One of Those Days

It was one of those days filled with everyday magic....all day long.

On a misty morning walk Anita and I came across this patch of tiny mushrooms in a neighbor's yard.  We were quite taken with the clusters that looked like little families.

Do you see what I see......

...a tiny rain drop.

On my way back to Portland guess where I stopped.

That's right....Ocean Park to consult with Jane on the layout of the quilt she is sewing together for me.  It's going to be an explosion of AWESOME!

And it just happened to be low tide....so the beach was calling for a walk.

The sky was blue...the clouds were fluffy....and the air was dry and perfect. 

It was just one of those beautiful beach days.

When I got to Portland I found the meadow rue was blooming.  I had been trying to take photos of it for several days when only one bloom was open....but it's so hard to get the camera to focus on the tiny little buds so high in the air and all I got was blur.  Today was just one of those lucky days.

The buds are like tiny pink pearls.

And here's a context photo. David gave me some babies that I planted in the same area....so I hope they grow up to be companions to this one.  They just fascinate me!

And the verbena and scaevola were bursting with color.

Paul cooked ribs on the grill for dinner and we had a nice couple of hours on the patio.

It was just one of those days filled with everyday magic.

I am truly blessed.

We're All Connected

As I was driving from Portland to Lexington today I was reminded of a comment from Toni....a new blog reader a week or so ago. Toni was compelled to write after she read a recent post call "Soft Blues" about Jane's beach in Ocean Park, Maine.  http://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/07/soft-blues.html

Toni is from Portland, Oregon....but she currently lives in Ocean Park, Washington....and Lexington, Oregon is not far away.  When she saw the photo of Jane walking up the dune path to the beach....she thought it could have been right around the corner....and the hydrangeas from my garden could have been in her own. 

We're all connected....in one way or another.  Aren't we?

I'm only in Lexington for one night....and it's always good to check on the gardens.  The purples in the hydrangea are deepening....and new blossoms are coming along. 

I hadn't noticed the amazing little centers on the petals around the cap of this lace cap hydrangea before.  It's like another tiny little flower upon a flower.

A few of the globe thistle blooms are starting to turn purple.

Just for fun....I checked out the city connections on Google Maps:

How fun it that!!! Thanks for reaching out Toni!

Rainbows and Swirls

We found a rainbow of colors on our walk this morning.

Which leads right into my finished rainbow piece for the Swirls of Color class with Isobel Moore.  I'm known for starting lots of projects....and only finishing a few. I really wanted to start experimenting with some other swirl ideas today....but I thought it was more important to get closure on this one.  

I think I'm going to keep this piece....so wanted it small to tuck somewhere in my studio.  I chose to bind it onto a canvas like I did for a recent fabric stained glass piece....simple and clean.

http://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/07/fused-bound-binding.html

There are lots of strings that go off the edge....so the binding a little lumpy...but that's the nature of the project. I'm actually pretty happy with it....which is unusual for me to say. Isobel is such a great teacher....and I can't wait to keep working with strips of cloth and fibers.

I cut my piece the exact size of my 8" wooden paint panel (a reject from my painted papers class).  I prepared the binding with a 1/2 inch of fusible webbing along the edge and sewed it on the piece like I would a quilt with mitered corners. I glued the piece on the panel with thick gel medium and weighed it down until it was dry...then fused the binding around to the back.

Before I read the finishing lesson from the class...I was thinking about binding it with this soft stripe...that blended so well with all the colors. But based on Isobel's advise in the lesson....I chose the simple linen....and fused some of the stripe on the back for extra strength and as a little surprise.  It was the right call!!  Thank you Isobel!!!

This oversized marble that spins on a base looks as if it was my inspiration!

You can check out a little video of this marble in action on my Instagram page.  Just click through the first couple of photos to the video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCmdbAMH0Pf/

Mother Nature

I'm celebrating Mother Nature today!  She offers so much to see....every single day!

The "fruits" from a recent walk. I'm so fascinated with the ripening process....such interesting colors.  I just adored these blackberries clusters in the shape of daisies.

Blueberries go though interesting stages of color.

Such a beautiful pear!

We've got some pretty interesting mushrooms growing in our front lawn!

If they weren't so fascinating...they might be a bit creepy. But I know they're 

doing good for the soil....decomposing things and providing nutrients.

So let's celebrate the mushrooms!

I'm not generally all that fond of hosta blooms...but these mouse ear blooms are kind of perky...so they can stay for a while. 

And finally....Paul and I wonder why these oak branches keep falling in the backyard.I think they're gifts from the squirrels....they knew I'd like this one loaded with acorns.

Yarns, Strings, and Bling

"I am inspired by colour and spaces, pattern and intricate detail. I love the lines of fields and hillsides, the expanse of wild landscapes and seascapes, the greens and blues of the sea, the details of leaves and shells, and the pattern of tree branches against the sky."  Isobel Moore

https://www.isobelmoore.co.uk/

This has been one of my all time favorite class experiences....can't wait to start playing with wild landscapes! 

I couldn't have had more fun today adding fibers and decorative stitches to my Swirls of Color piece...and I think I stopped while I was still happy with it this time.  I'm going to let it sit for a bit...then it will be time for handwork. I'll check in with Isobel for feedback and recommendations.  

One of my greatest strengths is my vast supply of yarns, strings and bling.....and I'm so excited to be using them....along with the decorative stitches on my sewing machine.

I've been mostly using strips of batik fabrics because I love the colors and textures...but I'm looking forward to experimenting with other fabrics....like stripes. 

I posted a short little video of some sewing action on my Instagram page: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCgxpxSH_q9/

I added a few and eliminated a few....but it was fun shopping my yarns, strings, and bling!

Broken Record

I know I'm a broken record....but my little moonbeam blooms tickle me down to my toes.

There are about a dozen open now...and they are so delicate and pretty next to the wispy coral bell blooms. When there's a breeze...they kind of dance.

The irony is that if they were in more sun....they would do better.  But I kind of like them a bit spindly. 

Elle asked for a little more information about the Swirls of Color class I'm taking from Isobel Moore.  I realized that I've been so busy with the class (mostly making mistakes) that I haven't written much about it.  I can't describe any of the class content...but I can describe how the class is structured.  

There are 36 little mini lessons....with written directions and short videos. We got all of them right at the beginning so we could work through them at our own pace. And what was most helpful is that I was able to watch them all ahead and go back to them as needed....which I am finding extremely helpful.  Most of the videos are only about a minute or two long where Isobel demonstrates a particular skill.  She has close-ups of her sewing with beautiful music playing....I could watch for hours.  The lessons focus on techniques for preparing a background, layering fabric strips, adding fibers, beads and other embellishments, as well as finishing techniques.  

https://www.facebook.com/IsobelMooreArt/videos/725047851655042

There is a private Facebook group where class members can share their work and chat about our progress.  Isobel is also available on the class site for questions on any particular lesson.  She is very attentive and readily available to give feedback and advise...I'm learning so much that I can apply to so many projects.

https://www.instagram.com/izzyfmoore/

https://www.facebook.com/IsobelMooreArt

Like I mentioned yesterday I got pretty frustrated with my first project....so got a fresh start today with some pretty summer colors. 

Tomorrow I'll add fibers and decorative stitching. Some of my curves are a little off...but hopefully I can compensate with the fibers and change the flow a bit.  And this time....I'll try to have a little restraint.  Once I get a swirl project I'm happy with....I want to try a land or seascape. 

Restraint

"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." C.S. Lewis

The moonbeam coreopsis is opening....one perfect tiny bloom at a time.  And I just adore them.

The lessons in the Swirls of Color class are so clear...and the videos are just a joy to watch. Isobel is a great teacher and I've already learned so much that I can apply to so many of my projects.

I had fun adding decorative machine stitches and learning how to couch fibers with invisible thread....but I didn't know when to stop and it only got worse from here.  It's all part of the learning process and I'll just start again...apply what I've learned and have a little restraint next time.  I'm in control of how this ends.