Just Add a Little Serendipity

I had the opportunity to try Botanical Printing at a friend's this week. We used certain leaves that have a high tannin content and water that had a high iron content to print on silk and wool. Leaves are arranged on the prepared fabrics, tightly rolled, and then steamed for a couple of hours. It was a ton of fun and so interesting to see what the result would be since there is a fair amount of serendipity involved.

Completed Silk Scarf

Close-up of Printing

While we were waiting for the bundles to steam we made felted bracelets using wool roving.

So Pretty!

Take-A-Stitch-Tuesday

Lock Stitch

Chevron Stitch

Weekly Diva Challenge

This week's challenge was to "Get Straight To It" or in other words use only straight lines for your tangles.

Tangles Used: Tipple (squares though), Carres, Xplode,
Miander, Nekton, Meer, Kathy's Dilemma, Screen
String Used: Hollibaugh

Re-finding the Zen

I finally processed my pictures from our New Orleans trip. I didn't take as many as usual probably because we had been there before so I already have lots of great shots of wrought iron balconies and shotgun houses. But here are a few selected for your viewing pleasure.

This was hanging in our hotel. Very Zen I think!

We walked around the Sculpture Garden in City Park. There are pieces by artists from all around the world. This one really struck my fancy.

Karma, 2011 by Do-Ho Suh

At the Botanical Gardens in City Park

We went to the Whitney Plantation which opened in 2014. This plantation is dedicated to telling the story of the enslaved peoples.

Sculptures by Woodrow Nash representing
 some of the enslaved children

At the beginning of the tour each person was given a lanyard with a picture of one of the Children's Sculptures on it. Some of the children were interviewed as adults as part of the WPA program created by then President Franklin Roosevelt. Portions of these are on the backs of the lanyards.

This is a beautiful and heartbreaking piece by Rod Moorhead
 in the Field of Angels

The museum is well thought out and the docent was incredibly knowledgeable. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants a better understanding of this country and how it started.

Fun Fiesta at the San Francisco airport

Take-a-Stitch Tuesday

I got a week behind on these but caught up this week.

TAST 54 - Knotted Buttonhole Band

TAST 4 - Cretan Stitch

TAST 55 - Up and Down Buttonhole

TAST 5 - Herringbone Stitch

Weekly Diva Challenge

This week's challenge was to go back to basics and doodle for the sake of doodling...find your zen!

Tangles Used: Gravee, StarMaps, Printemps, and Nzeppel,

I did this while listening to a SF Giants game last night. They lost in the end but I had a great time getting into the zone and doing this.

What Was I Thinking?

OK. It's official. Cricket Brain has taken over my life! I have allowed myself to get caught up in way too many projects/classes/workshops. As a result not everything is getting done in a timely manner. Sigh. So many art projects, so little time!

I did finish my first Madhubani tile. Fairly basic compared to the beautiful samples you can see on-line but very fun to do.

Painted on a small wooden tile using acrylic paints

The only other thing I have completed this week is the Diva Challenge which was to do a monotangle using Tripoli. This isn't a tangle I use but I think I have made piece with it so may use it in the future.

Tangle Used: Tripoli

Does anyone else see a very odd lamp when looking at this?!

Alright, off to herd crickets ;)

Why Do Short Weeks Seem So Long?

After a very long day of airports and delays we finally made it home from New Orleans on Monday. I haven't had much time to process pictures but I thought this one of some floor tiles at the Botanical Gardens in City Park was fun.

Lots of great patterns here!

Tuesday I started a class in Madhubani Painting taking place at the local Adult Education Center. There are only 3 sessions but looks like it will be a ton of fun. We are hoping the teacher will come back and teach more.

Then on Wednesday I started a watercolor class through the Adult Ed in a nearby city so lots of art in my future!

Take-A-Stitch Tuesday

This week's stitch was Turkman Stitch. I tried doing it on a curve and making it into a leaf but I think I will have to work on that some more. Still, a very interesting stitch.

TAST 53 - Turkman Stitch

And catching up on older stitches I did the Feather Stitch. The variations for this one are endless!

TAST 3 - Feather Stitch

Diva Challenge

The challenge this week was to use the tangle Center Square by Aleesha Sattva.  I took my inspiration from the Madhubani class I'm taking and came up with this:

Tangle Used: Center Square

Hopefully there is plenty of Art in your future!