Friday, October 28, 2016

Autumn Abundance Blog Hop - Windfall

It's Day 5 and it's my turn to show you my project that I have been super-excited about since its inception for this Autumn Abundance Blog Hop.

First of all a tremendous thank you to Bernie of Needle and Foot for birthing this idea of a Fall inspiration blog hop this summer.  When she asked me if I'd like to be a part, I was like hell ya!  I mean, ahem, I was like, oh for sure! And then kicked up my heels at the thought of getting some free fabric and license to play and create...  Second, a massive thank you and wow-wee from my heart goes to Paintbrush Studio who so generously agreed to sponsor this hop.  Be sure to check out their blog, which I follow by bloglovin' and by email so I never miss a post, Inspired By Fabric.  I also follow on Instagram.


I was blown away by a few things: first of all, we got to choose which Fall collection we wanted to work with, and second at the generosity of Paintbrush Studio, which is a division of Fabri-Quilt.  Blown.  Away.  A fat quarter pack would be sent to us, and a little yardage if needed.  With next to no hesitation, I chose Windfall.  That is the third thing that blew me away, the richness, depth, and gorgeous hand of this line. Windfall.  With a name like that, evoking the vibrant windblown leaves of Fall, and the windfall of landing free fabric, the quilt had the perfect name from the get-go.

Right from the start, I knew I wanted to create a shadow quilt.  I've had Shadow Quilts by Slusser and Magaret since shortly after its release in 2000.  I made a quilt for my then guild's challenge.  It didn't win, but the idea of superimposing one image upon another image has stayed with me every since.  I knew I wanted the massive leaf to be red upon the cream background, and a leaf of all 18 other colours would float on top of that massive leaf.  There is a leaf quilt in the book, but I didn't like the shape of their leaf, nor the fact that the quilt had borders, nor the fact that every single block in the quilt was a leaf.  I wanted some resting places for the eye.  Tucked in the book was a templates pattern I'd saved from who knows where for the maple leaf block I love.  I graphed it out, so I could rotary cut and simplify the block, and then drew out my design.  I also graphed out the paper-pieced point section.
Early stages of design

I decided to make 10" finished blocks so my quilt would finish at 50.5" square.  Cutting and piecing went together very quickly, and in no time I had a flimsy.  Well, some of the blocks required a little more thought and a little more math but still, this appeared on the design wall a little while ago.
Apologies for the Bella butt in the corner
When something one has visualized in one's head, and sketched out on graph paper (a method I call SW7, still saving for EQ7 lol) comes to BE on one's design wall, it is quite the feeling.

I was pressed for time, having had oh, just a few other life-type events requiring my attention of late, so I thought I would do an all-over quilt design and let the fabric shine.

However.

Quilts talk to me.  Most often when they are loaded on the frame.  This one was okay with my swirling wind currents idea, but it told me I needed a contrasting design for the background.  Enter ruler work.
And a lot of it!  Yet I wanted to do a little something other than line upon line upon line, and so a 'ghost' border idea was born, similar to that on Gillian's quilt.
I used Aurifil thread for the ruler work, and it stitched up wonderfully.  I loved the way the chocolate brown leaf is not readily apparent on the rich red fabric, but is a kind of surprise in that huge 20" point area.  I was pleased with the contrast of quilting motifs and of the two threads.  I used Essential variegated thread, a spool that Preeti gave me a while back.  This is fabulous thread as well, from Connecting Threads, and Avril loves it, as do I. (no affiliation, just an excellent thread with an excellent price)  I thought a wind currents map idea along with big swirls would be effective as a quilting motif, and it was.

The leaves that float on the cream background got special treatment.  Yes, I originally had thought to do swirls similar to those on the huge leaf, but well, I just couldn't.  I wanted them to be individual and add some interest.  If you've followed me for any amount of time, you know I love love feathers.
Same variegated Essential thread
Hmm, fabulous, but less can be more too, right?

So the idea was born to quilt two of three different designs in each of the six free-floating leaves.  I was mesmerized by the depth and definition I got from the wool batting I used, yardage I picked up last winter at Hancock's Fabrics.

I am so pleased that I did the hours and hours of ruler work.  I still have plenty of room for improvement, areas of bobbles, and places where the lines are not evenly spaced, but the overall effect is wonderful if I may say so.  And I did it, a human, not a computerized quilting machine, right?

My husband, who is known here on the blog only by the nickname, MacGyver, because he values his privacy and does not want to be visible online, very kindly accompanied me on the photo shoot.  I had so hoped for it to be a sunny day yesterday when the photos were taken but sadly, that was not to be the case.  However, at least the rain and crazy wind of Wednesday had gone.
We went to an area within 6 minutes' walk from our house, an arboretum along the Chrysler Canada Greenway, which is a path that is part of the Trans-Canada Trail, one of the world's longest walking trails.  I knew there would be quite the glorious display of colour in various stages because of the wide variety of trees native to this area.  We were not disappointed!
This one has not even begun to change!  You get the idea of the size of the tree, an oak, I believe, when you think that the quilt is 50.5" square...
My only complaint about this wonderful, cathedral-like area is that there are no labels under each tree.  I want to, need to know the name of each one!

So MacGyver propped my quilt under a tree!

I seem to be getting known as the blogger who likes to photograph her quilts in trees.  Others have been doing so, with a nod to me. Aww!  Of course this quilt was destined to perch in a tree...
If my friend Doug has taught me right, this is a red oak.  Pointy leaf ends.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.  Look at MacGyver's favourite tree in the background, a Weeping Willow.  These don't go greenish-gold until November.
The Chrysler-Canada Greenway is a reclaimed railroad track.  In the late 1800s, Hiram Walker built his own railway line that would run rich Detroiters out to Kingsville to bask along the shores of sparkling Lake Erie.  My lovely little town has preserved the Kingsville Train Station, which is at the west edge of the aboretum.  Today, it serves as the Mettawas Station restaurant where you can dine on the most excellent food.  My favourite is their wood-fired pizza.  I had to take a few photos here.

Here is the back of my quilt, at the back door of the station!
I picked up this lovely fabric ages ago, destined for a lining for a quilted flannel jacket.  Said jacket did not materialize, but I do love the new life the lining has been given!

You know I am a label nut.  I was happy to use the first of a labels panel I picked up very reasonably from Missouri Star Quilt Company.
Right at the moment of inserting this photo, I realize I forgot to insert one of my Ikat mmm! quilts labels in the binding...drat!  Ah well, rip out a few stitches, insert label. No prob.
I bound it with a black and grey print that was (lol talk about synchronicity) leftover from the lining for a quilted jacket I did make in the early 2000s and still wear to this day.

Back to the train station.  Front entrance to be exact.

And back to the quilting:
For the two leaves who lay along the 'stem' of the massive leaf, I did some dot to dot work and then used my BF curved ruler from the Quilted Pineapple to do the swoops on the HST leaf points.  Here I used an Isacord thread for the red leaf and a YLI variegated for the purple. Avril slid them through her lovely metalwork like sap through a tree.  ;-)

It was while quilting this large cream background area that the idea of ghost leaves was born.  I could trace those in the fabric, and I did for three random ones, but what if I did ghost smaller maple leaf shapes to mimic the blocks?!  Yes!!  Added an echo around each one of the five, and then filled in around them with ruler work.  All lines are 1/4" apart.
Despite the lack of sun, that shot does give you a good idea of the texture created.  I did take one inside by the patio doors for an all-over quilting effect.

Of course I just had to throw it on the grass and toss some random real leaves on it!  Can you find the real ones?!



If you are still with me with through all the photos, all the facts and figurings and fine educating, it's almost time for some freebies.

Quilt Stats:
Pattern:  Original Design based on the technique in Shadow Quilts
Size: 49.5" square (50.5" before quilting)
Fabric:  Windfall by Paintbrush Studio
Batting: 100% Wool purchased at Hancock's Fabrics last winter
Quilted: on my Avanté 165 836 stitches
Threads:  background: Aurifil 2315 50 wt; huge leaf: Essential 21224; individual leaves on cream background: Essential 20875, 21144, Isacord 1704,YLI 244-30-20V (All threads are 40 wt)

Note, this is one of my goals for the Q4FAL.  My list is here. Feels great to have one done and another off that list on the frame as I type! 

Giveaways!
I have two items free to a good home.  All you need to do is tell me what your favourite tree for Fall colours is for one entry.  For a second entry, tell me how you follow me, new followers welcome.  Please be sure to leave me your email address in your comment if you are a no-reply blogger.

During the first week of September I made a few button baskets to give to friends.  The first giveaway is one of the baskets. I used the gorgeous red from the line, and lined it with the same black with which I bound the quilt.  The tutorial for the basket can be found here at Seaside Stitches.
For a second giveaway, I've cut a 5" charm square of each of the 20 fabrics I received plus the lining and binding fabrics for a total of 24 charms.  You may get a little something else thrown in too.  I will double-check the cost, but I'm pretty sure I will be able to ship these anywhere on this beautiful blue and green planet.


I will draw two names on Sunday night, October 30, and winners will be emailed and announced on Monday, October 31.  So sorry, but with giveaways I won't be responding to comments. Remember to answer the question too or I will draw another name!

Two last items, make that three, phew!
First, if you would like more seasonal inspiration for this time of year, check out one of my QBFFs, Julie at Pink Doxies, post today too!

Second, you may want to check out the classes sale on a Craftsy this weekend, all classes under $20.  That's a pretty sweet treat with no calories.  And yes, that is an affiliate link.  I think.  If it works, new website and new affiliate structure and all.  The sidebar link works for sure!

Third, ........ umm, I forgot.   Ah the lovely lack of brain cells that menopause inflicts upon me.  I'll proofread this and it will come to me.....  Got it.  Only took about 15 minutes of doing various activities, not all of which had to do with this post, lol!  Would anyone be interested were I to do a quilt-along doing this pattern?  We'd make it in a smaller size, say 7.5" blocks so it would end up 38.5".  Let me know in your favourite tree comment please.  It would start in the new year.  Think there's enough going on for the rest of this last quarter of 2016.

If you missed any of the previous posts in the Autumn Abundance Blog Hop, here they are, with giveaways at each stop:
Bernie at Needle and Foot
Janine at Quilts From the Little House
Mari at The Academic Quilter
Tish at Tish's Adventures in Wonderland

Once again, thank you to Paintbrush Studio for supplying the fabrics and to Bernie for all her hard work pulling this together.
Linking up with
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Crazy Mom Quilts
TGIFF at Busy Hands Quilts 
She Can Quilt



164 comments:

  1. Your quilt is gorgeous and you took some beautiful photographs of it!!! Love the rich colours in your quilt too!!

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  2. Sandra, this is so beautiful. When I accessed bloglovin' this morning, all those little thumbnails of various blogs cropped up on my screen and I saw your quilt. I didn't even know it was you yet, but my eye was immediately drawn to that thumbnail and I went "ooooh" and clicked on it. Only then did I know it was yours. Just a beautiful design, beautiful colors, and (of course) beautiful quilting. Home Run!!!!

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  3. This quilt is just gorgeous!! I love the design!! I also love the quilting you did. It really enhances the quilt so much! I love the maple tree colours in fall. It would be fun to do a quilt along for this quilt. Its gorgeous!

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  4. What a loaded post! I'm so glad you shot loads of photos because there were nuances to the quilt I could see in each. Good job!

    We talk trees a lot, Sandra, and I am a tree lover, too. I like nothing more than looking out the windows at the trees that surround the house. I would say my favorite of all are the Japanese Bloodgood Maples. I have one I can see from outside my bedroom window, and it's kept my spirits cheered just looking at it when life was tough. It's one of the last to lose its leaves, and they are delicate with etched edges. One December, my brother passed away unexpectedly. I couldn't bear to look out with nothing to see, so I hung giant snowflake lights in the tree to remind me. I still keep the tradition. They are on a secluded side of the house, and we are the only ones who can see them, but even without its leaves the tree gives goodness.

    In the past few years, it has honored us with some seedlings. They have grown to the point where they are ready to transplant. Perhaps you know of a special place one could be planted?

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  5. Maple trees!
    Your quilt is beautiful! I would be interest in a quilt along.
    patsystitch@gvtc.com

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  6. I follow you on bloglovin.
    patsystitch@gvtc.com

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  7. Red maples with their deep red leaves. I don't really know the names of many trees.
    Your quilt is spectacular!!!!!!!!!! perfect colors and quilting! I might be interested in a quilt along.

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  8. Beautiful quilt! Perfect for this time of year. I follow you by getting an email letting me know of new posts. My favourite Fall tree?....I don't think it's actually a tree, but I'd say Sumac. I know they are invasive and I think they may be banned in my area, but a road near me usually is bright with the red of the Sumac on either side of the road....so vibrant!

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  9. I just saw a beautiful maple tree that has turned completely red. I need to take a photo of it today. It's not my yard so I cannot throw a quilt beneath it (awww). But your quilt, photos and this blog post was wonderful to read today. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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  10. What a beautiful use of these fabrics Sandra. I really love the ghost leaves in your quilting design. Great prizes as well. i love my little bag and it sits beside me at my sewing machine collecting stuff as I sew. As for the quilt along, it depends on the timing and pace for me as I am overcommitted. As for trees, I really love the Sugar Maple because the leaves turn a wonderful light orange colour that look luminous when the sun shines on them.

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  11. Bloglovin is my choice for following.

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  12. Sandra, as always, you have created a gorgeous quilt! I am in love with everything about it, the design and omg the over the top AWESOME quilting! Those ghost leaves are to die for! You hit this one way out of the park. Also, let's take a moment to acknowledge that all those lines and points in the big leaf match up PERFECTLY when you combined them together.

    My favorite tree is probably a red maple, I just love that deep red color, which makes my favorite fall shrub a burning bush. It makes me sad they only really turn color once a year, they are so pretty.

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  13. I follow you everywhere I can find you. Heck I'm stalking you and writing this from inside your closet and you don't even know. Well, crap now you do.

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  14. What a gorgeous quilt, Sandra! Your quilting is always amazing, and the thoughtful way you figure out how you are going to quilt your project is fun to read. Living in Colorado, I have to say aspen trees are my favorites! They turn such a beautiful golden color in the fall!

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  15. I follow on Bloglovin! But I had to laugh at Tish's comment above! I often feel like I am doing the same thing with my favorite bloggers! Lol!

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  16. I love the sugar maples in my front yard. They have beautiful color and drop their leaves early. That Norway maple will have leaves on until late November. Just a wonderful quilt design and quilting.

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  17. I love the maple trees with the brilliant red leaves. I just started following your blog and am so blown away with your quilt and the fabulous quilting.
    Linda lkedwards55 at gmail.com

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  18. Spectacular quilting. My favorite fall tree is the aspen. It turns yellow and is usually growing near dark green evergreens, so the contrast is gorgeous in the autumn.

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  19. Pretty quilt. Enter me for the second giveaway, 5" charm square of each of the 20 beautiful fabrics. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  20. What a beautiful quilt, Sandra. I love how the mottled prints give your quilted leaves a true sense of being fall leaves and your quilting texture is sublime!

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  21. I love oak trees, but really any trees that change color make me happy. Fall is just a gorgeous season for so many reasons. I love your quilt and especially the picture where you threw real leaves on it. The colors were a perfect match! The quilting is phenomenal as well. You have a creative eye!

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  22. What a gorgeous quilt, in a picture perfect setting. You knocked it out of the park with the layered leaves look. And that is an alliteration - for the English teacher in you :-) And the ghost leaves have come to life, just in time for Halloween.
    My favorite tree is Amaltas, scientific name Cassia Fistula. It has bright yellow blossoms, blooms in the summer and its beauty cannot be described in words. Also love the splendor of Palash (Butea monosperma). It has orange blossoms so bright that it is nicknamed flame of the forest. It is considered sacred, flowers are used to make a dye and also has medicinal properties. The leaves are fashioned into plates and cups for serving food/drink.
    Hugs,
    Preeti.

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  23. This is so stunning, I hardly know what to say. Quilts talk to me too. My current one said it didn't want spider webs. ;) Your custom quilting on this is fantastic and I love your design. I had never heard of shadow quilts before. It has an amazing affect on the overall design. I really wish I could see this in person. I love driving through the canyon in fall and seeing all the quaking aspen as they change color.

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  24. Sandra, what a fun post to read. There are so many facets too look at in your project - the color, the design, the various motifs of quilting. It is just lovely. The ghost leaves in the cream fabric are a great touch. Well done!!!

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  25. I love the color changes of maple trees. Your quilt is gorgeous and I love the quilting on it as well. I'd love to win charm squares from you to use in a fall themed quilt.

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  26. i follow on blog lovin' and would love to do a sew along of this gorgeous quilt.

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  27. here in south texas we don't get much fall color but the sweet gum and chinese tallow turn a brilliant red and most of the rest stay green or turn brown. your quilt is gorgeous and your quilting amazing!

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  28. Beautiful quilt! The lines may have been a pain in the butt but ohhhhhh so worth the look. The photos are great with such a beautiful setting. Overall I love this!!!!!

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  29. Stunning quilting, and a beautiful quilt. I hope you plan on entering it in a few shows!! Thanks for all the beautiful inspiration.

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  30. The maple tree for me. Love this quilt!!! What an amazing job of quilting. When your quilt talks to you do you answer back, lol?

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  31. I am a follower via Bloglovin. Oh, and forgot to mention my favorite tree: Liquid Maple...l live in No Calif and we don't get the colors like the northeast does....

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  32. Oh my, Sandra! My favorite thing about this quilt (besides the awesome quilting!) is the way you changed the directions of the leaves so they truly look windblown across the quilt. And then with that giant red leaf. And then that picture with the real leaves on the quilt, too. Just too much (in a good way)! The back fabric is perfect with it and in my opinion would have been wasted on the jacket (unless you walked around with the jacket hanging open at a weird angle so everyone could see the lining). My favorite trees for color are maples--especially the scarlet red ones. I think they are Autumn Blaze, but I'm not sure. Anyway, my very favorite is the variety--especially when there is a healthy dose of green mixed in as there was this year. This has been such a fun Hop!

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  33. Oh wow, do I love that quilt!!!! It. Is. Amazing!!! And the quilting is just the bomb!! Yes, I'd love to see a quilt-along for this quilt. My favorite fall tree is the maples in my side yard - but they aren't turning any color but brown this year because it's been so dry here. Bummer!

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  34. And I follow you via email! Love your posts, especially the Sunday Stretches!!

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  35. Your leaf quilt is gorgeous! Here in North Dakota, we usually have an early frost turning all the leaves from green to brown so we don't see much color except a few yellows. HOWEVER, this year we had a later frost and we've seen some gorgeous colors. My favorite is the amur maple shrub right outside my sunroom; it's a brilliant red. I'd be interested in doing a quilt along but would prefer the larger leaf size like you used. I am still in the functional quilting stage and not the artsy one yet. You've done beautiful quilting on this quilt. Thanks for a chance at the giveaway. If given a choice, I'd chose the fabric so I could add some to my postage stamp quilt.
    kthurn(at)bektel(dot)com

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  36. I follow you with email updates. Your posts are fun to read and I learn a lot too. Really? You don't have EQ7? I thought all you incredibly talented quilters had it? I thought I was the only one left using graph paper!
    kthurn(at)bektel(dot)com

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  37. Your quilt is fabulous!!! Clever you!
    I love trees too - here in the UK the trees are just turning all the beautiful shades that Autumn brings, from my window the aspens are a beautiful shade of gold/yellow

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  38. Definitely sign me up!!!! Love your quilt! I live in So Calif, so I don't see too many trees that change color. But I do love seeing the pictures of New England trees changing.

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  39. I love the red maples. Too bad they don't flourish here in the deep tropical south. Thank you for the chance to win.

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  40. Your quilt is AWESOME!!! GORGEOUS!!! The creativeness is Amazing & fabrics just pop!! Looove it!! Even the backing is Perfect!! So is Quilting..and the pictures!!WOW!

    We have Maples, Hickory, Walnut, Oak & Cherry here..our woods are in amazing colors now!! Love em all!! :) Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too! :D

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  41. My favorite tree in the Autumn is the dogwood in front of my dining room window.

    And I followed Donna Slusser and Patricia Maragret when I first started following blogs. I miss them. Their shadow quilts were fun and their flowers gorgeous.

    And your quilt is stunning! The other quilts in this hop are lovely, but yours is my favorite. I'd love a quilt along for it.

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  42. The rich red and orange of maples is a definite favorite, but the deep red of dogwoods and the yellow of the many oaks herre in NC make autumn such a gorgeous season! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  43. I love Oak trees in the fall. Your colorful, artistic quilt is exquisite.

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  44. I am a new follower on Bloglovin. I am happy to discover you through this blog hop. Your quilt is gorgeous!

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  45. Love the oaks and maples. Love your beautiful quilt! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  46. I have 2 ginkgo trees and they make an amazing gold color late fall! Those are my favorite

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  47. Guess I'll vote for my copper beech which is very pretty all year long.
    Thanks for all the photos and your thought processes around quilting/design etc

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  48. I'm a new follower and look forward to your musings.

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  49. I think my favorite tree for fall color is a maple. They turn such amazing colors from yellow to orange to red.

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  50. I love maples, because we don't have them in western Canada. But I'm fascinated when I travel and see them!
    Julie.mirdoch@shaw.ca

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  51. Following your blog :-)

    Julie.mirdoch@shaw.ca

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  52. I love maple trees. In fact, I love trees period. Your quilt is outstanding. The colors are beautiful and show up well in your design. I'd love a qal.

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  53. I love the maples, too, but we have mostly oak trees here in Texas, lots of Live Oak that stays green :(.
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  54. I have a beautiful pin oak in my backyard but it doesn't have really vibrant fall colors. There is a tree on Evans Street about 2 blocks from my house that turns gorgeous shade of orange and red in the fall. No idea what type of tree it is! But it is surely my favorite. Love your quilt, that maple leaf block is a favorite of mine too.

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  55. There is a total abundance of everything in your amazing quilt.The fabrics you selected, the design, and then THE QUILTING !!! Ruler work, scrolls, swirls, and so much more. A true masterpiece, and yes, those real leaves have a wonderful place to land. ( I know that capitals are sometimes frowned on, but this definitely needed them today )

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  56. I follow you on blogger, you are on the list in my blog.

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  57. Know it's not really a tree, but I love the deep red of sumac each fall.

    A quilt-along is a lovely idea! Could you perhaps provide instructions for both this size and the smaller one proposed and folks could choose their own?

    Thanks! basaran.family@rogers.com

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  58. New follower via email.
    basaran.family@rogers.com

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  59. my favorite color of Autumn leaves are the reds. so many shades of reds.

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  60. I love the sugar maples. All that beautiful color is just gorgeous.
    ckrutjo at gmail dot com

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  61. I love the glorious orange, reds, and golds of maple trees in the fall. Your quilt is amazing, from the design to quilting and I've signed up to follow by email for a quilt along!

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  62. What a fantastic quilt and the most gorgeous colours. I am so glad the quilt spoke to you and you went with custom quilting rather than an edge to edge, which I think would've dulled it down. Looooove the way you have quilted it and those ghost leaves are fantastic. What a great photo shoot and each photo highlights a different aspect. Around here we do not have a dramatic display of Autumn colour but the few Japanese Maples that are dotted around are spectacular.

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  63. Love Maple trees in the fall. Thanks for sharing your stunning fall quilt with amazing quilting. You have inspired me.
    djcutting2 at gmail dot com

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  64. I follow you by email. Most spectacular colors in your quilt. I haven't heard of shadow quilts. I am in Awe with your quilting. I dream of being able to do that.
    djcutting2 at gmail dot com

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  65. I just signed up for your blog. I love it when I get a link to a blog I haven't been on and see something wonderful. I immediately sign up and look forward to even more. Beautiful quilt and beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing ...

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  66. My favorite tree is the red leaf maple. Your quilt is shadow on shadow on shadow...love the shadow leaves you quilted into the design too! sjvonfumetti at yahoo dot com

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  67. Love your small leaves on the giant leaf! I'd love it you'd link to the Finished or Not Friday linky party at Busy Hands Quilts! http://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/2016/10/finished-or-not-friday-tgiff-linky.html

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  68. Beautiful quilt! I love the colors and snuggly vibe it gives off. I love Liquid Amber Trees.

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  69. I follow you on Bloglovin. Thanks!

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  70. I love leaf quilts and I think yours is my favorite ever! I don't know for sure what my favorite tree for fall colors is, but I like the Japanese Maple a lot!

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  71. I read your post twice it is so good - the quilt amazing! I love at the beginning of season the locust trees which are our the first ones here to turn a golden yellow! That is my favorite!! Thank you!

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  72. I follow your blog w/ bloglovn! have a great weekend!

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  73. Oh that is clever! I love the leaves within leaves, it's like standing under the trees when it's windy!

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  74. love your leaf quilt! our Alaskan trees are gorgeous, but without a good range of 'regular' fall color as in your trees. however, my sis in beautiful downtown, seward,alaska, has a gorgeous Japanese maple in her yard that is to die for in the fall!

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  75. O Sandra! It is absolutely gorgeous!!! Tell me you're planning a pattern for this one. It definitely deserves one. My favourite tree for fall colours is a maple of course. I don't know the specific variety, but it's the one that gets orangy-red with a hint of yellow just down the block from our house.

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  76. I love to watch Maple Trees change color!

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  77. My favorite trees in fal would be birches...a whole forest of them to photograph.

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  78. Your quilt is beautiful-I really like the quilting design on the blue leaf!
    I'm following you by email now.
    Happy Fall!

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  79. I love to see Maple trees in the Autumn. Your quilt is gorgeous and I would definitely consider doing a quiltalong.

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  80. I love Maple trees and also really wish places that have trees would label them, it's nice to know what kind of tree is what.

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  81. Sugar maples are my favorite fall trees. The quilt is beautiful and I am envious of your gorgeous quilting!
    Ohioholman@aol.com

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  82. Your design and fabric choices are just gorgeous!

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  83. I love maple trees, for the color of the leaves in the fall. I would love this as a quilt-a-long. ebcallender at gmail dot com

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  84. I love the leaf colours of maple trees - especially some of the little Japanese maple shrubs. Lovely quilt! Your choice of background fabric really shows off the colours of the fabrics in the bundle.

    lin.web.28 at gmail dot com

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  85. I follow you by email.

    lin.web.28 at gmail dot com

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  86. Beautiful quilt & quilting! I love the leaves of fall, especially maples and sumac

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  87. Sandra, you've created another beauty! Everything about this quilt is gorgeous...from the fabric colors to the placement of the leaves to the awesome quilting. I am amazed, but not surprised! My favorite tree is the Japanese Lilac tree. My neighbor has one and it's always so pretty, especially in the spring when it's in bloom.

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  88. my japanese maples i have two, love the red color

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  89. I love to see the Japanese Maple tree (I planted in honor of my mom) in my front yard turn a brilliant red during Fall. Simply gorgeous.

    Your quilt is really beautiful. I love the imposing shapes on top of a larger shape. A QAL would be interesting.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  90. Maple trees are famous here in Kyoto for their vivid colors and I agree that they are my favorite, too. Your shadow design is lovely and I would enjoy joining a quilt along next year.

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  91. I just signed up for e-mails of your new blog posts. Looking forward to following you!

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  92. Your quilt is spectacular, a really true image of fall! Would love to join a quilt along next year. And maples turning red are my favourite trees...
    Eileen ekmvalencia@gmail.com

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  93. I love sugar maples and I am a new follower via email. actually I love most trees, even dead ones (they can be so artistic). this quilt is gorgeous, from the colors of the leaves and the stunning quilting designs and I really enjoyed all the pictures and the settings that you put the quilt in. DJL3339@yahoo.com

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  94. I love the quilt and the quilting. I really like the colors in maple trees but here in the South we have Oaks and they are pretty.

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  95. We have huge red oak trees in our yard and their leaves usually turn many shades of beautiful reds. We also have hickory trees for splashes of yellow. Your quilt design, fabric and quilting are all amazing-gorgeous! I would definitely be interested in a quilt along!

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  96. Now that I know about you I will be following by email!

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  97. I follow on Bloglovin'.
    Beautiful quilt!

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  98. First off: That quilt is gorgeous and "YES" I'd love to do a quilt along using the pattern. I have quite a few autumn fabrics that would make beautiful leaves but never get to those as I skip right past it to get to Christmas or snow quilts. My favorite tree turning colors are maples. We don't have a lot in northern ND, but they are beautiful! I am a new follower via email. I really enjoyed your blogpost on this blog hop!

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  99. My favorite fall color tree is the Louisiana cypress. It's a conifer and turns a fabulous red in the fall. Then the needles drop and make a red carpet on the ground. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

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  100. Your quilt design is lovely, as are your choice of fabrics, a beautiful quilt surpassed only by your quilting.

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  101. What a beautiful quilt, gorgeous colours and amazing quilting as ever😀 I love any trees in the autumn... when they change colour and too their leaves is wonderful. My lovely Dad always scuffed his feet through dropped leaves and I loved to do this with him, so autumn especially evokes special memories...he would have loved your quilt too. I would love to do a QAL... hugs xx

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  102. I follow you on bloglovin and IG.. xx

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  103. I like maple leaves. I miss autumn now that I live in southern CA instead of westen NY. Your quilt is lovely. I like the idea of a design within a design. Yes, I'd like a quilt a long doing this pattern.

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  104. I follow via email. I especially like the yoga posts, too.

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  105. My favourite tree is the maple. Just live your shadow quilt idea. It has got me thinking!

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  106. Sandra, they very obviously saved the best for last! To top it off, your quilting is exquisite! XO

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  107. The colors of this quilt are fantastic!!!! And love the quilting of the leaves. This one is sure to brighten your home for many Fall seasons ahead. ENJOY!

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  108. Your quilt is awesome! My favorite tree for its fall colors is the Mountain Ash - so pretty with orange leaves and the red berries. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  109. I am a new follower on Bloglovin. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  110. Wow! A perfect quilt for autumn. The rich colors are perfect. Beautifully done!

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  111. That's a gorgeous design, and I love the idea of a shadow quilt. My favorite tree is a Maple. The colors are usually so bright and vibrant, but it's best as part of a large collection of trees, with oaks, pines, and birch. Thanks.

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  112. My favorite autumn trees are the ones that blaze bright red! We don't have any in that shade on our property, but are planning on planting some. If we'd done that when we got here, twelve years ago...

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  113. I love all Maple Trees and there colors. I really like your leaf quilt. When we were children my mother took us through the woods just to look at the changing colors of the leaves.
    gandn74@ymail.com

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  114. I follow you by email, and blogovin.
    gandn74@ymail.com

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  115. Sandra, your shadow quilt is absolutely stunning....as is your backdrop all along that parkway. Oak tree's are my favorite...love watching and hearing the acorns as they gently plop to ground.
    Snap us a pick of those leaves as they turn...what a windfall that will be!
    bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  116. Newcomer here......following via Bloglovin and Pinterest. Wow!

    bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  117. My favorite Fall tree is a Liquid Amber ! Your leaves remind me of it.
    Loudog 91301 at AOL . Com

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  118. I love aspens in the fall. Their beautiful golden yellow quivering in the wind is like splashes of sunlight. In the Rockies groves of aspen sparkle against the dark pines on the hillsides.

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  119. I'm a new follower on bloglovin!

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  120. Gorgeous quilt. I love the red maple and the Japanese maple leaves.

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  121. My favorite tree for fall color is the sugar maple. I love the beautiful deep red the leaves get! Also, I would definitely be interested in a quilt along with your pattern. It is a beautiful quilt. I like the larger size but I guess a smaller one would be a nice wall hanging size. Your different quilting motifs are great too. Thank you for the opportunity for the giveaways! ljbisme at msn dot com

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  122. I am signing up to follow you via email as soon as I finish this comment. I want to be notified if you so a quiltalong for this quilt. Thank you. ljbisme at msn dot com

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  123. A leaf quilt is on my bucket list. Yours is beautiful. I follow on blog lovin.

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  124. This is fantastic!!!! Such a beautiful original design!

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  125. I love the Red Maple. Your quilting is gorgeous and your quilt is too.

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  126. My favorite tree for fall colors is a maple tree. Your quilt is beautiful!

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  127. I always love the colors of the sugar maple...the oranges and reds make such a wonderful show for the end of the warm weather. Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous and that leaf is one of my favorite patterns. I have the book but haven't made any quilts using it.

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  128. I'm a new follower via email. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  129. Wow! Your quilt is outstanding and so perfect for the fall! I love maple trees; especially Japanese maple trees.
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  130. New e-mail subscriber!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  131. I love acer trees in the fall. What a gorgeous quilt. The design and fabrics work so well x
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

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  132. I am following via blog lovin
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

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  133. I love any tree that turns shades of red. Across the street from me, there used to be a very large "burning bush" that I waited for every fall. One fall it was gone. Trees where I live tend to turn brown, or yellow, then brown, or some combination thereof, so to see a splash of color in the fall landscape is a real treat! I would love a quilt along, but I'd just as soon you gave the current cutting dimensions along with smaller. If anything, I'd prefer larger, to keep me warm from tip to toe.

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  134. Great quilt! Love the big leaf design element! Very nice! I love Maples that turn dark red in the fall! mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com

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  135. Sandra, it's fabulous in every way! Love it! My favorite trees are the maples.

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  136. I follow via bloglovin and would love a QAL only if I had time!

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  137. There aren't many trees around my house and don't know what kinds they are - does a Virginia Creeper count as a tree? They're lovely when go red.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  138. The colours...oh my....such a great fabric collection. I love this. And I'd love to do a quilt along with you. Sign me up!

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  139. There are so many things that I love about this quilt. Let's see... I love the "ghost leaves" in the negative space, the planned-randomness of the small leaves, that there are two leaves of each fall-ish colors and the pop of the others that add life, the one leaf that is the same color as the background color, the shape that allows for the squares to fit right into, the darker leaves (on the red one) that add interest but that I didn't even realize were there until I looked really closely.
    Very beautiful. Art.

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  140. I'm really late reading this blog (internet problems) - and I'm sorry I missed it having followed all the preparation . But ... I get to read everybody else's comments , wow sucha lot and so complimentary . This us a gorgeous quilt , I love the small leaves in the big leaf and the jewel colours . And the quilting ! Quilting with rulers is a second language to me . I'll have to you tube this . X

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  141. Cara Sandra, intanto volevo complimentarti per questa trapunta meravigliosa. Le varie sfumature di colori rispecchiano esattamente la realtà, i colori delle foglie degli alberi di acero durante l'autunno sono bellissimi, in loro vedi esattamente tutto l'autunno. Detto questo volevo chiederti se è possibile acquistare il modello con le spiegazioni, e nel caso fosse possibile vorrei sapere come fare. Ti ringrazio e aspetto una tua risposta. Un saluto dall'Italia.....Silvana

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  142. Cara Sandra, intanto volevo complimentarti per questa trapunta meravigliosa. Le varie sfumature di colori rispecchiano esattamente la realtà, i colori delle foglie degli alberi di acero durante l'autunno sono bellissimi, in loro vedi esattamente tutto l'autunno. Detto questo volevo chiederti se è possibile acquistare il modello con le spiegazioni, e nel caso fosse possibile vorrei sapere come fare. Ti ringrazio e aspetto una tua risposta. Un saluto dall'Italia.....Silvana

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  143. Sandra that is a fabulous quilt. Hadn't checked in on you for a while but so glad I saw this - amazing quilt. Gorgeous colours, design and that quilting is WOW! A delight to see, thanks.

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  144. Cara Sandra, che posso dirti di questa trapunta....ne ho viste tante con le foglie d'acero ma, non è perché c'è questa occasione, questa è sicuramente la migliore. Per come è stata strutturata. La foglia grande con tante all'interno più piccole, i colori, le sfumature, tutto....bellissima!!!!
    Parliamo ora dei miei alberi preferiti. E' lunga ma cerco di spiegare. Vivo in Italia in una regione bellissima dove il bel tempo fa da padrone, un clima bellissimo, un mare stupendo.....tutto molto bello ma purtroppo il tipo di vegetazione è molto diversa da quello che potrebbe rendere l'idea dell'autunno. Sono nata in Canada nel Que Bec dove tutto è diverso. Amo anzi adoro gli aceri e tutta la vegetazione di queste zone. Ogni volta che vado porto via tante foglie cadute (amo andare soprattutto in autunno ottobre-novembre)con tutte le sfumature diverse....e mia sorella mi prende in giro.
    Ecco questo è quanto, ma sicuramente può farti capire quanto amo questa tua trapunta che spero di poter fare al più presto prendendo spunto dalla tua.....
    Grazie per avermi dato l'opportunità di esprimere queste mie sensazioni......Un augurio a tutti per le prossime festività natalizie e un saluto dalla Sardegna.....

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  145. Cara Sandra, che posso dirti di questa trapunta....ne ho viste tante con le foglie d'acero ma, non è perché c'è questa occasione, questa è sicuramente la migliore. Per come è stata strutturata. La foglia grande con tante all'interno più piccole, i colori, le sfumature, tutto....bellissima!!!!
    Parliamo ora dei miei alberi preferiti. E' lunga ma cerco di spiegare. Vivo in Italia in una regione bellissima dove il bel tempo fa da padrone, un clima bellissimo, un mare stupendo.....tutto molto bello ma purtroppo il tipo di vegetazione è molto diversa da quello che potrebbe rendere l'idea dell'autunno. Sono nata in Canada nel Que Bec dove tutto è diverso. Amo anzi adoro gli aceri e tutta la vegetazione di queste zone. Ogni volta che vado porto via tante foglie cadute (amo andare soprattutto in autunno ottobre-novembre)con tutte le sfumature diverse....e mia sorella mi prende in giro.
    Ecco questo è quanto, ma sicuramente può farti capire quanto amo questa tua trapunta che spero di poter fare al più presto prendendo spunto dalla tua.....
    Grazie per avermi dato l'opportunità di esprimere queste mie sensazioni......Un augurio a tutti per le prossime festività natalizie e un saluto dalla Sardegna.....

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    Replies
    1. Ciao Silvana, vivo anch'io in Italia e pure io trovo questo top fantastico. Contattami se vuoi

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