Home Sweet Home

Our trip was fun, but it sure feels good to be back home. It rained a lot here while we were gone, the weeds loved it and I'm still trying to get them all pulled.

The ice in our refrigerators ice maker was close to a solid block, so I did some ice dying.

I used various blues and a green on cotton. I'll probably use them with some of the cyanotypes I have in stock.

2019 Daily Stitching #2
A little over half way, this weeks stitching seemed to take forever.

2019 Weekly leaf, week 22
A botanical print of eucalyptus on silk noil.

I'll be linking up with "Off the Wall Friday" and "Slow Sunday Stitching"

North Rim Grand Canyon

We spent last weekend in Phoenix with family and then started our travels back north. We spent a couple of days in Kanab, Utah. From Kanab we drove to the North rim of the Grand Canyon which is about 8800 feet in elevation and had only been open for the season for a week. It snowed the night before we went, was fairly clear on our drive there and we got in one short hike before more snow completely obscured our views. Below is a series of pictures of the storm coming in.

We went to the lodge to have lunch and hoped for clearing, but it got worse, so we drove back to Kanab. Since it was still dry there we drove north about 20 miles to see the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State park. About two miles before we got to the entrance it started to hail, very heavily, and we were advised at the entrance that there was really no sense in paying to go in because we couldn't see or do anything. So I guess we will save these adventures for another time. We are currently on our way home and should be there by Friday afternoon.

2019 Weekly Leaf #21
Solar fast on a commercial print using ginkgo leaves.

2019 Daily Stitching #2

I'll be linking up with "Off the Wall Friday" and "Slow Sunday Stitching".

Valley of Fire

We've been traveling for the past week and are currently in Las Vegas so that my husband can bowl in the National Bowling Tournament. I am not a fan of Vegas, and this whole casino thing I can do without. Not many of you know, but I spent 22 years of my younger life in the casino industry and I am totally done with it. The highlight of the stop here is that yesterday we got away from the casino and drove to the Valley of Fire, which is awesome. I love red rocks and concentric circular patterns so  I was happy.

The only negative was the temperature, it was in the mid 90's so it was much too warm for me to do any hiking. Next week we have plans for a few more red rock stops in Arizona and Utah, so I'll be happy.

I have been doing a bit of stitching, I can't do any while in the car, I just watch the scenery go by. I do it during downtime in the evenings or early morning or afternoons like now while hubby takes a nap because he bowls very late tonight.

2019 Weekly leaf, week 20
A botanical print on silk

2019 Daily stitching

I'll be linking up with "Off the Wall Friday" and "Slow Sunday Stitching"

This weeks stitching

I don't have much to share this week, it's been a busy week in my life but not in my studio. Tomorrow I'll be hitting the road for a couple of weeks, so there may be posts and then again maybe not. I will be taking my daily and weekly stitching along but it's not going to be a priority.

2019 Weekly leaf , week 19

Another solar fast leaf on cotton.

2019 Daily Stitching #2, days 36-42

I've had a question about the thread I use, here is a photo of my bowl of red.

I use pearl cotton, size 5 for the outlining and size 8 for the filling stitches. There are a few variegated threads in the mix, and a pink that hasn't been used yet and may not get used.

I'll try and link up with "Off the Wall Friday and "Slow Sunday Stitching", but if I'm busy it may not happen.

Now I've got to pack!

Kittens and stitching

We have kittens again this spring, that makes four years in a row that one of the local feral cats has had kittens in our yard. Only two this year and they are three weeks old today.

Mama always has them behind one of our iris patches next to the house foundation, the tube in the back is for our drip system.

I got the three donation quilts quilted and bound this week, they are ready to turn over to Project Linus on Monday.

2019 Weekly Leaf week #18

There is a beautiful Japanese Maple tree next to one of our local banks, this time of the year the leaves are wonderful, by summer that look pretty ragged and stressed from the heat and dryness.

I picked a few of the leaves and did some botanical printing and was completely surprised at the green color that the leaf produced. It was printed on vinegar soaked silk habitoi and the leaves were dipped in a copper solution then steamed for 2 hours. I also did one on cotton and got no color at all.

2019 Daily Stitching #2, days 29-35
More straight or running stitch explorations.

I'll be linking up with "Off the Wall Friday" and "Slow Sunday Stitching"