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23 October 2013

Variations on a theme of Modern Maples: Nature Walk

The chilly mornings and evenings tell me it's Fall, even if the warm afternoons tell me otherwise.  My family typically do a lot of hiking in the fall.  We've been lazy so far, choosing instead to watch football and soccer on the weekends.  But I'm starting to get antsy- time to get out and commune with nature!

I must have had communing with nature on the brain when I was working on Modern Maples


In this quilt top are a couple of elements that my family and I frequently see on our hikes around the Bay Area.  There are feathers (re-sized from Anna Maria Horner's pattern) and mushrooms (which I drafted and paper-pieced).  One of my children suggested that I represent banana slugs.  Sorry kid, no dice.

Heavily inspired (and I do mean heavily) by this version, I used a mix of low-volume prints for the background.  I re-sized the blocks to 10.5" (finished) to allow for the addition of sashing.

I've chosen to back this quilt with a Valori Wells Urban Flannel print.  These green roses have been a favorite for so long and I'm happy to have found a project for them.  I'm not quite sure how to quilt this yet, but it will most probably be straight lines. 

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

17 comments:

  1. Looks great! Love the addition of the feathers and mushrooms!

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  2. Your maples are lovely - I like how you have included things that mean something to you and your family too. Have to ask - what is a banana slug?

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  3. This quilt top is gorgeous and so season appropriate. Great stuff.

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  4. funny, when i read your first sentence i thought "hm sounds like MY weather!" hello to another Bay Area-n :) I love the maple leaves and your feather and mushroom blocks... even without the banana slugs

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  5. The leaves are great and that little block thrown in the mix is the icing on the cake! Great job.

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  6. The flannel backing will be perfect and I love the personalized feathers and mushrooms although I'm on board with the banana slug idea too but that's probably just the Santa Cruzan in me!

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  7. I love it! A wonderful combination of quilty ideas.

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  8. This is so beautiful!! I love what you've done with the feathers and mushrooms!

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  9. Love it! those feathers and mushrooms add a nice change, a nice place for the eyes to land. Great use of colors!

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  10. Such a kiljoy on the slugs ;o)

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  11. It's so cute! I love that you added the feathers and mushrooms! With your paper piecing skillz, you totally should have gone for the banana slugs. :>

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  12. Fabulous quilt. I love the additions of the feathers and toadstools. Seems the slugs are popular too :)

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  13. I love these maple blocks. Even though it's coming in to summer here in Australai, and in Brisbane it's rare to have any "autumn" colours at all, I am so inspired to make them! And flannel back will be perfect! So snuggly and warm, just what an autumn quilt calls for :-)
    E

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  14. Love the mushrooms! But how you could not include banana slugs?? (For the non-locals: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_slug)

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    1. Hehe Cheryl... I'm feeling the pressure to add one from all the comments and my own kids! I actually am thisclose to putting an appliquéd slug on one of the leaves, lol

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