by Sandra | October 19th, 2009
Fall is my favorite time of year. I absolutely love the colors of fall and every year my brain is full of images I want to translate to a quilt. I especially love pumpkins. The color of pumpkins is sheer perfection, fun and so inspirational. On my American Still Life quilt, I was going to add a pumpkin border that was so cool, but had to leave it off due to a time issue meeting a deadline. This has always been a disappointment in the back of my head and I have always wanted to make up for that omission and create a fall quilt that has NO deadline and includes….pumpkins!
As I “tweeted” on Friday, I had images of pumpkin ideas dancing in my head, so I played hooky from work duties and played on the computer this weekend to draw an image that was the most prominent in my head. I am not done, but I just had to share my idea with you. If you could see the details that will bring this to life, you would love it.
Most of you know I have an Autistic son. He is so darn funny and LOVES to grow things. Especially pumpkins! He nurtures them every day throughout the summer and is beaming with pride when it’s time to carve HIS pumpkins. This annual rite for him is what inspired this quilt idea so I will call it “Jason’s Pumpkin”.
It will be a mixed quilt of a medallion style applique center (what else) and surround by pieced blocks (yes piecing aren’t you proud?), finished off with an applique border. Obviously the Margarita quilt (in progress) is up on deck first to be finished, but if I need a break, I will play with this one.
Did I mention I love Pumpkins? 
all content ©2009 Sandra Leichner all rights reserved
Sandra,
This is going to be such a beautiful project – I can’t wait for more pictures to come!!!
I wish you a very lovely fall!!
Glad to see the posting – was starting to worry! So… how does one draw on the computer? And your Margarita quilt – if that’s not for the book, what IS it for? I’d like to be first in line for the pattern, please! What kind of bird will this guy on the pumpkin be? ME
I LOVE IT !! already ..
I can’t wait for you to get started !!!!
I wish I could come watch you work , but this will be the next best thing . : )
what size will it be ?
Boop it will be a bed size quilt.
I use Adobe Illustrator for computer graphics and believe it or not, my mouse to draw with. I have a really nice Waucom tablet, but never use it.
The Margarita quilt is for research purposes Michele! (wink wink) The longer I drag out finishing it , the longer I get to indulge in research.
It is a quilt I am doing for show, or not. I haven’t decided yet.
The bird on the pumpkin is a crow. I purchased some really cool black fabrics that were so perfect I had to make a crow. There will be some other little birds in the border as well as a field mouse (maybe). The ideas are still running fast and furious at this point.
Ah thanks Ivory Spring (love the name BTW). This one is going to be fun to work on.
I LOVE this idea and can’t wait to see it come to life. Also, I didn’t know you had a child with Autism. I do as well, I’d guess we have a lot in common.
Thanks for sharing! I’m still working on blackberries.
Eva, I bet your child is as much a joy as mine.
I cannot wait to see the progress as you design and make Jason’s Pumpkin quilt, it is going to be another stunning quilt. A pumpkin border on American Still Life would have been beautiful too. Black fabric is hard to find, can you share where you found yours?
Denise I think I got this particular batch at eQuilter recently.