Leaf Quiz

I took a walk yesterday to check on the blackberries and ended up stuffing my pockets with a variety of leaves (I stuffed the blackberries in my mouth - mmm, yum!). How many leaves can you identify? Hints: Most of the leaves are small ones, not grown to full size - that way I could get more of them on my scanner. Near the bottom left corner, there are two leaves from the same tree: one shows the top color and the other shows the underneath color.


Here's the list:

apple

big leaf maple

bracken fern

cherry

Douglas-fir

filbert (hazelnut)

grape

ivy

lilac

morning glory

plum

silver maple

sword fern

viburnum (snowball bush)



I could have included three kinds of blackberry leaves and a holly leaf, but I didn't fancy getting my fingers pricked. I'll post the answer sheet a couple of posts from now (that way the quiz and the answers won't appear on the same web page). Good luck!

Stitches for Redwork

While watching the Olympic games on tv, I kept my hands busy trying various stitches for embroidery on some inexpensive stamped quilt blocks that I bought at a local store. I'm using size 8 DMC perle cotton and love not having to separate the strands!

On this block, I tried four kinds of stitches. The rope, the arm, the hat and the bow are done in stem stitch. I'm a little rusty on my embroidery stitches (haven't done much since high school) and it shows on the bow. But I doubt that anyone will notice once this block is in a completed project.

I used my own wierd version of the backstitch to do the bottom flowers and scallops. It looks okay on top, but it's messy looking on the back side and uses lots of thread. Still, I like this stitch, especially for small things with tight curves.

The shoes and the flowers on the hat were done with a faux chain stitch. I haven't seen my version of this stitch in any embroidery stitch encyclopedia either! Like my weird backstitch, this one is a bit messy on the back side, but it makes a smooth, solid line on top.

My favorite stitch on this block is the whipped running stitch. I used this stitch for the dress, the sleeve and the hat band. This stitch goes fast and has a soft, ruffly or fluted appearance. I like it for clothing and think it would be great for furry animals, but I'm not sure I'd like it for body parts. Maybe I'll try it on the next block to see what it looks like.

By the way, if you're familiar with these blocks you've probably noticed that the butterfly is missing. I discovered that zipper-lock plastic bags don't necessarily prevent moisture from getting to fabric. I left my bag in the sun one day and condensation formed on the inside. These blocks are pinted with an ink that easily washes out, and my butterfly did just that. Since the butterfly was so close to the corner and difficult to get in a 6" hoop, I decided not to bother drawing it in freehand.

Fall Leaves

You can blame one of my 3rd grade teachers (I had 2 teachers that year) for my interest in leaves. She assigned us to collect "pretty colored leaves" for an art project and I've been fascinated by leaves and their changing colors ever since. Today, I found an internet article that explains why leaves change colors and gives a toll-free phone number for the U. S. Forest Service's Fall Color Hotline (who would have guessed there was such a thing?!): http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?eetype=Article&eeid=6104281&render=y&ck=&Table=
(800) 354-4595 Fall Color Hotline

Leaves are one applique pattern you don't need a designer for - nature provides them in abundance! Take a walk, collect some leaves, then trace them on paper or template plastic. Or sandwich the leaves between clear adhesive-backed plastic (i.e., Contac paper), then cut about 1/8" around the leaf (leave enough seam allowance for the plastic to adhere to itself). Now you have a pretty leaf to look at and an applique pattern to trace.

If you need an activity for kids, have them collect the leaves and sandwich them between the adhesive-backed plastic, or press between two sheets of waxed paper (adult help required), then cut them out. Punch a hole at the top of each leaf, thread yarn or string through the hole then tie to make loop. With adult help, hang leaves near a window or above child's bed. Small leaves can be used as bookmarks. Have fun!