Autumn Leaf Wallhangings

This last Saturday, our guild had a class wherein we were supposed to bring leaves and black fabric.  We discharged the black fabric using a solution of 50/50 bleach/water and a spray bottle.  The original leaves were placed on the fabric in whatever pattern we chose and held down with tiny rocks.  As soon as the fabric was sprayed, the leaves were removed and we watched the color leach from the fabric.  When satisfied, the fabric went into a "stop bath" (1 part hydrogen peroxide to 8 parts water) for a few minutes, then clear water rinse.

The next step was to iron the fabric until it was dry (if you were at home, you could just let it air dry) and then trace the leaves we'd used for discarging on Steam-a-Seam for a pattern.  That pattern goes on the fabric of choice--usually fall-colored batiks--and then you cut around the leaf.  Finally, you press the leaves onto the discharged fabric after deciding which way you want your shadow to go.

My first attempt was with this huge leaf.  I chose the easy way out and made two small "quilts."  This one used the large leaf...

And this one used several. 

Here's a close-up of the leaf so you can see how its supposed to appear to float above its shadow. 

I got home that afternoon, put a border around the black fabric, threw some muslin on the machine and did this really simple quilted design.  Feels good to actually have something so close to being done!