WIP Sunflower

Sunflower over Black Birds in Tree Stencil with some sequin waste dots using craft paint on baltic birch panel.  I'll pull the Black Birds in Tree back out after I'm done with the sunflower and other embellishments.

Detail of Sunflower and Black Birds in Tree Stenciled image.

Dreaming of Summer

Milkweed and Ants.

Milkweed with Monarch Butterfly.

Milkweed with Bumble Bee.

Milkweed with Monarch Butterfly.

Dreaming of Summer, taken in July 2009.

Horsemint aka Bergamont

Bergamont aka horsemint.

Garden Path

Is in need of cleaning, etc., but I do love my native plants, and the pollinators that they attract.  This afternoon the thistles were visited by green hummingbirds, this morning goldfinches.

Empty Nest

Empty Robins Nest.

Hackberry tree seeds now inhabit the nest.

Praying Mantis

Bjorkboda Marsh 060613

Near Bjorkboda Marsh in Hamilton County.

Native prairie plants at the marsh.

The marsh has water once again, it took a LOT of rain for the water levels to return to normal.

Rabbitbrush and Sage Dyed Wool

 

Rabbitbrush and sage dyed wool, 2007, in an iron pot.

Dried rabbitbrush from western Nebraska eastern Wyoming area.

Sage in bloom from western Nebraska.

Rabbitbrush and Sage

Rabbitbrush and Sage in a cast iron pot ~ 2007

I have studio visitors coming May 7th, the designer wants to learn how to dye with natural dyes and see some of my natural dyed fabrics.  My plans are to show her some of the dyestuffs that are native to the plains states.

American Robin

Robin taking advantage of the freshly tilled ground, hunting up worms I'm sure.  I love how it's plummage blends in with the ground.

Waiting for Summer

Thistle

Summer Legend

Summer Legend by Françoise Hartmann, National Film Board of Canada

Summer Legend Françoise Hartmann 1986 This animated short retells the Mi’gmaq legend of the great spirit Glooscap, who in the cold white dawn of the world, battled with the giant Winter in order to bring Summer to the North.

Inspiration

Am looking forward to spring this year!

Taken north of Ames, sometime early summer 2009.

Brown-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Tall or Giant Sunflower

Helianthus giganteus

Bjorkboda Marsh

Went out to the marsh this afternoon for a much needed infusion of inspiration!!!

Now to spend some time in the studio this evening working with a fresh mind!

WIP - Queen Anne's Forest

Queen Anne's Forest (lace) No. 1
4x6 inches
Painted Timtex, Machine Embroidery

I will be adding indigo dyed silk organza to this piece later this evening.

Swamp Milkweed

Swamp Milkweed or Asclepias incarnata

Doe

A young White Tail Deer, somewhere in Story County, Iowa.

She was running like she was injured.

Yellow Coneflowers - Ratibida pinnata