Autumn is for Birds!

So excited to tell you about my newest line of fabric with Hoffman California Fabrics!  Autumn is for Birds. This line highlights fall leaves and birds.  It will ship to stores in April.

The fabric grid for "Autumn is for Birds."  In industry lingo, this is called a secondary line. Smaller than lines introduced at Quilt Market. I am just so happy that my vision was realized for my favorite season.

The designs were started with this fabric design, using Hoffman's hand dyed fabrics.  Pretty colors!  All of the leaves were fussy cut and fused together to create my signature 2 tone leaf.

From my sketchbook - my inspiration!

What every bird watcher needs is a Bird Journal to write down their findings.  Collaged fabrics to create this journal.

A house in the woods, and more leaves - of all kinds, shapes and colors.

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All of the above made this focus fabric.  It brings in the blue collaged background fabrics from my first line "Home is Where Your Story Begins.  It's my signature blue.

The neighborhood lending library

The bird journal for all of the bird watchers out there!

The house in the woods

Bird on a branch, bunting and the blue batik collaged background

Okay, let's get started to make a small quilt with this line. I pre-fused all of the fabrics with Mistyfuse, my choice for a fusible web.  I am building my design on a Goddess Sheet, which is also a Mistyfuse product.  My entire design table is covered with a Holy Cow Goddess Sheet. Using my sharp Havel's scissors, I cut out the objects on the focus fabric that I wanted to use.

The bunting with 'fall-like' motifs on them

I love this one with the birds on branches with leaves and my artwork in the background.  All of my little drawings coming alive on this print.  So exciting!

Enter the Fabi Big Shot by Sizzix (see link to Sizzix in the right side bar.  This machine saves me alot of unnecessary strain on my hands.  I can cut 6 layers of pre-fused fabrics with this baby.

I had a custom die made by Sizzix that has a grid of 6 - 2" squares on it.  I use 2" squares for many of the backgrounds in my quilts.  I really like the collage look.

I begin by building my design.  I am also using some other blenders from other Hoffman Fabrics lines.

I just love the Bird Journal.  This line was inspired by all of the bird lovers out there, including my niece, Jane.

Adding the bunting.

Falling leaves on black.  I can see many uses for this particular fabric.  Can you?

I love how the squares help so much with the design to give it more color and balance

The Bird Watcher, finished with a narrow border of blue swirls from my second line "Heart and Soul Sisters."  It really brings it altogether.

Free motion machine quilted around the edges of the objects and squares.  Simple but whimsical

The bird journal and bunting

Birds and large falling leaves

Happy birding.  There will be a Blog Hop in February, so you can see how other quilt artists use this fabric line, which I am thrilled about!  Autumn is for Birds by Hoffman California Fabrics.  Talk to your local quilting store about carrying this line for your next masterpiece.  Think table runners for fall, small art quilts, potholders, a fall quilt for a cold day to keep you warm on the couch, gifts for friends.  Oh, the possibilities!  There will be a free pattern on the Hoffman Fabrics website, plus a 'how to' from me of how to make a large leaf.  Sew Fun!