Autumn Abundance Blog Hop

Several months ago, Bernie at Needle and Foot contacted me about participating in a blog hop she was organizing with Paint Brush Studio to celebrate one of my favorite times of year, Autumn.  Paint Brush Studio had recently released several new lines of fall fabrics and offered to sponsor us in creating projects to show case their beautiful fabrics.  Without hesitation, I said sign me up!  Which brings us to my stop today on the Autumn Abundance Blog Hop and a small give away.

After drooling over all of the fabric lines, I decided to pick all of my fabrics from their Windfall collection.

This is just a small sampling of the prints in the Windfall line.  In total it contains 20 different vibrant prints, incredibly rich in color.  Until you've held them in your hands and viewed them with your own eyes, you just can't imagine the richness and depth in these tone on tone prints.  My vision was to use them to transform my Watermelon Taffy Block I designed for the Fabri-Quilt 2015 New Block Blog Hop (Paint Brush Studio is a part of Fabri-Quilt) into what I am calling Autumn Blooms.  I decided to edit the block somewhat in color placement and double the block size, but construction wise it follows the same format.

So with my modifications sketched out, cutting began. 

Blocks started to take shape.

And in no time, I found myself with a Caroline Kitty Cat approved quilt top measuring 48" square.

The next phase would be to formulate a quilting plan and audition motifs using my Plexiglas.

Since I had just invested in several quilting rulers, I knew I wanted to take this opportunity to play with them by adding lots of curves and lines to the mix.  Ultimately, this first sketch was just a rough draft and as the quilting began, the quilt revealed different ideas to me.

With a plan somewhat in place, it was time to start thinking thread.  I wanted my thread to melt into the quilt top, complementing the fabrics but not competing with them.  Sometimes in life it's important to surround yourself with a great support system and that is what I like to think of my Aurifil Thread collection as, my quilting support system.  From a distance, all the bright colors of the fabrics absolutely shine, but when you are standing close to the quilt, you notice those brilliant fibers adding a wonderful texture across the quilt.   

So for this quilt I chose Aurifil #2130 Medium Butter, #4026 Forrest Green, #2780 Dark Delft Blue, #2610 Light Blue Grey, #1240 Very Dark Eggplant and #2235 Orange.

Obviously, we all know how much I love my big sheet of Plexiglas, but let's face it, it's huge.  So before I started this project I purchased a smaller piece (8"x10") that fits on a shelf right under my long arm with my rulers.  Best idea ever!

It was small enough I could easily place it on top of the quilt and figure out quickly which rulers would give me the desired look I was going for.  Or if I had a section I was still not quite sure how to fill, I could audition different designs on the fly.

As you can see the design on the far right won.

When all of the quilting was finished, the only thing left to do was add binding.  This one just screamed for a flanged binding (but I tend to think most quilts do).  I went back and forth between green with an orange flange and blue with and orange flange, but in the end, blue was the big winner.

After several sew and rips trying to line my binding tails up, I think I've figured out a better way to check alignment before sewing (but we will save that post for another day). 

When the last stitch of the binding was sewed into place, my friend, Jackie, and I headed to the local walking trail and a small park in our town, to enjoy the rest of  a beautiful fall day and grab some pictures of Autumn Blooms.

Even the squirrels had to stop for a second look.

A small peak at the back of the quilt.

I couldn't resist capturing one picture of my quilt in a tree just for Sandra at mmmquilts.

I hope that you can take some time to visit all the other hop participants and that you find inspiration in all of our creations.  I have been so honored to work with this talented group of quilters.  Rumor has it that they also have give aways going on as well, but you'll just have to visit to find out.

Monday, October 24th--Bernie at Needle and Foot

Tuesday, October 25th--Janine at Quilts From the Little House

Wednesday, October 26th--Mari at Academic Quilter

Thursday, October 27th--Tish at Tish's Adventures in Wonderland...hey, that's me!

Friday, October 28th--Sandra at mmmquilts

Now for my give away.  I will be giving away two prizes.  The first will be 36 5" charms of the left over fabric from constructing this quilt.  The only color not included was orange, because, well, it took all of it to piece and bind the quilt.  

The second drawing will be for these six lovely fall inspired fat quarters I pulled from my fabric stash.  

To enter the give away just leave a comment below.  Maybe tell me your favorite thing about Autumn.  For a second chance, followers of Wonderland leave a second separate comment telling me how you like to follow me.  The drawing will stay open till Midnight, Monday October 31st EST.  I will use a random number generator to pick two winners on Tuesday, November 1st.  If you are a no reply blogger, remember to leave me your email address so I can contact you.

A HUGE thank you to Bernie for organizing this hop for us and allowing me to participate. Also to Paint Brush Studios for allowing us the chance to work with these beautiful fabrics.  If you have never played with Paint Brush Studio fabrics, you are missing out.

PS. This is also the first thing I can mark off of my 4th Quarter Goals.  Woot!

Come join the party!  It's always more fun with friends.  Today I'm linking up with Main Crush Monday, Finished or Not Friday,  Finish It Up Friday,  Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop,  Let's Bee Social and Midweek Makers.