Wednesday, October 31

TRICK or TREAT!!!

It's Halloween today and it's my day to share a block for Michele's Quilting Gallery Glorious*Autumn*Block*Party!! This block is a colorful Treat.........and at the end, there's a bit of a Trick that will make it even more of a Treat!  And here is my block..........Maple Swirl!!


I called this block Maple Swirl because that's what the maple leaves do here on our street...........they fall from the trees and swirl up and down the street and across the yard! Autumn is my favorite of the four seasons.  I love the cool, crisp days........ the harvesting of the crops.........colorful leaves on the trees and blowing in the wind.........the smell of a bonfire, caramel apples, popcorn balls, pumpkins, and the fun of Halloween. It was a childhood tradition that I always enjoyed as a kid, then with my own kids and grandson. And, of course, with the neighbor kids that come to the door all dressed up. My treats are ready and so is my camera! My camera (and me) have been very busy these last few days preparing my block and taking photos for my block tutorial, so now..........let's get you started!

Step 1. Fabric Choices!!  I was originally planning a Halloween themed block with some of the fabrics you see in the stack on the upper right. But then.......I found the stack of gorgeous solids when I opened my box of autumn fabrics and I knew I had to use them in my block. The line is called "Liberty Village" and is by Craz folk for Four Corners Designs.  You will need six solids for this project. I chose the green to use for the corners and the other colors for the squares that surround the center section. I pulled out four different leaf prints to "audition" and see which one I liked best with the solids..............
I decided on this beautiful Maple leaf print by Timeless Treasures. We live on Maple Ridge and surrounding our development are many maple trees that are so pretty when the leaves are at their peak in early October. Right now, most of the trees are bare because it's been a rather windy Fall.
Step 2. I cut an 8-1/2" square from the autumn print. And then, because I liked the fabric so much, I decided to make four of these blocks. You are getting a "sneak peek" at the Trick part of this project because, as you can see, I have cut four leaf-print center blocks. LOL!  I chose the green from the stack of solids and cut 16 - 2-1/2" squares. You will need four green squares for each block.
Step 3. I used a pencil to mark diagonally across each square, then pinned one square to each corner.
Step 4. Stitch the four squares to each corner and then trim away the excess.
 Step 5. Fold over the green triangle and press to make your center section.
Step 6. Take the remaining solids, stack them up and cut into 2-1/2" squares. You will need 20 squares for each block. Note here.........you could also sew long strips and cut into 2-1/2" sections but I only had 1/4 yard cuts of this fabric and I decided to cut individual blocks and not waste the fabric. I might need extra if I made a mistake. Which I did. So I was glad I played it safe. :-)
Step 7. Lay out the 2-1/2" squares by starting at the upper left corner and then going around the center section in the same order..........purple, deep red, burnt orange, burgundy, orange.  It is important to lay them out in the same order if you plan to do the "Trick" aspect of this project. More on that in a minute.
Step 8. Sew the four blocks together for the right and left sides of the center section. It is very important to take accurate 1/4" seams for this block.  I thought of the term "scant 1/4" seams as I sewed because that mistake I mentioned earlier.........it was because I was not being careful when stitching my seams!!  Also, I chose to press my seams open for this project because I wanted it to lay very flat. You may decide to press to one side or the other depending on your fabric choice.
Step 9. Next, sew the six blocks together for the top and bottom pieces that will be sewn to the center section. Press.
 Step 10. Pin, then sew the side strips in place and press
 Step 11. Pin and sew the top and bottom strips in place, then press.
 Step 12. Your block is finished!!!!
And now, for the "Trick" part of this project...............If you make four of the blocks in this tutorial, and then lay them out like this............
 and then sew them together like this............
then you can make a colorful Glorious Autumn tabletopper!!! If you make the four blocks and lay them out in two rows, the only blocks that will be the same are the purple ones (or whatever color you are using in your blocks).  One note on the colors in my photos.........they are brighter than what they are in person. And from one photo to the next, they seem to be different. Anyway, I liked the idea of making this tabletopper for my Thanksgiving table and so I had to make the four blocks and sew them together. Then came time to find just the right fabrics to sash/border and bind the quilt. Oh, that was difficult!  The brown swirly fabric that is in the background is what I will be using for the backing.

 I thought I liked this combination in the photo below........
but the narrow border of green wasn't quite what I was looking for and then I found a "tree bark" brown and it was just what I wanted. To see the finished project, you'll have to stop by next Monday to see it hanging "on the line" in my regular Monday feature. And also on that day.........
I will draw a name from the comments you post here and one lucky winner will receive a kit with all the fabrics to make this same tabletopper!!  Just leave your name (make sure you have a link back to your blog and/or your e-mail address) and tell me your favorite Autumn scent..........pumpkins roasting, fire burning, cookies in the oven. You tell me!
You may leave your comment starting now and through Sunday evening at midnight CST. Winner will be announced in my Monday "What's on the line?" post!
Thanks to Michele for letting me share my autumn fun! If you have any questions on the block assembly, please e-mail me.  :-)  And don't forget to hop over to the main page for all the other blocks that have been posted and more to come!  Just go here and you will find plenty of Autumn quilting fun!!
Sandi

64 comments:

Christine M said...

I love the colours in your table topper. The maple fabric is gorgeous. We have Autumn here in Australia. I love the smell of the open fires when it starts getting cool.

Grammasheri said...

Your table topper reminds me of pumpkin pie and hot apple cider with cinnamon. Yum! Those are my favorite scents of fall. Love those colors and scents!

Sally said...

Sandi, love the block--you need to post link at Seasons. Yummy fabrics!!

Teatime Creations said...

What a pretty block and a lovely way to make a table topper. The aroma coming from the kitchen when I make my pumpkin jam is one of my favorite scents.

Laura in IA said...

My favorite scent of fall is cinnamon! Your topper is lovely.lhs4664atqdotcom Thanks.

Needled Mom said...

My favorite smell is a fire.

Love the wonderful colors you used in your quilt. It looks so autumn-y.

Vivian said...

Your colors are perfect! I would love to make something with those. My favorite scent is a log fire. i am lucky one of my neighbors heats his house by a log burning stove and I smell it ALL Fall and winter, every time I walk outside. Thanks for the giveaway. Vivian

Beth said...

Fantastic fall colors in your table topper. I think I might have had some of the leaf fabric.
My favorite fall scent is pumpkin. Like to light candles and fill the house with that wonderful smell.
Happy Halloween

Sandra said...

The wonderful smells from using your crockpot all day long. What a wonderful aroma when you are gone and come home. I really like your autumn block and the way you turned this block into a table topper. Great design and unique idea. Thank you for participating in the Glorious Autumn Quilter's Block Party and your generous giveway. Just in time for the coming holidays.

Sandi T.
sandit1@sbcglobal.net

Lori said...

Very nice blocks. Thanks for sharing and for the great tutorial.

Gill said...

Fabulous table topper!
For me it the smell of wet leaves and bonfires!!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

What a wonderful Tute! Great table topper. Don't you just love everything about fall.

Judy1522 said...

Your table topper is beautiful I love the maple leaf fabric. My favorite autumn smell is a fire.

Lou said...

Neat block!!! I know I have fabrics around here I can use:)
My favorite fall smell is anything baking. Once the weather is cooler and that is late here in Tx I get the baking bug:) Pumpkin whatevers and pecan pies:) yum!!!!

BizyStitches said...

beautiful. love all the fall colors in your fabric.

Guilitta said...

The colours of Fabric is beautiful. I like to win.

Greeting Guilitta
from Germany.

Anonymous said...

That is simply so lovely and so speaks to what I see outside our windows....leaves swirling everywhere! Great tute!!!!

earth visitor said...

such pretty colors - love the project - thanks for sharing

Cassandra said...

I love the fabric selection, especially that purple. It's so rich! My favorite scent is chocolate chip cookies right before they come out of the oven. I have to make some this weekend! :)

heleno53 said...

Loved the trick with the blocks and the lovely fall colors.
I love the crisp fall air and the pies and cooking aroma. Helen o

SewLisa :o) said...

I love this block and how you managed to incorporate purple into it. My favoited Autumn scent is the fresh cold air from outside. Laundry hung outside in the Fall has that certain fresh smell that you can't get any other time of year.

Unknown said...

I love the scrappiest of the block for fall . the colors are gorgeous and love the purple tones included\I have my fall fabrics still out I have to make this..

Nancy in IN said...

I love the block. I think I have that leaf piece and might use as table runner. Thanks for the idea.

whistlebet57 said...

Sandi, I love the colors in this Table Topper, I would love to win it. I miss the colors in Minnesota. I lived there for 6 years in Chaska. Loved it. My favorite scent in the fall is when I make applesauce for my Grandkids. The scent of Cinnamon and apples is heavenly. Thanks for the opportunity to win the Kit.
Elizabeth,
Silverdale, WA

AKnativewoman said...

A perfect block for the seasonI. My favorite smell is happening right now . . . my crockpot full of homemade apple butter, made from my own apples . . . Yummy! Thanks for the opportunity to win such a beautiful kit!

Unknown said...

Oh the colors are just wonderful. I think the center actually looks a little 3 D cause you can look at it and imagine the leaves falling, very pretty. My favorite fall smell in the house is apple pie. I love how it just makes the whole house smell delicious...

Emily C said...

Fresh baked apple pie. Yum.

quiltinggrammy said...

Love the autumn colours especially the centre block of maple leaves. My favourite scent this time of year is the aroma of spicy pumpkin cookies baking in the oven.

quiltsbycheryl said...

I love Fall colors!! And these are great! Your blocks are beautiful!! Thanks for sharing!!

VickiT said...

Those are gorgeous fabrics. I especially love the rust and purple solids. And the tabletopper with those gorgeous leaves is just beautiful.

My favorite Fall/Autumn scent is one found in my kitchen/house as much as possible. It's even in my van all winter as well. Cinnamon. I LOVE the smell of Cinnamon and in the Fall every year a lot of stores carry Cinnamon scented pine cones in a open weave bag like you'd get onions in. I buy two of those every single year. One goes into my sewing room and the other stays in the back end of my van. My boys just hated those pine cones every year because the van always smelled like Cinnamon the entire Fall and all winter long. LOL I explained that I love that scent and they could walk if they'd like. haha I'm such a mean Mom. NOT.

Toni said...

I am a sucker for fabric with fall leaves. Makes me remember the crisp clear days with the smell of pumpkin pie, cookies, and bread. I love to bake too. Thank you for sharing this block

Stitches said...

I can smell Apple Pie baking in the oven right now..ymmmmm...love all of your fall fabrics, so pretty!!

rag55 said...

Love the bright colors!!! Thinking of autumn, makes me think of coming Thanksgiving and Christmas and the smell of cooking turkey!!!! Yum!!!!!

pamdux said...

My favorite Smell of the season is roasting chestnuts. We don't seem to do this very often anymore as the husband does not like them and the kids are grown and gone. Maybe this year as we moved back to western NY to be close to family we will be able to get together and have a roast.

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

I am really enjoying reading all your comments! I could smell the scents you all described!
Sandi

carla said...

Hi!!! Love your block and all the colors you used!!! Love the purple color!!! Very Pretty!!!! I love the smell of apple pie!!!

mary mahoo said...

My favourite aroma in the fall is the smell of wood fires burning. Yum! Makes we want to cuddle up indoors.Thanks for the chance to win.

Lisa England said...

Fall is when I make apple butter with lots of cinnamon and spices. The smell of it cooking is just fabulous!

annemarie said...

Lovely project - I love the smell of pumpkin - anything pumpkin - pumpkin bread and pie are my favorites!

Ellee said...

Great tabletopper! I like the smell of pine trees -- real ones, not fakey pine scents. soparkaveataoldotcom

Debbie said...

I love that color combination, Sandi! Nice design. Here it doesn't rain from about April until October. So, the first rains have a unique smell, that winter is coming.

Shebandowan said...

What gorgeous colours! I love autumn and enjoy the fresh air, cool breezes and blue sky. Of course the smells of spices from cookies in the oven draw you into the house next to the fireplace. Thanks for the chance to win.

Janet

Kathy H said...

Beautiful colors in your blocks. I love the fall the best and my favorite scent would be a fire in the fireplace. Of course baking cookies is a wonderful scent all year!

Wendy said...

such a lovely table topper - the colours are gorgeous. I think my favourite scent would have to be the smell of roasted chestnuts

NancyB85374 said...

I love the colors in your table topper. I will have to check into that fabric. My favorite scent in Autumn has to be the smell of pumpkin pie. Yum.

Anonymous said...

I love to pick mushrooms. Especially on a clear, crispy, sunny day. To go out in the woods and look for mushrooms really makes my day :)
Gun, Sweden
gun@lapp.se

Dawn said...

Thanks for sharing your block pattern. I will be making it up today. My favorite autumn scent has got to be apple pie. That warm apple, cinnamon and pastry smell always gets me drooling.

barbara woods said...

i love fall colors and love pecan pie. thanks for the chance

Jane S. said...

I love those rich autumn colors! My favorite fall scent is the smell of the air outside. It smells kind of spicy, almost like cinnamon, and it's cool and crisp and just plain wonderful.

Thank you for the generous giveaway!

MoeWest said...

Great block! I love the maple leaves fabric. My favourite scent is a wood fire burning.

apple blossom said...

pretty fall colors in your quilt square.

love the smell of pumpkin bread baking

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Lee said...

The Maple leaves are beautiful. thank you for the tutorial and giveaway. I love the smell of apple pie or apple crisp in the fall!

Vanessa Findiesen RVT, RDMS said...

This is a beautiful pattern, the colors are perfect! I love fall, my favorite season, and a fresh apple pie filling the air with that delicious, spicy fragrance would look beautiful sitting on top of your topper!

Vanessa Findiesen RVT, RDMS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Those solids are beautiful!
I love the smells I associate with pumpkin pie, especially the spices: cinnamon, clove, mace and NUTMEG!!

Sheila said...

Beautiful table topper - I also love fall. My favorite smell is pumpkin pie. I also love the smell of our wood stove heating the house.

Denise :) said...

I love the colors/prints you used to make these blocks -- the combination of them all in the topper is glorious!! I'm hard pressed to come up with one favorite scent of fall--there are *so* many to choose from! This may sound a little crazy, but one that just makes me smile inside and out is the scent of the air, on a crisp fall afternoon that the sun has smiled on -- the smell of the leaves and sun-warmed earth -- I wish I could capture and relay it eloquently! :)

Anonymous said...

I didn't realize you were doing this, until I saw the link on Richard's blog. Great color palette - love the block.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the tutorial, as a relatively new quilter I love to see how things are put together! My favourite fall scent is the earthy smell of the leaves and gardens as I am putting them to bed for the winter, with a hint of ripe apples!

Pam said...

Hiya! I love your table topper!!! The colors are fantastic. My favorite fall scent is that of a fire, either a bonfire, or a fireplace. It always means that summer is definitely gone and it won't be long until winter (my favorite season) is here. Thank you for sharing your wonderful work with us, and thank you for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!!

playamom57 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

329 ilogionMEducus 55Yummy topper, Sandi! Maple leaves are my very favourite hailing from eastern Canada many years ago. Hot apple cider, triple chocolate brownies, maple syrup, sugar cookies and apricot/cinnamon anything are some "Take me away!" scents this time of year. Thanks for sharing. Pearl in Utah :)
pearl_belzer@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

OMG Sandi I received the kit today to make this wonderful table topper and the fabrics are just lovely and the colors are perfect. You even cut everything and all I have to do is sew...I cannot thank you enough or wait to get started on it. How fortunate I was to win and what a wonderful thanksgiving gift to receive. I will post to you when I get my falling leaves finished....thanks again.

Carol said...

That is so beautiful. What lovely colours!
I shall be back to study your tutorial, thank you.
Carol xx

KathyG said...

Thank you for the great pattern and tutorial. I found myself making a baby quilt with this block because I like the way it framed the feature fabric. Here is a link to my version of your pattern: http://sunshinesews.blogspot.com/2012/11/noahs-ark-baby-quilt.html

Kathy

"Peace can be found in the piecing of a quilt."
©SEA 2001-2018