Archive for the backyard wildlife Category

Yellow!

May 16th, 2010 Posted in backyard wildlife | 2 comments »



Garden Gnome poppy, “Picky” yellow rose, snapdragons

Frosty

Dec 24th, 2009 Posted in backyard wildlife | 2 comments »

Have I mentioned that my mom has a blog?  Go visit “…and a hive of silvery Bees” to see some of the coolest hoarfrost photos I have ever seen.  That’s one of hers above.  Wow, huh?

Beethoven’s 5th

Nov 15th, 2009 Posted in backyard wildlife, embroidery, etsy, quilts, sewing | 3 comments »

Symphony No 5 in C Minor (Chickadee)

2009

8 x 8 inches

Materials: cotton fabrics, fine tulle netting, perle cotton thread, crystal bead
Techniques:  sun painted fabric, raw edge applique, hand embroidery
Artist’s Statement:
There is rumor that the opening bars of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony were inspired by the song of a german cousin to the chickadee.  After hearing a concert performance of the 5th, my husband and I joked that it must be “some big chickadee” to inspire music on that scale.  Later, that conversation came to mind and I let this chickadee grow a little oversized and listened to a little Beethoven as I stitched.
This is the piece that I made and donated to the Dahl FIne Arts Center “The Goods” auction.  A very nice lady took it home with her (according to my mom-in-law who attended the event).
Click the images to see them bigger.
The image is made with many small pieces of cut fabric.  This is a technique I had seen and finally had the excuse to try it.  First, the background and the spruce branches I cut from the same fabric, but the background I painted over to make it darker.  There are faint sunprinted outlines of other branches on the background fabric.  Then, since the cut branches are such tiny pieces of fabric, the whole background is covered with a layer of bridal tulle and then machine stitched over to make branches and stems and other details.  The tulle helps hold everything in place and gives it a little texture.  I then stitched the chickadee on top, first with machine stitching and then embroidered the details by hand.  The eye is a little black crystal, so it has a little sparkle.

Water Lily

Aug 27th, 2009 Posted in backyard wildlife | one comment »

We thought we missed the waterlily this year.  It sent up a bud just as we were leaving town over the 4th of July.  But I looked out this weekend and here was this lovely little blossom.  A second one!  We have a tiny little pond and grow waterlilies every year.  I love them.

Now Showing…

Jan 15th, 2008 Posted in backyard wildlife, embroidery, sewing | 3 comments »


“Mango”
hand embroidered with cotton on hand-dyed silk.
This is my piece in the Textile Center’s members show, A Common Thread. My inspiration for this piece was this story about a small South American hummingbird that found itself at the center of much attention at a feeder in Wisconsin.
Click the images to see a larger version.

Happy New Year!

Jan 1st, 2008 Posted in backyard wildlife | 2 comments »

We have returned from a somewhat action packed week in South Dakota. More on the action later. Here are some of our animal encounters…

Nuthatch.
Backyard Turkeys.
Barn cats love anyone who will feed them.
Roxanne and a barn cat at Slate Creek.
Lucifer’s soft white belly.
Captain Jack spent the visit pirating kleenex (I had a yucky cold.)
Captain Jack Sparrow learns to knit.

snowy squirrels

Dec 2nd, 2007 Posted in backyard wildlife | 3 comments »

Our first real snow of the season and the squirrels were really interested in getting a good meal. I love how you can see the snow on their fluffy fur.