Going to try explaining...

 Joy, at Joyful Quilter asked me how I made the leaf.  I made another one yesterday and tried to take photos along the way.  I know I should have taken a couple more, but going to make do with the photos I took.  This post is photo heavy, and will may be boring to some of you...don't feel bad or feel like you have to comment...I tried to write how I did it without photos to email Joy, but it is just not the same as with pics.  

(Please note, I forgot to change the copyright from Lorelei to my name...she did not take the pictures.)

I used a piece of  paper and folded it in half, and cut out the leaf shape.  

I opened the shape and cut in half from top to bottom, cutting a slightly curved edge down the middle.  As you can see I drew an angle on both pieces while they were laying face up, together.  This is a sort of guide/safety measure.  to give me a straight line to lay your first fabric strip against.  And also, this is to ensure I make halves that fit together when completed.

Above we see first fabric pinned to the paper...it is lined up on one of those lines, though you don't see the line.  I will place another strip of fabric right sides down, along this piece and sew.  Then flip the fabric open and press.  Then place another fabric on top of that. 

 If I don't like how wide the fabric is, I can bring my next fabric back away from the edge and sew.  I continue on till the half leaf shape is completely covered by fabric strips.  I used a basic 1/4 inch seam through out, but this is one part that the seam does not have to be exact.  And in a case like above, I trimmed away the excess of the fabric on bottom but that is not absolutely necessary.

I totally forgot to take a pic from the top of the piece...but as you can see, it looks a mess till trimmed.  I always prefer to lay on the cutting mat and trim with rotary cutter along the edge of the paper foundation.

Next I choose a fabric for the stem.  I want it a bit longer at the top especially, and I should have left more room at the tip than this shows.  I lay the fabric RIGHT SIDE UP and then place one leaf half RIGHT SIDE UP on the chosen fabric.

Again, use the rotary cutter and trim along the edge of the half leaf.  

Now, remove the paper from the back of the leaf and place the leaf and the stemfabric right sides together and take to sewing machine and sew using a quarter inch seam.  They look like they can never be sewn together but you just sew a few stitches and manipulate the fabric.

After sewing, use iron to press the fabric away from the leaf.  See how nice and flat it lays...

Then take the other half of the leaf and place on top of the stem fabric.   Remember both should be RIGHT SIDES UP.   I usually start at the wide part a bit over an inch wide and then angle it till it gets narrower.    I don't really know if anyone will try this, but if anyone does, if you make the vein too narrow there can be a mess with the seams being too close together.  I don't mind the little bit at the tip, but not sure if it could be made to press flat if it was that narrow all along the vein. 

 

Again, trim along edge of leaf half, remove paper, and place right sides together and take to sewing machine.

A new leaf is born!

Disappointment...

 We had to delay getting Lorelei.  Someone in her grade had tested positive for Covid.  We do not know if it is anyone she has had contact with.  I am not sure how many different classrooms there are for her grade, but there is a chance it is not someone she has contact with.  

She has been sending me pics...

Isn't Kitty Soft Paws beautiful...I think she is about the prettiest cat I ever saw.

This is funny to me...Kitty Soft Paws has so much fur, yet she is still choosing to lay in the sun.

On the other hand, if Rosie is resting, she wants in your lap or in a quilt or blanket.

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I had did some cooking earlier in the day  till I would not have to cook when we got home from getting Lorelei .  Then in the afternoon, I played a little bit with scraps of fabric. I don't really like that huge chunk of green on the tip on one side, but I was not changing it.

I think I will make a potholder with it, but that is not set in stone.  I just wanted to play with fabric a bit...and this was as far as I got in my thinking.  That is about it for now...

Pics of this and that...

 

We are really enjoying this hibiscus.  It does not have near as many blooms as the pink one.  But usually has one or two, and one day had four!

I am still have some beautiful coneflower blooms.  Love them!

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I have been cutting  2 1/2 inch squares from scraps and the triangles to go with them and played with a few the other day.  Roger really liked this block.  I have heard this block called different things, but my favorite is Sister's Choice.  I think if I should decide to make more, that I will try to not make it quite as scrappy as this.  Right at this present time, I still want to get the backing made for my current quilt top.

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My brother and his wife came down and spent the day yesterday...it had been a long time since we had seen each other to visit. 

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I got the gutter part of the front awning did today.  So glad to have it done.  Neighbors came over and set a while when they seen me sitting down for a few minutes.  We have hardly visited since Covid hit.

I had to put away the the ladder, the hose, and some tools I had had to use...and came in and was warming up leftover chili for our supper.  Lorelei texted, and wants to come spend the weekend.  What more could a person ask for!  We meet half way and get her so it is not very time consuming for either her mom or us.

I will leave you with something that will bring a smile to your heart.

The video I embedded can only be seen by watching it at youtube....if you want to watch it, it is HERE.  It is only about a minute long.