Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop

I Think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast'
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Joyce Kilmer, Trees

Welcome to my day on the 

Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop





A big Thank You to Madame Sam at Sew We Quilt for making this hop happen and another Thank You to Cherry at Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio for being the head Cheerleader.  If you want to see all the blogs that have been involved during this hop the list is there.

Here is the list of everyone that is on board for today:



Now I believe the reason you showed up here today was to see what I have to share.  While you are here please take the time to have a look around.  This is my THIRD blog hop in a week and I have added several tutorials and pattern downloads that you might like to peek at.  Please leave a comment on them and let me know what you think about them.

I LOVE TREES!!!  Just in case you couldn't tell from the poem at the top of the post.  My living room is decorated with a tree and leaf theme.  I'll have to share some pictures of that soon.  My favorite quilt that I have made is of a tree.  Here, I'll share a picture of it.




Oak at Sunrise


So when I saw this hop was open I quickly signed up to participate.  I even had an idea of what I wanted to do.  This the design that I drew and stitched out to test it before putting it on a customer's quilt a few years ago.  I played with it and changed it a little but I still had all my design work.

Here's one of my design sheets.


Original Design for Longarm Stitching

Here are the samples I stitched out back then.  I had to see if it would work.



Stitched Samples



A  Closer Look


Planning to Make Pillows from These

I traced the leaves onto fusible webbing.  I used a couple of sheets.  Then ironed them to some of my favorite fabrics, batiks of course, and cut them out.



Traced Leaves

Then I pulled out a 12" pieced of graph paper and played with the placement for a while.



How Many Will Fit on a 12" Block? 

I tried out several backgrounds, made a decision and then I ironed them on.  I had thought I would use a lighter background but the leaves just looked kinda plain.  I love for my quilt projects to have a sparkle and the black did that.



Ready to Stitch

Stitching adds a lot don't you think?


Variegated Cotton 50 Weight Thread

These were all cut from the same fabric.  Looked like a leaf to me!



Oak Leaf Wreath

I'll probably add veins in the leaves when it's quilted.
You didn't think I could stop with one did you?


A Different Look


I chose a different batik and a different arrangement more like the stitched ones.  I added some acorns that I freehand cut because the center looked empty.


Rayon Twist Thread


Oak Leaf and Acorn Dance



Use a Stabilizer

Tip for Machine Applique:  Use a good tear away stabilizer.  This is my favorite because if you can't get it all out it becomes soft after washing.  Leaving it behind the leaves will give a slight trapunto effect.



RinseAway by HTC  Leaving it behind the Leaves will add Dimension 


Now how about a Giveaway Or THREE.  This one will be open until Midnight, October 20th.
This will give some of you who are late to the party a chance or two to win too!



Three Drawings


Just leave a comment about what you like about trees or leaves or my blog.
For a SECOND Chance be follower of my blog, new or old, and leave a second comment saying that you are.  I'll draw for THREE winners.  One for each pattern.  The two on the edges are paper pieced.

Linking with Freshly Pieced

137 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your process from stitch pattern to applique pattern. They are all wonderful

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  2. Hi!!! Love all of your leaves!!! Your fabric looks just like leaves!!! Thanks for all the fun!!!!

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  3. What's not to like about trees. Little boys climb them. Little girls have tea parties beneath them and all the grownups gaze at them and know the joys of color hiding in their leaves. Thanks for sharing your block and the giveaway.

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  4. Love your blocks, the batiks are just perfect for the leaves and your little acorns are the perfect addition.

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  5. I love your leaves. Call me crazy, but I think your samples will make excellent pillows. Great shapes! Your fabric is really fally. I like it, I really like it!

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  6. Oooh these look stunning - I love the material you have used, looks like they dont need veins as they already have them! The thing I like most about the leaves is running through a huge pile of them with my two boys - such fun! Thanks for sharing and the chance to win such a fabulous giveaway.

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  7. Your leaves are amazing. The batik really does work so well with the leaves. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. Wow! I love your oak leaves - and the colours you used are just perfect! Our oaks haven't started to change much yet but they're one of my favourite trees!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  9. Batiks and leaves, a good mix. Your maple leaves are superb!

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  10. Oh, what beautiful work. You are a great designer! I love the tree quilt. Thank you taking time to show the process. The fabrics are perfect for the projects. I like the blog hop. It shows the diversity of the different folks. Instead of being envious of others' abilities, it gives each of us the chance to embrace others' talents and applaud their uniqueness and admire the workmanship and creativity. Some of us can put some of the projects on our to-do lists and then some of us know some of the projects just do not belong on our lists and we can admire them from afar. Quilters are very generous in sharing their work. Thank you very much for taking time in this busy world for taking time to participate and share your creativity.

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  11. Your oak leaves are wonderful and in beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing
    Britt-Inger in Malmö Sweden

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  12. Fabulous projects.I love the tree quilt,it caught my eye since I saw it.Thanks for sharing your applique process!!

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  13. Your blocks for the hop are great! And that tree quilt is awesome!

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  14. Your block is beautiful. That is a lot of work. Nice give away. marlaruthnelson@gmail.com

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  15. I am a new follower of your blog. Nice work.

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  16. I love this post! Loved learning and love that you shared a post on how to do something from an idea you had on your own to making it come to be. I didn't know about adding the stabilizer on the back, and seeing you post that is an important learning step for me to see. I hope to see more posts that have steps like that in them, and that is why I joined your blog.

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  17. Your leaves are gorgeous! Nice work.

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  18. I am going out on a Limb here! Haha.....Trees protect us, shade us and wrap thier arms around us. And all of them are as unique as we are. What is there NOT to Love about Trees? Doesn't that feel like Quilter Friends too? Loved your post and since I am now lucky enough to find and following you. I look forward to future posts.

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  19. Your leaves are truly stunning, thanks for sharing...leaves in nature often come in those same shades around here and yours are just as beautiful :)

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  20. I love your blocks, your quilting is sensational.
    I like trees, especially big trees because you know they've been standing there for decades or even centuries. I like to wonder what they've seen! I live in Nottingham where we have the famous Major Oak, though it's not as old as people like to think!

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  21. Beautiful! Just beautiful! I love your fabric choices and how the make the leaves pop.
    xx

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  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  23. Patricia, I love your leaves -- batiks just really make the fall foliage I think!! Great job! :)

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  24. These are lovely - thanks for sharing you wonderful work.

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  25. You had me from the poem on down! I love that poem and trees are one of my favorite things! Your blocks are wonderful and I love the quilting pattern of the leaves too. Your tree quilt is amazing! I like how you use the mottled fabric to make the clusters of leaves. Great job on all!
    hulseybg@gmail.com

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  26. Love your post today. Very informative! I love trees for their coverage on a hot day and the dappled sunlight that peeks (sp) through them.
    Thanks for sharing :)

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  27. hulseybg@gmail.com
    I'm already a follower!

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  28. We had to memorize that poem in grade school -- takes me back to that one-room classroom, lol! Your oak blocks are absolutely stunning! I love trees, too, for their shade, color and movement. And I love acorns - we use the caps as little hats for the pipe-cleaner men that my grandchildren and I play with!

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  29. I love batiks and the one you chose was absolutely perfect for your beautiful leaves! Great job! I love your blocks!

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  30. I'm a new follower, by the way!

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  31. Your Batik blocks are gorgeous and inspiring me to take another look at my Batik stash. The oak tree is my absolute favorite and I would love to make that for my new sewing room - Shade Tree Quilting. Thank you so much for participating and providing your wonderful tutorial. Judy C in NC

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  32. I signed up to follow so I can track your creations, Judy C in NC

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  33. Your tree is gorgeous! I remember that poem from middle school or one very close.

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  34. yes again, you capture my senses...lovely lovely lovely ...

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  35. Beautiful leaves! Love all the details and pretty fabric choices in your blocks! Thanks for sharing.

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  36. Oak at Sunrise is gorgeous! I like your leaves blocks, too. I love the leaves changing colors in the fall.

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  37. I looked around your blog and liked what I saw - Dr. Whoot is cute! I'm a new follower.

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  38. What fabulous blocks! Love how you "quilted" the leaves and then the oak leaves in a wreath! Beautiful! I love that each species of trees has different leaves - just imagine the gazillions of leaves EVERY year! We have a ginko tree in our yard - what beautiful fans!!! Now all the change in color - fabulous!! Thanks for sharing and the chance to win!

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  39. I'm a follower! Thanks again for the chance to win!!

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  40. When I was in elementary school I memorized that poem and recited it at the May Day Celebration - I still love it. Your tree quilt is stunning and I love your leaf wreaths. blessings, marlene

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  41. I love your leaves.....the fabrics are perfect.....I think the tree quilt is stunning......

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  42. I am a follower and have been for a while.....

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  43. Your leaf projects are gorgeous! I love having 4 seasons to enjoy in northern MN and fall is the most colorful one... the only sad thing is that it is far too short.

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  44. Your quilt is beautiful! Thanks for sharing the poem.

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  45. Oh my Patricia, I so enjoyed your leafy poem. Put me in the autumn mood today after being sick in a hotel room for two days. To beautiful to be indoors here in Galveston on a trip with my WDH. Lovely leafy block and and I have to try the 50wt thread. Maybe I will find some at the IQF-Houston. Thanks for sharing today. I have enjoyed my visits. Judith, Texas

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  46. Beautiful leaf projects Patricia and the fabrics you choose are perfect! Thanks so much!

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  47. Your projects are beautiful. After the hot dry summer we had I didn't think the leafs would be as colorful as they are. Thanks for sharing your blocks with us.

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  48. I love the circle of leaves. Fall and the colors of the leaves makes my heart happy!

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  49. I really love the batiks you used in the fall leaves. The appliques are beautiful. I enjoy the changing of the colors each year and the crispness in the air.

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  50. I love that poem too! Your oak leaves are sew lovely! There is nothing bad and only everything good about trees. I am reminded of a story I love called "The Giving Tree."

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  51. Wow! Three blog hops, you've really have been busy! Love your Oak at Sunset and your Oak Leaf Wreath. Beautiful job. From California, thanks for sharing.

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  52. Great designs using oak leaves! Beautiful fabric choices make your block gorgeous. Love them!

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  53. I LOVE Autumn leaves-- for many reasons.. Fall leaves always remind me of the Autumn arts and crafts we made in Elementary school-- every year, when October arrived, we create some sort of craft either using real leaves or depicting them in some artistic way-- and from a very early age, those beautiful rich colors always appealed to me... Also, as a young child, my sisters and I had the most fun on those Fall afternoons after school-- playing in the big piles of crunchy pecan leaves that covered our back yard.. We'd run and JUMP into those piles.. or rake them into the lines of our "play house"-- always fun, and then we'd get to help Dad burn them.. Now that I'm grown, I dont' play in the leaves anymore.. ;) , but my husband and I make an annual trip to the mountains every October. When the leaves are turning, the mountains literally glow with breathtaking hues of amber, orange and red... Incredible beauty!!!

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  54. I am a follower. And I hope that I am one of your lucky followers in this giveaway ( ;-) ) because those prizes are WONDERFUL!! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

    I also wanted to tell you that your blocks are SO beautiful!! I especially love the wreath of leaves on the black background! It is stunning!

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  55. I love your batik blocks! They have all my favorite Fall colors. Thanks for hosting!

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  56. My favourite memory about leaves would be as a youngster making the houses in the playground out of them. Creating rooms with leaf walls and all the girls playing house. Lots of giggling! :)
    Thank you for the chance

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  57. I am blown away by the tree in the first frame, it is so beautiful as is all your work.
    Therefore, I have become a follower ;O)

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  58. I love trees, and am always so disappointed when people cut them down. The thing I love most about trees is how everyone needs them, including humans, animals, birds, the earth, everything. Thanks. Vivian

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  59. I love trees and leaves of any kind. Your's are perfect for the fall and so colorful....thanks for sharing

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  60. I love the leaves quilting :) very pretty!

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  61. Beautiful tree and the leaves are wonderful too.

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  62. I love the tree block. Looks like it has some pretty metallic fabrics too, or maybe the threads. The leaves are gorgeous too.

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  63. I love the shapes and colours of the leaves and the bark. Thay are al so different. Thanks for the opportunity on the draw
    bonnielarson58@gmail.com

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  64. I am an existing follower. Thanks for the opportunity
    bonnielarson58@gmail.com

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  65. Love how crisp the oak leaves look. Wonderful blocks, and pics! Thanks for sharing.

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  66. I like tree houses. We used to have a peach tree in our backyard growing up and my brother made theis awesome tree house in it.

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  67. Such lovely leaves. The acorns are a great touch. Black was the perfect background to make your colors pop. Thanks for the tut and the opportunity to win.

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  68. I am a follower. I love sitting under a tree, on a swing preferably, reading a book...or a blog.

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  69. I love both the tree and the leaves..... Love the quilted leaves.

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  70. The tree is beautiful, but the leaves are also. I just love those color changes in the leaves !!!! Thanks for the give away.

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  71. To me, fall is my favorite season. I just love watching the leaves displaying their fabulous colors!

    I'm off to discover your blog!

    Thanks for the giveaway

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  72. I am a happy NEW follower of yours.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  73. Wow I really love your leafs out of the batik. I love your ideas. Your tree block is just beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  74. Well your blocks certainly are very creative. Love how you did them. I love trees and live in the woods. Please don't enter me in the giveaway.

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  75. Beautiful! Thanks for showing us the steps! I love your tree quilt! You are very talented! Thanks for participating & inspiring us today!

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  76. I'm following! Thanks for the chance to win!!

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  77. Your leaves are just fantastic...I love those fabrics. Thank you for the giveaway. I hope I am lucky.

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  78. Beautiful leaf blocks! What I love about trees is they are constantly changing. Every day they give you a new look. Thank you for sharing and the great giveaway.

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  79. I love your leaves! They do look just like autumn leaves! Great job on the tutorial too...now we all know how to make them :) I love to look at the mountains, covered in pines, firs and cedar trees - up high there are hidden valleys with birch, aspen and sumac with their leaves red and orange, looking like fire on the mountains. Thank you for the opportunity to win one of your lovely patterns!

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  80. Rosemary B here: I am following because your blog is great!!

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  81. Rosemary B here:
    Love your applique leaves, Your projects turned out so beautiful!
    My favorite thing about Fall is the leaves changing color and falling everywhere

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  82. What beautiful leaves...love the batiks you chose! TFS

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  83. I'm a new follower...look forward to seeing more of your beautiful work!

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  84. I remember memorizing that poem in school lol! I love trees and especially oak trees , so majestic .I loved your blocks and those batiks are perfect !!I am a follower , thanks for the chance to win one of these patterns.

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  85. Love the oak leaves. Is it okay if I use your designs? I love to paper piece.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  86. What beautiful oak leaves and thanks for showing us how you did it I love that poem even here in Canada we learnt it in grade 7 and also had to memorize.

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  87. Your block is gorgeous! Adding the acorns was the perfect touch. I like watching the trees change through the seasons. I appreciate all the colors from spring green to true greens and into the colors of fall. Thanks for sharing and for the chance at your giveaway.

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  88. I am a follower. Thanks for the second chance.

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  89. I just loved your oak leaf treet. The oak leaf wreath just popped, it was like the sun was shinging through the leaf.

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  90. Love trees, for shade and rustling leaves and homes for birds. Oak leaves and acorns shapes are my favorite leaf.
    Thanks for such gorgeous oak leaves.

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  91. I am a follower, love your tutorial on ironing seams

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  92. I am a follower. I remembered your Oak at Sunrise from before. I love it, too.

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  93. I love the shade that comes with a tree. I love the way the wind plays with the branches and how when it does, there is that amazing rustle. I love the smell of leaves in the spring and the fall. I love that I have an abundance of leaves for the grandkids to play and jump in. I love that I can fill my compost bins with leaves in the fall for use next year and I can use those leaves for mulch, too. Oh, dear, looks like I've gotten a bit(LOTS) wordy!!! :) I just love trees.

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  94. Oooo, lovely tree and leaves! They are absolutely beautiful. :O)

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  95. I love the realistic look of your leaves. Great choice of fabrics. They really say "Fall".

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  96. I like your entire blog, love what you did for the Leafs Me Happy blog hop. Are your drawings for sharing? Thanks for sharing your beautiful finished product.

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  97. The Bare Roots pattern is my favorite, just sayin' LOL Thanks and My giveaway is still going on over @ The Learning Curve, http://jeannegwin.blogspot.com/2012/10/leafs-me-happy-day-3.html Come one - Come all and enter to win 6 FQ's of fall-ish fabric, you have until midnight Wed, October 10 CST to enter.

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  98. Love your blocks. The black background really does make the colours pop.

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  99. Wow. I love the poem and your blocks! I am so glad you decided to share them with us - they are awesome :o)

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  100. Beautiful just beautiful ..... just in aw of your blocks and talent.
    What I love about trees ... the shade the look the texture of the bark and leaves the smell ....etc just love them and at this time of year they can even look spooky
    thanks for sharing sew much
    in stitches

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  101. Love the leaf wreath. It is awesome!!

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  102. Las hojas son ideales para el otoño además quedan muy bonitas.

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  103. Soy nueva seguidora para poder ver todo lo que nos quieras enseñar. Gracias por la oportunidad.

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  104. I love your appliqués leaves. Your fabric really looks like leaves.

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  105. I love trees too. Your poem is one of the first I learned by heart when I was a child, and taught my children when they were young. I love watching the first buds appear on the trees in the spring; watching them leaf out, and then change colour in the fall and carpet the ground. There are few things more beautiful in my eyes than a tree in the winter, with snow nestled in its branches.

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  106. I am a follower and love your blog! Thank you for sharing all your leaves with us and the chance to win.

    Sincerely,
    Tricia

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  107. You are such a lady after my own heart... I love Oak Trees. They have a special place in my heart. I feel like there are my guardians and I always find peace under them in any mood. I'm always looking for Oakleaf/Acorn patterns be it in fabric, applique or stitchery. Thank You Very much on bringing more Oak Leaf patterns to light. They will find special places in my home.
    Thank you for the chance to win also.

    Sincerely,
    Tricia

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  108. Great leaf blocks. Love the black background.

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  109. Your leaf blocks are beautiful in batiks! The black background really makes them pop.

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  110. I'm a new follower. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  111. Hiya Patricia! I love trees---all kinds!!! And the leaves, such an assortment of shapes. I especially love ginko leaves. There's a hospital near me that has several ginko trees on the grounds, and I love to go collect the leaves in the fall. They turn the most wonderful color of gold. I guess you'd compare them to aspen leaves in color. Love your applique leaves, so pretty in the batiks. Thank you for sharing your lovely work with us and for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!!

    playamom57 at yahoo dot com

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  112. Hiya Patricia! I am a new follower. Thanks for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!!

    playamom57 at yahoo dot com

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  113. You have been busy with all your blog hops, that is for sure! Love your leaf design and all the ways you used it. My favorite was the red with the acorns!

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  114. what lovely work! thank you for the inspiration!

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  115. What a great show of beautiful blocks! Thanks for sharing your designs!

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  116. I love the look of applique, and your leaves and acorns and trees are great! I'm not brave enough to try it yet, but one of these days...

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  117. Beautiful Blocks and the Oak Tree is one I must do-it's great!!

    I enjoy sketching trees, especially Oak trees.
    Their shape is always so amazing!
    Their huge expanse and their branches raised toward the sky. Sometimes they looking like arms waving at me.

    Thank you so much for the giveaway, it's kind of you to share.
    Shirley

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  118. I have been enjoying your website for a short time. Today I made the official step and signed up to follow you!

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  119. Your blocks are gorgeous. I love all the work you shared!!

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