Inspiration/Limited Palette

Spoonflower.com has partnered with the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University challenging participants to use a limited color palette to create a Matisse inspired fabric pattern. This is a personally exciting challenge because Matisse has been one of my long time favorite artists. It has been fun to discover the Nasher Museum. The exhibit pages provide fascinating  reading about the Cone sisters, their travels, and life. Above are two preliminary sketches testing out the colors and looking for my own Matisse like shapes.

2013 Queen Anne's Lace Calendar

Again this year Spoonflower.com held it's annual tea towel calendar competition. Many people commented on my entry and I was very pleased to place at #17. Thanks to everyone for the comments and the votes .I can't wait for the calendars by some of the top ten winners to arrive. I plan to give them as gifts this holiday season.

Wing Pattern

Guinea Fowl. Beautiful feather patterns. The contrast between the plumage and the bare head may be explained in the new book Feathers by Thor Hanson  http://www.feathersbook.com/.

Symmetry

Symmetry studies. Shapes, colors, and a whole new way of thinking.

Bounty

But now the question is "What to do with all the zucchini?". So far we have grilled, sauteed and included in lasagna. Now it is time to share or bake. 

In my last three garden summers the zucchinis got sick and died. This year they thrived. I forgot how prolific they can be and am caught with out a plan.  

Queen Anne's Lace continued...

Another version. Working on more variety next.

Restraint is the Key

Restraint is the key. This year we scaled back and we still have plenty and more. Four kale plants even seem like a lot now. So tonight we had our first kale salad. It was wonderful. I'll get the recipe together in another post soon.