Temecula Quilt Co . . . .

It's not very often I get to visit a quilt shop, but while I was in California I got to not only visit a quilt shop, I got to visit THIS quilt shop!

The Temecula Quilt Co.

I've been following the goings on at this shop for ages through their blog, Diary of a Quilt Store, it was a real thrill to get to visit the shop in person.  

This shop had so many beautiful quilts on display I just wandered around and round, taking them all in.

I was thrilled when I asked permission to take a few pictures for my blog and they said "take as many as you want"!

It was their Red and White Tribute quilt promotion that motivated me to make my Red and White Tribute Quilt.

Most of the quilts and fabric that I see, I see online.  Getting to see these patterns made up in person was just wonderful.

I know what you're thinking, with me visiting such an amazing shop, "I can hardly wait to see what Thelma bought".

Nothing!  I didn't spend a nickel!  They didn't have any kits and I was just so overwhelmed with the whole experience I just couldn't focus on buying yardage.  Fabric shopping doesn't come easy to me, it's unusual for me to buy fabric that doesn't have a purpose, I'm weird that way!  But it was still worth the stop.

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DCCB - Progress . . .

So I got all 832 half square triangle units for Door County Cherry Baskets pieced and trimmed! Now I'm in the basket weaving - cherry picking business. (Door County Cherry Baskets is a pattern in Lisa Bongean and Carole Charles' book Summer Gatherings.)

I'm not making my basket blocks as called for in the pattern. My baskets will be the same size and I think look the same, but I think I came up with a way that works better for me. Me being the "lets square things up and much as possible as we go" me.

To help get each little piece in just the right place I made this help sheet.

I'm making my baskets in 4 units, A, B, C, and D. Once those are pieced I combine A to B and C to D. Once those are pieced I sew AB to CD. And there you have it, a nice, neat, square basket.

So this is the before picture.

And here's the after, with each unit in its proper place. I think it's a real time saver. I try to chain piece as much as possible on any project I work on, but I think the best way to keep these pieces all going the correct direction is to piece one cherry basket block at a time, so that's what I'm doing. So far so good. I'm not tired of making baskets yet, but I do have a ways to go!

Remember that great Red and White quilt show I mentioned at Temecula Quilt Company? They've created some great red and white quilt patterns. A booklet with 6 small patterns and another pattern called Red and White Favorites. If you've been looking for some great red and white traditional looking patterns, you should check these out. (click here for patterns)

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