View Full Version : Our artistic endeavors
iris lilies
6-19-18, 7:17pm
I thought we had a thread where we all posted our art, But I couldnt find it. I dont want to hijack
UL’s thread where he shows his drawings, so I started a new one.
Show your art here!
iris lilies
6-19-18, 7:23pm
Tomorrow I am leading a workshop on “leaf manipulation” which is all about abstracting foliage. I sat down and made 7 designs, and will probably make another 2 tonight.
So much fun! This is whenI love my life, when I get to do stuff like this, and actually, am forced to be creative by a deadline. My creative juices gear up near a deadline.
here are images of the techniques I will be talking about tomorrow (below). Oh, I like circles. See if you can “see” that obsession!
2257
2258
Ultralight
6-19-18, 9:15pm
Those are some fun creations! :)
I will post some work soon, love that iris lilies.
Gorgeous display, IL! I love how the different leaf shapes are so different, yet complement each other!!
Can we do other artistic media? How about poems? I wrote this a long time ago.
I Kissed It
I was ironing the other day
And I found myself
Kissing
My son’s white T-shirt
Size 8
It was a silly thing to do
I did it anyway
I was wondering what to cook the other day
And I found myself
Kissing
A small rutabaga
It was a silly thing to do
Kissing a rutabaga
(Purply-waxy little thing!)
I looked around sheepishly
To be sure I was alone
And I kissed it
Some things make sense to kiss
You kiss a spouse
You kiss a cheek
Or two, if you’re in France
But there are things
So beautiful
So wonderful
So awe-inspiring
(To my eyes anyway)
That the desire to kiss them
Is irresistible and I…
Sshhh,,,
Just have to sneak a peck
A silly way (to be sure)
To simply say
Thank you
2264 I am working on this baby doll, and I changed the bottom of the clothing to be a ruffle, before it just folded over in an awkward ending. I also changed how I did the arms and created an opening to sew them into rather than just sewing them on a surface. I need to make the hat next, it looks like a fairy or gnome type. I have made a few of these before.
2265And here is the finished unicorn, it was a commission project. I have one more from this pattern ordered and possibly 3 dragon puppets.
So cute, ZG! The little unicorn reminds me a little of Shari Lewis's "Lamb Chop" puppet. (Now I'm REALLY revealing my age!)
Those little dolls would make great baby gifts.
Catherine, Your poem made me smile. Thanks.
Simplemind
6-20-18, 11:57am
I used this for a Christmas card that I sent to my fellow ski patrol members a couple of years ago.
Ultralight
6-20-18, 5:13pm
This is such a great thread! I am thoroughly enjoying seeing (and reading) your creations. :)
I'm loving this thread too!
I'll post some toward the end of the week -- got a few other projects to finish first.
Quilts quilts and more quilts.....and I knit dishrags when I need zero-brain involved. 22732274227522762277
Sad Eyed Lady
6-23-18, 9:20am
22782279
This is what I have been working on, creatively, in the past months. I have had something like this in my mind for a few years and finally was able to do these two pieces for myself and have done a couple for friends. One is hanging in my bedroom window and is so bright and colorful, the other one is in the doorway going down the hall. Most of the material used is from vintage Indian silk sari's that I ordered from India. Just good size scraps of fabric that I cut into strips and used as the basis. The rest has pieces of scarves cut in strips and then embellishments are anything shiny I have around. Some are old earrings. These were a lot of fun to do.
Those are so pretty Sad, The top is very interesting. Old earrings are such an interesting choice!
iris lilies
6-24-18, 9:56am
22782279
This is what I have been working on, creatively, in the past months. I have had something like this in my mind for a few years and finally was able to do these two pieces for myself and have done a couple for friends. One is hanging in my bedroom window and is so bright and colorful, the other one is in the doorway going down the hall. Most of the material used is from vintage Indian silk sari's that I ordered from India. Just good size scraps of fabric that I cut into strips and used as the basis. The rest has pieces of scarves cut in strips and then embellishments are anything shiny I have around. Some are old earrings. These were a lot of fun to do.
Love these! I use vintage saris on my windows.
I see batches of scrap fabric from silk saris on ebay, and I wondered what people do with them.
Now I know one project!
iris lilies
6-24-18, 9:59am
Gorgeous display, IL! I love how the different leaf shapes are so different, yet complement each other!!
Can we do other artistic media? How about poems? I wrote this a long time ago.
I Kissed It
I was ironing the other day
And I found myself
Kissing
My son’s white T-shirt
Size 8
It was a silly thing to do
I did it anyway
I was wondering what to cook the other day
And I found myself
Kissing
A small rutabaga
It was a silly thing to do
Kissing a rutabaga
(Purply-waxy little thing!)
I looked around sheepishly
To be sure I was alone
And I kissed it
Some things make sense to kiss
You kiss a spouse
You kiss a cheek
Or two, if you’re in France
But there are things
So beautiful
So wonderful
So awe-inspiring
(To my eyes anyway)
That the desire to kiss them
Is irresistible and I…
Sshhh,,,
Just have to sneak a peck
A silly way (to be sure)
To simply say
Thank you
THis is nice! Many of my flowers are kissable, but I just touch them and tell them how cute/sweet/pretty they are.
Love these! I use vintage saris on my windows.
I see batches of scrap fabric from silk saris on ebay, and I wondered what people do with them.
Now I know one project!
I have also seen little bags made out of saris, I have one that is less than 2 inches square with a zipper for keeping my little stones in.
Sad Eyed Lady
6-24-18, 10:11am
Love these! I use vintage saris on my windows.
I see batches of scrap fabric from silk saris on ebay, and I wondered what people do with them.
Now I know one project!
That is where I bought mine, on ebay. I have two fairly good size pieces that I haven't cut up and used because they are so beautiful. They have a lot of beading and sequins, and things like that. Not sure what I will do with them yet.
This is a wonderful thread, so inspiring to see what everyone is doing.
A couple of pictures from our last vacation (click 'em to enlarge):
The Colorado River: 2280
and the view from Mathers Point: 2281
Wow! Love those photos, Steve! Love how you captured the people sitting up there at the summit on the Mather's Point photo. The foreground/background contrast really makes you feel like you're there!
incredible countryside in those photos. I would not want to get lost there.
Wow! Love those photos, Steve! Love how you captured the people sitting up there at the summit on the Mather's Point photo. The foreground/background contrast really makes you feel like you're there!
Thanks, catherine! I really wanted the people there to supply a sense of scale. It's so hard to keep that sense in the Canyon.
incredible countryside in those photos. I would not want to get lost there.
It's a little mind-boggling to think that people many years ago discovered the Canyon by paddling in on the Colorado river. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to paddle just around a bend and see ... that in front of you and above you -- for miles.
2285
Thanks IL and Steve, it worked and even right side up. This is a memory of a previous property that DH and I lived in with artistic licence taken.
2285
Thanks IL and Steve, it worked and even right side up. This is a memory of a previous property that DH and I lived in with artistic licence taken.
very nice! i hope it was fun
iris lilies
6-25-18, 1:46pm
Pretty painting, razz! The complementary colors in the sky are beautiful.
Nice! I do like that sky....
Ultralight
6-25-18, 5:15pm
2285
Thanks IL and Steve, it worked and even right side up. This is a memory of a previous property that DH and I lived in with artistic licence taken.
Lovely painting!
Ultralight
6-25-18, 5:16pm
A couple of pictures from our last vacation (click 'em to enlarge):
The Colorado River: 2280
and the view from Mathers Point: 2281
Great pics! :)
rosarugosa
6-25-18, 7:53pm
I am impressed with all the talent in our group - floral arranging, painting, poetry, photography, fabric craft, crocheting, quilting - wow!
Sad Eyed Lady
6-26-18, 10:15am
I am impressed with all the talent in our group - floral arranging, painting, poetry, photography, fabric craft, crocheting, quilting - wow!
I know, it is so uplifting to see all this that we are doing and how different it all it.
iris lilies
7-7-18, 12:28pm
For anyone who has the patience to turn my images right side up to view them, here are two floral designs I entered in the North American Lily Society’s recent show.
This one’s had as its theme “Amber waves of Grain.”
2320
This next one had as its theme “Things to enjoy at the Iowa State Fair” so I fused two bbq grills
together and used a big white lily as “porksteak, the other white meat.” Maybe you have to be from Iowa to get this.
2321
The judges liked this design a lot, but were turned off by the original “patina” of the grill. Hahahaha! Yeah, it was dirty. What can I say? Ok, it was authentic!
Your designs are unique and wonderfully simple but effective. Thanks for sharing them. I really enjoy seeing them.
rosarugosa
7-10-18, 5:45am
"Patina," eh? I love it!
This next one had as its theme “Things to enjoy at the Iowa State Fair” so I fused two bbq grills
together and used a big white lily as “porksteak, the other white meat.” Maybe you have to be from Iowa to get this.
2321
The judges liked this design a lot, but were turned off by the original “patina” of the grill. Hahahaha! Yeah, it was dirty. What can I say? Ok, it was authentic!
I love patina. I love the word and what it conveys. I should get my floors refinished but I'm so afraid the 40 years of patina will be erased. So, I like your design a lot, and the fact that your grill had patina. If it were sparkly clean, it wouldn't have the same effect.
iris lilies
7-13-18, 11:21pm
Another flower show. I took 7 entries in Design. This was my favorite of the ones
I took:2331
it received a 1st place award but nothing bigger.
This one was strong on color but weak on some design elements, and it got last place in its class. :(.
2332
This one isnt artistic, but it deserves a big brag: I won the best of the show award in horticulture over 384 other entries for one of the lilies I grew. But really, the weather here has been so crappy so exhibit specimens were not good this year.
2333
rosarugosa
7-14-18, 5:54am
Those are beautiful, IL and your lilies are magnificent. Tell me, are you plagued by those little red lily-eating beetles in your neck of the woods? They have been a scourge up here for many years, but I don't believe I've seen any this year.
Beautiful! Love seeing them
Amazing, IL! Gee, I thought the one that did worst looked beautiful. Definitely strong on color.
Here's another poem of mine. A little abstract and out there, but it just kind of spilled out of me one day.
Passing Shot
I was I am I will not be
Evidence of eternity
A thought, a prayer, a whisper now
Begets me
Momentarily
But what comes next
But all that is
But it’s not but
It is what is
It is what is
It is what is
The thought breaks through
The empty space
The wall
The fire
The touch of grace
The dog is sitting on the bench
The grill is heating up the place
So tell me of tomorrow’s plans
Of what might be
Of what might not
Of crystal moments to be caught
While Time gives us
A passing shot.
iris lilies
7-14-18, 9:18am
Those are beautiful, IL and your lilies are magnificent. Tell me, are you plagued by those little red lily-eating beetles in your neck of the woods? They have been a scourge up here for many years, but I don't believe I've seen any this year.
Red Lily Beetle is the scourge of the NE Lily growers.
including Canada. The beetle is moving our way, we (the lily society and horticulturists) are tracking it. It recently showed ip in, I think, Wisconsin? Likely carried by big box store products.
The North American Lily Society conference will be held in Boston next summer and we will get a chance to see it, I suppose.
iris lilies
7-14-18, 9:19am
Catherine, the poem about being in the moment is nice!
SteveinMN
7-14-18, 11:41am
Nice little pile of ribbons in that last picture, IL! Congratulations!
Here are some things I do while watching baseball/tennis and trying to stay out of the kitchen:233723382339
Here are some things I do while watching baseball/tennis and trying to stay out of the kitchen:233723382339
So cute Kay! Are they your designs? I love them. Folk art in crewel!
So cute Kay! Are they your designs? I love them. Folk art in crewel!
No, not mine--I belong to an online stitchery club. I hadn't picked up needle and thread in a very long time, and just decided to take it back up in the past year.
No, not mine--I belong to an online stitchery club. I hadn't picked up needle and thread in a very long time, and just decided to take it back up in the past year.
Beautiful handiwork. I used to embroider but also haven't done it in ages.
Beautiful handiwork. I used to embroider but also haven't done it in ages.
+! I still use the runner I made for my dresser. Lovely to see it is still being done.
rosarugosa
7-16-18, 7:56pm
Lovely poem, Catherine and beautiful needlework, Kay!
iris lilies
7-16-18, 9:06pm
Here are some things I do while watching baseball/tennis and trying to stay out of the kitchen:233723382339
nice! I love the first one, a little village.
Teacher Terry
7-16-18, 9:09pm
Beautiful work!
Catherine,
I love your poem!
Polliwog
iris lilies
12-13-18, 11:40am
Here is a collage I made for an upcoming meeting of flower show judges. Our assignment is to make a collage as defined in our handbook. There isnt much plant material on this paining, so we shall see what the group says about that in the critique.
2628
Edited to add: just when I think I have figured out how to load photos right side up, this software thwarts me.
Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I will say that this painting is a copy of one by Conn Ryder. I love her palette.
iris lilies
3-20-19, 1:24pm
Flower show season has started. I won a few blue ribbons at the last show but this 2nd place design is the one I am most proud of. i made the spiralling thingies out of midellino. This is a damn fine design! If I do say so myself. It did place 2nd next to the best in show design, so there is that.
2693
2692
The design type is “Reflective” which means shiney materials should be used. The theme was “yachting on the French
Riviera” so in my interpetation, the blue spirals were undulating waves of the Mediterranean sea.
Haha this is reaching, but I am capable of assigning an interpretation to just about any abstract thing, must be mynEnglish major training.
I really wanted to use the spiral products in this design, that was my main focus.
flowerseverywhere
3-20-19, 9:51pm
26942695
I make sampler quilts, thousands of pieces. The brown one was last years quilt, called Farmers wife. I quilt my own on my domestic machine. The colorful one is this years, called Dear Jane. I am 2/3 done in this reproduction quilt. The original was done at the end of the civil war, in those colors. I have interpreted it in modern Kaffe Fasset prints.
In between i make charity quikts. 12 last year, one this year so far, with two more tops done. I lead a charity group and we have made a stack of blocks for charity that we will put together.
iris lilies
3-20-19, 10:07pm
26942695
I make sampler quilts, thousands of pieces. The brown one was last years quilt, called Farmers wife. I quilt my own on my domestic machine. The colorful one is this years, called Dear Jane. I am 2/3 done in this reproduction quilt. The original was done at the end of the civil war, in those colors. I have interpreted it in modern Kaffe Fasset prints.
In between i make charity quikts. 12 last year, one this year so far, with two more tops done. I lead a charity group and we have made a stack of blocks for charity that we will put together.
That briwn onebis lovely! I wouldn’t have thought that I would like a brown quilt necessarily but that one is really really nice. This year’s quilt in the bright colors is more my style so I will be interested to see that when it’s done.
rosarugosa
3-21-19, 6:00am
Great arrangement, IL. The spirals are really cool!
Beautiful quilts, Flowers!
I love the idea of sampler quilts, and these--with small blocks--are exceptionally attractive. Black fabric really sets off the bright colors.
A quickie colored pencil sketch I did of a mouse:
2699
Simplemind
3-21-19, 4:31pm
Love, love, love that mouse!
Wow, Pinkytoe, that's really nice!!!
Always quilting for therapy...afterall, I am in healthcare. 27002701270227032704
A quickie colored pencil sketch I did of a mouse:
2699
WOW!!!! Awesome!!!!!
Those are really nice, Gardnr---and a lot of work! I love the colors in the first one and the pattern of the last one, especially. What are the objects in the first one's squares? I couldn't tell even when I zoomed in.
Those are really nice, Gardnr---and a lot of work! I love the colors in the first one and the pattern of the last one, especially. What are the objects in the first one's squares? I couldn't tell even when I zoomed in.
Thank you! It's this but black background: https://etsy.me/2Cy1vPZ
Gorgeous display, IL! I love how the different leaf shapes are so different, yet complement each other!!
Can we do other artistic media? How about poems? I wrote this a long time ago.
I Kissed It
I was ironing the other day
And I found myself
Kissing
My son’s white T-shirt
Size 8
It was a silly thing to do
I did it anyway
I was wondering what to cook the other day
And I found myself
Kissing
A small rutabaga
It was a silly thing to do
Kissing a rutabaga
(Purply-waxy little thing!)
I looked around sheepishly
To be sure I was alone
And I kissed it
Some things make sense to kiss
You kiss a spouse
You kiss a cheek
Or two, if you’re in France
But there are things
So beautiful
So wonderful
So awe-inspiring
(To my eyes anyway)
That the desire to kiss them
Is irresistible and I…
Sshhh,,,
Just have to sneak a peck
A silly way (to be sure)
To simply say
Thank you
I love that Catherine, and do the same thing!
Hey Pinkytoe.........sorry I was confused on who drew the mouse. That's amazing! I hope you continue to draw many more things (and share them with us)!
iris lilies
3-21-19, 5:50pm
Pinkytoe, the mouse! Really really nice! Your point of view in showing his front, and the object of his focus—nice!
Thanks all! I haven't drawn since I was young so it's a retirement resurging interest. I used to quilt too and admire the work I am seeing here.
I'm impressed with all your obvious talent!
[QUOTE=Gardnr;323426]Always quilting for therapy...
I really like the 2nd one. It reminds me of the quilt on my bed. A neighbor up on the cliff was selling off a lot of items when they moved from the cliff property to a condo in town. One item was a quilt her mom made while she worked in a shirt factory in the 40's. The fabrics were 4 colors in the same fabric pattern in stripes like that. It's my favorite quilt.
Teacher Terry
3-22-19, 11:34am
Love the quilts! You guys all are talented. I don’t have a creative bone in my body:))
rosarugosa
3-22-19, 1:13pm
I love the mouse and the quilts are lovely! It's an honor to be in the company of such clever people. :)
I'm on a quilting retreat at the cabin (where it is currently snowing). I made the first one Friday afternoon/Sat morning. I finished the binding handwork on the 2nd about an hour ago. 27102711
iris lilies
3-24-19, 8:59pm
I find the second one charming!
rosarugosa
3-25-19, 5:35am
Nice work, Gardnr!
I love the mouse and the quilts are lovely! It's an honor to be in the company of such clever people. :)
Catching up and seeing all this talent in flower arranging, quilting and drawing is a delight.
iris lilies
4-12-19, 9:12pm
Flower show season is getting into full swing.
yesterday I won Best in Show at the Greater St. Louis Daffodil show with this floral design:
2737
Flower show season is getting into full swing.
yesterday I won Best in Show at the Greater St. Louis Daffodil show with this floral design:
2737
Congratulations!! That is beautiful! Is it a bunch of candlesticks you stacked on top of each other? I love the composition of the daffodils, too!
iris lilies
4-12-19, 10:38pm
Congratulations!! That is beautiful! Is it a bunch of candlesticks you stacked on top of each other? I love the composition of the daffodils, too!
It is one big candlestick. It sits in front of my fireplace.
rosarugosa
4-13-19, 6:29am
That is really lovely IL!
Unique and lovely. Now you have me curious. You have used a number of greens. flowers and supports. Could you advise me and increase my understanding please? Does that show define what materials, height, width etc., must be included or cannot be exceeded. Our local hort society and fall fair do set some parameters due to space available so not sure what the difference would be in larger societies.
I did attend the Philadelphia Flower Show and saw huge arrangements and very tiny ones but I did not see the entry specs. that competitors must meet.
iris lilies
4-13-19, 8:15am
Yes, the show sets space limitations. In a typical flower show the organizers try to vary staging of each class, otherwise it is rather boring. As example it would be visually dull to have all designs lined up on tables along a wall. So those planning a show use the club’s equipment such as small tables, high pedestals, etc.
Each show has a “show schedule” that sets out rules and limitations. The space available for each design is always listed in the schedule. Often there are limits in height stated in the schedule. If there are backgrounds provided by the club, the dimensions of those backgrounds are listed.
In NGC shows, a design class has 4 entries, no less, usually no more. So advance registration is required so that organizers can make sure each class is filled. There have been plent of times where I run around making a last minute design to fill a class.
As for materials, in a plant society show like a Daffodil show, daffodils must be the dominant flower in designs. In generic National Garden Club shows sometimes “dried flowers” classes exist, but fresh flowers always dominate in a show. NGC shows do not restrict the type of floral material that may be used, but length of show sometimes dictates that. For a 3-4 day show tropical plant materials are good because they last so long.
Artificial plant material of any kind is forbidden.
Thank you for that information, IL.
One sort of related note is that so many people have commented to me that there are no volunteers anymore. As I have looked around, I am seeing so many people volunteering but not in the longer established groups. Youth groups are so organized now requiring so many volunteers who put in amazing hours, also professional associations have expanded in number requiring volunteers and so on.
I am sure that the NGC shows over the years have needed many volunteers such as yourself, filling in a class as well as arranging space, schedules, judges and all the organization that each show involves. It is a major involvement at times. Are the volunteers still there for such flower shows as I do enjoy seeing them and appreciating all the efforts expended.
I used to be a member of Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens and attending the various flower shows when possible but no longer do so as I visit the local Whistling Gardens https://www.whistlinggardens.ca which I have watched develop from a dream to a really beautiful place to visit regularly.
iris lilies
7-12-19, 1:34pm
I am in Boston attending North American Lily Society convention and lily show. I won Best in Design.
2864
Ultralight
7-12-19, 3:17pm
I am in Boston attending North American Lily Society convention and lily show. I won Best in Design.
2864
Congrats! Very nice!
Congratulations! It flows from open to closed bud and out. Lovely movement. What is the blue thing that props the display?
rosarugosa
7-12-19, 4:25pm
Congratulations!
What is the blue thing that props the display?
That was my question, too.
Nicely done, IL!
Beautiful, IL!! Congratulations! Have a wonderful time in Boston!
iris lilies
7-12-19, 6:51pm
Congratulations! It flows from open to closed bud and out. Lovely movement. What is the blue thing that props the display?
The container is palm pod painted blue, spray paint. The other bluething is spiraled midellino, also painted blue. spray
paint is my friend. I won a blue ribbon with the same container and spiral thing when they Were orange.
I love the color combinations, great job
iris lilies
6-6-21, 1:30pm
I am reviving this thread to post my first serious floral design for the season. Flower show activities are starting up again.
This is an example of what garden club ladies do, the ones who do floral design. We find stuff to adapt into a floral design for the classes that are contemporary floral design. This one is a “Transparancy” design where elements are viewed through other elements.
This one started out as a metal wall hanging from Hobby Lobby. DH welded feet on it. I hung old bed sprigs on it. I made spiral midellino thingies and hung them on it. Painted the whole thing red, added palm leaves and hydrangeas.
One of my coherts said “Lady, you have too much time on your hands.” Haha, yep.
So here is the frugal thing: I assembled all of this from my basement and yard. I didn’t have to spend a dime. This is an illustration of my basement being at Critical Mass of floral design stuff. I did have to paint the spiral thingies red, but I had red paint in my basement stash.
3827
Interesting to see. I confess to being puzzled by its ultimate purpose which I didn't realize until now was important to me. Funny how we limit ourselves.
It is touching on the complementary colour wheel, diverse angles and shapes interest. When you are judging another's work, what are you looking for, - surprise, fresh view of an old object embellished with living plant material, feeling or mood projected or does the competition category define these displays.
I read an article recently that advised that one should generally follow the rules of the art medium but deliberately break one of the rule of art for freshness.
iris lilies
6-6-21, 2:15pm
Interesting to see. I confess to being puzzled by its ultimate purpose which I didn't realize until now was important to me. Funny how we limit ourselves.
It is touching on the complementary colour wheel, diverse angles and shapes interest. When you are judging another's work, what are you looking for, - surprise, fresh view of an old object embellished with living plant material, feeling or mood projected or does the competition category define these displays.
I read an article recently that advised that one should generally follow the rules of the art medium but deliberately break one of the rule of art for freshness.
The flower show sets a “theme” for the transparency class, but that is only assigned 8 points on a scale of 100.
Basic artistic concepts of Balance, Dominance, Contrast, rhythm, proportion and scale are evaluated in each design. Also, execution of the design( are flowers fresh? Are materials clean? Is the staging panel correct in height?) is judged.
The ultimate purpose is to be a piece of temporary art. I love the short term nature of these floral designs. They come and they go. I’m not stuck with having to keep a thing forever and ever. They are created for a brief moment and then they disappear. I love that!
I love your color combination--complementary colors are a favorite of mine.
Nice balance, also.
Thanks for the explanation, IL. That helped me better understand. Looking forward to your sharing more of these creations.
That is AMAZING, Iris!! I love it! What are the dimensions of this? It looks immense. I admire your vision and execution. And your use of castoff materials.
iris lilies
6-6-21, 2:50pm
That is AMAZING, Iris!! I love it! What are the dimensions of this? It looks immense. I admire your vision and execution. And your use of castoff materials.
It is 36” high, about 12” wide.
Most flower shows limit height of designs to 30” or 36” or 42”.
It is important to fill the space you are assigned in the class which is one of the challenges.
Teacher Terry
6-6-21, 3:35pm
I like it very much. Very cool!
It is 36” high, about 12” wide.
Most flower shows limit height of designs to 30” or 36” or 42”.
It is important to fill the space you are assigned in the class which is one of the challenges.
Another question answered.
When I was at the Philadelphia Garden Show a few years ago, I was amazed at the size of the competitive entries and wondered how the size was determined and desired features decided.
I see PHS which is on now, June 5-13, has gone outside this year which should be especially interesting to see.
That is soooo cool!!!! And that it is made of repurposed stuff - very neat!!! I love it!
OMG. I want one. One of my favorite color combinations, and so harmonious yet whimsical.
If that's what you're doing with your extra time, it's time well spent!
iris lilies
7-17-21, 2:44pm
I show this only to illustrate how great some pieces work in competitive floral design.
Recognize this metal sculpture? I painted it blue for the class “Monet’s flower Garden” where it represents the swirling pools of water and round forms in Monet’s water lily series.
Now this image is part of a virtual flower show held by the North American Lily Society.
And now, I will have to retire it for a while because I used it in the last real flower show before Covid shut down, I used it as a demo at flower show school, and now this. Too many judges have seen this sculpture and they will recognize it as my work.
3859
Well done! Movement and good color placement, IMO.
That is unique. May I ask how you keep the flowers fresh for a show? Lillies in particular are thirsty beings and wilt fairly quickly.
iris lilies
7-17-21, 4:34pm
That is unique. May I ask how you keep the flowers fresh for a show? Lillies in particular are thirsty beings and wilt fairly quickly.
These have tubes of water at the back.
But I skipped on that since all I had to do is take a photograph and then it was over. For a real show I probably would not use so many hydrangeas because they are tricky to keep hydrated. Lilies are good in that once they are hydrator they will stay there for 24+ hours no problem with 0 water source.
happystuff
7-17-21, 6:24pm
Very nice!
Thanks IL for the description of how you prepare for the shows. Nice to know that your work would be recognized as yours...you have a reputation.
iris lilies
8-28-21, 5:52pm
I won Best in Show for design in The North American Lily Society Virtual show. Awards were announced today. There were 27 designs made by 18 designers across North America.
Top awards
http://nals2021.lilies.org/NALS_2021_Lily_Show_Best_in_Show_Awards_website.pd f
Nothing remarkable happened with my two Horticulture stems. One of them got a third place. The first and second place stems in that class were astounding.
all design awards
http://nals2021.lilies.org/NALS_2021_Lily_Show_Design_Class_Awards_slides.pd (http://nals2021.lilies.org/NALS_2021_Lily_Show_Design_Class_Awards_slides.pdf )f
some nice garden Lily stems. I was on the judging team for collections and container-grown lilies.
http://nals2021.lilies.org/NALS_2021_Lily_Show_Class_Awards_Section_D_E_F_G.p df
I also won best in division award for a local virtual show and there was no best overall show design, so I’m happy with that.
gimmethesimplelife
8-28-21, 6:18pm
I have to fess up. I have no artistic ability whatsoever other than when I try I can write well. There used to be a stereotype and still is to some extent that gay men tend to be artistic and creative and I'm afraid I slept in late the day such was given to gay men. Though I will say one thing - one of the few splurges I've made since landing a stable job for once - I renewed my membership at the Phoenix Art Museum.
I do enjoy an afternoon starting at the museum restaurant and then moving on to the exhibits. But I have no such talent myself. Someone's got to appreciate the talents of others though, no? Rob
gimmethesimplelife
8-28-21, 6:24pm
I won Best in Show for design in The North American Lily Society Virtual show. Awards were announced today. There were 27 designs made by 18 designers across North America.
Nothing remarkable happened with my two Horticulture stems. One of them got a third place. The first and second place stems in that class were astounding.
http://nals2021.lilies.org/NALS_2021_Lily_Show_Design_Class_Awards_slides.pdf
The best in show designs are at the bottom of the scroll.
I also won best in division award for a local virtual show and there was no best overall show design, so I’m happy with that.Congrats, IL! That's really cool. Rob
GeorgeParker
8-28-21, 7:10pm
There used to be a stereotype and still is to some extent that gay men tend to be artistic and creativeTheory: Little girls are taught that it's ok to be emotional and express their feelings. Indeed little girls are taught that they absolutely should be emotional and express their feelings because being feminine (aka girlish) makes them more attractive to boys. But little boys are taught that big boys don't cry and real men are strong and brave. Indeed, little boys are strongly taught that even if something hurts they have to be brave strong little men -- Stiff upper lip! Soldier on regardless! No one respects a crybaby... Perhaps the stereotype of homosexual men being more creative is simply the result of them traditionally being outside of the mainstream and therefore feeling like they have more freedom to defy the male/female stereotypes by expressing their emotions and creativity openly?
Just a theory, based on various LGBTQI+ friends I've had.
What's you opinion Rob?
ETA: I hope and believe the stereotypes I described of how boys and girls should behave are no longer being as widely or rigidly taught to little boys and little girls as they were 65 years ago when I was a little boy, but they are probably still far too widespread and constantly reinforced by schoolyard teasing.
ETA2: Ironically the trilogy I'm currently reading, "Way of the Warrior Kid", perpetuates and encourages the brave strong little boy stereotype I just criticized, and yet when I post a review of it, I will strongly endorse it as a good book for both boys and girls to read. (Sigh....Real life is complicated!)
I won Best in Show for design in The North American Lily Society Virtual show.
Wow!!! Congrats!!!
rosarugosa
8-28-21, 7:25pm
Congratulations, IL! Beautiful work!
iris lilies
8-28-21, 7:46pm
Wow!!! Congrats!!!
Bae, someone from Orcas islands attended our virtual award ceremony, and since there was only about 50 people attending the Zoom meetup, that is a small world coincidence. I know 70% of the regulars at our convention but do not know her. Don’t remember her name.
I won Best in Show for design in The North American Lily Society Virtual show. Awards were announced today. There were 27 designs made by 18 designers across North America.
Top awards
http://nals2021.lilies.org/NALS_2021_Lily_Show_Best_in_Show_Awards_website.pd f
Nothing remarkable happened with my two Horticulture stems. One of them got a third place. The first and second place stems in that class were astounding.
all design awards
http://nals2021.lilies.org/NALS_2021_Lily_Show_Design_Class_Awards_slides.pd (http://nals2021.lilies.org/NALS_2021_Lily_Show_Design_Class_Awards_slides.pdf )f
some nice garden Lily stems. I was on the judging team for collections and container-grown lilies.
http://nals2021.lilies.org/NALS_2021_Lily_Show_Class_Awards_Section_D_E_F_G.p df
I also won best in division award for a local virtual show and there was no best overall show design, so I’m happy with that.
Congratulations, IL! Well deserved!
happystuff
8-29-21, 4:52pm
Congrats, IL!!! Wonderful!
iris lilies
8-29-21, 5:03pm
Congrats, IL!!! Wonderful!
It is nice that everyone responds and I thank you. But honestly I’m sure it’s annoying that I put all these floral designs up for people to look at just keep in mind no one is forced to look at them. No one is forced to comment on them. And I want to know if other people win competitions in whatever, I’d like to know that!
happystuff
8-29-21, 5:17pm
I don't understand why you would think it is annoying. I, for one, appreciate that you share these things. If I didn't want to see them, I wouldn't look, let alone comment.
Thank you for sharing!
Congratulations, that is wonderful!
happystuff
8-29-21, 6:10pm
Backstory: There is a crafting expo that is held annually that several of my siblings go to. It runs from a Thursday thru Saturday night.Thursday afternoon/evening (the beginning of the expo) is "Make and Take" crafts - sort of purchased craft kits that don't take a lot of time, feature new materials or techniques, etc.
The expo has been cancelled the last two years due to covid, so last year and again this year a different sibling has hosted an "expo" for the family and friends. This past weekend was our family expo and I just got back.
Now, I'll say beforehand that several of my siblings are extremely talented in crafting, especially card-making, stamping, painting, etc. I tend towards other crafts, but never turn down a chance to hang with the family.
These are my Make and Takes that were done this weekend:
3921 3922
The little picture is a "technique" craft that is crayon, melted using a blow-dryer onto a little canvas square. The dream catcher has LOTS of feathers! LOL. And I didn't even use all of them! LOL. These were great fun to make (not that I would do them again. LOL)
Edited - sorry they are sideways!!
It is nice that everyone responds and I thank you. But honestly I’m sure it’s annoying that I put all these floral designs up for people to look at just keep in mind no one is forced to look at them. No one is forced to comment on them. And I want to know if other people win competitions in whatever, I’d like to know that!
I'll let you know if I win any awards for my artistic endeavors, but that's not likely to happen any time soon. But it's so much fun to see yours, and to share in the fun of winning!
(note: It is so weird that I have known you for probably over a decade, and you know more about me than many of my friends, but I reading the list of winners in the links, I got hit with the fact that, just as there is no Santa Clause, I guess there's really no "iris lilies"! :0
GeorgeParker
8-29-21, 6:58pm
It is so weird that I have known you for probably over a decade, and you know more about me than many of my friends, but in reading the list of winners in the links, I got hit with the fact that, just as there is no Santa Clause, I guess there's really no "iris lilies"! :0I don't want to disappoint you, but there's no George Parker either. After all, this is the internet -- a place where no one knows if you're a dog, or wearing Hello Kitty panties, or whatever it is that floats your boat.
The real George Parker is a little boy in the book The Trolleycar Family (copyright 1947). That was the first book I ever picked out for myself and bought with my own allowance money, and I've always wanted to live in a trolleycar way out in the country and run around half-wild in the fields and woods all day. Alas, it was not to be....
iris lilies
8-29-21, 7:31pm
Backstory: There is a crafting expo that is held annually that several of my siblings go to. It runs from a Thursday thru Saturday night.Thursday afternoon/evening (the beginning of the expo) is "Make and Take" crafts - sort of purchased craft kits that don't take a lot of time, feature new materials or techniques, etc.
The expo has been cancelled the last two years due to covid, so last year and again this year a different sibling has hosted an "expo" for the family and friends. This past weekend was our family expo and I just got back.
Now, I'll say beforehand that several of my siblings are extremely talented in crafting, especially card-making, stamping, painting, etc. I tend towards other crafts, but never turn down a chance to hang with the family.
These are my Make and Takes that were done this weekend:
3921 3922
The little picture is a "technique" craft that is crayon, melted using a blow-dryer onto a little canvas square. The dream catcher has LOTS of feathers! LOL. And I didn't even use all of them! LOL. These were great fun to make (not that I would do them again. LOL)
Edited - sorry they are sideways!!
i do like this little painting! So colorful.
iris lilies
8-29-21, 7:33pm
I'll let you know if I win any awards for my artistic endeavors, but that's not likely to happen any time soon. But it's so much fun to see yours, and to share in the fun of winning!
(note: It is so weird that I have known you for probably over a decade, and you know more about me than many of my friends, but I reading the list of winners in the links, I got hit with the fact that, just as there is no Santa Clause, I guess there's really no "iris lilies"! :0
Well you know, I just put it out there. I figured most people can figure out who I am if they really want to anyway. Yes it is true I’m not really Iris Lilies.
Teacher Terry
8-29-21, 7:52pm
Your designs are not annoying and I love looking at them. Congrats! I on the other hand don’t have one artistic bone in my body:)).
rosarugosa
8-30-21, 5:41am
Nice work, Happystuff!
Jane v2.0
8-30-21, 10:06am
I particularly admire the movement in your New Zealand entry, and the rhythm it implies.
Happystuff, your crayon painting reminds me of storm clouds; I like the color and texture implied.
I won a special award for Best Title for a quilt called Teenage Muted Nine-Patch Turtles...
I seem to only be able to work to deadline...I made a doll quilt called Tax Deduction once while putting off a difficult IRS filing.
Teacher Terry
8-30-21, 12:32pm
Happy, I like your crafts too. I missed them somehow yesterday.
happystuff
8-30-21, 1:59pm
Thanks, everyone. It was fun and interesting to step out of my crafting comfort zone.
Clever titles, Jane!
iris lilies
12-1-21, 9:07am
This is the last floral -related activity of the year, a tablescape design. My tablescape is one of about 20 set up in Hermann, Missouri as a fundraiser for the local historical society.
This event has high standards and there’s always some interesting tables. My favorite of recent years was a table set halfway, With chaos on part of it, and that chaos included (faux) blood splatters and a knife with what appeared to be blood on it. There was a note that said the lady who set up a table cut herself and she had to leave immediately. It was all staged but it was funny.
Another time someone set up a perfect vignette of mid century modern dinnerware plus a mid century buffet that included drinks cabinet and cocktail accoutrements. It was stunning.
My table this year is a full out Victorian effects titled “Victorian Christmas of 1890 “where I use flow blue China from that period. Because these tables have to last 11 days, I used evergreens and freeze dried roses in the floral pieces.
I have future years planned through 2023. I threw this one together this year because I had all the stuff and didn’t have to make anything. In the future I want to do a “Gothic Christmas with the Addams family “and also another year do “a Grinch Christmas. “But for both I will have extensive items to make and I’m just not set up to do that right now.
4102
happystuff
12-1-21, 9:50am
Very nice, IL. Love the pattern on the dishes. I would be afraid to actually use them!!
Lovely to see with effective colour on the white tablecloth. I am surprised at the shape of the water glasses or is there something that I don't understand. I would have expected goblets for the water.
iris lilies
12-1-21, 1:18pm
Lovely to see with effective colour on the white tablecloth. I am surprised at the shape of the water glasses or is there something that I don't understand. I would have expected goblets for the water.
I actually own old style water glasses, stems, but they are clear. I wanted this punch of color of cranberry glass.
rosarugosa
12-2-21, 7:26am
IL: Lovely, and the pictures are even right-side-up!
I am so intrigued with your Addams Family and Grinch ideas. Please be sure to share these creations when you do them!
Came across this pair today on a hike:
https://i.imgur.com/S6exp5e.jpg
They look so majestic until they open their mouths...
IrisLily, your table setting makes me nostalgic. I come from women who collected, and flow blue and cranberry glass were part of the background of my life.
rosarugosa
2-22-22, 5:22am
Nice shot, Bae. We live beside a river, and we've had a pair of these guys hanging around on a regular basis, causing much excitement in town. There was also a recent snowy owl sighting, but I've yet to see one of those myself.
Yes, we had a pair of bald eagles nesting in a buoy in the lake last summer, and one was actually just sitting on our lawn one morning!! It was so exciting! They are off the endangered list in VT.
Thanks for sharing that great shot, bae.
Beautiful photo, Bae! Chuckling a little because last Saturday, I was excited seeing a rust tailed hawk perched on a redbud tree in my backyard with the strong wind ruffling its feathers. I can appreciate how pleased you must have been seeing this beautiful pair in that setting. Thank you for sharing this moment.
happystuff
2-22-22, 9:46am
Beautiful! It is so exciting to see one, let alone two!
Bae, Your photo lifted my heart! Thanks for sharing it! How very exciting.
iris lilies
2-22-22, 3:02pm
That is an astonishing photograph bae, just beautiful.
https://i.imgur.com/HWAjQ0Q.jpg
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
(And some of the smallest wildlife I photographed there yesterday, but these look so happy-Spring!)
https://i.imgur.com/mKyrw14.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oALuRSU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dTEF2ov.jpg
Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah .
Fort Casey on an overcast day this last Saturday
https://i.imgur.com/XQz8rTv.jpg
Lovely to see such bright colours in the bloom and unfolding leaves a vibrant green.
I've always loved that song: "I can't do what ten people tell me to do, so I guess I'll remain the same."
Great shot,too...
iris lilies
3-14-22, 10:37pm
The floral branch and bee is so pretty!
BAE, What is the flower? You photos are marvelous.
BAE, What is the flower? You photos are marvelous.
I think it is some sort of currant.
catherine
3-15-22, 11:34am
Beautiful pairing of photo/lyric
happystuff
3-15-22, 12:55pm
Wonderful photos, bae. Thanks so much for sharing.
Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum)? They're native in WA.
Here's my latest creation.
4272
Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum)? They're native in WA.
Thanks Kay! It was the first bee I'd seen, and it looked so very much like Spring might be here at long last.
(Sort of silly to go all the way to that refuge and then hike in, to take a picture of a bee, but, well, there it is :-) )
Kay, I love them!! Wish I could make them for Easter. I have a felted bear Christmas ornament that I bought in Michigan at an art fair.
rosarugosa
3-15-22, 2:53pm
Beautiful photos, Bae!
Those eggs are so pretty, Kay!
happystuff
3-15-22, 7:49pm
Very nice, Kay! Great job!
iris lilies
3-15-22, 7:58pm
Love those eggs! What a lively color variation. I like the dark blue one best, but the orange one is luvely, too. Did you out the little bitsy pieces of felt and embroider them?
Love those eggs! What a lively color variation. I like the dark blue one best, but the orange one is luvely, too. Did you out the little bitsy pieces of felt and embroider them?
Yes, cut out the shapes, sewed them onto the larger ovals of felt, embellished them with embroidery stitches, then machine sewed the ovals (4 for each egg), stuffed them with polyfil, then embellished the seams.
Not bad for cat toys ...;-)
Kay, I love them!! Wish I could make them for Easter. I have a felted bear Christmas ornament that I bought in Michigan at an art fair.
Ha! I started them before LAST Easter, but put them aside until this winter. They look simple, but they're time consuming.
Not bad for cat toys ...;-)
Amazing effort, and great results!
Thanks Kay! It was the first bee I'd seen, and it looked so very much like Spring might be here at long last.
(Sort of silly to go all the way to that refuge and then hike in, to take a picture of a bee, but, well, there it is :-) )
I haven't actually seen a bee yet, but heard one as it zoomed by my face this morning!
Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum)? They're native in WA.
Here's my latest creation.
4272
They are really lovely. Is there a background story or cultural history that explains your effort to make these.
They are really lovely. Is there a background story or cultural history that explains your effort to make these.
No, no history or background, sorry. They just looked like something fun and colorful to do during lockdown. I started them back then, then set aside after cutting out all the pieces. Just picked them back up a month or so ago and finished them. I hate having partially done projects in my stash.
Very elegant--pysanky for your cat!
iris lilies
4-24-22, 11:32am
Here is an amusing, if cheezy, floral design for our recent Daffodil show. The theme of the flower show was “weather “and this particular class was “Storms Ahead.” I had the spiralized Midollino piece in my basement and I thought it look like a tornado, so I figured out a way to use it in the class.
It won “Best in Show” As well as the blue ribbon in its class. I usually don’t do literal interpretations of themes, but this tornado thing was sitting right there.
4417
happystuff
4-24-22, 11:56am
Very nice! Congrats, IL.
Congrats IL...good creative instinct!
rosarugosa
4-25-22, 6:38am
Very nice, IL!
That's great, IL! The floral arrangement has so much movement it does look like it's being swept away! Congratulations!
The sun is at last showing up here!
https://i.imgur.com/HQycIsh.jpg
frugal-one
5-10-22, 5:42pm
Not artistic but beautiful IMO... taken from the kitchen window today.
4464
Not artistic but beautiful IMO... taken from the kitchen window today.
4464
Yes, it is beautiful! Lovely birds!
happystuff
5-11-22, 9:40am
Both very beautiful pictures!!
Here's my latest finish. Can you find the starfish?4468
rosarugosa
5-11-22, 6:25pm
That's lovely, Kay. I think I see two starfish - is that possible?
happystuff
5-12-22, 9:22am
That's lovely, Kay. I think I see two starfish - is that possible?
I was going to post the same thing. LOL. I see two as well.
I saw two as well, a large one on the flank and a smaller one near the head.
iris lilies
5-12-22, 11:08am
Here's my latest finish. Can you find the starfish?4468
K, what medium is this? It looks like a stamp on fabric.
It's counted cross stitch, Iris. Every time I tell myself I'm not going to do another counted piece, I find myself charmed by another pattern!
Yes, two starfish!
frugal-one
5-12-22, 5:08pm
VERY nice!
Not especially artistic. But, I've been experimenting using some of my astronomy image processing tools on terrestrial photos.
Modern computers are super-powerful for image processing, especially the higher-end new Apple M1 processor-based machines.
The source photo is a simple digital snapshot of a 50+ year old photo in a frame, with an older iPhone.
The resultant photo is that image run through some of my tools, a process that would have taken forever with older computers, here it was nearly real-time to examine the changes, which allowed me to fiddle with some of the parameters to get a better result.
https://i.imgur.com/q4IXbZs.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3MITZjX.jpg
Bae, that technology really crisped the image nice and clean.
That's quite a machine and artist!! Is that you, Bae? Nice work.
A boy and his dog! My father would have loved this.
Catherine, Your poem made me smile. Thanks.
Me too.
Random first experiment with a pinhole lens. No filters were abused in the production of this image :-)
https://i.imgur.com/0AcTOr5.jpg
Walked to the top of the mountain this afternoon, took some shots of the Cascades (Mt. Baker and the Twin Sisters) from Mt. Constitution here. Then stopped at the community dock on the way back, and got a shot of a storm over the Olympic mountains from a distance:
https://i.imgur.com/k9kJPCM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/cYyTkIW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/py9gCYo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Z57TXoO.jpg
rosarugosa
1-15-23, 8:32am
Great shots, Bae. The stormy sky is amazing.
happystuff
1-15-23, 10:49am
Wow! Absolutely beautiful!
littlebittybobby
1-16-23, 9:35pm
Okay---Awesome & Amazing! Like a Bob Ross Painting. Yup.
So much traffic on the way to the village today....
https://i.imgur.com/rEsWUM8.jpg
catherine
2-17-23, 10:25pm
Wow. Gorgeous.
One of the oldest buildings in our village today:
https://i.imgur.com/kpVquI7.jpg
BAE You send the best photos! I love the church and labyrinth. Your land of sky and water makes me think I could move that far north... Thank you!
iris lilies
2-24-23, 11:51am
I am brilliant! Haha, am very pleased with myself NOT due to this artistic effort which is sadly mediocre, but because I solved an interior design problem as follows:
my tiny condo has no closet in the small bedroom ‘tho it has plenty of closets elsewhere. We throw our not-quite-dirty clothes over the bed rail, a chair, etc. creating visual clutter.
I bought this French screen with the intention of painting over the ugly art on it. It is to sit at the foot of the bed, hiding the air conditioner.
But my brilliant lightbulb idea is to hang hooks on the back of it for clothes. Perfect!
Honestly, it take me ages to figure out solutions in small spaces. I have been measuring, online shopping, re-measuring, rethinking, doing more shopping to fit exactly the right furniture into a very small bathroom in Hermann. I lost out on a perfeft wicker cabinet on Facebook Marketplace. Someone got to it before me. But I was cheered to know that something in the right material snd dimensions exists.
Here is the screen about half done.
5215
catherine
2-24-23, 12:00pm
I am brilliant! Haha, am very pleased with myself NOT due to this artistic effort which is sadly mediocre, but because I solved an interior design problem as follows:
my tiny condo has no closet in the small bedroom ‘tho it has plenty of closets elsewhere. We throw our not-quite-dirty clothes over the bed rail, a chair, etc. creating visual clutter.
I bought this French screen with the intent of painting over the unacceptable art on it. It is to sit at the foot of the bed, hiding the air conditioner.
But my brilliant lightbulb idea is to hang hooks on the back of it for clothes. Perfect!
Honestly, it take me ages to figure out solutions in small spaces. I have been measuring, online shopping, re-measuring, rethinking, doing more shopping to fit exactly the right furniture into a very small bathroom in Hermann. I lost out on a perfeft wicker cabinet on Facebook Marketplace. Someone got to it before me. But I was cheered to know that something in the right material snd dimensions exists.
….photo coming…
Looking forward to seeing the photo! Sounds like a brilliant idea! I know what you mean about small space solutions. I have really enjoyed the challenge! Ironically, our teeny kitchen is the most efficient one we've ever had. DH, my Gordon Ramsey fanboy, loves cooking in our kitchen (although he pines for a Viking stove).
My small space hacks have definitely included the use of hooks!
happystuff
2-24-23, 1:10pm
Very nice. That is a very solid looking screen. Is it wood?
iris lilies
2-24-23, 1:10pm
Looking forward to seeing the photo! Sounds like a brilliant idea! I know what you mean about small space solutions. I have really enjoyed the challenge! Ironically, our teeny kitchen is the most efficient one we've ever had. DH, my Gordon Ramsey fanboy, loves cooking in our kitchen (although he pines for a Viking stove).
My small space hacks have definitely included the use of hooks!
I think 3M sticky solutions are becoming my best friends.we hung some light paintings with them. I am going to get a sticky cord holder for my co do and paint it wall color. Hooks and mor hooks to hang on wall and elsewhere.
rosarugosa
2-25-23, 6:06am
Great solution, IL! Small-space solutions are always a cause for celebration around here as well.
iris lilies
2-25-23, 8:44am
Very nice. That is a very solid looking screen. Is it wood?
I am not sure. It may be some kind of composite, or may be wood veneer over something. It was cheap in the vintage store.
I don’t know if drilling into it will work hence my plan for 3M sticky hooks.
iris lilies
3-1-23, 8:21am
This photo demonstrates the excellent help I have these days setting up flower show exhibits. Madison Cat likes to assist. I did not pose Madison here. She got up in that space by herself. And in doing so, she pointed out one area that perhaps should filled with some object although some negative space is good.
This is one of the more archane things flower show ladies make, an “exhibition table” which suggests food service using whatever materials but must include some plant material. My plant material is palm leaves.
5232
What a clever assistant!
I like that piece--I think the palm leaves go well with the colors and pattern of the plates.
Madison really makes it special.
This project got me through the dull winter. It's largely Blackwork, with a bit of cross stitch, Kloster blocks, herringbone and French knots. Off to the framers next week.
ETA it measures 10 x 10 in.
5253
early morning
3-11-23, 1:00pm
KayLR, that is beautiful! (as is Madison and your - her - exhibit piece, IL!)
iris lilies
3-11-23, 1:08pm
This project got me through the dull winter. It's largely Blackwork, with a bit of cross stitch, Kloster blocks, herringbone and French knots. Off to the framers next week.
ETA it measures 10 x 10 in.
5253
that is a beautiful piece! So delicate. And pink and green is always the right color combo choice.
rosarugosa
3-12-23, 6:28am
Your work is lovely, Kay!
This project got me through the dull winter. It's largely Blackwork, with a bit of cross stitch, Kloster blocks, herringbone and French knots. Off to the framers next week.
ETA it measures 10 x 10 in.
5253
That's the perfect combination of colors and stitch variety; very nice.
happystuff
3-13-23, 10:59am
Wow! Very nice, Kay!!
I was testing a new camera/lens today, when I got photobombed.
This is heavily cropped in, to catch the intruder, but it's pretty impressive what modern cameras can pull off, even in not especially good conditions!
I guess Spring is on the way, yay!
https://i.imgur.com/dZr0o36.jpg
iris lilies
3-15-23, 6:36pm
I was testing a new camera/lens today, when I got photobombed.
This is heavily cropped in, to catch the intruder, but it's pretty impressive what modern cameras can pull off, even in not especially good conditions!
I guess Spring is on the way, yay!
https://i.imgur.com/dZr0o36.jpg
So pink. So nice.
Handsome fellow!
I'm thinking now it might be a bee mimic and not an actual bee, but that is well outside my wheelhouse.
catherine
3-15-23, 10:17pm
So, cool! Look at all the pollen on the lil guy. Great resolution!
happystuff
3-16-23, 10:38am
Beautiful and an amazing shot!
Another summer visitor arrived this afternoon while I was lens-testing:
https://i.imgur.com/pLgEhwZ.jpg
Lovely! We need all the well-fed bees we can get.
Obviously, the lens is a keeper.
Another summer visitor arrived this afternoon while I was lens-testing:
That's a nice look at springtime. Everything is brown here. Those little critters can be moving fast to photograph. Flash?
That's a nice look at springtime. Everything is brown here. Those little critters can be moving fast to photograph. Flash?
Oh, these are the devil to try to catch with this lens. It's a macro lens, so it has a very shallow depth of field. In addition, as you get closer to your subject, you get a fair bit less light.
This lens opens up to F2.8 and remains pretty crisp and flat even wide open, but then the depth of field is too shallow to get the whole bee, or even just its head, in focus. So you have to stop down a bit, but, then, less light.
And then the bee is wriggling and moving, and the flower moving a bit in the breeze, so you can't just set up a tripod. So these are hand-held shots.
I did this and the previous insect photo with outdoor light, mid-day, with a bit of overcast.
The rate of "keeper" photos is fairly low with this method, but with modern digital cameras no real film is wasted. So far, the best technique I've come up with involves getting focus "close" with the focus ring (and the modern digital camera's focus-peaking indicators), and then slightly moving myself back and forth to track the moving insect. I seem to get about 20%-ish keepers, and that's with a purely mechanical-focus lens, no auto-focusing AI was used for this project.
Much to learn still :-). Any sort of ring light or flash would improve the situation immeasurably, but as I started out doing astrophotography, the whole "flash" thing is a mystery to me still.
I've dabbled in macro photos a bit and usually try some summer and spring flower photos. I have a small kit with a diffuser and and different color reflectors to clamp onto a tripod for flowers. Bug photos are hard, though and I'm not that patient. I believe my macro lens is a fixed 100mm f4 on a full frame sensor and I've sometimes used a 1.6X doubler. I need to dust it off soon. I've mostly done bird photos for a volunteer project and hobby landscapes.
PBS had a great feature about a guy who became obsessed with bee filming. He has quite the gear.
https://www.mygardenofathousandbees.com/
iris lilies
3-29-23, 6:37pm
That little,guynis doing his job, spreading pollen.
happystuff
3-30-23, 9:59am
Again, beautiful picture, bae. Thanks for sharing.
rosarugosa
3-30-23, 12:25pm
That's a great picture, Bae!
You might enjoy some of the work by Bill Johnson. He wrote a great monthly column devoted to garden insects and featuring his photography in Horticulture magazine. Unfortunately, he doesn't appear to be a current contributor, but I always enjoyed his work. He has a website: https://billjohnsonbeyondbutterflies.com/a-gallery-of-pollinators
iris lilies
4-2-23, 7:13am
I won “ Best in Show” in the daffodil show this weekend with this floral design that interprets the song “Lady Marmalade.” It was fun to make. The second photo is a large design I made for the lobby of the show hall.
5319
5320
Congrats, Iris! Just lovely!
I won “ Best in Show” in the daffodil show this weekend with this floral design that interprets the song “Lady Marmalade.” It was fun to make. The second photo is a large design I made for the lobby of the show hall.
5319
5320
Very nice, IL! I especially like Lady Marmalade with the beads and feathers!
Lady Marmalade was inspired--love the explosion of orange!
iris lilies
4-3-23, 12:03pm
Lady Marmalade was inspired--love the explosion of orange!
This design show class was “Choose and interpret a song in colors of daffodils (yellow, orange, white, cream)”
Things are blooming in the Skagit Valley over on the mainland here right now!
https://i.imgur.com/a1UfkQP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/I8fESSV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0b3W6Tm.jpg
The boat ride back wasn't bad either!
https://i.imgur.com/jbTJpPU.jpg
OMG, is that a daffodil farm? Or does someone just love daffodils?
iris lilies
4-4-23, 8:34am
OMG, is that a daffodil farm? Or does someone just love daffodils?
Looks like a commercial bulb operation to me. Because I am an annoying snob, I have to say those are not very interesting daffodils. But they are certainly pretty en masse and who wouldn’t love them?
It's not often we get nice skies like that here in the arid foothills, and the right exposures between the background and foreground can be difficult.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.