Living and Dyeing Under the Big Sky

 I was thrilled to catch a shot of this hummer flitting through the garden.

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/garden-visitor.html

These two clumps are looking good along the driveway.  They are never watered other than what falls from the sky.  I did pull the weeds that were invading them, but other than that - no care....

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/naturalizing-with-iris.html

Iced Wine was introduced by Chuck Chapman in 1999. 

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/iced-wine-standard-dwarf-bearded-iris.html

 This is a very showy iris across the garden.  Red iris are very rare and many hybridizers are trying to create one.  This one was introduced by Paul Black in 2002.  It has been sort of slo...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/standard-dwarf-bearded-iris-cats-eye.html

I have two nice clumps of this one.  It is taller than some of the other dwarf iris and it makes a striking clump.  It was introduced by Schmieder in 2006.

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/banded-tiger-standard-dwarf-bearded-iris.html

Rosalie Loving is a Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris introduced by Spoon 2003.  It can be a rebloomer.  It is a strong grower for me in Montana Zone 4.

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/dwarf-bearded-iris-rosalie-loving.html

 Photos taken at two different times.  The light has a real impact on how an iris looks.  Bottom line - this colorful little iris looks great in any light! Zoomboomafoo was introduced by ...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/dwarf-bearded-iris-zoomboomafoo.html

 I have a little clump of "Delft Elf" near the door to my studio.   It struggles - mainly because in the heat of summer, my dog sometimes decides to dig a bed in the soil there.  I love the...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/miniature-dwarf-bearded-iris-delft-elf.html

 Last fall, I finished building the seedling beds below the driveway.  I am a little astonished by how quickly they fill up with a few little seeds!   I was hoping I could do with just this...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/seedling-beds.html

I've had these iris seeds in the refrigerator in moist peat moss for many weeks hoping they would sprout.  So excited to see these little babies germinating.  I have begun planting them in th...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/germinating-iris-seeds.html

 I really love this species iris, native to Crimea.  It is called i. lutescens.  I have naturalized with it all around the driveway.  One of the first iris to open in the early spring.  It...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/i-lutescens.html

I love this old apple tree with it's very wonky (many) trunks and strange shape.  It is happy this year!

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/spring-apple-tree.html

I like the circles and I think the white strips are necessary.  I am now struggling with the yellow vertical lines in the lower right.  I feel something should be there to balance the bright ...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/more-work-on-elements.html

OK, so I finally feel like I am close enough that I can put this up on the design wall and stand back to look.  Again, sorry for the photo quality - still using the tablet!

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/on-design-wall-stepping-back.html

Still working on the table - which is difficult - but I feel like I am making progress in formulating my ideas and strategy.

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/getting-closer.html

I am digging through my pre-fused scraps trying to come up with some elements that are harmonious, yet interesting......

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/still-playing-with-elements.html

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/more-elements-for-dye-patterns.html

I've moved this piece to the work table and have trimmed the height to 41".  It still has the width because I am not sure yet where it should be cropped.  In this orientation, I am playing...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/dye-patterns-on-work-table.html

Here is another UFO.  It is about 45 x 60", shown here cropped with photo editing to about 45 x 45".  The quilting has already been done and it was trimmed, but not bound. I was experimenting...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/dye-patterns-in-running.html

This series dates back probably 4 years or more.  I was doing a lot of deconstructed screen printing and  was so crazy about it.  It is difficult to work with the fabric to create a final pi...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/demolition-series-under-consideration.html

Rummaging around in boxes, I found this piece.  It is already partly quilted.  It is deconstructed printing and submersible dye printed fabrics cut in crazy random triangles and collaged.  I...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/deconstructed-dandelions-40-x-40.html

 I decided to run with the idea of printing a number of the same block - varying the colors.  I thought it might be more modern if I printed on a white background.  I dunno - the square form...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/blue-rhapsody-printed.html

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.           -Dr. Seuss

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/monday-mail-art-may-2.html

This piece is finished.  It measures 56 x 31", so it cannot be used for the exhibition in question.  However - I do like this quite a lot.  It is dramatic and has movement in spite of the fa...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/05/rhapsody-in-color-design-idea-for.html

This piece was started 4 years ago as part of a series that stalled out.  It is complete - quilted and all, but needs to be trimmed, bound and have a sleeve added.  I got excited when I measu...

http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2016/04/black-white-and-red.html