A Christmas Surprise

My friend, Nancy made this lovely painted mosaic rock in response to the cranberry coverlet I posted a few weeks ago.  I love it!

It has a subtle texture where the paint dots are slightly raised. She studied the whig rose pattern, got out some graph paper and managed to translate a flat 2D pattern onto the curved surface of a 3D rock.  That is no small feat!  She said it was a challenge, but made it work.  I'm so pleased!

This my new favorite paperweight in my office at work.

Thank you, Nancy, for the thoughtful and practical gift.  I'm glad my arts-and-craft explorations are influencing your art.  That is the highest compliment!

Happy Holidays, My Friend!

Amazing Textures at Pictured Rocks

Amazing Textures at Pictured Rocks

Munising, Upper Michigan

In August 2018, my sister and I (plus our families)  took my parents up to Marquette Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior.  We were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, quietly and with family.  My mom's health was precarious, so we wanted to celebrate sooner than later.  Their actual anniversary was January 2019, but my sister is only in the US in August ...

We rented (Thank you, CL!) a big old renovated house with a magnificent staircase, and lots of room for everyone.

My sister arranged for several tours where my mom could just sit and watch the rocks roll by.  We also took my dad kayaking, so we could get a little closer to the rocks.  They were amazing!

It kept reminding me of when I was doing the rust dying experiments here and here and here and here  and here.  Oh my-- Do I have a love affair with rust, or what?

Solitary Kayaker - Alone on the Water

(Not really -- This was our Kayaking Guide up ahead)

Pictured Rocks 2018

Slide show

[Sorry -- the music ran out half way through. 

I was hoping it would loop to fill the space, but it didn't.

Enjoy the silence.]