This last week I have been playing with ideas for my Leaf Series, in part prompted by the drawing class challenge I shared last week (I'll show you how I'm going at the end of this post).

Decided to try combining a simple landscape with one of my favorite leaf designs and to make the leaves using a 2 step reverse applique to give a line effect. I wasn't altogether satisfied with the result. I think it would have worked better if I had used a darker tone for the line element?

This seemed like a good opportunity to try our another idea for adding a dimensional effect, by using what I might describe as free form applique. In this case I stitched the leaf shapes to the piece along the vein lines so the edges are free to lift and curl.

I have also been adding some hand stitching for texture to complement the machine quilting which is less dense than my usual style (the hand stitching is nice work to do in front of the fire on these chilly evenings!!)

And now in a completely different style .... I've added another layer of dark tone to the drawing class challenge piece from last week. I've used "shards" of dark turquoise silk and covered the piece with some wedding tule to keep it in place.

I'm still playing with it and there is still the stitching to be added .... what do you think.... an improvement????

Thanks for reading ......CC