One more road trip

Last Thanksgiving when my three children and their families were here, they all decided that we should meet in Reno for July 4th weekend and my younger sons birthday. It actually happened! We had four delightful days, some hiking, lots of pool time and a whole lot of celebration.

My four youngest grand children 

 Pooltime.

The adults, minus my husband who took the picture.

We also had lunch with Don's youngest daughter and her family, and watched a live feed of the gender reveal/baby shower in Phoenix. We will be welcoming a great grandson in November.

The Weekly Leaf

I did a Solarfast print of three ginkgo leaves, avocado solar fast on yellow hand dyed fabric. I thought I had taken a process picture, but I can't find it.

Week #27

Daily Stitching updates

Gelli prints #180-188

Shades of Orange #107-115

Linked to "Off the Wall Friday"

Home Sweet Home

Home sure feels good after two road trips in the past two weeks. First we went to Corvallis, Or to pick up my work from the gallery, a 900 mile round trip. Then I had an appointment with my Orthopedic surgeon on the one day we were home, my knee surgery is scheduled for Oct. 29.

 The following day we left for Phoenix,AZ, drove for two days, then had an evening and two days with Don's daughter and family ending with a wedding. We now have two married grand daughters.

Then back on the road again, this time headed for Reno, NV where we stayed with my youngest son and his family and I got a younger grand daughter fix. We also spent time with Don's youngest daughter and her dh and son. This visit was a bit more heart wrenching, our 13 year old grandson has cancer, has had 25% of his liver removed and two tumors from his lungs removed. He is now actually doing quite well and is back in school and getting good grades, but the future is still very uncertain.

Then back to Idaho, where we were greeted with the upsetting fact that our dog, Buster, who has had health problems had gotten much worse. After making and carrying out a very difficult decision that just broke my heart I pretty much took a few days off from life. I'm amazed at how attached we become to our pets. Here is a small wall hanging that I did of Buster when he was very young.

I used it as a sample in my booth when I was vending, I used to sell Jacquards fabric that is prepared for inkjet printers. I had printed a photo of him twice, sliced it up and fused it to the background. He was part Jack Russell and very hyperactive so this depicted him well.

The Weekly Leaf
 I have two weeks to show. The first is a blueprint on gold of a tomato leaf. Here it is out in the sun printing.

Week #41

The next one was done with freezer paper and paint stick  on hand dyed fabric. I had a large leaf that I liked the shape of but couldn't use because it was so large. I drew it onto freezer paper in a size that would work.

Then using a stencil brush, brushed the color from the paint stik onto the fabric.

Removed the freezer paper and drew in some veins with a colored pencil.

Week #42

Seven rows done.

Daily Stitching updates

Silk Fragments #279-#292

Sari Ribbon #207-#220

Canadian Road Trip

We've just come back from an eight day, 2000 mile road trip through the Canadian Rockies. It was fabulous! We drove north through Idaho, going by the Palouse area where wheat is being harvested.

Spent our first night near Sandpoint, ID. Next day we drove into Canada and started our Canadian National Parks adventure with Kootenay National Park. We arrived in Canmore, Alberta late in the afternoon to settle into our very charming inn for four nights. We were meeting up with friends that had flown in from Chicago the following morning.  This was the view from our window the next morning.

Over the course of four days we did lots of hiking and a bit of driving to see some wonderful sights. We did Banff national park, Lake Louise, Yoho National Park, Johnston canyon and several other stops. Here's a quick look at some of our visit.
Waterfalls

Aqua Lakes

Wildlife

Fantasy Hotels

Rode a chairlift up to gorgeous views and a gourmet meal. (Also got soaked in a rainstorm while riding up.)

Our plan was to drive through Glacier national Park in Montana on our way home. Unfortunately the East entrance was pretty much up in flames.

There has been a wildfire burning there for over a week and the East entrance is closed. We drove around the South end of the park and went into the West entrance, but the traffic congestion was bad, we were tired from driving all day so we passed on it for this trip. 

We then visited friends that live in Montana before heading back over more mountains to get home. It was a delightful trip.

The Weekly Leaf

For the leaf this week I used some Wonder Under fusable web that I had painted. I did a quick sketch of a willow branch and leaves, freehand cut the leaves from the painted fusable and ironed them onto a piece of hand dyed fabric.

 The drawing, painted web and fabric.

 Leaves cut out and placed paint side down.

 Peeling off the paper backing after ironing.

Ready to stitch.

Week #31

Daily Stitching updates

Silk Fragments #209-#215

 Looks like I was influenced by the mountains on a couple of these.

Sari Ribbon #137-#143

Linked to "Off the Wall Friday".