Stitching Metal

I recently added the finishing touches to a quilt I started about 2 years ago. It needed something more. I knew it needed more texture, depth, or shimmer. I did not want to add more paint or foil.

I decided to try working with some metal sheets I had purchased last winter. I used a rubbing plate to create the texture on aluminum and copper sheets. Then, I heated the copper with a heat gun to change the color. I followed this with some paint that was rubbed on and sponged partially off. I used fluid acrylics.

I cut "doors" and "windows" from this embossed and colored copper and aluminum. These were then machine stitched in place.
I am excited about working with this material. I think I would like to explore it further and am on the brink of ordering a quantity for further experimentation.

Beautiful Swallowtail

Some of these are going to make really terrific Thermofax screens! I am so pleased with my old Lumix SLR digital camera. I think it is probably 6 years old, but it still takes a good detail zooming in from a distance. I was probably 10 feet away from this butterfly when I took these pictures!

Swallowtail Butterfly

I am delighted with the success of these photographs I got of a swallowtail butterfly that spent a a bit of time in my garden recently

Pinned and Ready for Quilting

The weather has been so wonderful - I have found it hard to stay inside and focus on anything in the studio for any length of time.

I did manage to clear off my work table and get a number of quilts pinned and ready for quilting. They can now wait until I am ready. I will set up my machine for free motion and will try to discipline myself to do an hour or two each day. Maybe I will have them all finished by the end of the summer.

All of these are pieces I started a year or two ago. I am really glad to be able to continue with them.

Iris Nectar

I am not the only one enjoying the iris.
What a treat to be able to digitally capture this beautiful Swallowtail butterfly as it explored my iris garden.

Grape Gold Iris

I really love this one with the warm purple/ white petals and golden beard.

I am going to have to do an iris quit sometime soon . . . .

My Iris Garden

Here are a few varieties of iris I have.

Above, these lavender iris seem to be shifting a bit to pink.

This brown iris came from my mother.

I think this bi-color purple must be from the iris club.

Father's Day Storm - Billings, Montana

We missed the Billings storm on Father's Day because we had traveled north to Denton, Mt to celebrate with my father and all 5 of my sisters who were all visiting at the same time!
These pictures were forwarded to me by a friend. I have no idea who took these pictures, but they are clearly Billings storm pictures.

Above - is the interior of the Metrapark Sports arena. The roof was taken off by the tornado. Miraculously, nobody was injured. The arena was empty (nearly 4000 people had been there for an event the day before). Several businesses were destroyed or severely damaged, but not one person was injured!

This funnel cloud was photographed just a few miles from our home. I recognize the landmarks.

These two pictures show water flooding the streets in downtown. When we did arrive back in town Sunday evening, we drove through some pretty deep water standing in the streets - necessary to get home.

It was dark by the time we reached our home, but there was no damage and apparently we had only received about 1/2" of rain (as opposed to 2 1/2" in some other areas of town). No apparent hail damage - while others experienced egg sized hail.

Golden Iris

This is another iris I planted.

It has been a great year for the iris. They are really fabulous!

Frilly Purple Bi-Color

Isn't this a stunner?

I planted this one. Again - I got it from the Iris Club.

Orange Bearded Iris

This is an iris I planted a few years ago. I purchased it from the local Iris club at Farmer's Market. I think it is really yummy!

Dwarf Iris

These lovely dwarf iris were planted a few years ago and this is the first time they have bloomed. I am delighted to see them!

My Iris Garden

I took these pictures of my iris garden a few weeks ago when they were in full bloom.

These iris were already planted when we moved into this house 7 years ago.
I have never divided them. And I do not water them, either.
It is remarkable how well these plants thrive in this climate without any kind of attention.

Late Spring Tulips

My tulips were especially nice this year.
Usually, the deer eat them before I can enjoy the blooms, but not this year!

These tulips were planted by a previous owner of our home.
I have planted daffodils, but never tulips - the deer eat them like candy.

It is surprising to see tulips blooming in the middle of June!

Skylines Challege Piece

My Skylines Challenge Piece is now finished! Except for the commercial "skylines" fabric - all of the fabrics are painted and printed by me.

I added glass beads and hand painted silk ribbon to the screen printed flowers to create dimension.