New Look

March 21, 2010

Spring is Here

Well, officially we are now past the vernal equinox.  Spring is actually starting in my microclimate yard.  My house is placed as the last house down a tiny road and we are always several degrees cooler and a week behind everyone else on the road.....as far as what's blooming.  
Yesterday we went for a motorcycle ride....it was perfect weather outside.  Not too cold nor too hot.  Birds were singing, cows were grazing, farmers were tuning tractors for spring work.  The barns we passed were warm enough to send clouds of manure smells drifting across the road....I just love riding this time of the year.  Can you guess we are motorcycles nuts?  I'll just take this pearl white one. 
I also worked in the garden some.  The cover on the hoop house had shredded last year and we have most of the new siding up.  I will plant lettuce soon.  And also start some veggies in the basement.  
But I have been working on the quilt....just not as much with so many distractions.  
When I lived in California Bull Thistles were considered a nuisance.  I love their relatives, the artichoke, and fix them for dinner often.  The thistles have large stickers on them and will scratch or poke a serious hole in skin or clothes.  I was surpirsed when I moved to the East Coast that people planted them as ornamentals. 
There is not as much contrast as I would like.....but I was happy with how the flowers came out with the stitching. 
The color of this last close up is adjusted because I used the flash.  Not so true as those above.
The second flower I did this weekend is one that I looked for for almost 4 years.  I finally found it....it was an early bloomer and very very specific where it liked to live.  The common name is Twin Flower but it's botonical name,  Linnaea borealis, was in honor of Carl Linnaeus who was the 'father' of botanical nomenclature.  It is said it was his favorite flower. 
It is so dainty. 
I have taken some liberty with the color of these....they are so pale pink, in real life, as to be almost white with lovely pink blush.
That's it for today.  Off to cook dinner for the evening....and have a well deserved glass of wine.

13 comments:

Kris said...

I love Bull Thistles too! And yours are so wonderful. The stitching really brings them together. Nice work :)

t said...

More amazing flowers...

And a motorbike ride to boot....

xt

Suzanna said...

Your flowers are really lovely. I do admire the wild thistles here in California, even though I know they are sometimes frowned upon. Once, up north, I saw some with almost white foliage and bright red flowers. I bought some artichokes yesterday. yummm.

Red (aka Puddleduck!) said...

Your quilt is coming along beautifully Joei! Your thistles are to die for! I love them... I wonder if they are the same as the one's we have here -which I don't know the name of? (I just call them Scotch Thistles) I just love their colour and shape. We get a smaller bright yellow one here too.

Hope you're enjoying your Spring riding! We haven't been for a while... and my farm bike has broken down... :( I'd love to have my own road bike though!!!!

Doreen G said...

Sorry Joei but what do you mean vegies in the basement?

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Such beautiful work Joei (*sigh*)

Dee / Cloth Company said...

lovely stitching and depiction of flowers...

Cathie said...

Thistles make their presence known - a little intimidating, they can be - but beautiful, if not dangerous - they certainly are!
And your fabric and thread depiction of them - is wonderful. How fun all your fabulous fabric flowers are. What are you going to do with them all???

Tammie Lee said...

both of these are wonderful. I love looking at thistles, there are so many kinds. And the twin flower, I met this since i have lived here in the NW. If memory serves me it has a lovely smell. Ah, summer will be coming. As always I enjoy seeing your art!

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Joei I just wanted to say thank you for the lovely comments you left me ... sorry I'm so scattered (3 blogs/it's no wonder I'm frazzled). Anyway, your comments came at time I needed them most and cheered me up!

THANK YOU ♥

Chrissieday said...

These flowers are so beautiful love the detail and the stitching
Chrissie
http://feltingfibres.wordpress.com

Guzzisue said...

our guzzi will be on the road soon, dh has already been nippy about on the BM so two wheel season is nearly upon us:-)

Karen said...

I am always so impressed with your knowledge of flowers and botanical names etc. It certainly shows in your work. Hope you enjoyed the wine!