Well, this can't be good...

From Weatherbug -- black on a weather map seems extra scary!

Photo Monday

Spent some time in the Metropark yesterday. We really are blessed with an amazing parks system in Cleveland!

Water carving it's way

Berea escarpment

From 60-70 feet above the river

Water falling

Lots of tracks -- favorite watering hole?

River dance (tilt you head -- you'll see it)

She stood about 10 feet from me

Keeping an eye on me while I snapped a dozen pics

Here she dropped down to the river but was still watching me

Under a bridge

We saw an 8 point buck and these were some of his little harem.

TJay walking on the river...made me nervous

Massive ice heaves already pushed up on the boat ramp near the lake. This is about 2 feet thick

Magic and Luminescence

There has been a discussion going on at the QuiltArt list about snow-dyed and low water immersion dyed fabrics.

Of course every one's tastes and opinions are different.  I like and use both methods. LWI is fine. Parfait dyeing is pretty interesting, but snow dyeing? Since I first tried it last year, it has become something purely magical for me. 

MAGICAL -- that's best word to describe the excitement I feel when doing this method of dyeing. 

At every stage it's interesting and the surprises that I find after the first rinse and again after washing are splendid. It's always a little bit of a let-down coming out of the dryer, even though I know that pressing is going to reveal what the fabric has finally come to be.

The part that is the the most beautiful part for me is when I find the light that seems to come from within the fabric itself, peeking out between layers of color making parts of the cloth absolutely glowing! It appears luminescent to me.

I found a wonderful definition of luminescence as used in reference to art last week -- about how and why certain colors appear to glow when they are next to colors that are grayed down. I can't find it now, but I kind of like the following more scientific definition too, in thinking about the way the snow dyed fabrics appear to me.

From the Free Dictionary

luminescence -- Process by which an excited material emits light in a process not caused solely by a rise in temperature... The colour, or wavelength, of the light emitted is determined by the material, while the intensity depends on both the material and the input energy....

Adj.

1.

luminescent - emitting light not caused by heat

adjective glowing, shining, fluorescent, radiant, luminous...

Luminescence is caused by the movement of electrons within a substance from more energetic states to less energetic states. There are many types of luminescence, including chemiluminescence, produced by certain chemical reactions, chiefly oxidations, at low temperatures; electroluminescence, produced by electric discharges, which may appear when silk or fur is stroked or when adhesive surfaces are separated; and triboluminescence, produced by rubbing or crushing crystals.uminescence produced by certain substances after absorbing radiant energy or other types o.

Cool, eh? 
I always have loved the way Edward Hopper  made the light work for him to convey a mood. That's kind how I think of things when I paint on paper or canvas and that's what some of this cloth looks like to me on .
I see things in it. 
Faces, feathers, flora, fauna.
Like this:

All of these photos are from this one piece of cloth:

The whole cloth

Can you see the glow?

Silly little birds and dyeing again

I found these at World Market while I was Christmas shopping.

I saw them a year ago too and I've thought about them several times, regretting that I hadn't bought them. I never do that.

I didn't make that mistake 2 years in a row!   : )

They make me silly-happy.

These will be my lucky birds!

 Also making me happy -- more SNOW for dyeing!!

2011 Sketchbook Challenge

Since I've fallen out of the practice of sketching lately, I decided to follow along with the Sketchbook Challenge. When I went digging for a  sketchbook, they were all full, so I picked up a new one to start fresh. I found a really nice 9 x12 wire-bound Canson  XL Mix Media pad. Good texture and heavy enough for watercolor or acrylic. But the cover was ugly.

There -- I fixed it

While I was working out what I wanted to do for the first month's them, Highly Prized,  I finally played with the Caran d'Ache Neocolor II set that I bought last year. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to try these (it was my intention to use them on fabric). Water soluble wax pastels. They totally rock!!

Just to see what all the fuss is about this "new" form of doodling.  I tried a few of these in a little 6 x 6 pad i also grabbed. I suspect doing these is a little like crack with a micron pen...   I mean it's kind of fun and all, but it's a little addictive and I think I don't need another way to waste time. 

If I want Zen, I'll go practice my yoga.

Well, maybe just a little tiny pad and pen by the bed.

In case I can't sleep...

This one cracks me up and makes me happy

Photo Monday

This year I'll be posting scenic photos on Mondays.
Hope you enjoy them!

 Last week...

Note the green grass and cavorting squirrel and sunshine...

Well that didn't last long.

This past weekend it snowed again and early Saturday morning I took my camera for a walk before most of the plows and salt trucks sullied the pretty snow. It was cold and absolutely beautiful.

Great textures

 The sun trying to break through

 Lots of nests in all the naked trees

 You lookin' at me?

 Fluffy

 The snow in the quince looked like cotton balls

 Another evergreen

 And another -- looks like a weeping one

 Loved this tree and its golden berries

 Obviously not tasty to the birds!

 Bits of blue peeking through the clouds

 I got scolded by this raven and his pals

Nice lines

Blood red berries

Now off to put some of that snow to work on dyeing fabric!

Three Creative Studios Launch Party

Three Creative Studios is having a Launch Party! 

Terry Stegmiller and Vicki Welsh have started two new challenges. The 2011 Journal Quilt project and the 2011 Color Palette Challenge. Sounds like lots of fun and inspiration! I'm signing up for both.

AND there are some pretty sweet give-aways from Terry, Vicki and  Sue Bleiweiss.

Check it out HERE

Happy New Year!

I planning on lots of color in my life this year!

Hope
your
year
is
colorful
too!