LOVE THE LEAVES

 I love walking in the fallen leaves.

NATURE PONY

 I made a copy of one of the Patchwork Ponies that Jo Avery made.  I saw it on her blog and fell in love.

I had quilted the orange panels the other day and machine appliqued the stem and leaves to the two sides. 

 [I actually cut out four sides from the quilted panel, but I made 3 of one side and only 1 of the other.  So I have parts for one and a half ponies]

I sewed it all together today - forgetting the ears and then having to pick out that part and insert the ears.  I cut up some more of the batting scraps I had laying around, stuffed it and sewed up the hole.

I want to take it to the local yarn shop and buy something really special for the mane and tail.

FIRST LEAF

 I started making the leaves for the big flower, Amity Baroque, this morning.

It still needs to be trimmed and the 'thorns' added.  But I like how it looks, so far.

It's Monday and I attended our regular Brave Patch meeting at noon.  I worked on appliqueing more circles onto the petals while visiting with everyone.  I'm almost done with all the circles, which means I can start sewing the petals together.  There may be a few more added after they are joined.

WINTER IS COMING

 As the autumn colors of oranges, yellows and golds decline, the winter's russets, browns and reds emerge.

Seen on our morning walk in Lincoln Park.

WALKING IN THE RAIN

 They forecast an 'atmospheric river' of rain for the next 24 hours, at least.

But, we headed out for a walk in Lincoln Park around 8:30 anyway, just as the rains began.

The colors of the season were absolutely incredible.

It was a very nice walk - and my new rain jacket actually repelled the drops.

SIDEWALK BEAUTY

 

FALL?

 Oh my, it's still August and leaves are seriously starting to fall now.

Seen on our morning walk in Lincoln Park:

SEASON CHANGING?

 The Maple Leaves are starting to show their autumn colors.  Do they always start this early?

PLAID TUMBLER

I finished the top for this little plaid tumbler. 

I made this little watercolor from a photo Darrell took.  I submitted it for Etchr's #makemoreartMondays prompt on IG.

I'M WORKING ON IT!

I've been procrastinating about the quilting on my Autumn Quilt.  It's been on the machine for over a week.

I took today off, because they made me crazy yesterday.  So, part of the deal I made with myself was to get started on it.

So, I did.  It's looking good so far.

I started by doing stitch in the ditch around the leaves, then I put the 'wind' in between them.

Next, it was doing different designs in the leaves - with different colored threads to match the leaves.  (I think I need more thread!)

I got most of this part done, but had to stop - my knees hurt.

BACK FOR AUTUMN LEAVES

I didn't work today, the day after Thanksgiving.  I promised myself I'd never work on this day again.  It has always been the most miserable day of the year because no one wants to work and we end up being extremely short-handed and we get way behind.  I know -- my not being there just exacerbates the problem.  But, I've put in my time - and I don't care anymore.

I took the dogs for a walk in the park in the morning, did some housework and then went up to the studio to wait for the phone call from the guys delivering our new washing machine (we are completely out of towels).

They called with my 30 minute warning just as I was finishing up the back for the Autumn Leaves quilt.  Perfect timing.

I used up a lot of the leftover pieces.

A STORM OF LEAVES

Wow, we had quite the wind storm yesterday. The dogs and I walked in the park and couldn't believe all the downed pine cones, leaves, branches and trees.  It was an obstacle course.

When we were safely back home and up in the warm and dry studio I put together the Leaf Quilt - made from ombre fabrics.  I love it!

Bentley is generous enough to allow me to use part of the ironing board/cat perch.

Mostly done, just need a few more blocks - I miscounted, I guess!

A BUNCH OF LEAVES

It's the perfect time of year to be working on this fall leaf quilt.  I've been making the little blocks off and on for the last several weeks.  I got the big blocks done today, so all of the blocks are ready.  I just need to set them.