Playing With Some Leaves

Mary Lou Weidman wrote a quilting book years ago that I devoured in one setting called 'Whimsies and Whynots: A Playful Approach to Quiltmaking'. In the book she adamantly encourages free-form cutting of applique pieces.  Look ma, no pattern! It was tough at first (and scary) to play without knowing the end result, but now? I can't imagine doing it any other way.

Scrap Basket applique progress

To this day, I still pick up my scissors and start cutting when I'm auditioning applique pieces.  Once in awhile I'll comb through old patterns looking for a particular shape, but mostly I just go with what pops into my head as I'm cutting scrap fabric (the best way to avoid ruining good sized pieces of fabric) and then just try to fine tune it from there.

I'm thinking it needs some leaves.....

Of course we are hugely influenced by everything we see and absorb.  My birds and flowers undoubtedly look like a zillion others you've seen throughout the years! Me? I'm just ecstatic that I've finally figured out how to cut out a bird that actually LOOKS like a bird.

Bits and pieces of bias stems and leaves

The other thing I do while auditioning is this: I have small totes where I keep all the odd bits and pieces of bias stem that end up being too big, too small, the wrong color and of course all the leftover end pieces too.  I throw in extra leaves and flowers I've cut and some other random applique pieces too.  It's a great place to go when I'm wanting to 'play' with applique. Sometimes I even find something that works out perfectly, which is wonderful and totally makes my day for a lot of reasons. It's frugal? It's time saving? Perhaps I can actually avoid the tedious applique prep process just one time? hehe

Think about how many times you've cut a small leaf out of scrap fabric and then tossed it into the trash because it was simply the wrong size or color. I know I probably threw away a small forest of trees before I decided to start being a hoarder instead.*wink

Light and dark leaf

Okay, yes! Most of the time the size is wrong or the color doesn't work for the current  project. That part doesn't matter when you're in the auditioning phase.  Not at first.  What you really want is a quick look at an idea you've formed in your mind for what (might) need to happen next.

Leaves close to same value

You just never know.  Many times the difference is extremely subtle and you wonder why you even keep trying various combinations.  A leaf is a leaf is a leaf..... And then you find something that clicks and suddenly everything makes sense again!

Medium and dark leaf

Now I need to go find some fabrics that look similar to the leaves I like there on the design wall. I can't sew them 'as is' or they would start looking scrawny from the lost seam allowances....