Our Day at Yellowstone Lake

 We found a picnic table near Lake Hotel and enjoyed the view over lunch.

We stopped at a turn out to take some pictures and met a couple who were taking a series of pictures of the lake.  Their plan was to stitch them together to create the full panorama of the lake in this unusual reflective state.  They generously offered to take a couple pictures of us with the lake behind us.  It looks fake doesn't it?

Yellowstone Lake in May

Last week I shared some photos I took during a drive through Yellowstone Park on May 15.  I have a few more to share this week.  It was an amazing day to be in Yellowstone.  The frozen lake was starting to melt and the day was completely calm - giving us a beautiful reflection of the mountains across the lake.

 Most remarkable was the fact that we were able to observe the lake in perfect reflective stillness the entire time we drove beside it (several hours)!  I feel this must have been due to the fact that the lake was still mostly covered in ice.

Mail Art Project # 90

"Turtle on Plaid"

Hand dyed and block printed plaid cotton sheet.  Screen printed.

This week's quote:

"Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason."

-Jerry Seinfeld-

Extra postcards are going out this week to:
Joan in Springfield, Ohio
Joanna in Woodbridge, Connecticut
Carol in Rosemount, Minnesota

Foot Square #23

 To make this 12" square, I started with an unfinished Ricky Tims background - you know the part where he had you cut a curved line in two pieces of contrasting fabric and sew them back together to create two opposite pieces . . . . well, I did that part, but never got around to doing the next step.  It was languishing in a drawer, so I hauled it out and block printed it.

Quilted, and with rick-rack trim added - I gave it my signature!

Cracking Ice on Yellowstone Lake

 I have posted a lot of pictures of Yellowstone Lake where the ice was gone and the calm water reflected the mountains and sky beautifully.  Here are some images showing areas where the ice remained - at least partially covering the surface.

Yellowstone Lake Hot Pots

 We really enjoyed the contrast of the steaming hot pots along the lake shore against the icy water of Yellowstone Lake and the clear blue sky.

 It was magical!

More Yellowstone Lake Reflections

 It is possible to see the ice in this picture (above).  It is a thin white line between the mountains and the reflection.

 A bit more ice shows in this picture, also.

Yellowstone Lake Reflections

 A few weeks ago, we drove through Yellowstone National Park on our way home from a trip through Colorado.  The date was May 15.  The ice was just coming off Yellowstone Lake and the part of the lake that was thawed was completely calm and still.

 I lived in Gardiner - entrance to Yellowstone for 10 years.  I went into the park often and I never saw anything like this before!

 These photos have not been modified in any way.  Aren't these amazing pictures?

I'll be sharing more pictures from our drive through Yellowstone over the next few days.

Chaco Canyon Kivas

 While visiting the ruins in Chaco Canyon, we were able to view many kivas.  

 Kivas are almost always round - but a few are oval in shape.

 We took note of the varying sizes of these kivas.  

It is thought that each clan may have had their own kiva.

I love the graphic design of this architectural plan for Pueblo Bonito.  The circles and squares - and the way this pueblo was shaped like a D on account of it being build right up against the cliff.

Mail Art Project # 89 Abstract Painting I

Abstract Painting I

This is hand painted cotton muslin.  Machine quilted.

Today's quote:

"If you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you."

-Groucho Marx_

Foot Square #22 - SAQA Auction Donation

 

Last summer, I printed a number of gelatin plate prints using vegetables from the Farmer's Market.

I have done a couple of larger pieces using beet prints.  Planning to convert one of my beet prints into a 12" square, I quilted the entire 18 x 13" panel.  Then I had to decide how to crop it down to a 12" square.  It was a bit of a challenge.   I hated to think of cropping away those textural leaves or the delicate roots!

 This is what I ended up with - I am happy with it!  This is my SAQA auction donation.  It will be sold at auction this fall.

Chaco Canyon Pole Ceiling / Floor

 The guidebook said this is the original ceiling / floor for this room.

It is preserved amazingly well (it is probably about 1000 years old!).

The doors are extremely small - as are the rooms!

My Creative Process for Sunset II

Sunset II

began as a piece of hand painted fabric that I have always thought was a really great sunset piece (even though it has some darker areas - which I thought was not a big deal - the real sky has areas like that)

The required size for "Rituals" was 24 x 60", so I had to add some hand dyed fabric to the bottom. I was not sure this was really going to work out, but I wanted to try because watching the sunset everyday is a real personal ritual for me, and I wanted my entry to be authentic.

 

I block printed the sky first (gold Lumiere), then when that was dry, I printed the mountains (blue Lumiere and blue Setacolor).

 After that, it was pretty much a matter of doing the quilting, trimming it, 

and adding the sleeve and binding.

 I carefully cut the binding to mimic the lines of the mountain printing.  This is my fused binding again.