IT'S HERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is DAY FIVE of the blog hop and my day to post THE BLOCK!  Thank you to our wonderful, hard working hostess, Cherry, at Cherry Blossums Quilting Studio and to Madam Samm at Sew We Quilt, the inspiration and bestest (?) cheerleader behind this and many blog hops to come. What an experience this has been.



I've been a nervous wreck worrying that I would do something wrong and end up being banned from all future hops (and maybe even from blogland, lol.)  So take pity on me and remember this is my first attempt at a blog hop.

Since Fall is my favorite season and I live on a street that is lined with maple trees, what better block for me to do than the Maple Leaf.  I chose the 12-inch finished block from Marcia Hohn's  Quilters Cache and did it in just two colors for a challenge on one of my Yahoo groups.  We've been doing an Amish BOM for the past year, so my colors for the block are orange and black.  This will fit right in with the other blocks I've done for the quilt top. 

But because I love that block so much, I've also been working on another quilt done completely in Maple Leaf  blocks of all colors.  So far, I only have five of the 12-inch blocks done, but it's a work in progress, so it will get done sooner or later.  Here's Katie helping me choose my fabrics.

I think I want to make several of the future blocks in batiks.  Since I started working with them, I find I really love them.  And here's what I have done so far.

Once I started working with my Fall fabrics I found I didn't want to quit.  So then I went on and made a Fall mug rug to set my tea/hot chocolate on.  I've been in several mug rug swaps and they are so much fun.  I'm sorry but I don't remember where I got the paper pieced pattern I used, but it could have been from Carol Doak,  I belong to her Yahoo group and have several of her paper piecing books and CD's.  I like this pattern because I can make it in lots of fabrics for different seasons.  I've made it in pastels and darks for Spring, Summer, and Fall.  I like to use my fancy machine stitches on these just for a little zing. Do you like it?    



My last project is a Carol Doak freebie for her Yahoo group.  She gave it to the members to use in August and it's really what made me decide to join in on the Leafs blog hop.  I love the little cat peeking out of the pumpkin.  And since it reminded me of my kitty, JayDee (RIP Jade), I had to make it!  Plus, it's a great fall deco piece for the seasonal wire hanger I have on my entrance table.  I used the diamond stitch on my machine to make his little green eyes.  Isn't he cute?

The pattern is a 3-inch block that Carol offered to be used in a Fall card, but I blew it up about 200% to 8-inches and then paper pieced it.  I added a 1-inch first border and a 3-inch outside border to make it fit into my wire hanger.  I'm really pleased with how it came out, but if I make another one I would add extra border width at the top and the bottom so it filled the length of the hanger better.  As you can see, I'm camouflaging the bottom with silk leaves because it's a few inches short.  Because I might hang it somewhere else for Halloween, I sewed plastic rings on the back to hang it, instead of a hanging sleeve.  But what a fun project it's been--you should try it.

  Here is a list of today's bloggers:

 

Insanity Defense

Michelle May and the Bunnies

Sparrow In Flight

Quilted Delights

Quilting With a Marmalade Cat (you are here)

Traveling Quilter

A Stitch in Time

Cherry Blossoms  (our fearless leader)

Tea Time Creations 

Moose Stash Quilting  (my fabulous buddy Joan)

Stitchin By The Lake

Make sure you stop by and see them all.  And don't forget--Monday there'll be new bloggers posting, so come back then and start again.

Now, for more fun!  How about a little giveaway?  If you become a follower and leave me a comment, I'll put your name into the drawing for my Fall Mug Rug and a fabric pack of fifty 4-inch charm squares.  I'll randomly select a winner on Monday, Ocotber 15th--my BFF Donna G's birthday!

And thanks again to Madame Samm and our hostess, Cherry.  We couldn't have done it without you!

Until next time...
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline