Sunday, October 23, 2016

Final Countdown to Halloween

I found this cartoon on Jackie Long's blog and had to smile!

Bryce Eleanor and Jonathan
proudly displaying their awards 
after the Academic Pep Rally.
I love B.E.'s new glasses.

Lately, I've been trying my hand at leaf stitching.
There are some beautiful examples across the blogosphere,
and I have been experimenting...
carefully.

Such a fragile surface.
I'm learning, but it is a slow process.


I love the green circles on the leaf  on the left
and tried a cut out for the one on the right.
(punched out a star, then 
added it back on in another position).
This is all new to me and so a lot of trial and error.
Playing with different needles and threads and number of strands.

The cut outs on the hibiscus leaf below were already there--
something was chomping on it.
This one tore even more easily.
Each stitch tended to rip a little.
I gave up on it, but am keeping it to watch it continue to dry.

I have more leaves in progress 
and more being pressed beneath books.

Outgoing Mail

Using a pic of one of the La Calavera Catrina dolls 
I made last year and Picmonkey
I played with one to see what would happen.

The pic I used below was before I added the skull necklace, 
but Picmonkey let me alter and add elements--
the spooky sky, the red rose, the text.

Then I added it to an envelope.
To Prim Paws

the back--using one of Naomi's stickers.

18 comments:

  1. This is the first time I read (or hear) about leaf stitching. I'm sort of wondering what the deal is...won't the leaves eventually crumble and disintegrate? Then what? I need a lesson or something.
    Vegan witches ha! I'll have to remember that when I teach Macbeth in a few weeks.

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    1. In a way, I guess they are kind of like pressed flowers. What you do with them determines how long they last. I have some pressed leaves that have lasted for years just left in books, but I don't know how long they would last without some kind of treatment. I used a gel medium on some of the leaves and will see what that does--but its OK if the are't permanent, I'm not either. :)

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  2. Your leaf stitching is amazing, also you Halloween envies!

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    1. I have seen stitched leaves before that are so beautiful and delicate, so I decided to give the process a try!

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  3. Love those vegan witches! What wonderful selection of Halloween letters.

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    1. The vegan witches tickle me! What a clever cartoon. :)

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  4. LoL. The witches are so funny! Leaf stitching...I've not heard of that before either. Quite interesting to say the least. I love how you made an altered envelope with one of your dolls. I love all the envelopes. I'm going to miss all this fun creepy stuff in another week.

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    1. :) Jackie always has a good cartoon at the end of her posts. Yep, this is the last week for the Halloween stuff, but it has been fun!

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  5. Love the stitched leaves. Do you use anything to preserve the leaves before stitching them?
    Do you know the work of Alice Fox?
    Happy Halloween!!

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    1. Yes! Alice Fox is one of the inspirations. I love her work with natural objects! As for preserving the leaves, I'm trying a little gel medium. But I just remembered that you can preserve leaves with glycerin. I don't know how (or if) Alice Fox treats her leaves. Maybe I'll order her book!

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  6. I never heard of leaf stitching. I am wondering what will happen when the leave dry out.
    Great Halloween art. Congrats to the kids on their academic achievement awards. The kids are so darned cute!!
    xx, Carol

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    1. Alice Fox and Suzanne Bauer work with leaves--I love their work. I'm wondering what will happen as the leaves continue to dry, as well, Carol. :) Will the gel medium keep them flexible? Should I try a glycerin treatment? Questions, questions...

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  7. I've never heard of leaf stitching and I love it. I've used gel medium on leaves to preserve them. Hmmm I want to try this sometime!!

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    1. You have to keep it simple because the leaves aren't as sturdy as cloth, but it is sort of meditative to put stitches in such an impermanent item.

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  8. The leaves are wonderful-I haven't seen this before-I love it! Love the cartoon!

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    1. I love that cartoon, too. Make me smile each time I think about it. :)

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  9. Excellent artwork as always!

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Good to hear from you!