Tree of Imagination

I created this tree for another challenge but think it fits perfectly for this one.

It is a tree Alice might have seen as she journeyed through the rabbit hole.

I dyed and quilted the background, then created the tree in sections fusing and stitching the fabric onto Timtex (to make the pieces self supporting). I then used expanda paint, heated and distorted, and painted for texture. the tree limbs extend off the top and sides of the quilt. The tree measures 50"x24".

The leaves are shapes from many different trees, created by fusing 2 different fabrics (front and back) to both sides of aluminium then cut out and attached by stitching stems to the tree using a single bead on the front through to a bead on the back of the quilt for stability. Many of the leaves have synonyms for imagination written on them (fantasy, insight, creativity,ingenuity, idea etc.).

This little haiku is written on one leaf:

Brilliant Autumn Skies

Fractured Multicolored Leaves

The Mind's Butterflies

I love making trees and have made many different techniques and intend to create a new one for this challenge, although it will most likely be late. I am working under a deadline for another challenge and can't be late on it.This quilt measures 48"x22"

Comments very welcome and appreciated :-)

Cherie