OK Boop, to answer your questions I will start with the one on the blueberries.    The blueberries are first appliqued down 3/4 of the way around each one and then I stop and park my needle, take some polyfil stuffing (just a whisper) and then gently stuff.  I don’t want to stuff too firmly or it will end up being hugely distorted when I quilt due to the added bulk of the batting.    Then I finish stitching around the circle and end off my thread.

Each berry is individually stuffed while appliqued, and then the embroidery detail is added.

 The embroidery on the blueberries consists of two straight stitches forming an “x” and then a french knot in the center of the “x”.

The Blackberries

I also did the same stuffing technique for the blackberries. 

A side note, I had eye surgery and did these only with the use of my right eye.  Hand applique can be done with a handicap. 

 

each little berry is hand appliqued and stuffed individually

The only embroidery on the little individual berries is a single small straight stitch.  Basically just a single tacking stitch to create the “pucker”.  The little leaves (my brain is going blank on the correct term right now due to a severe lack of coffee) are created by needle weaving. 

Needlewoven sepals(?)

I will try and tackle more questions for you Boop on the American Still Life quilt as I can.  I am facing down a deadline that is looking like many late nights and long days.

©2009 Sandra Leichner