Has been a few months since we swapped Art Quilties but we are once again getting that process started. It was a No Theme swap so I decided to do a fall theme and used the reverse applique technique. Reverse applique means that instead of applying a shape to a panel. you cut out a shape in the panel and back it with something interesting. I used fall colour scraps and fused them to a backer until I had a piece big enough to fit behind the leaf pattern I had drawn free hand. I drew the leaf on the blue panel, positioned the fall coloured layer behind it and then stitched a line with yellow thread over the line I had drawn using my sewing machine. I used sharp pointy scissors to cut away the blue panel fabric inside the leaf as close as I could to the stitching. After that, I stitched over the edge of the blue fabric leaf outline using a tight zigzag stitch with the same yellow thread. Worked out really well!! I backed this piece with a bit of fiberfill and added the stitching all the way around the leaf. Next, I cut a piece of dark peach fabric larger than the 4" square of my panel, positioned it on the back, folded over the extra to the front and used blue embroidery thread to do blanket stitch all the way around the edge. Really happy with how well that finished off the edge. Next, I hand stitched coloured seed beads all the way around the leaf shape and added some veining inside the leaf shape using shimmery yellow thread. Next, I added some square sequins and dark orange seed beads along the stitching lines and then some gold/copper seed beads in between where ever it looked good. I did add some french knots to secure the backing fabric to the whole quiltie and then added my credits using iron on label fabric tape on which I had written using a fine tipped Sharpie!! My art quiltie - a fabric chunky book page - is already off to my swap partner!!
Lots of fun and I am happy to be making these again!!
Therese
