2021 Monthly Color Challenge - September

How lovely yellow is! It stands for the sun.
Vincent Van Gogh

As I shared back in February, yellow is my very favorite color.

When I created my topper design for the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge, I decided to use not one, but two months of block patterns for my yellow row simply so I could blog about yellow twice instead of just once 💛

Ashli's custom layout for her 2021 Monthly Color Challenge Quilt

Here are the two bright yellow, lemon-inspired blocks that I made a few months ago:

This month we are using pineapples for inspiration, and this is our block pattern from Jen:

Click over to Patterns by Jen for the PDF download for this month’s instructions.

This enhanced 9-patch uses four Half-Square Triangles and five strip pieces that resemble the components of a Rail Fence block. The final effect is unique and fun!

Let’s just say that my collection of yellow fabrics, yellow scraps, and yellow tidbits is quite extensive, so I can honestly say that the most difficult part of this month’s quilt-along was pulling the fabric – there are so many bright and beautiful yellows.

In the end, I think I chose really well with these varieties of lights and darks:

Here they are in the finished blocks:

What an interesting block!

And another row finished for my topper – I can’t believe that there are only three months left to see it completely pieced together and ready to quilt.

Sharing the beauty in color, Jen’s 2021 Color Block Challenge patterns, and some of my favorite recipes have been a blast this year. So fun in fact that I am thinking of hosting a block of the month program here on the Quilt 2 End ALZ blog throughout 2022.

I’d love to hear your input…

Should we do one?

Should we continue to post recipes?

What about other sources of inspiration such as books or places?

Please comment below or in the Quilting to Mending the Mind Facebook Group to let me know your thoughts, and I will announce the final program in October’s Color Block Challenge post so that you can plan your project for next year.

I can’t wait to hear your ideas!

And now to finish up September’s post: the food 💛

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

You might think that I am taking the easy way out on recipe sharing this month, but when I think of pineapple foods, my first thought is the Pineapple Upside-Down cake that my mom made throughout my childhood. They were simply the best!

But they were not homemade, so instead of a recipe to pass along, I am giving you advice: make this cake from a mix.

And not just any mix. You have to use Betty Crocker Upside-Down Cake Mix.

This is what the box looks like.

Even though the box has been redesigned, the mix is still the same as when I was a kid.

What sets it apart is the smoothness of the white cake and the topping mix that is included with the perfect amount of crushed pineapples.

Many of the cake mixes and recipes add pineapple or flavoring to the actual cake, and for me that is too much pineapple. It makes the cake taste like flavoring and way too sweet.

I really prefer Betty Crocker’s traditional white cake with the cinnamon crumble and baked pineapple topping.

The instructions are on the back of the box, and they are very, very simple.

All you need is butter, water, and an egg.

It really is that easy, and it smells incredible while it is baking

In addition to that, it’s beautiful on a serving plate or cake stand and tastes amazing!

In fact, I baked one this morning for blog photos, and when I cut the cake this afternoon, I had not one, but two pieces with a nice cup of tea…

YUM!!

Thanks for being here – please remember to share your blocks as well as your suggestions for a Q2EA Block of the Month program for 2022 – and I will see you soon.