City Quilts Blog Tour – Day Five!

Welcome, City Quilts fans! I am so pleased to be hosting this stop on the City Quilts blog tour. I am a city girl through and through, so it’s refreshing to see a quilt book inspired by an urban environment. The clean, simple lines and enthusiastic use of color fit so well into the modern home, no matter where you live. Currently, I am wondering just how many of these quilts I can fit into MY home!

Cherri kindly answered some questions about her book, design process and personal style. Let’s see what she has to say!

Congratulations on your first book! How does designing a book compare with designing a quilt?

Though every quilt is different, you know before starting what each step and process will require. With the book, there was so much more involved that I was completely unaware of…formatting, illustrations, samples, so much goes into a book that is a complete mystery until you are actually involved in the process.

What’s your most & least favorite part of the design process?

I’m not sure if I could describe it as my least favorite, but I might say the most frustrating part for me is having incredible fabric, and not knowing the best way to utilize it – waiting for some illusive inspiration that seems just out of reach. This doesn’t happen too often, but when it does it kind of freaks me out, and gives me a little panic. I then have to stop forcing the issue, and try to be more patient. I have to live with the fabric for awhile, and figure out what it wants, and needs to be. It’s pretty magical when the inspiration comes, and the 1/2 dozen ideas I have rejected get recycled and refined for another project. The best part is when a quilt is finished, and it is EXACTLY what I had envisioned, or better.

Looking at your quilts, I see that you are someone that loves color play. What is it about working with solid colors that you find so attractive?

The timelessness of solids! I love printed fabric, but it becomes so dated so quickly. It’s heartbreaking to make a quilt, then somewhere down the road, you look at it and say, “that is so 2007″. Also, I love the painterly quality of solids, creating contemporary works of art is achievable with solids.

You obviously have a wonderful color sense! Do you have formal art training or have you always been so attuned to color?

No formal art training for me, sadly. I have always loved color, and have been drawn to it my whole life. Anything with color pulls me in like a magnet – from flowers to fabric, to nature; I just can’t get enough of it. I was a florist for many years, and it greatly influences how I design my quilts.

Does this love of solids carry over into your home & wardrobe? For example, do you have whole closet full of gradations of your favorite colors & pillows on the sofa to match?

Yes, walk into my home, and the first thing you will notice is that I have no fear of color…navy carpet, solid red couches, yellow living room walls, orange dining room, purple guest bath, black slate floors – an explosion of color. My wardrobe is 95% solids as well…at least I’m consistent!

Thanks, Cherri! That was fun!

Now, I know you all want to know about the giveaway. Here’s what you have a chance to win!

A copy of City Quilts from C&T Publishing & a gorgeous fat quarter bundle of Kona cotton solids from Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. Be sure to enter by Saturday, July 24th at midnight. I will announce the winners on Sunday, July 25th, so stay tuned!

Check out Cherri at her other tour stops, and enter to win more prizes!

July 12th – http://naptimequilter.blogspot.com/

July 13th -http://mrsschmenkmanquilts.wordpress.com/

July 14th – http://littleladypatchwork.blogspot.com/

July 15th – http://patsloan.typepad.com/

July 16th – Here you are! Welcome!

July 17th – http://www.swatchandstitch.com/

July 18th – http://blog.fatquarterly.com/

July 19th – http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/

July 20th – http://www.sewer-sewist.com/

July 21st – http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

July 22nd – http://www.spunsugarquilt.com/

July 23rd – http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/

July 24th – http://www.trueup.net/