Crisscrossing Creative Process: Maple Hemp Sumac

Hemp from HempTraders

in process

Weaving Studio at Color Crossing, Roberts, Wisconsin

Sumac reds and greens

All of these photos represent beginning images for the next paintings, drawings and weavings that are crisscrossing in my creative process.  I am beginning a new hemp warp for the loom, joining a wonderful group of women at Color Crossing and reveling in the colors and patterns continually changing at this season of transformation.  Particularly inspiring is the contrast of bright color and no-color, as the light alters.

Autumn Again (One Year of this Blog)

Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis, MN
(Kunst and Papier 16 x 19 cm journal)

Some of the most interesting areas, biologically speaking are the edges between woods and meadow or where ever there's a change in habitat etc.  There is a steep hillside between the picnic area to the east along the river and the more open area that leads to the movement of the creek after the falls.
At this time of year the tall dry weeds seem to take over and the squirrels are being very busy indeed.  I've so recently seen jackrabbits in Arizona, squirrels in Minnesota.  The marvels of air travel make these contrasts striking once I slow down enough to notice.  Observations on the edges are another gift to the naturalist with a notebook, or a sketchbook.  I hope students are getting out their nature journals in preparation for another year of paying attention to their world.

Time in the Desert

early morning in Thoreau, New Mexico

I just returned from a wonderful time of both solitude and community at Madonna House in Winslow Arizona. It was truly an experience of simplicity and back to the basics of my life journey.  Spending a day, looking at earth and sky and eating only bread and drinking tea felt like a banquet.  There is always something amazing about finding a spot of harmony for my soul.

Down Among the Weeds

We each spent some time down among the weeds and almost out of sight.  The "we" refers to the sora, ( a small bird in the rail family) among the cat-tails and wild rice on river's edge, and myself among the grasses and goldenrod.  Maybe this is carrying camaraderie with nature too far, but that's okay.

close to the visitor center of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

It was very windy but I seem to enjoy working outside when its sunny and cool, so the wind just adds to the fun.

 from Old Cedar Ave Boardwalk

Labor Day at Denver Airport

Using my waterbrush and colors right there directly across from this fellow traveler felt a bit like "suspicious activity"