fall quilts are out

for many years, i did not rotate much in my wardrobe or house for the seasons beyond the ocassional holiday items or for a short-lived major shift in weather. i think this comes from living in a place that does not have the distinct traditional four seasons. when more than half the year is HOT and the parts that are actually cold are a matter of weeks, it didn't feel reasonable to be pulling out fall items in what was still very much summer at home. my quilting itself wasn't seasonal, nor were my quilts in the beginning. i was just quilting whatever colors i was loving and feeling at the time and there weren't enough of quilts to go around for the whole year, much less by season. 

but over the years i've begun to view and feel the seasons differently. i revel in sweater weather, even if it's only measured in weeks. i change my wardrobe colors for time of year even if the fabric weights aren't much different. if the weather doesn't signal a season shift, i make it for myself.

in my quilting, i find myself wanting to work with colors that feel right for the time of year. and i have made enough quilts now that i have a good handful for each season. i still don't have holiday quilts, but i definitely have seasonal quilts these days.

so even though it's warm enough to swim still and we don't get our handful of fall colors until december, late in september, when the weather had gotten slightly nice, a little less HOT, finally cool(er/ish) at night, i put away the summer quilts and pulled out my fall collection for the family room quilt baskets.

this one has my original crossroads quilt, which isn't absolutely fallish, but works with the others in the basket, fall trails, and fall paint lake.

this basket has fall log cabin, dorothy's girls, and collins in it. collins is one of those cross-seasonal quilts. it's not overtly any one season but has echoes of more than one in it. i just sneak it in the back of the basket there because i like it so much. the browns in it are what allow it to slip in to the fall collection. it'll stay through winter and spring, too.

the first weekend of october, we were gathered as a family in the family room to listen to the semiannual general conference sessions of our church. it's a church-at-home weekend we enjoy twice a year. i frequently use it not only for the uplifting, comforting, inspirational messages, but as a time to get handwork done whilst listening. 

as everyone gathered for the first session, people grabbed quilts out of the baskets and snuggled in for their listens. even the grown son did. that made mama smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

 i was cozied up under my first holiday quilt, liberty christmas log cabin, in my new fall skirt. it looks a little like the holidays are colliding in this picture. maybe someday this voluminous skirt will be worn out and i'll be using it for a quilt backing. someday.

it was a lovely conference weekend, quilts and all. and my seasonal quilt making is in full swing at the moment. there are several new fall quilts in the works right now. i'm reveling in the colors and seeking out the moodier, cozier, subdued palettes and prints for the time being. give me all the fall quilts!