Beyond the Cherrie Tree: 4 more blocks

I have finished 4 more blocks of my Beyond the Cherrie Tree quilt. I still cannot figure out why the photos are not so good. I will have to take a photography class for sure. It is either too dark or too light. In addition,  when I try to crop the pictures in this computer, it shows as cropped; but doesn't save like that.

Well enough of sad stories. Here they are the last 4.

Blocks 17, 14, 10, 13

Block 10

Block 14

Block 10

 

Block 13 (not the real colors)

Next one in progress

 None of them are trimmed. I will do the trimming only when I have all the blocks done.
The little fella to the right (last photo) is a block from "Star and Sprigs" sneaking in the picture.

Thirty's Cotton Bowl Quilt

Just as I am getting ready to send my entry to our Guild's quilt show, I realized that I have never put a picture of my version of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt for 2010 on my blog.
She called it Roll, Roll, Cotton Bowl. Since I used 1930's reproduction fabrics, mine is "Thirty's Cotton Bowl."
I finished it in 2011 and Gayle Sparrow did the outstanding quilting on her long arm machine.
The DOQ (Durham Orange Quilt) Guild show will be at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, North Carolina from October 19- 21 2012.
 Admission is $5.00. For directions and more information follow the link to the website.
www.durhamorangequilters.org

It is one of the largest quilt show in North Carolina and really worth visiting.

Cashew fruit

cashew nut in the center

Cashews (orange), passion fruit (yellow), and limes (green)

Caipirinha de Caju

Frequently I try to explain to people that the cashew nuts we love come from a fruit. It is the pit of the fruit; but this pit is outside like you can see in these photos above. The fruit itself makes a delicious juice; but I have to admit that it is an acquired taste. It is very strong and pungent.
The fruit can be from a yellow to a fire engine red in color. It is gorgeous in my eyes.
Growing up in Brazil, I frequently climbed the cashew tree that we had in the back yard. Great memories from climbing that tree! sigh!
My favorite drink from this fruit is a "caipirinha" made with the juice and meat of the fruit with added sugar, ice; and the very alcoholic Brazilian rum, called "Cachaça" or "aguardente."
See the black can on photos 2 and 3. It is one of the brands available in Brazil.
But back to the pit, this nut has to be processed before one can eat it. It is poisonous as pictured above. So don't go on trying it as is.
PS. Caipirinha can be made with vodka and also with the other fruits pictured.
Hope you like this bit of information.

Knitting in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Cabanha Ecolã

Chemical dyed yarns

view from the front door

This July I had a great opportunity to visit Porto Alegre, the capital of Brazil's most southern state; and a very nice place to visit. I had a chance to go to one quilt store that was really nice; but the best discovery was this great knitting store that my friend took me to visit.
They have the incredibly beautiful yarns from other countries like the Japanese Noro that I love; but what impressed me the most was the great yarn that they produce.
The wool come from their sheep. They outsource the spinning; but they do in house dying (tingir). They have the chemical dying; and vegetable dying. This last one is all organic and gorgeous.
The service is superb also. I had a nice visit.
In a future post, I will post the gorgeous vegetable dyed yarns that I bought.
The skeins are sold by weight, a common practice in Brazil; but they are planning to add the yardage; or in this case I think it will be meters and not yards on the label.
Check them out at www.facebook.com/cabanhaecola

Or visit them at the address below if you are in Brazil (Brasil for the ones that know that Brasil is with "s").
Cabanha Ecolã
Avenida Pereira Passos 1152, Vila Assunção, Porto Alegre, Brasil
(51) 3268-0123

Hong Ram Studio in Seoul

Kim Young A is an extremely talented artist in Seoul, South Korea. Her trade mark is Hong Ram. This is her studio where all her magic comes to life. She was a wonderful hostess; and showed us all her beautiful hand work. I was totally blown away by her talent and how prolific she is. I loved everything. Her quilts, clothing, dyed fabrics; and meticulous hand work. She is also a generous person with her time and talent.

My friends Songhee and Eunpyo took me there for one of the best days in Seoul. I absolutely love the traditional Korean dresses; and Kim Young A let me try her gorgeous dress :-D. 

Kim Young A, Songhee, and I

Any traditional outfit like the Korean ones or the Indian Saris are considered formal wear. I can attest that you feel like a million bucks when you wear one. (it has been a not so secret of mine that I wanted to try one of them).

Eunpyo trying the outfit 

lots of help to get dressed, also look at her lovely white dress

ta daaaa!