More Fall Sewing

Last year I started making maples like it was my business.  Have you ever had that moment of realization when you say, yeah, I what the heck, I'll cut into that Katie Jump Rope!  Or Mendocino, or Hope Valley, or whatever your special fabric is that you keep on a shelf to gaze lovingly at every now and then because you're scared to use it.  I finally said, let's do this.  These fabrics need to be treasured in an actual quilt and why not use them all at the same time?  They make the perfect fall leaf collection!  

I finished the top last December and shamefully let this languish in my closet until September when I pulled it out to finish it.  My life in Austin, Texas is too hot.  I have the opposite of seasonal affective disorder - I'm depressed when it's too sunny and warm!  I had to get some fall colors in my life.  

You can find the pattern for this quilt in Pretty in Patchwork: Holidays by John Q. Adams (Quilt Dad).   I decided to make some disappearing 9 patch blocks for my background squares to use a mix of low volume pieces.  I think that really makes the quilt special!

I wanted the wind to rustle my leaves.  I drew a few long arcing lines on the quilt top in water soluble marker in a pattern that seemed like the path the leaves would take as they tumbled across the sky.  Then I used my walking foot to start quilting on one path, filling the area in with 1/2" apart stitches until I decided it was time to change.  You can really see the quilting on the back.  I'm in love!  Do you need some fall in your life?  What's your favorite way to decorate for fall?