Leaf Peeping, Florida-Style...

It's generally thought that Autumn in Florida is a colorless affair. But that's not true- I see signs of trees changing color here. Not the splashy, deep colors of more northern regions, but greens do turn to soft golden colors on some species of trees. That subtle color shift inspired these fun leaf bowls. The Palm is made using batik fabrics in assorted green-brown-gold prints.

And the Maple has the traditional orange-brown tones. I used a pattern called Natural Inspiration Leaf Bowls. And I used a material that is new to me- Bosal, a heat-moldable fusible product that gives the leaf bowl its shape and firmness. Soft when heated, hard when cooled- the bowl is malleable as long as it's warm. The free-motion stitched leaf veins and the zig-zag edge stitching were completed prior to heating and shaping.

The bowl is constructed similarly to a quilt- there's a backing, seen in this photo; a middle layer which is the Bosal in this case; and a top, which is made using 8 different fabric prints. I printed the pattern pieces on a sheet of printable freezer paper, cut the pieces apart, and ironed them to the various fabrics ready to cut out and place on the Bosal. The three layers are then fused together, stitched, and shaped. The bowls went together pretty quickly, and while I was thinking the Bosal was going to be too much to sew through, it worked just fine. As a former editor, my eye went right to the statement on the package- "Stiffness that permits you to heat the material and shape it into any!" Ummm.... I'm left with the question- any what?

The Palm is a great container for some notions I was given by a fellow quilter- vintage button cards and an interesting buckle. I love the doctor and nurse depicted on the pearlized uniform buttons. I'm guessing these are from the 1950s or '60s. I'm often the recipient of "found" items because people know I have an affinity for these little odd bits they come across. The items often find a home in one of my projects, and I appreciate the gifts! I recently got a large bag containing an old YoYo quilt- badly made but lots of fun fabrics. I wonder what I'll do with it? Ideas are forming already.

Bits and Pieces...

Bits and pieces sums up the past month or so for us. We have been traveling some, I've been sewing and crafting some, and visiting family. So this post is a collection of photos on assorted topics. First off, I dug this crazy-pieced heart out of my unfinished projects bin and decided to complete it. It began as assorted scraps of silk neckties. Once I pieced it together, embroidered accents were added. Then I cut and stuffed the heart shape, finishing it off with a few buttons and a beaded edging. I think a couple more tiny buttons are in order along with a beaded wire hanger. It's just the kind of relaxing hand work I enjoy doing in the evenings.

One of our trips was to Arizona in late October, beginning in historic Prescott. While there, we met these museum docents and their little sidekick strolling the streets of downtown. They were happy to oblige me with a photo. Some of them made their own costumes representing the styles of territorial Arizona- a feat I found most impressive. The woman with the carpetbag had made hers, including the quilted and piped short jacket. These docents volunteer at the historic opera house. 

We drove on to Sedona where we visited a collection of charming shops at Tlaquepaque (think Ta-la-ka-pocky). It looked like Autumn with the lovely gourds and pumpkins artfully arranged in the fountain and throughout the grounds. 

And of course, the magnificent red rocks of Sedona never disappoint. I can gaze at them for hours.

One new stop on our Phoenix to Sedona loop was at Western Spirit, Scottsdale's Museum of the West. There were saddles, chaps, and bits galore, along with beautiful paintings and Native American artifacts. This trompe l'oeil (fool the eye) painting was interactive, allowing us to become part of the scene. The horse's muzzle and pond were painted on the floor where we stood. The rocks and sand continued up the wall behind us. The museum docent instructed us where to stand- Jack is at the front and was holding his hand in the air as instructed. I stood further back and also posed as directed. He then took the photo that has us looking as if I'm petting the mane and Jack is ready to leap into the saddle. See that outlaw behind and above me? No worries- he's no match for me- I've got a badge! This was such a clever display.

 Another trip to South Florida to visit family included a stop at the Morse Museum in Winter Park near Orlando. I've been wanting to visit here for a long time. The museum houses a wonderful and extensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany and non-flash photography was allowed. Included in the collection is this chapel which was once part of the 1893 Chicago Exposition. Imagine that! It was large and awe-inspiring. There were many other stained glass images, lamps, and paintings as well as introductory videos to acquaint visitors with the collection. Well worth a visit.

Winter Park itself is a quaint small town with narrow brick-paved streets and plenty of unique shops. They even put out a bowl of peanuts for the squirrels! I hope you can see it at the bottom of the photo. Now, I really must get back to the sewing room.