Cherry Blossom Baskets
April 27, 2012 Yesterday was like the best day EVER. A new friend came over for tea and stitching. I met her in a quilt shop a while ago. She recognized me from my blog. (Dude, that was totally weird ... being recognized in public from my blog!) She found me in blogland from this lovely lady.
So I ... or rather WE ... finished my quilt yesterday. She kindly offered to help me bind it. (Thanks again for coming over G, and for the beautiful pink tulips!)
Holy cow does synchronized binding every go way faster! Or, at least it makes up for time lost from chatting and pouring/drinking tea. ;)
Thanks to her, I can show you the finished quilt. (She's holding it up for me.)
You guys, this quilt was so much fun to make. I think I accomplished what I set out to do - make a pretty quilt - simple, but not boring - to feature the entire fabric collection. But doesn't it look like a total scrap quilt?
I was inspired to make baskets because of a beautiful appliqued pattern I'd seen recently, and from the notion in my head that these fabrics looked like they came from Grandma's scrap basket. Basically, the universe was telling me "BASKETS" and I listened ... I've learned to not mess with the universe. It says "jump" I say "how high?"
And these rogue prints?
Well like I showed you yesterday, I managed to use the whites for all the cherry blossoms (LOVE how they just pop against the other fabrics!)
and the check in the pieced border.
I'm really tickled with how the white dotted prints ended up becoming the inspiration for the secondary (or arguably the CO-primary) feature of this quilt.
It just sorta happened. I didn't see them in the beginning. I think they're my favorite thing about this quilt.
Oh, and I also got the idea to FMQ a little flower in each post. 
(Except that wave of brilliance came AFTER I'd already swirly twirled my way through one ... )
So I hope you like Cherry Blossom Baskets as much as I do.
And I really appreciated all your comments about my quilt this week. It really feels so nice knowing you like what I do and look forward to seeing the things I make. I do not take your time and appreciation for granted. Thank you for making me feel ... worthwhile.
Reader Comments (39)
Well, you have done it again.....inspired us all AGAIN!!! Your creation is lovely. Sure wish you lived in Ohio and I could meet you in person in a quilt store, who knows what the future holds. Those pink tulips are so pretty.
What an absolutely lovely quilt this is. All of your sweet touches add so much charm. :o) And so sweet to have a dear (new) friend right there to help bind.
Will this pattern become available to the public anytime soon?
I love your blog. I come every time you post and come back even when you don't. :o)
It is such a pretty place to visit. :o) Have a lovely weekend. Sincerely, Trish
You are so very creative and talented. Wow!! I am totally in awe. Fantastic quilt - and to think you just made it without a pattern or anything.....Double Wow!!!! You are an amazing artist!
Beautiful quilt! I think it's the embroidery on those adorable cherry blossoms that really makes it too.
Wow! I love your quilt!! I am so impressed by how fast you were able to design this quilt and sew it up! I love how you were inspired to see this collection coming from Grandmother's scrap basket and combined the fabrics!! Love the baskets with the cherry blossoms!! Thanks for sharing your talents!!
I love it!! I love how you put the flowers in different places on each basket - very nice work.
YAY!!!!!!! Cherry Blossom Baskets is beautiful!!! It really features the fabric line so well, and the addition of the cherry blossoms...well, they absolutely set this quilt apart! How fun to stitch and tea party with a friend! Wish I could see this one in person! :)
Am I dreaming, or did you just start that quilt, like, yesterday? It is gorgeous! And of course the rogue prints added just the perfect touch. How wonderful to find a new friend in the process!
So beautiful!
After this post, you are going to have people asking to come to your house for tea all the time!!! Can I come??? lol About your blog, I love what you make, but I equally love how you write. It exudes your personality perfectly and makes me jealous :) !
A. MAZ. ING. Beyond pretty, dare we say Beautiful? Such a wonderful balance of the fabrics and it is apparent that you listened to the fabrics and the Universe speak. I seem to recall that you had mentioned that there might be more than one quilt out of these fabrics so can we hope for more? I've got fingers and toes crossed!
Your quilt is wonderful! Love that scrappy look of it although it's all made from one collection. I think it's one of my favorite quilts from you so far ... til you show us the next one;-) Have a wonderful weekend, you truely deserved it, Hildy
What a beautiful quilt! Baskets are a favorite of mine!
Oh! Miss k!! It's beautiful!! Thanks for sharing the picture with me. It is for ME? Right??!! I was gone all day yesterday. Lisa's coming over this morning to help witha DIY project. I'll take pics to send to you. ;p
It's lovely!! You've really pulled all those prints together well. And your "co-primary" cherry blossom flowers are like icing on the cake - so cute! Now I really want that fabric - and your pattern!
That is so gorgeous Kristyne, just beautiful, I especially love the little flowers. :)
Never, ever mess with the universe. ;)
happy weekend,
V xxxxxx
Your quilt is breathtakingly lovely! I want to make one, too! And I have bound a quilt with a friend, and you're right--it is so much fun, and it goes so much faster!
It's a lovely quilt !! I'm totally in love with it !!!
Bravo !!
Florence
What a beautiful quilt! I love the fabrics you used, the special touches you added to the flowers, your quilting, the fabric you cheese for the binding -- everything about it! I love baskets and your quilt is an absolutely fabulous basket quilt!!
I can't believe how quickly you made that. It's really beautiful and a perfect match for those fabrics. Fantastic job!
Just poured a cuppa, and now I can tell you how beautifu the quilt looks.
Slurp, good tea ;-)
It's a beautiful quilt, a perfect marriage of design and fabric! I'd have recognised it as one of yours anywhere! (And that's a good thing, just in case you're wondering!) I love how this fabric line doesn't look like a fabric line and I wish my Granny had scraps like this in her sewing basket!!
Amazing. Oh my word, I adore that. Lovely. Love the details.
You are one amazing quilter. Inspirational, too.
Really very pretty. Love the little living room shot. So soft and nice. Now why don't you live closer?
Love the scrappy baskets especially the dots and checks yum
Once again you have outdone yourself! Another wonderful, cute, totally want to make quilt! I can see why they ask you to make these, because you are very good at it! Keep it up! Thanks for sharing with us. K-
I just finished the dishes, brewed a pot of tea, and sat down for some time off and WOWZERS - I WANT TO MAKE THIS QUILT! I love how you used the fabric and love the scrappy feel but it coordinates so pretty! I love scrappy quilts but have a hard time doing them because I have this matchy thing I can't get over... This is lovely and I really do want to make it. Yesterday. Way to go! Another wonderful project! You never cease to amaze me! :O) I love basket quilts, have never made one... was studying your pictures from yesterday wondering how in the world you did those - since I am not excited about bias appliquéd strips! I cannot wait to get your pattern! Woohoo! (ps - way to use your good china girlfriend!)
I've always liked basket quilts and this is no exception... I love it! I want to make one now. Hugs
Look at your beautiful quilt, and equally as pretty lounge room. I love seeing glimpses of your homes in USA.....I swear I will come to America one day, if only to see your homes.....and all the quilting stores!! I'm coming with 5 empty suit cases I think, and might take one or two yards of fabric back here to Australia! Ahhh....one day xx
I really, really like this. I'll have to add it to the "in basket".
I love cherry blossom and the fruit it brings. With this delicious quilt cherries all year filling the baskets. Yum - just love it, Krystyne. Thank you for sharing the process with us - such joy.
Dude! I don't know which is prettier! Your beautiful Cherry Blossom Basket quilt or your teapot! I think you might be the first "normal" (relative term, of course) person I know who has and actually uses a beautiful teapot to serve tea! That's just the coolest. :)
I have been eagerly anticipating the unveiling of this quilt and I loved how you took us through your thought process... want this... think I might want that... except then it means this... terrific. Especially because sometimes you're halfway through a project when you get the idea that finishes it perfectly.
A beautiful quilt from someone very worthwhile.
Very, very cute Ms. Pretty!!!!
So pretty! And great you have a new stitching and tea drinking friend :-)
Your hand quilting is amazing!! Such a beautiful quilt!! Love all the fabrics!! xo Heather
Just gorgeous Kristyne! Congratulations. And thanks so much for sharing your creative process - so interesting to hear that fabric talks to you too.
It's beautiful! How wonderful that you found a new friend.
Is this pattern going to be available for purchase? I would LOVE to make one for myself (and I have lots of pretty fabrics that would go wonderfully in this quilt)
boy you are good.