How to make a quilted leaf

  First draw a leaf pattern on stabilizer, you can freehand or trace a real leaf. Sandwich this with batting (scraps can be used) and one leafy fabric. I use glue sticks to assemble this sandwich.

Next stitch around each leaf, this is just so you can see your traced lines after you add the next layer.

Go ahead and glue on another layer of your leaf fabric to the stabilizer. Stitch around your previous outline and add veining at this time.

At this point you should have a quilt sandwich that has fabric, batting, stabilizer, fabric and all the leaves outlined with stitches and veins. You can now cut these out.

 If you want to add a picture as I did, rough cut it out and glue to one side of the leaf, then trim, leaving as much next to the edge of the leaf as possible.  

You will then sew a couple of rounds of close zigzag or satin stitch along the edge. I have found that if I do one round then another it has better coverage of the edge.

Tip: if there is still white batting showing thru to the edges, get your colored sharpies out and fill in; nobody will ever know the difference!

 Have fun make a bunch and let me know if you come up with any other tips.

Check out all the winners!

 

Update on a House in Harlan, It is now in the hands of the curator of the Rust-Tex collection! That’s right I was juried in to the show; I had the privilege of being one of the 24 picked from among 118 awesome quilts. I was not nervous about entering the challenge until I was picked to send off my Quilt, then all kinds of thoughts run thru your mind, will they like it in person? will it get there in one piece, clean and dry? Ahhh the stress! Well UPS did delivered it in one piece, to Lois Jarvis last Friday, it was well received; she said it was even better in person that the pictures could show… whew what a relief.

 Lois is planning on posting a blog entery about each artist that will be in the show so check them out here 

(I will let you all know when she post my info)

Here are the venues that are currently scheduled …

The Rust-Tex Collection, will premier at Spring International Quilt Festival in Chicago April 16-18, 2010. It will also be displayed at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England August 20-23, 2010. Other venues to be announced as arranged.