Getting Arboreal Part 3

I am documenting a tree during various seasons of the year along with Julie Prichard at Lost Luggage.

The crape myrtle tree is quiet in the springtime with the other trees like the redbud and dogwood taking center stage. But just wait until the hot part of the summer when Myrtle gives her glorious solo performance.

I love how this photograph turned out. Do you see the violet-colored cross? I just pointed the camera skyward and the sunshine and leaves did the rest!

My other entries to Getting Arboreal are here.

I am not a butterfly collector

I have received so many great comments and emails in response to my blog about rejection. It is great to be part of a community that is so supportive.

Geni (TQS Eugenie) suggested that I look at David Walker's site for additional insights on rejection. (Thanks Geni!) While surfing around on his website, I found a quote on his Words page that just felt right for today.

I embrace emerging experience. I participate in discovery. I am a butterfly. I am not a butterfly collector. ---WILLIAM STAFFORD

What luxury to have two days left before I have to go back to the day job. I plan to focus on my Getting Arboreal inspired quilt, Deep Summer Shade. Here is my inspiration:

On the day that I took the photo the heat, the humidity,the shade, the sky and the green leaves were intense. The graceful branches were very secondary so a layer of tulle outlined with a King Tut varigated thread creates the illusion of crape myrtle branches.

If this is too subtle, I will enhance with additional thread work later. I played with various border sizes in EQ6. This is a really fast way to try out ideas and tweak sizing of blocks and borders. I did not take the time to draw in the tree branches but you get the basic idea.

I'm off to work on the inner most border with appliqued leaves (utilize a lot of the batik scraps). Keep creating!

Seen any good trees lately?

Julie at The Land of Lost Luggage is sponsoring her second annual virtual photo excursion: Getting Arboreal: A Nature Collection. This collaborative event will document a single tree's journey from Summer to Fall/Winter to Spring.

I like participating in collaborations with other artists so I decided I needed to take part. Plus I love trees. There are so many trees but this one I found very appealing today. I like its attitude.

The taller trees are trying to overshadow but it perseveres.

It is August 22, it is hot (98 degrees) but it blooms big happy blooms.

Too little rain but its leaves are dark and glossy.

Too much wind but its limbs are delicate and graceful.

I will share photos with you of this southern belle of a tree as it transitions from Summer to Winter to Spring.

Sounds like the inspiration for a quilt or series of quilts if you ask me.