One of the best things about designing is, there is a lot of opportunity to let your imagination run wild. Once you start with an idea, it keeps being built on, tried, adjusted and built on again. This is true for designing and creating in all sorts of ways, not just quilting.... and it is the most fun way to come to the finished project no matter what you are creating.
Let's take a deeper look at my Ginkgo Garden quilt and perhaps one of my original design ideas might inspire you to add a different look to your Ginkgo Garden quilt.
Before I show you some examples, let me mention that you can take any simple shape and create something amazing.... and it is, all possible with applique (now you know why I love applique). Sometimes piecing is a little more tricky but usually achievable using paper piecing.
On with the pattern... I came up with multiple ideas just playing around with the leaves. I could have positioned them in any way, adjusted the size, used a single fabric, used one size or multiple sizes, and used any amount of leaves per block as you see below.
Shows the leaves with the points outward
A trail of leaves - one large and two small
A trail of leaves all the same size
Leaves with points inward where one has fallen away or turn it around, remove the extra and create a four leaf clover
Something worthy of keeping in mind, and odd number usually looks better than an even number however the idea above to turn it into a four leaf clover is very acceptable. Or consider 4 or 6 leaves in various sizes where odd numbers are used for each size....
Four leaves, one larger than the other three
Six leaves, alternating in size - this is one of my favorite ideas!
Another thought.... I could have transformed the leaves into a flower instead by connecting the centers and adding either an embroidered center or an appliqued one.
Leaves turned into petals with a center to make it into a flower
I love making these embroidered centers by machine. You can embroider them around an applique section or without. I used this technique for my Anemone block below.
Embroidered center of Anemone flower
Another thought was to use applique leaves around the border.... actually, I've included this idea in the pattern with tips and ideas on how to create a continuous stitching line.
Perhaps you have other thoughts and ideas for this leaf design, I'd love to hear what they might be or which is your favorite idea above.... leave me a message in the comments below.
