Fall has arrived at my balcony

Here in Stuttgart, we went from warm comfortable days with temperatures in the 70’s during the first two weeks of September, to a chilly spell which began suddenly around the 14th. It remained cool all last week — with highs in the 50’s during the days and dropping into the low 40’s at night. It has been wonderful weather for sleeping.

I thought it might be a temporary change in the weather pattern, but the cool, crisp temperatures have remained. The extended forecast calls for more of the same chilly days, and I’m delighted. I pulled out my 3/4 length sleeve tops and some sweaters. It feels like fall.

Up until just a day or two ago, I hadn’t really noticed any changes in color in the leaves. The trees in our yard are still green. This photo, taken just yesterday morning, shows the view of our backyard directly outside my sewing studio window and french doors. Notice Divot checking things out for herself as she makes her morning patrol of the perimeter of our yard.

The same tree, as seen from my balcony

However, when I looked out from our bedroom balcony, which is located directly above my sewing studio, I couldn’t believe the change in colors at the top of the same tree which is still lush and green from down below!

I simply love fall — all the colors, the fresh, chilly air, crisp apples, the smell of cinnamon goodies baking in the kitchen (namely, my Mom’s homemade apple pie!) I even love the days becoming shorter as it gets darker earlier and prompts us all to come indoors for an earlier evening dinner hour. I enjoy the harvest season and all it has to offer; it certainly is one of the highlights of the year for me. 

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I am currently hard at work preparing for the AQS Show in Des Moines which is now just two weeks away. However, after sitting for hours at my computer working each day, I have treated myself to a few minutes here and there to stitch on another UFO, which I began two years ago — in the fall. I bought two yards of a gorgeous fall print fabric with the intent of making Sawtooth Star blocks. Along with my glorious Hoffman autumn-inspired print fabric, I chose two contrasting batiks: a dark olive green and a rich, saturated mottled yellow.

I decided to make these stars with an easy-yet-funky twist. I’m sure you are familiar with that famous slice-n-dice technique for making kaleidescope designs. I used a similar method of stacking and matching the repeat motifs in the fabric to cut strips. I then cut those strips into squares, and with a little fabric rotation, my stars now have  symmetrical, kaleidescope-ish centers! Aren’t they fun and just a little bit different?

I’ve planned the basic design. There will be twelve blocks constructed with the olive green as the background; and thirteen blocks using the yellow fabric as the background, with half-square triangles in the corner blocks for an added “twist” when the blocks are set together. You all know how much I love making secondary designs appear in my quilts!

I’ll keep you posted in this blog as my blocks progress and the quilt finally gets stitched together. In the meantime, I plan to set the mood in my studio and watch “Indian Summer” from my DVD collection and light my favorite scented candle from Yankee Candle, Harvest, as I piece more of these fall beauties and savor the delights of the season.

Until next time, I hope you will take time to savor the changing seasons and treat yourself to a fun, fall quilting project. Drop me a line and let me know what you enjoy about autumn — I’d love to hear from you!

Kimberly

PS — Fall has arrived in the park across the street from our house as well. Enjoy these photos I took this afternoon!