ABOVE: Karla Overland of Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics.
By Patricia Belyea
BIRMINGHAM UK I met Karla Overland, owner of Cherrywood Fabrics, at the Festival of Quilts — and within moments realized she's brilliant. The revelation came not just from our brief conversation, but from walking into the Cherrywood Challenge exhibit of Poppies.
Big wow! Instead of fields of poppies, there were walls of poppies.
Hundreds of small square quilts, shared the same dusky cotton colors and poppy theme.
Some quilts remembered those lost to war or addiction. Others celebrated the magical poppies of The Wizard of Oz, childhood memories, botanical beauty, and countless other interpretations. Together they showcased every imaginable approach to piecing, quilting, surface design, and embellishment—and every imaginable emotion.
Every artist began with the exact same assignment:
1. Quilt must measure 20” x 20”
2. Use only the designated eight colors
3. Quilt must be original design
4. Any embellishment may be used
5. Any technique may be used
At the exhibit table sat John Overland, Karla’s supportive husband. Although John gives Karla all the credit for Cherrywood, we know who you marry shapes your life. My guess is that John has played an important role in the success of the Cherrywood Challenges.
John sent me to the Cherrywood booth to fetch Karla. To coordinate with the red poppies, Karla’s hair was red. It was a busy time, so I only spent moments with Karla.
When I returned home, I wanted to know more. I listened to Brandy Maslowski’s interview with Karla — Quilter on Fire Podcast Episode 265. I learned that Karla as a young graphic designer worked with Dawn Hall, the founder of Cherrywood Fabrics.
Sadly Dawn passed from ovarian cancer in 2002. Karla bought the small hand-dyed fabric company and transformed it into a globally recognized cotton brand. Karla proved to be a color alchemist, expanding Cherrywood's palette from 40 hand-dyed colors to 200.
The company expanded from one passionate person to a team of ten — now with a studio showroom in Baxter, Minnesota.
Beyond producing a unique line of cottons with tone-on-tone color and a suede-like finish, Karla is a visionary. Her Cherrywood Challenges engage quilters near and far. And once the quilts are submitted, the real work begins.
The entries are juried and judged. The collections are organized and packed for domestic and international exhibits. And there’s a book for Poppy, the ninth Challenge! The 242-page Poppy book shows all the chosen quilts with maker statements.
Ha! John is involved! I noticed that he’s the photographer for all the quilt images.
If you're someone who enjoys a creative challenge, the next Cherrywood Challenge celebrates Jane Goodall. Deadline for submissions is February 1, 2027.
Thank you Karla for your huge contributions to our quilting community.
To visit the Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics website +click here
To learn more about the Jane Goodall Challenge +click here
MY RED POPPIES
I’m thrilled to share the Peony Poppies blooming in my field. Two summers ago, I managed to grow a single plant from just a handful of seeds. Last fall I collected its seeds, and this summer more than two dozen magnificent plants popped up. I can hardly wait to see the even bigger explosion of poppies next summer.
TO SEE MORE BLOG POSTS ABOUT FESTIVAL OF QUILTS 2026:
winning quilts at FOQ 2026 +click here
competition quilts at FOQ 2026 :: part one +click here
competition quilts at FOQ 2026 :: part two +click here
the beauty of japan at FOQ 2026 +click here
textile galleries at FOQ 2026 +click here
something unexpected at FOQ 2026 +click here
peeps, shopping & learning at FOQ 2026 +click here
