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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