Saturday, June 19, 2010

Finished the Heron...





On my last trip to Florida, I got several photos of herons that I really wanted to translate to wall quilts using silk.



I actually used the legs from one photo, and the body and 
head from a different photo.








What an elegant bird... I really hope that they are not affected by the disastrous oil spill the way the pelicans and other wildlife have been.












I did thread painting and beading for extra dimension - the
 grass is silk, also, as is the sun...






















































I plan to make another similar one, with slightly different colors.
























Friday, June 11, 2010

The Bee's Knees





Had an interruption from "real life" to deal with thousands of honey bees that are trying to find a new home in my house. What you see in this photo is just the tip of the iceberg!

When you open that little gray door, there are THOUSANDS of bees, about one cubic foot of honey bees.

We called a beekeeper, who was flabbergasted, and is going to help them find a new home, hopefully in one of his hives.

 






Unfortunately, he was not able to get the queen, but he is still hoping they will move into this box, so he can move them to his place of business.




They have temporarily moved the entire swarm to a tree in the yard next door. 

I find their behavior very interesting, but would rather watch a documentary on IMAX. Observing their behavior in my kitchen and basement has been a little unsettling...












Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft





I started a new volunteer job today, and I really enjoyed it! It is at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, on Main Street.



I loved being in such beautiful surroundings, and working with such nice people.





Today was extra busy, because it is the opening day of the Glass Art Society Conference, which is a big deal. There are  many people in town for this conference, including a number of famous glass artists.




There are three shows on at the Museum, including a wonderful collection of Glass Jewelry. The other two shows are by two glass artists who are receiving awards from the society.

















Although this chair and table are not glass, I am including the photo for my friend Anita. She is a wonderful quilter and quilt artist, but she is also talented at making art using cardboard. (This chair and table are laminated cardboard)

I had a busy but wonderful day, and I look forward to my next day there.






Thursday, June 3, 2010

Not a Quiche, Not a Frittata



A while back, a friend gave us a delicious apple pie. I wanted to return her pie plate, but I have a rule never to return a food vessel empty.

So when I knew we were going to see her today, I decided to try a new recipe using some fresh summer veggies.

It is a recipe that appeared several weeks ago in the New York TImes Magazine, one of my favorite sources of recipes. It is a recipe from 1977, but not full of heavy cream like many recipes from back then.

It is basically a cross between a quiche and a frittata, with no crust.

One could use any fresh summer vegetables, and I used fresh asparagus, country ham, and fontina cheese. It also has slices of red bell peppers, and parsley. I used to make frittatas all the time, using zucchini, squash, onions, whatever I had on hand.

I have more fresh asparagus, along with the other ingredients, so I think I will make another one to keep.  It is a good source of protein, and a good way to cook something ahead that is appetizing and good for you...