What do you fall for?
This months blog hop, hosted by Joan at MooseStash Quilting, is all about fall. For this hop I chose what brings me joy about the end of summer and the transition into autumn.
Harvest and Preservation.
Every year I plant a large vegetable and flower garden. This year I grew some of my favorites — cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and green beans. My newest additions included rutabagas and popcorn!
The flowers I planted included zinnias, marigolds and sunflowers.
I also have two fruit trees, but they didn’t do well this year. It was either the brood X cicadas, the heat or my lack of fruit tree knowledge that led to tiny hard peaches and pears. However, I managed to get a half bushel of peaches from the Peach Truck.
I find joy in growing and preserving my own food. It gives me a sense of accomplishment just like when you finish a quilt and snuggle with it for the first time.
I preserved green beans, pickles, relish, peaches, tomato pizza sauce, and barbeque sauce. I am also in the process of drying out my popcorn.
My mushroom popcorn. I haven’t gotten to try any yet as it is still drying out. I have also since hung them up. 
I’m starting to collect my seeds for next year.
For this hop I designed a quilt pattern that represents the fruits and veggies I grew and some of the tools needed to preserve them. I am calling it the “Harvest Quilt.”
The pattern includes 9 blocks each with 6″ and 12″ finished block measurements. It also includes measurements and instructions for the sashing, border, backing and binding (My Very First FULL Quilt Pattern!).
It features a peach, tomato, sunflower, turnip/rutabaga/onion, corn, canning jar, canning funnel, canner and canning tongs.
It is available to purchase in my Etsy shop for anyone who may be interested. Use the code HARVESTQUILT and receive 50% off the Harvest Quilt Pattern! The coupon will work 9/20/2021 to 9/27/2021
I’m sharing my day with these amazing bloggers!
Wednesday September 22
Happy Sewing!
Starting to bloom by choosing JOY ~ Julia
You have captured your garden beautifully in that pretty quilt.
This is one very impressive post. Your gardening skills are amazing followed directly by your desire to use your harvest to its best both fresh and preserved. Next up congrats on the quilt pattern design. It is fabulous and perfect for both your accomplishments and this hop.
Enjoyed your post. Your quilt looks right at home with the daisies! You did a good job on your pumpkin FMQ as well.
Your garden and quilt are both amazing!
You sure were productive Julia, with your canning and quilt designing/making. It is a great feeling to preserve food for your family. I love how the quilt looks hanging in front of your Black-Eyed Susans!
Your quilt is a fun way to “preserve” the garden’s bounty, Julia. SEW perfect for the Hop!!
Oh my goodness, I’m not sure if your actual garden or your canning quilt takes top billing here. I’m impressed with your garden and excited to hear how the popcorn comes out. I LOVE LOVE LOVE popcorn! LOL!! But to top off all that work, with designing that fabulous quilt is really an impressive feat! Not to mention how gorgeous your FMQ pumpkins are!
Your garden is incredible and it makes me just a bit/lot jealous. We managed to get some tomatoes but that was all. I grew up with a big garden and lots of fruit trees, so your beautiful quilt brought back the wonderful memories I have of canning some of it. Thank you for sharing your amazing quilt, Julia!
Beautiful quilt, and gardens! Thanks so much for sharing!
Love your quilt! Perfect for fall!
Fun quilt! great job on all the different blocks
Great quilt. Fall is such a busy time of year around here with putting up produce. Yours look gorgeous, too.
Gorgeous autumn quilt. Those blocks fabrics are really pretty. The pattern is now on my wish list.
Your gardening is amazing (I used to do that too but quit after our girls were grown up), and I absolutely love the quilt you designed! It is perfect! I love the pumpkins you quilted too. I need to save your quilting idea–wish I had thought of it for the wall hanging I’m doing now…hmm…may be able to do the border with pumpkins… Thanks for sharing, Julia!
Your garden and produce are beautiful, and the quilt is really fun too. Thanks for sharing!
Your quilt is adorable. Congratulation on your first “full” quilt pattern. It’s so cool how personal this one is and represents so much. Thank you for sharing all your beautiful gardening too!
Your flowers are gorgeous! Love the jealous of your zinnias. As to your quilt. Wow it is fabulous! Love your quilting too!
This is a really fun quilt! I love the sashing fabric. It fits perfect and I love the pumpkin quilting too! Fantastic.
This is such a fun quilt and I absolutely love your quilting.
Great harvest quilt for fall!
I loved hearing and seeing your beautiful garden. Your quilt is perfect for this hop. Congratulations on your first full pattern. Well done!