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Leaf Table Runner

This summer our younger son was invited to be a part of People to People’s trip for middle school kids to Australia!  The kids are apparently nominated by teachers, school staff, even other “alumni” of the program.  We don’t know who nominated Eli, but are thrilled he was able to go.  As part of the trip, the kids stay with a family for two nights and typically take a gift from their home state.  Eli took some Maine honey and Maine maple syrup, but we thought we’d add a special something:  a quilted piece made by Eli and me.

The finished piece. Aqua hand-dyed fabric by me, gold/green leaf prints by Eli and me, quilting in green by me (mom)

Eli picked the leaves from our land in Hope, we printed the fabric together, then I quilted the piece.

The wall-hanging/table-runner while being quilted

Originally, I thought this could be a table runner, but despite heat-setting the Jacquard Lumiere paint when I did a test rinse and dry (I like to wash to-be-used gifts so folks aren’t upset by the change from never-washed to the way a quilt looks after washing), some of the paint came off.  Wonder if I didn’t heat-set enough?  Anyway, it still looked nice….and in looking at the before and after washing pictures, maybe it didn’t lose as much paint as I initially thought.

Sewing down the binding by machine; I first stitch the binding to the back, then turn to the front. The wooden thingy is (I think) a cuticle stick; it was included to help piece a John Flynn miniatures kit, and it works even better than a skewer in some instances because of the blunt tip. I will now be recommending this tool along with the skewer to my students.

A close up of the bottom right corner; for some reason, the thread looks red in this photo...it is actually green!

Close-up, center left

9 Responses to “Leaf Table Runner”

  1. Jean from the Janome 7700 list Says:

    I love the leaves! It’s amazing how something so simple can be so beautiful. Tell Eli it’s beautiful!

    Love it!

  2. Judy Warner Says:

    Eli’s host family should be delighted!

  3. JACQUIE Says:

    You and Eli did a great job. How did his host family like it?

  4. Vicki W Says:

    Oh, what a cool project and gift!

  5. Linda Moran Says:

    Gorgeous, and what a great idea! I love your leaves!

  6. Betty Johnson Says:

    Sarah and Eli–your runner is beautiful. I’m sure the host family was delighted.

  7. Linda Moran Says:

    Oooh, Sarah, interesting idea on the leaves out here in AZ, but I just truly miss the roundness of the east. This design would work really well with cactus shapes (gazillions)…..need me to send along a few??

  8. Sarah Ann Smith Says:

    Thank you Betty! They were…hope to see you at the sept. meeting, Sarah

  9. Maggie Szafranski Says:

    I love the leaves! Great job, and I know Eli’s “family” loved it!