Stitching on Leaves - Day 1 Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

 

Sea Grape Leaves

After purchasing a small plant I wanted to see how I could use the fibers from the plant in a creative way.

Sea Grapes is also known as (Coccoloba uvifera) and is a coastal plant growing in the Caribbean and America.  You find it mostly growing on the beach in Barbados and many plant it in their gardens as it makes a great feature.  Various parts of the plant has been used in traditional medicine.

Fruit - The plant produces fruit which can be eaten raw or processed into wine or jam.

Leaves/bark and roots have been used in different aspects of traditional medicine for a variety of ailments. 

Stitching on Leaves

The beauty of slow stitching meets the organic textures of nature. Today, I’m exploring embroidery on sea grape leaves, creating delicate designs that highlight the natural veins and curves of the leaf. It is a beautiful surface to work on.

The combination of thread and leaf fibers adds a unique textural contrast. I mostly use a straight stitch of varying lengths, French knot, and I enjoy creating different patterns with the stitches.  I also experiment with the leaves from a variety of the Trumpet Tree

Check back tomorrow to see how crochet transforms the leaves!

Want to Learn How to Create with Leaves?

If you’re curious about working with dried leaves as an artistic surface, I teach techniques that allow you to incorporate them into your own projects. My Leaf Art Course covers everything from preparation to design, giving you the tools to explore this unique medium with confidence.

Sign up before February 15th to take advantage of the discounted price! 

Learn More and Enroll Today!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next featured design in this exciting week of leaf art exploration!

CHECK OUT THE LEAF ARTS COURSE HERE

Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art: A Fusion of Nature and Creativity

 

Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art: A Fusion of Nature and Creativity

Nature has always been a source of inspiration for my creative practice, and working with sea grape leaves allows me to blend mixed media techniques with the organic beauty of the natural world. In this piece, I combine fiber arts and wood burning to highlight the rich textures and colors of dried leaves, transforming them into a unique canvas for artistic expression.

Join Me for a Week of Leaf Art Creations!

Starting tomorrow, I will be sharing a new design each day, showcasing how I use sea grape leaves in my work—whether through sewing, crocheting, weaving, or woodburning. These delicate yet sturdy leaves offer an incredible surface for creativity, and I can’t wait to show you what I’ve been working on!

Want to Learn How to Create with Leaves?

If you’re curious about working with dried leaves as an artistic surface, I teach techniques that allow you to incorporate them into your own projects. My Leaf Art Course covers everything from preparation to design, giving you the tools to explore this unique medium with confidence.

Sign up before February 15th to take advantage of the discounted price! 

Learn More and Enroll Today!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next featured design in this exciting week of leaf art exploration!

CHECK OUT THE LEAF ARTS COURSE HERE

Self-Love, Faces and Second Saturday Art

 

The Magic of Background Papers in Your Art Journal

Art journaling is a powerful way to express yourself creatively, and one of the best tools you can use to elevate your pages is background papers. These textured, layered, and beautifully designed papers provide a ready-made foundation that can inspire and enhance your artwork. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just beginning your creative journey, background papers can add depth, texture, and storytelling elements to your pages with ease.

Why Use Background Papers?

1. Instant Inspiration – A well-crafted background paper can spark ideas for your art journal pages, helping you bypass creative blocks and dive right into making art.

2. Depth and Texture – These papers often feature layers of paint, ink, collage, and patterns that create visual interest, making your pages look more complex with minimal effort.

3. Time-Saving – Instead of starting from a blank page, you have a rich, pre-designed surface to build upon, allowing you to focus on your focal elements, journaling, and embellishments.

4. Versatility – Background papers can be used in mixed media projects, collages, altered books, and scrapbooking, making them an invaluable addition to your creative toolkit.

Background papers used to decorate a box

How to Incorporate Background Papers in Your Art Journal and Creative Projects

• Layering – Use them as a base layer and add paint, stencils, and stamps for additional depth.

• Cut and Collage – Cut out specific sections to create borders, focal points, or collage elements.

• Writing Surface – Use muted background papers as a beautiful space for handwritten thoughts, quotes, or affirmations.

• Torn Edges – Tear pieces to add an organic, textured look to your pages.

• Images - Creating an image on the papers

Join #SecondSaturdayArt for Creative Inspiration

Every Second Saturday on my YouTube, I share my creative process using one of my background papers. As part of this video hop, you can explore how the other artists bring their unique styles to life with their creative techniques each month, which will provide you with fresh ideas.  Join me on the Channel.

Get Your Free Background Papers!

If you'd like to start incorporating background papers into your art journaling, I have a special gift for you! You can download a monthly set on my Free Patreon tier and begin exploring the magic of background layers today.

🔗 Get your free background papers here!

Let’s create something beautiful together! Have you used background papers in your art journal or creative projects? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

Transforming Nature into Art - Leaf Arts Course

 Transforming Nature into Art - Leaf Arts Online Course

I am pleased to share my latest online course working creatively on dried leaves.

Leaf Arts - Transforming Nature into Art is a course that takes you through all the creative stages of working on your dried leaves.

Weaving on leaves

We take our time to slow stitch, weave, crochet, paint and create some amazing wood burning effects on the surface of the leaves. It is available at a discounted price until the 15th February, check out the course and see what you think. 

Slow Stitching on Leaves

There are also a range of bonuses for you to access on the course.

Burning Designs onto leaves

I am looking forward to welcoming you into the course community.

Check out the course HERE