there when we visited three years ago.  Currently reading Mr. Shivers which is turning out to be a very scary book.  Going to make chicken enchiladas tomorrow - yum!

Cherry Tree Block

Ah, such a pretty Spring this year.  Just finished the first block from the Beyond the Cherry Trees quilt.  Changed the pattern a bit, and I like it, but think it lacks the whimsy of the original.  But isn't that what makes quilting fun - its a creative ride all the way. 

Great Grandmother's Rose

My great grandmother owned this quilt, and I am lucky to still have it. I shudder to think I once thought about cutting it up to make quilted bunnies (horrors!)  I decided to try to reproduce a block. Think I will use the block in a crib sized quilt instead. Its fun to feel the connection with my great grandmother when I see her quilt and wonder about the history behind it.

Spencer Museum Quilt - Pomegranite Block

The second block of the Spencer Museum quilt is finished. These large blocks are so fun to applique! Gorgeous sunny day outside, so am off to soak up some spring and trim a few rose bushes. First daffodil should be blooming any day now...

Spencer Museum Quilt

Just finished the first Spencer Museum quilt block (Jan Patek quilt pattern). The berries are tiny and have so much fabric gathered behind them that they look stuffed, which I really like! Rainy day here so its a perfect time to stay inside and applique. Hopes and thoughts go out to those living in such tragic circumstances in Haiti. Sent our donation to Doctors Without Borders last Wednesday for the relief effort - they do such worthwhile work.