Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Leave-ing

A big wave to everyone!  

I was out of town all last week but found some time to work on making leaves for Mrs. Rose...


It has taken some time to figure out which materials and techniques will give me the look I'm going for.

Thank God for all-in-one printers!  First thing was to copy my leaf patterns and reduce the patterns so that my leaves would vary in size...


I've decided to embroider some leaves and construct others by using wire, velvet and silk bias. 

I started with Hanah-dyed silk velvet cut on the bias and framed up the pattern using water soluble stabilizer called Fabri-solvy...


The stabilizer was too much for the silk bias ribbon but just right for preventing the nap from fraying on the velvet.


The range of colors in the hand-dyed velvet is giving my leaves lots of different shades of green which I am loving.

The greatest assistant to me has been this tiny gauge Wapsi ultra wire that fly fishermen use when tying flies.  It's significantly smaller than commercially available paper-covered wire, is rust proof, and comes in great colors...


I've been attaching the tiny wire as veins on the rose leaves and then cutting them out with a very sharp pair of scissors..


These guys are tiny and each spray is taking me about 35 minutes...

Looks like I've got a lot of leave-ing in my future.  

I'm off to play with Jim...it's our 19th wedding anniversary.  

And a huge thanks to all you servicemen and women...and your families...past and present.  

Thank You.

25 comments:

gracie said...

You are so creative! They will look wonderful

Annette said...

oh girl your work is just awesome and thanks for sharing all the steps for Mrs. Rose. Have fun and Happy Anniversary. xoxoox

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Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Happy Anniversary!! Go have fun before you get snowed in!!

Lisa Boni said...

These leaves are looking wonderful! Can't wait to see them assembled together with the sweet little roses!

Happy Anniversary to you and Jim! Wishing you many more beautiful years to come!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Another tantalizing tidbit for Mrs. Rose. I have missed her and look forward to the next visit with her.

Happy 19th Anniversary!!!

Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

Maureen said...

Happy Anniversary!! The leaves are great. Reen

Judy S. said...

Mrs. R. must be pleased that you are back at work enhancing her room! Have a wonderful day, Susan, and a great anniversary celebration.

Rachel said...

The leaves look lovely - and I've made a mental note of the fisherman's wire, as I may have a use for it myself..

coral-seas said...

Happy anniversary to you and Jim, go celebrate.

These leaves are lovely. I look forward to seeing them become a bower.

liniecat said...

Stunning little leaves!!

Createology said...

Happy Anniversary to you and Jim. Play is so very important for couples. Mrs. Rose will be delighted with these amazing tiny little velvet leaves. Who knew fishing would be so relevant to stitching?! Creative Leave-ing Bliss...

Miriam said...

Such tiny, delicate work, Susan!! Beautiful.

Happy anniversary to you and Jum!

Leigh in Portland (we are not burning down) said...

Happy Anniversary!

I love how your leaves are turning out. So tiny!!

lorenabr said...

Fabulous idea!
http://inkandlacedesigns.blogspot.com.au/

crazyQstitcher said...

I always feel my mouth hangs open when I view your work.
The leaves are ..for lack of a better word..fantastic.

crazyQstitcher said...

See what happens to me when I visit? I forgot to wish you a very Happy Anniversary, with many more to follow.
Maureen

margaret said...

so good to see Mrs Rose is back with us again, such delicate leaves you are creating lovely

KaHolly said...

Oh...my...goodness, your work is exquisite. I found your blog via pinterest when looking for name tag ideas. Wanting to take a closer look, I clicked on the link. It brought me to your blog but not the name tags. I scrolled and scrolled, hunted and hunted, and never found the name tags, but got lost in your creativity and skill.

Gerry Krueger said...

Oh I am working on leaves also for my jungle... Maybe I can try some with stabilizer also... you have the BEST ideas... Ger

Gerry Krueger said...

Oh I am working on leaves also for my jungle... Maybe I can try some with stabilizer also... you have the BEST ideas... Ger

Gerry Krueger said...

I just posted about the workshops in Houston and we saw MANY kinds of solvy used in all kinds of ways... In fact the Best of Show used it with tulle to embroider her figures to applique to her quilt... I can hardly wait to use it... Ger

Suztats said...

Wonderful leaves! The variegated fabric works beautifully for this.
Happy Anniversary!

Liz Bugh, Gypsy Feather said...

These are absolutely gorgeous, Susan. So very tiny ... I think I would go blind, lol. You are one talented chick! Hope you had a fabulous anniversary!

Catherine said...

Your talents never ceas to amaze me!! Love these leaves....

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