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!

Cherry Wreath

New year, new month, new block for the cherry cake quilt which has been in progress for (ahem) a while now!  The pattern is from Lori Smith's Fit to Frame: Pattern Sixteen - was so pleased that its a perfect fit for the appliqued setting blocks.

Progress so far on the cherry cake quilt. All good intentions to stay on track and finish this during the first six months this year.  I'm really pleased with it so far, and just passed the half way point with the applique blocks.  The cake stand blocks came from a friendship swap within a Reproduction Quilt Yahoo group, and I just love the colors, so don't want to let them languish any longer.

I appreciate you stopping by for a visit - tomorrow I'll be cheering for the 49ers and working on the next block!

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!