Sunflowers, fuschia, coneflowers, black-eyes susans, painted daisies, tulips, lilies, zinnias and pansies are some examples of fabric flowers I have created, as well as tended in my gardens over the years. Fabric flowers offer a fabulous opportunity to play with color and textures to create a single bloom or a bouquet in a realistic or whimsical style.
Gardening and flowers have been a big part of my life for over 45 years now. The gardens on the estate we lived/worked on and our own land reconnected me to the earth through growing our food. My first ever-expanding perennial garden grew and grew because I didn’t want to mow the lawn at my house.
Two of the perennial beds at my current home.
Here in Vermont I have slowly converted a chunk of my lawn to perennial beds, a “foster garden” and a row of elderberries. Most of the FLOWER POWER collection is inspired from photographs of my own flowers.
Sometimes I have to chuckle at how that young city girl who rode her bike in the alley, played stoop ball off the building steps into the street, and lived in apartments ended up with her soul and feet deeply connected to the earth.
Fabric Flowers
Early on in my fabric art journey I took an online FLOWER POWER class from Quilt University. I learned how to make flowers in different ways: “the free form collage method, quick and easy fusible applique, the complexity of freezer paper and upside down applique.” I created a tulip, black eyed susans, a coneflower, and an abstract flower in that class. Then, just like my in-the-soil flower garden, the flower art grew and grew.
From an exhibit in Manchester, Vermont
I found the “sandwich” method (below) to be one of my favorite techniques. After cutting out the petals and leaves, a piece of tulle is placed over the whole piece. The leaves are sewn using the blanket stitch while either free-motion quilting or zig-zag stitch holds the “flower sandwich” together. Thread painting (free motion quilting) provides texture to the stems or petals.
What I enjoy about this way of creating flowers is that it brings one back to drawing as a child. The petals are misshapen, the width of the stems uneven, and the leaves look like a triangle with curved edges. And best of all, there is no way to make a mistake. It WILL look like a flower.
Painted daisies with batik material for leaves, the simulate the fern-like texture of the leaves
Sunflowers are a staple at Evening Song Farm. Besides being Kara’s favorite flower, they tower above the perennial garden as well as frame the borders of the CSA Pick-Your-Own garden.
The fabric sunflowers require just some in-and-out cuts to create the petals, semi-circular inner petals, thin strips for the stems and a shrub shape for the leaves. Free-motion quilting holds the flowers down; my “staple” blanket stitch anchors the leaves and stems. You could also use a zig-zag or satin stitch.
Sometimes the fabric I have guides me in the direction of a creation. Below, the background fabric called for a hanging plant. Fuschias used to be one of my mother’s favorites, plus I had this amazing piece of fabric with pinks, magenta, and purples splotched here and there.
Fuschias at the exhibit in Manchester, Vermont
Can you believe that, besides the background, only two other materials were used? Again, that is one of the special benefits of using batik fabric. There always are so many colors and/or hues in one piece you pick up. A simple zig-zag stitch created the stems. A while after the piece was finished, I felt the leaves were too flat, so out came the fabric paint sticks to create veins.
Flowers Through the Seasons – A WIP (work in progress)
This basket of flowers began years ago. At some point, I put it aside as it just wasn’t “grabbing” me. Recently, it emerged and is in the queue of bigger works to finish in 2022/ early 2023.
Starting with the early spring flowers of daffodils and pansies, this piece moves into the warmth of the later spring/ early summer blossoms. The lilies have thread painted pistils and stamens; the irises are awaiting theirs. The approaching autumn air leaves behind summer’s black-eyed susans and coneflowers. The long lasting sunflowers (top right- just the tips shown in this photo) transition well through the waning warmth of summer to those crisp autumn mornings. These are followed by the brilliance of the winter poinsettia.
Some of the stems have fallen off, more leaves need to be added and a lot of thread painting is still on the horizon. I can once again see the potential in this piece. Hopefully, I will finish it sometime this summer …. or fall … and there’s always winter.
Summer Reflections
While living in Vermont somewhat limits the growing season, I treasure those moments of gardening, either for myself or others. There’s something about just watching the bees light on the catmint after a rain or see a butterfly light on the Joe Pye Weed that warms my heart.
Whether you find joy from flowers through plants grown by you or a neighbor or through ones you create from fabric, I hope that inspires you to take a step in caring for our planet.