What I've been up to

The short answer is, "not much." I don't seem to be getting much done these days.

I've made another journal. This one is a gift for my SIL. I used a commercial batik for the outside cover, one of my hand dyed fabrics for the inside, and lots of handpainted paper. Rhonda brought her paper embosser over and I used it to make some very fun pockets and bookmarks.



I am signed up for a Mixed Media class with Sue Bleiweiss, but haven't gotten past lesson one. I've made quite a few tissue paper collages: muslin overlaid with tissue and hand painted paper, silk paper, silk roving and whatever else I could find in my studio. Washed with watercolors. I really enjoyed the effect when I started ripping the tissue layers to reveal what was underneath.

The colors seem very lurid in the picture. I don't think it's quite that pink in real life.

I've done quite a few of these in different colorways. I don't know how I'll use them, but I'm really enjoying the process.

And I've been working in the garden. Can you stand a few more garden pictures? First, our house on Memorial Day:

Next, my favorite echinacea, "Sunset":

And lastly, hemerocallis "Banana Girl." This daylily has been beautiful this year!

And I've been playing lots of bridge. Is there such a thing as playing too much bridge? I may be coming close...