Splendid Little Stars: June 2012

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Under the Sea

I love the sea! On the beach, in the water, or under the sea--it's all lovely to me!

Sint Maarten, NA

I love the colors of the Caribbean Sea--changing from light aqua to a deep rich midnight blue. Snorkeling is one of my favorite activities. Green sea grass undulates in the waves. And beyond--the coral reefs teaming with colorful fish!

That's precisely what I was thinking when I dyed this scarf for our Blogging Business Artisan Challenge for the month of June.

I decided to dye silk for this Challenge. First up--a silk scarf.

a plain white silk scarf blank

I washed the scarf and soaked it in a solution and then applied the dyes.

I employ a number of different techniques and methods whenever I dye scarves. I may have a general plan, but I really just follow my intuition as I work. Above is a detail during the dyeing process. I painted the colors of the rippling water, added some sea grass, and then later added colorful fishes. The style is impressionistic overall.

detail

I dyed a couple scrunchies as well.

The scunchie above is silk velvet and reminds me of turquoise waters with currents of darker blue.

This scrunchie is pure silk and is similar to to one above, but with a bit more blue variation and detail.

This was a very fun team Challenge and teammates have come up with wonderful projects. See more HERE. This Challenge was conceived of by Erika of Little Andalucia and Artful Rising,

"June begins the anticipation of warmer weather, vacations, and playing on the beach. Create with the theme Under the Sea."

These items will soon be in my etsy shop.

Friday, June 29, 2012

fireworks and flags

Independence Day--July 4th--is almost here! Time to celebrate!

with fireworks!

I love the patterns fireworks make! The circle here is actually the moon!

more of the moon! These fireworks patterns inspire me artistically to think of dyeing projects.

This photo was taken at a fireworks show after a Reds baseball game. My friend Sammy's band plans to use this photo for the cover of their new album Live Forever!

and with flags!

I just finished dyeing a bunch of these chamois (soft, very absorbent towels) for Kast-A-Way Swimwear. This particular flag chamois is taken from the Dive Cincinnati/Springboards and More website. (I cannot believe I didn't take a photo of a completed dyed flag chamois!) Here ↓ are some flags just after they've been dyed.

Speaking of flag chamois, the Summer Olympics are coming up, so these are very popular right now.

It would be so great to actually see one of my chamois at the Olympics! Do let me know if you see them. To the left and right are photos of some of my tie dye chamois for those of you who have been asking to see them.

Here ↓ is a cute little boy wearing a flag shirt I made. (You can find these in my shop.)

And here ↓ is a photo from a tie dye session at a Girl Scout summer camp in 2009 from the blog post Red, White, and Blue!

I'm linking up with my favorite teacher, Ms Jenny Matlock, as we work our way through the alphabet. Please do go visit the other students, for you never know what gems you may find--humor, poignancy, information, visions of far away places, stuff you've never even dreamed of! Check it out HERE. You may even wish to join in yourself! This week our letter is "F."

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

window

A stained glass window decorates the ceiling of St. Francis Seraph church in Over the Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio. This photo was taken during the American Legacy Queen City Underground tour.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

cute

Note that one of Oliver's eyes is slightly cracked open... wondering what I'm up to, but too sleepy to investigate further.

I'm linking up with Gattina's fun meme Cats on Tuesday. Come visit HERE to see more kitties and their wonderful antics!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

eat

some of the edibles growing in my garden or in pots on my deck...

Meyer lemon

There are several lemons on this plant! They are about the size of a couple cherry tomatoes put together. Here's a photo of the lemon in my hand. ↓ See the beautiful sweet-scented lemon blossom in an earlier POST.

hot peppers

I've brought this plant inside for 2 Winters now. During that time, it lives in my basement and is very neglected and is watered very little. It revives when brought outside and exposed to sun and watering.

baby mixed lettuces

Growing lettuce, Asian greens, Swiss chard, and spinach in pots is so easy! I simply pick the outer leaves and the plants keep on growing.

yellow cherry tomatoes

My FIRST ripe tomato! I'm so excited! and it's not even July yet! Yes, yes, I do know it's small...but it's ripe...and it's my first!

stevia

I have 2 kinds of stevia growing in pots on my deck. The leaves are a natural sweetener. The tags says "300 times sweeter than sugar without the calories." I had a plant in the past which I over-wintered in my basement. I suppose it was too neglected because it didn't make it. Stevia is hardy in zones 8-10.

thyme, rosemary, and a couple basil leaves visible in the back

I love basil! I grow several varieties, which I start from seed, in pots on my deck. Both basil and rosemary smell so heavenly! I bought these 3 plants and put them together in one pot. Only the thyme is a perennial in my zone, so I'll plant that in the garden in the Fall.

thyme in the garden

Thyme is in the mint family and spreads by runners underground and by seeds. I think it is a pretty and low growing addition to the garden. The lavender flowers attract bees.

parsley flower and leaves

The parsley is going to seed. That's great because fresh, new plants will soon be coming up. (This parsley is growing in the pot in which the Carolina wrens made a nest. See that post HERE.)

EAT: to consume or ingest food to provide for nutritional or medicinal needs, especially for energy and growth. All heterotrophs* must eat in order to survive.

We all know what eating is, but the question that remains is what exactly is food? According to Michale Pollan, humans ingest much edible food-like substances. One of his food rules is "Don't eat anything incapable of rotting.” (In Defense of Food:An Eater's Manifesto)

In thinking of food, we do need to consider how it was raised. Our health is at stake. I won't go into any depth here.
I will share this list that I recently came across. It is published by the nonprofit EWG--Environmental Working Group, whose mission "is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment." The list is a Shopper's Guide to Pesticide in Produce. The link is in the list below. I will share with you here the 3 worst produce items: apples, celery, and sweet bell peppers. The website itself is interesting to peruse.

*heterotrophs--organisms that need carbon but cannot fix it themselves.

LINKS:

115 Michael Pollan quotes

Fresh, the movie, BLOG

EWG Shopper's Guide to Pesticide in Produce

Thursday, June 14, 2012

derriere

Lost and lonely, this bighorn sheep was wandering the parking lot at Logan's Pass in Glacier National Park. Finally, he found the edge and is peering over. He seems to be scanning the view for something familiar.

Do you ever feel like you've lost your way--even momentarily?

I'm linking up with my favorite teacher, Ms Jenny Matlock! See others' completed homework assignments HERE. Come join in the fun! This week our letter is "D."

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

TRAVEL

on my way home Saturday after going on a (very cool, organized) tour of my city--Cincinnati. (more about that later)

SILLY

detail of a display for Bikes in Boom, an art display event all over the town of Milford, Ohio, sponsored by the Greater Milford Events and Arts Council. This one is outside of a Walgreens.

BLACK AND WHITE

I've interrupted Oliver 's window time to snap his picture by teasing him with a toy.

SPOTS

a calla lily leaf. These spots are not white but are translucent.

PAPER

Baby Swiss chard plants are growing in a pot on my deck.

a pile of cards I made with friends last Friday evening.

This is a very fun meme hostessed by Ashley Sisk in which 5 prompts are given and one must then take a photo to illustrate each one. Come see how others have interpreted these words HERE! You have till Tuesday, June12 to join in.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

cats are cute

right?

right!

So we want to snap their portraits, natch.

Problem: How do you get a cat to pose?

"What is it you are expecting of me?" says Oliver (to himself: "If treats are involved, I may grace you with a cursory glance.")

"And now what? We're very busy checking out the air flowing from this grate." say Oliver and Earnest

"I have sites to see and smells to smell, but I will stop for a quick snap because I'm a very loving kitty," thinks Huck, the farm cat.

"Oh hi. We're rather busy. We were napping you see. But we'll look up because we love you since you bring us catnip and lots of fun toys. You play with us a lot, too." say Bunkie and Tigra (my daughter's kitties)

And now I'll leave you with this very fun kitty, who is oh so charming--Simon's Cat

Link:
Simon's Cat

Cat Man Do film (in case you can't watch it above)

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