Betsy Chutchian - Just Treats, No Tricks: Bewitching Quilts and More to Celebrate Autumn

Editor: Kimber Mitchell Designer: Kelly Ludwig Photography: Aaron T. Leimkuehler and Annette Plog Illustration: Lon Eric Craven Technical Editor: Christina DeArmond Photo Editor: Jo Ann Groves Published by: Kansas City Star Books 1729 Grand Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri, USA 64108 About the Author Betsy Chutchian developed a passionate interest in fabric, quilts, sewing and history as a child. Learning to sew on her grandmothers treadle sewing machines and her Aunt Sissys 1940s Singer paved the way to quiltmaking. While lounging atop a quilt on hot summer Sundays at her grandmothers house in Frisco, Texas, her mom would come by and point to the many fabrics of the 1930s scrap quilt and say, That was my dress, and that was Sissys and this one was Mothers apron" and so forth. There in those quilts were pieced so many memories, stitched with love to warm and comfort the family.

In 1980, Betsy earned a B.A. in History from the University of Texas in Arlington and taught herself to quilt after receiving a quilt top made by a great aunt and great grandmother. This began a passionate journey combining her love of fabric, quiltmaking and history. A former quilt shop owner, Betsy has taught quiltmaking at a number of quilt shops since 1990, and she has traveled across Texas, sharing her love of 19th-century quilts through lectures, trunk shows and workshops since 2004. She leads a monthly club at Lone Star House of Quilts in Arlington, Texas. Betsy co-founded the 19th-Century Patchwork Divas, whose quilts have been featured at Houstons International Quilt Festival in 2004 and 2008.

She has also designed four lines of fabric for Blue Hill Fabrics and written three books with The Kansas City StarGone to Texas: Quilts from a Pioneer Womans Journal, Lizzies Legacy, and History Repeated: Block Exchange Quilts by the 19th Century Patchwork Divas, which she co-authored with Carol Staehle. Besides quilting, Betsy enjoys cooking, antiquing and collecting antique quilts. She and her husband of 38 years, Steve, live in Grand Prairie, Texas, with their three cats, Winston (pictured), Molly (pictured at left) and Hudson. They have a daughter, Rachel, son Matt, son-in-law Craig, and granddaughter, Madison. Dedication This book is lovingly dedicated to my daughter and son, Rachel and Matthew. Thank you for sharing my love for holidays and for tolerating my passion for sewing and quilting.

You two make me smile everyday... just treats, no tricks. Acknowledgments I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many hands that helped make this book a reality: To my editor, Kimber Mitchell, for understanding my vision for this book, your impeccable attention to detail and for keeping me on track. To Lon Eric Craven for your helpful diagrams. To Christina DeArmond for checking my math. To Jo Ann Groves for color-correcting and fine-tuning the photos that you see in this book.

To Aaron Leimkuehler for his outstanding photography and to Annette Plog for her photography skills that you see in most of the setting shots for this book. To Jane Kennedy and Annette Plog for opening your lovely homes for this books photography. To my designer, Kelly Ludwig, for melding the photos, words and projects to create a beautiful book. To Doug Weaver for yet another opportunity to publish with The Kansas City Star. To Julia Berggren for assistance with the quilt bindings. To Ann Jernigan for her help at the location photo shoot.

To my quilters, Sheri Mecom and Karen Wood, for their beautiful quilting. To Betty Edgell for beautifully making the hooked version of my pumpkin chair pad. To Steve Chutchian for all your patience and support, for loving my quilts, and for sharing my love for Halloween. And last but not least, thank you to my kids, Rachel and Matthew, for making me smile and laugh. Thank you for letting me share your world. Introduction After sweltering summers that never seem to end, fall is greeted with much delight in our house. Introduction After sweltering summers that never seem to end, fall is greeted with much delight in our house.

But here in north-central Texas, Mother Natures colorful show of foliage doesnt take place until Thanksgiving. So we create our own festive show of fall color indoors. In recent years, the celebration of Halloween has developed into a monthlong season of its own, filled with as much whimsical decorating as Christmas. After all, if you enjoy decking the halls in red and green, why not dress them up in black and orange for Halloween? Its with that spirit in mind that I designed this books collection of Halloween and fall-infused projects. My Diamond Jubilee table runner and Harlequin Heights quilt are sure to spice up your decor with their black-and-orange color scheme. Or craft a handy pumpkin tote or handbag to celebrate the season with my Jack Bewitched and Jack Be Little projects.

In the mood for something not-quite-so-Halloween yet fall-inspired? Try my take on a Trip Around the World quilt dressed in a warm color palette, or a delightful small wool appliqu-on-cotton project that celebrates our feathered friends. Some of the featured quilts were inspired by antique quilted treasures in my collection. Weve spotlighted these inspirations fittingly on a graphic of a paper bag that recalls those old-fashioned ones that kids toted along on Halloween to gather candy. In some cases, the projects on the paper-bag graphics are not antique but just a fresh twist on the featured projects as with my little Popcorn quilt. Yardage requirements and cutting instructions only have been provided for these particular projects. The projects in this book bring back so many fond memories of Halloweens past. The projects in this book bring back so many fond memories of Halloweens past.

Remember the childhood excitement of deciding what to be for Halloween? With stiff competition among friends, it was often a hard decision! As an adult, I still enjoy the anticipation of what my guests will show up as at our annual Halloween party. Some plan far in advance and don intricate designs. For me, it is simply a matter of makeup, hair gel and a good stock of black attire in skirts, pants, tops, capes and assorted accessories. With those in hand, I can be a cat, a witch, a vampire, or a spider. No store-bought costume for me! As a kid, I had only one store-bought costume. Mom couldnt sew, so I created my own unique persona from whatever accessories I could find at home.

When my kids were little, I made some of their costumes. Whether they wanted to be a witch, ballplayer or Captain Hook, I thoroughly enjoyed making them. Eventually, the kids started making their own costumes. Today, Im still a kid at heart and like to dress up to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters, who seem to get as much a kick out of seeing what I will be as I do with them. I think the best reaction I got was the year I was a scarecrow, complete with a crow on my straw hat! I hope this books bewitching blend of quilts and projects evokes pleasant memories of fall traditions for you, too! Betsy