Blue Ridge Magic

Living in Asheville, NC has so many wonderful things going for it but one of the best in my opinion is the Blue Ridge Parkway which runs right through it. The parkway is a national treasure with breathtaking views everywhere you look. I will go out of my way to take the parkway rather than one of the roads more conveniently located...I never tire of it.

We do many long drives during all seasons but especially the fall with all the brilliant color. This is a culmination of more than one trip this season.

I get a lot of inspiration from the photos I take...I love the layering of mountains and think done in layers of organza would achieve a nice effect.

I also love the bright foliage close in to give it perspective.

I've always had a love affair with trees and this one is magnificent.  I store it in my picture file for trees and yes...there it was...a picture of if taken many times before. I must do something with this someday soon.

Another beautiful vista.....

We hit the highest point on the parkway at 6053 feet...mighty cold up there.

Looking Glass Mountain which does look like glass is always great to see and does stand out because of its odd shape and bald top.

Another fabulous tree for my picture file....

More beautiful vistas.....

Some good color...think we were a little too late on the higher points on the parkway and missed the peak....still pretty though.

The Asheville Water Shed you can see above surrounded by such wonderful mountains.

And 2 different weeks along the parkway...above...you can see the difference in leaf change....It's been nice to get out and some beautiful cool weather and NO news to watch...a nice escape if only for a little while.

S'mores and More

Our last outside gathering of our PTA group met a short while ago in Barbara's driveway

Our masks were very welcomed as it was cold and they added a bit more warmth.

Linda and Lynne at top and right above our hostess Barbara and Dort on right.

Mary with her bag of wonderful show and tell.

Dort is very prolific and has made quilts for everyone in her family. I love the quilt above and the pattern. It's quite simple but so effective and a good way to use scraps...something many of us aspire to do.

The backs are as fun as the fronts.

In the quilt above, I love the border with the little touch of hot pink tucked in between the blocks and the border.

And another wonderful backing.

Lynne did a great job on her latest piece; she loves creating geometric themes. This lovely piece just needs a binding.

Mary continues to do a lot with her large stash of Japanese fabrics...all very lovely.

I really love the quilt featured above. When she finished the background I thought it could be finished as it was interesting in and of itself but then she added the bamboo which is just the icing on the cake...Love it.

And now onto the yummy part....Gary, Barbara's husband made a fire pit which kept us warm during the morning and then....

provided us the means for making S'mores...oh heavenly!

Messy, yummy and absolutely so delicious! A great way to end the day and as it turns out our last PTA meeting until the warm weather comes and we can gather outside....

Eco Printing 3 - Results and Art Pieces

The results for this process are always fun to see but not always successful. I do label and keep records of everything in hopes of improving. As I mentioned before, I did both paper (mostly 140 lb.) watercolor paper and fabrics of silk and old linens.

Above is all paper and most of the leaves were successful...I pretty much have it down to what works well but am always willing to try a new leaf. The one in the middle - bottom is a Smoke plant from my friends house...think that's my favorite and of course always the Maple.

About half of these are good and useable but those that are not will be recycled and used again.

And now for the fabric...the silk organza always does well. This particular print had a piece of blue tissue paper placed on top; the color transferred onto the fabric. It was rinsed in the end but not rigorously washed but it will be used in an art piece so I don't plan on washing it.

Silk broadcloth on left and an old, worn linen napkin or tablecloth on right. You can see the tone on tone design if you look carefully behind the eco print. The linens seemed to work very well.

This is a piece of wool felt although I'm not sure if it was 100% wool...it was from an old blanket I cut up..a bit smeared I think.

Above on left is silk shantung and on right another piece of old linen (with a Red Bud leaf)

and silk charmesue which did very well.

Paper above which I use to make small pieces of wall are below.

The are small works of art stretched over a 6 x 10" frame and padded with batting. Rusted cotton was used as the substrate. The paper prints are stitched on by machine and some hand stitching along the side and across the front. I used embroidery floss for stitching.

I also like to write Haikus so there was a different one for each piece....The were typed in a fancy font and printed on a piece of muslin. 

I like to finish the backs so I silkscreen an image that is in keeping with the front, staple it down all around and cover it with an upholstery braid. My Eco printing is done for the year and time to look into new ways to do this...one of which is a press. I have to look into this more....Until next time....