Packed and ready to go!

 Doesn't this look amazing?!

My cousin and I are headed to Italy for an art workshop in Montelparo, Italy. Wow!!! It's finally time to go. I'm looking forward to an art overdose, awesome food, and time with Gail. 

Play time: Silk Fusion

 I've neglected play time during the past months while working on quilts for the Quad City Arts Exhibit. It feels good to take time to experiment and explore. 

The silk process is very simple. Layer the silk roving and fuse it together with textile medium. Let it dry. How easy is that! The added stitches take some time, but I do like to keep my hands busy.

Tourmalinated Quartz

 Oh yes - I see black random stitches in my future!

Altar of the Jade Pagoda

This lovely was made in 1933. Designed by Chang Wen Ti in China. 

Carved from a nine-ton boulder purchased by Mr. Chang Wen Ti in 1915 in northern Myanmar, this pagoda and the altar objects include over 1,000 pieces of jade. It took 150 skilled jade carvers more than 10 years to finish.  The pagoda was first exhibited at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago in May 1933 and then at the San Francisco Golden Gate Exhibition in 1939. In 1965 the Chang family donated it to the Oakland Museum. It was gifted to to the Lizzadro Museum in 2018.

Rocks!

 A visit to a lapidary museum in Oak Brook was an inspirational day trip. One big take away for me - I had no idea that jade came in so many colours! 

The 18th century jade snuff bottles caught my eye. I ❤️ little bottles

Lava cactus

I found the lava cactus to be very fascinating. It is endemic to Galapagos and found on Fernandina, Genovesa, Isabela, Pinta, Santa Cruz, and Santiago, as well as some smaller islands. I think seeing these cactus on Fernandina was the highlight of the floral part of my trip!

 

"Netted"

 The fish are sewn on. Yes! Progress!

I grew up fishing with my dad. He explained limits to me at a very young age, making sure I understood that size and quantity regulations were important rules to follow. My concern is not what the sport fishers take, but instead, the huge numbers of tuna,  Atlantic cod, and other marine species that are declining in numbers. Can our oceans keep up with the growing world population? It appears that the answer is no.

Fish!

 Three months in the making, and now ready to be stitched onto my "over fishing" statement. I think Jennifer did an amazing job creating them. How fortunate I am to have creative friends. 

Rabida Island, Galapagos

 The red island. High levels of iron in the lava that formed this island. 

A little stitching

 I am doing some planning for my September trip to Poland with #Craftours. I think a stitched mini shrine will sum up time in Kalipie, an enchanting village near Krakow.

And then on to Galapagos!

 

My first cactus in this amazing group of islands! While walking from the airplane to the airport, most of the travelers were busy snapping pics of the iguanas. Me? Well, what can I say - the plant life caught my eye. 

Before we could take our luggage, the dogs did a sniff job. Two cases were pulled for further inspection, not mine!

The stamp I've waited a long time for in my passport!