Fall themed layer cake quilt with appliquéd leaves advice needed

[MissyB]

I am new to quilting and hoping to make my fourth quilt. I have roughly sketched a design using two "Hello Fall" layer cakes with additional yardage for a double border and backing from the same line of fabric. I am planning on keeping the 10" squares whole and simply piecing them together to make a larger than lap sized quilt. I'd like to add appliquéd leaves using some leftover squares to it in a random pattern starting from the upper left, trailing to lower left, and trailing off toward the lower right. I am hoping to have my new Pfaff Performance 5.0 by next week so this will be my first project on it. I have a few questions for you:

1). Will the 10" blocks left whole be too boring? Could quilting somehow jazz it up? Any suggestions?
2). Would it work to appliqué the leaves before piecing to minimize the bulk? Thought it might work to use heat n bond lite to fuse, add some batting between the leaf and the 10 inch square, blanket stitch around the raw edges, then stem stitch the leaf veins all before piecing. Maybe there will be a stitch on this new machine that mimics a stem stitch to speed up the process? Is there a better way to do this?
3). If the leaves are appliqued before piecing, how should I quilt?

Any and all suggestions are appreciated! Here are some pictures of a few pieces of fabric in the "Hello Fall" line, some leaf clip art that needs resized and a few modifications, and my ROUGH sketch of my design.

[Sandy Navas]

I don't think it would be boring to leave your layer cake blocks plain - but love the idea of using the leaf applique. I would sew the blocks together first and then applique the leaves on so they appear to be falling - not like they were placed. Does that make sense? If they are over the seams they really will appear more random . . .

Like your idea. Now practice dust swirls like the wind blowing your leaves and you're home good. Things like this always appear better in my mind's eye than they do when I personally try to execute them though.

[KerryA]

Hey MissyB - Glad to see you are on the forum and are getting the Pfaff. I didn't realize you were in Washington. I am to - just outside of Tacoma. Looks like a great quilt you have planned out. I like the idea of the leaves falling over the seams.

[Carrie J]

Hey Missy, and Welcome to the Forum from Texas. I just messed with my first applique, and Sandy makes an excellent point, afterwards will give you the luxury of placing the applique as you see fit, and a more artistic touch. Whole blocks won't be plain as you say, especially with the applique. Your notation/grid planning looks like mine! LOL! Only way I can mentally see what I'm thinking, it's all great stuff! Excited to see how it turns out! Happy quilting!

[MBCA]

I love your idea, don't think leaving the blocks whole would be boring and I like the falling leaf suggestion.

[MissyB]

I don't think it would be boring to leave your layer cake blocks plain - but love the idea of using the leaf applique. I would sew the blocks together first and then applique the leaves on so they appear to be falling - not like they were placed. Does that make sense? If they are over the seams they really will appear more random . . .

Like your idea. Now practice dust swirls like the wind blowing your leaves and you're home good. Things like this always appear better in my mind's eye than they do when I personally try to execute them though.

I can picture what you mean and absolutely love the idea! It is funny how you get locked into an idea then limit yourself to it. Thanks so much for opening my eyes to the possibilities! I will definitely try to come up with the blowing version of FMQ. I have only done stitch in the ditch so this will be something new!

[MissyB]

Hey Missy, and Welcome to the Forum from Texas. I just messed with my first applique, and Sandy makes an excellent point, afterwards will give you the luxury of placing the applique as you see fit, and a more artistic touch. Whole blocks won't be plain as you say, especially with the applique. Your notation/grid planning looks like mine! LOL! Only way I can mentally see what I'm thinking, it's all great stuff! Excited to see how it turns out! Happy quilting!

Now that you are no longer a newbie with appliqué, any suggestions? ;-). I'm definitely going to add the leaves after piecing! Such a great idea!