Soooo...Beyond the Cherry Tree....

Begun in 2010....a first effort at appliqueing a really large quilt - 100 x 100.

Gay Bomers at Sentimental Stitches introduced us to the original antique she owned and oh, so generously, shared the patterns she reproduced each month, revealing lovely surprises and discoveries along the way. A special blog was started ... we supported and cheered each other on...some finished long ago, hand quilted or off to a long arm quilter, some are still in progress..(thank you Sharon of Grass Roots Quilting for being the administrator)

This quilt has been worked on at home, retreats and on our travels - Illinois, the UP, from Minnesota to Montana...in the RV...from Alberta, British Columbia & the Yukon, as we made numerous adventurous trips to Alaska. It has been stitched with thoughts of delight, frustrations, even anger and tears. It helped me to deal with the worries of 2 aging parents and the sad days following the passing of my Dad. It knows more about me than I would ever dare reveal aloud. Bundled on my lap in front of a fire, its weight from the wool batt helped to keep the cold Wisconsin winter nights away. At times it was neglected and abandoned in a quilting basket..

...with not a stitch taken for weeks. And then I could hear it softly calling to be worked on again. In January it shouted out - "its time to finish me - too much time has gone by and too much effort has gone in to me to sit here incomplete."

O

So here it is - after using up countless yards of quilting thread and many sets of finger guards...I dedicate this quilt to...

My Grandparents

Grandaddy grew cherry trees in West Virginia and made cherry wine. My Grammy made the best cherry pie ever and passed along her love of quilting to me.

I learned, ripped, struggled, made mistakes, but kept going...and I love this quilt in all its imperfections.... It is soooo....finished!

Pat

How timely - The Unity Tree our Dave and Jena planted on their wedding is blooming this week. Weeping Cherry Tree

 

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A sense of contentment...

...a quick post inbetween wash loads...we just returned from the first skeet shoot of the season - as always, unpacking the RV and catching up on laundry.

Every May, we look forward to meeting up with friends in Illinois. Mr. Outback gets to shoot at little clay targets for 4 days and I get to relax - most of our main meals are simple and prepared ahead of time & 2 nights out to dinner make it even easier!

One of my favorite days is getting together with a long time friend who was my partner when we opened a quilt shop years ago. She grew up in Illinois and has been sewing and quilting forever. Of course, this means she knows every quilt shop! Our day started early and we did 4 shops in a row. I'm tellin' you - the body sure tuckers out quicker than it used to, but we had a great time!

I did not take many photos but have to share one from the Treadle II Fabric Shop in Bloomington. Having been there on a couple of other trips, it still knocks me over when going in..

This is only one aisle - there is more! But you get the idea - a quilter's heaven if you have the stamina and don't mind hunting for fabric in tight quarters! They only do cash or checks, no cash register that I saw; a generic sales slip and the owner keeps the carbon. She has been in business for 40 years and if you show her a swatch you seek, she can point to where it is or tell you they don't have it. Amazing place - absolutely amazing!

I had nothing in particular in mind and there was a sale going on for fat 1/4's - I got a little of this - a little of that - thinking applique for leaves, stems and birds...

A few purchases at the other shops and the realization that I am actually quite content with all my present and future planned projects that are in my sewing room. A nice feeling!

Wishing each of you a sense of contentment in all that you do...

Pat

 

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Around the bend...

...on backroads that wander through the northwoods...always a first choice rather than a busy 4 lane...and the way I often approach life..

A chilly, rainy drive to the groomers for our senior fur baby - Molly's sheltie coat is so heavy and doubled, come warm weather we have her "lightened up". There are many who don't believe in this but when your little companion quits moving around, does not eat well and pants heavily, shortening the coat is the best choice. She is positively spunky after grooming & her step is quicker. (Our other 2 shelties go to the "beauty salon" later this week - they just get baths and a trim to neaten things up - their coats are totally different).

A nap by the fireplace is in order

While Molly was getting her spa treatment - I decided to check out what was around the bend...

A favorite greenhouse - and a selection of basic herbs for the garden...

Oh it was so hard to not come home with my usual trunk load of veggie and flower plants...but we have a very packed summer-on-the-road coming up and the gardens will be on their own for the most part. I all ready have dreams sketched out in my garden journal for 2017 though!!

What else is around the bend? Getting ready to make the turn on the final Cherry Tree quilt border...

And the binding has been waiting around the bend for 2 years...

Soon...soon...

And what is around your bend in the days ahead?

Pat

 

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