Common Kingsnake

I was just getting ready to go out in the yard and dye some fabric for the next monoprinting lesson when DH rushed into the house to grab his camera. I followed him outside and watched (a good distance away!) while he photographed this four foot long kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus). They are common in the Pine Barrens but we hadn’t seen one in quite a few years. Although harmless to humans, they are powerful constrictors and prey on lizards, mice and birds. They also eat rattlesnakes and copperheads (they are immune to their venom). This one posed long enough to have his portrait taken (note the tongue) before quickly slithering away into the woods…



Common Kingsnake

Walkingstick

This is a northern walkingstick (Diapheromera femorata). DH photographed him about 2:00 a.m. the other day. As you can see, he’s missing a leg from his second set, but is able to move along just fine.

Northern Walkingstick

Sun Print on Organza

I wanted to see if sun printing would work on sheer fabric, so I tested it on some old organza I had in my stash. The horizontal lines you see are from where the plastic wrap was not pulled flat against my support surface…

Sun Print on Organza

Sun Print

I’m having way too much fun with my course. Monoprinting opens up a whole new world for me! Here’s a simple sun print of woodbine leaves, a sensitive fern and a section of a bracken fern.

Sun Print

Class Has Begun...

Today was the first day of the on-line Monoprinting Course. This week’s lesson is about making sun prints with Setacolor Soleil fabric paints. I had bought a set of those last year to try (I had a 40% off coupon for the craft store to use on something!) and just put them aside and never got around to playing with them. Now, I have an excuse to play. Woohoo!

Cloth Tags for Santas

These transfers on tea-dyed muslin will be made into tags for my prim Santas. The tiny lettering held up pretty well, I think. They will be backed with Warm & Natural batting and another layer of fabric. The little quilt “sandwiches” will then be sewn together inside the raw edges with a running stitch in heavyweight cotton thread. The tags will be dated and signed. The dolls are also inconspicuously signed under their clothes.

If you have a minute and need a giggle, here is a little article someone posted on the Santa Bulletin Board on why Santa must be a woman!

Artichoke

Here is a sketch of an artichoke done with a very dry watercolor brush. I have bought fresh artichokes to draw but have no idea how to cook them! I always purchase the little jars of marinated hearts to add to salads…

Sketch: Artichoke

Praying Mantis

Here is a photo of a praying mantis that DH rescued the other day. He was trapped behind our storm window and couldn't figure out how to free himself. I have read on the web that the females will sometimes bite the heads right off the males as they are mating. Hokey Smokes!!!

Praying Mantis

I'm Up Early

DH and I were up at 3:00 this morning to get him ready for a location photo shoot in Lancaster, PA. He needs to be there by 7:00 and it’s a two hour drive. I sure wish I could have gone, too, but I’m here, holding the fort. Lancaster is one of my favorite places to visit. There is a restaurant nearby in East Earl, PA, called The Shady Maple that is simply the best restaurant in the universe. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of homemade Pennsylvania Dutch comfort food. There’s always plenty to eat for vegetarians. The place is enormous and sparkling clean – with immaculate restrooms!

Hornets' Nest

My computer crashed over the weekend. Fortunately, DH saved everything to disk last week or I’d really be in a mess. I did lose some photos I wanted to include in my blog this week.

Fortunately, this photo was still in my camera. DH photographed these giant hornets (Vespa crabro germana) a couple of days ago. They are building a nest right next to our front door. These are normally non-confrontational creatures but they will attack if they feel their nest is threatened. And so we are faced with a bit of a moral dilemma…sigh…

Hornets' Nest

Erasmus

Here’s a tattered, yet elegant, old gentleman named Erasmus - which means worthy of love. He is made from tea-stained osnaburg and his features are embroidered. His jacket and hat are made from a vintage table runner (that had seen better days). His vest is sewn from an old linen floral napkin with antique glass buttons sewn down the front. His hat is trimmed with the frayed edge of an old paisley tablecloth. His hobo bag is made from an old handkerchief with a crocheted edge that coordinates with his vest and hat trim. I sewed a large, vintage twinkle button on his jacket as a festive holiday brooch.

Erasmus

Block for Katrina Quilt

I finished my little square for the Katrina Quilt. Just need to send it off to be joined to the others…

Block for Katrina Quilt

Hummingbird at Feeder

This photo was taken from inside my studio, looking out the door. I usually have a little chair set up for Huckleberry, right inside the door, so he can enjoy the “view.”

Hummingbird at Feeder

Quilts for Katrina

I joined a Flickr group last night, Quilts for Katrina, to aid the hurricane victims. Everyone is supposed to make a quilt square (any style) to be included in a quilt that will be auctioned. I’m working on a crazy pieced heart that will be appliquéd to a plain background. I’m just using prewashed cottons and embroidering the seams by hand with a feather stitch. It is very therapeutic to be busy doing something to help out.