Arctic Hats Project

I'm singing the usual refrain of just too many fun things to do and not enough time.  My newest project is to make and sell hats to help fund an ambitious summer project of going to Gates of the Arctic Nat. Park as an AIR (hopefully they'll accept my application, I'll know in May)  It's going to be an adventure just getting there so I'm thinking positively and working on fund raising now.  The hats are hand knit in wool and then machine felted.  Unique, colorful and useful.  I think everyone needs at least one hat that has a name.   In addition to the hats shown here, I have made; dusk, noir, starry night, coastal fog, and forest trail..... you guess the colors! 

Willow

Another in my leaf on cloth series.  

Another Kind of Maple

Another magnificent maple leaf.  You can really appreciate the varieties of maple trees best when their leaves change color in the fall.  So many different shapes and colors!  

Eliza sketch

I got up this morning and tried to draw in a new large painting but ended up wiping it off, so then I grabbed a small panel and told myself to just sit down and try something different.  I didn't quite capture Eliza, but I like it anyway.  It's so weird, one second you look at it and there she is and then you make one more stroke and she's gone away completely!  Working this small is like that, every stroke is going to make it or break it.  Ah well, next time.  Maybe I'll just rename it "Youthful Enthusiasm" then it can "feel" like Eliza without having to look exactly like her!  

Alder

Here's another in the falling leaves series. 

Out of the Woods

Afternoon light floods the road out from my house.... nice to revisit since today isn't offering such a golden afternoon.  It's a challenge to cram all this color onto such a tiny board, but it's a good way to play with color and see if the composition holds up.  I'm thinking this might work in a larger version.  :) 

Maple

In case anyone has a need for color, here you go.  I'm having fun laying all the uniquely different fall leaves on this cloth, one more coming.  

Ginko

The gorgeous fall colors just won't give up this year..... I think it's to help us survive until Nov. 5th.  

Green to Gold

An ode to autumn as the green of summer turns to gold.  It has been a spectacular fall color extravaganza here this year.  I love standing out under the big leaf maples, turning my face to the sky and feeling the leaves touch my cheek as they fall to the ground.  Ah, the cycles of life, may they always be this graceful!    .... yes, I know these aren't big leaf maple leaves I've painted here but they will show up one of these days so stay tuned.  :)

Afternoon Run

My sister and I went running on 5 mile drive in Tacoma's Point Defiance Park last week.  What a wonderful place to unwind and enjoy the stunning fall colors.

Eggplant & Tomatoes

The last of my colorful garden vegetables for now.  I like this smoother surface, a linen weave rather than the cotton canvas I've been painting on.  Enjoy!

Wild Apples

Here's another go at these yummy apples from my neighbors tree.

Cuddle Up

Another Halflinger pair.  

Baby Face

This little munchkin is a Halflinger pony from my cousins farm.  

Two Apples

I love this time of year when you can pluck lunch right off the trees!  

Coastal Morning

The promise of a beautiful day on Washington's wilderness coast.  This is from a photo taken while on the annual 8th grade beach hike where we introduce many kids for the first time to the joys of backpacking.  Hopefully it instills an appreciation for the wild lands that Washington state has to offer and a motivation to continue protecting them.

Autumn Light

This is the view I have on my way out for an afternoon jog.  Pretty wild colors that I didn't get quite right in this quick study, but the composition and lighting has potential.   It will be a great exercise in warm and cool colors when I try it a bit larger.