2025 Cherrywood Challenge - the Abyss and Storytime Start

One of my favorite things to do when we go to Yuma, Arizona

is to hop over to Ontario, California

to go to 

Road To California Quilt Show 

Cherrywood Fabrics was displaying the entire collection of Abyss Challenge

I have entered this challenge for 9 years in a row 

and

 8 of my entries were lucky enough to be chosen to travel.

My entry for Abyss was part of the travelling tour this year! 

It started it's journey at International Quilt Festival in Houston

and

will travel all year to other shows 

There are so many amazing quilters

 I am so honored to be part of such stunning works.

Check out some of my favorites

The workmanship in only 20' square,

 using the same bundle of fabric

and

your imagination!

 The techniques varied from applique to piecing and everything in between!

Seriously talented people...I tell yah! 

Look at this picture in a picture in a picture...just wow!

The lost city behind this amazing octopus ...so detailed! 

I did not buy the bundle for this year's challenge.

The theme is Storytime and I was just not inspired.

But after being at the show and seeing all these works of art...

I thought ....I can do this! 

So I purchased the bundle...then realized I had THREE weeks to complete this!

Even more of a challenge is the fact that I was lightly equipped with a small sewing machine. 

Not much thread.

Oh and did I say....

THREE weeks to get this job done! 

I found an inspiration on Pinterest and ran with it. 

I began to layer starting with the background and working my way forward

Little by little

Started to add some thread painting,

 even though my machine I had with me was not cooperating.

I always start bigger than I need,

 because it shrinks up when you start adding all kinds of thread painting and stitching. 

Piece by piece...I never know how much is 'too much'

A little boy dreaming of reaching the stars, 

castles and Kings,

Teddy Bears and bouncy balls

and

sailing the ocean blue!

Added a few sparkles to add to the magic and voila...

It's been submitted and now we wait....

Christa 

2SQ

Cherrywood Fabrics

One of my highlights from all the amazing things I did this summer...

sounds like a horror movie....

"I know what you did last summer"

LOL

This has been on my bucket list since my first entry

 to

 Cherrywood challenges in 2017

We stopped into Brainerd, Minnesota

Pulling up to a very unassuming little building 

where

 it said Cherrywood Fabrics.

I

WAS

BLOWN

AWAY!

The color was incredible.

I had to have this quilt! 

It's on my long arm right now! 

This sign was so cool

It was made by Bohin France...

the company in France that makes amazing sewing notions 

It is made with sticks of glass used to make pin heads 

and

the middle is using all pins to make the word. 

My Van Gogh and Lady Di have had the honour

 of

 going to France WITHOUT me

 to

 hang in their exhibit.

What a special gift!

 

If only Vincent and Di could talk....

Cherrywood hand dyes all their fabrics.

They are solids with a beautiful suede look and feel.

I had brought my entry for the Monarch Challenge in case we stopped 

but

Carla was not there that day so it stayed in the car! 

The quilting was incredible on their quilts.

So many shades of yummy color!

Then I was invited to see where the action happened...

OOOO EMMMM GEEEE

These pastels were just fresh and new! 

My husband had come in by this time....

He was even in awe....

This is like every quilters dream crayon box! 

Stunning displays of organized color

Little bundles of pure joy...

It was such a fabulous day! 

Check that off my list! 

Any if you are ever cruising the highways in Minnesota..

The BBQ Smokehouse in Wadena, MN

It was the best takeout smoke house we had for along time! 

As you can see....

My life revolves around great food, fabric and fun!

(insert work amongst that) 

Later....

Christa 

 

We've Been Everywhere, Man…

  

Well, let me reintroduce myself…

as I seem to have gone missing for 11 months!

Christa Marcotte...quilter...farmer...explorer!

I am actually still alive..

 I can honestly say I’ve been everywhere man! 

We got in the car in June

 and

 headed to Minnesota to see a dear friend, Charlotte  

Next, we headed to Charleroix, Michigan

touring

 all through Wisconsin and Minnesota

to

 see Arnold’s cousin, Colinda and Tim

Colinda’s guest bed had sheets from heaven on them!

She’s lucky we ever left! 

What a beautiful house they have!

 

We had no schedule so we stayed where ever we felt like stopping

Who knew ....

Shawano, Wisconsin

 Barn quilt capital of Wisconsin!!

 Tons of trails that you could go check out all the barn quilt blocks on!

I stopped in a few shops on the way 

and

 interviewed the owners on Facebook Live

  There are some amazing quilt shops out there!

Arnold was happy it was not September!!

Arnold’s cousin, Evan owns a bar in Detroit, Michigan called the Detroiter

 so

 we stopped for lunch there! 

Flaming Cheese dip!

From there we scooted over to Toronto to see our friends, Bill and Terry 

On our way home we stopped at Big Springs, Mn

Kitch-iti-kipi

This is a natural spring where the waters are emerald green 

You load this raft and pull yourself across

You can see the bottom and all kinds of fish

BUT

My ALL TIME FAVORITE shop stop

was

Cherrywood Fabrics

My entries for their challenge have been chosen to travel 6 years in a row 

My Monarch which will debut at Houston Quilt Festival…

but that’s another post!

I loved this color wheel quilt.

 I HAD to check out this store!

It was like a quilters crayon box!

The Colors were incredible!

All hand dyed solids with a suede like finish

Who could chose just one! 

It was such a fabulous surprise to walk through those doors!

This one is on my long arm! I need to finish it! 

It was two weeks of amazing adventure

We got home in time to celebrate Arnold’s moms birthday in Oungre,Sk

 with a reunion to boot!

We hurried up and made hay! 

How cute is this mama with her new little tyke!

We were off again  

We camped at Mouse River, North Dakota for a week with a bunch of friends

Lots of games, singalongs and a visit from a local state trooper

 as 

she was friends with my friends after a 'routine' speeding ticket! 

Hearing her stories made us realize what a sheltered life we lead!

From there, we headed to Vermillion,Alberta

Myrna and Jim hosted a weekend 

with

 people from our street in Yuma.

Don’t you love Jim’s movable fire pit! 

We need to make one! 

Jim is so good with old vehicles! 

Love it!

From there we headed to Jasper, Alberta

Athabaska Falls

 then Calgary to visit my sisters  

We spent a couple weeks at home to get harvest done

It was Justin’s first year crop farming

and 

he needed the mom and pop combining team!

He had a great crop compared to the rest of us!

We will be living off him this year! Lol

And if that wasn’t enough travelling….

My niece, Breanna was getting married in Calgary

She was a beautiful bride!

My sister, Larissa with her grandkids…

How cute!

Mom and dad and Breanna 

Layton and Breanna

We took the long road to get there before the wedding! 

We camped at Deadwood South Dakota

 and

 took in a Deadwood Jam. 

 I have to say those singers were past their prime 

or 

I am 10 years too young.

I needed alot more of these I guess! 

We stopped in Hill city one day at Chute Rooster.

This place has been open since the late 1800’s

We headed to Hot Springs, SD

To check out the mammoth site

What an amazing find!

This was a watering hole millions of years ago

Animals fell in and drowned 

There remains were perfectly preserved in sand and sediment over time.

There were mammoths from 170 - 140  million years ago. 

It was so cool! 

We stopped by Crazy Horse to check it out

It’s still going.... 75 years later

It only took 14 years to build Mount Rushmore!

I realize this is bigger, but really??

Next, we headed over to Yellowstone 

Jim and Myrna from Vermillion joined us at Yellowstone

 Spent fun filled day’s checking out Old Faithful and the painted pots  

Little Yellowstone

The waterfalls and rock formations are so intriguing 

Have camper…will travel…that's my new motto!

I would say we got great use out of it this year!

Only a couple weeks to Yuma! 

Getting the cows home from pasture! 

Now hurry up little doggies...

Christa