ad libitum

FABRIC PRAYER FLAGS

I just finished a fabric prayer flag swap (5 for 5 or multiple of 5 for multiple of 5). I sent them all off this afternoon (except for the Kalamazoo participants, to whom I will hand deliver flags this week). It was an exchange of 4 inch by 6 inch portrait oriented flags. There were 27 participants (including me). It will not surprise anyone who knows me that I made extra sets and extra flags .I will string up some of the extras with the flags I got from the swap; and I will keep some to send to friends as presents.

I loved this project. I found that working on the flags was a very positive experience for me. I also loved the flags that I received in the swap. My artist friends really put part of themselves into these small pieces of art.

Below are photos of a sampling of the sets of flags I made. When I get my flags strung together, I will post a photo.

these are made from commercial fabric; my polymer buttons; and, free form sewn words...

These are made from a cutter quilt.

These are made from cut up jeans.

These are from raw silk that I dyed in a class.

below, I cut up an embellished monoprint to make flags

These are a a Photoshop image I printed out on fabric.

Another photoshopped photo.

Below, I used tea-dyed vintage crocheted doilies.

Monoprinted fabric and polymer buttons.

These are reverse applique.

Naturally dyed fabric.

More commercial fabric and polymer buttons, below.

Below are flags made from monoprinted fabric and embroidered words.

PEACOCK VARIATIONS

original photo

photo cropped and edited in photoshop

 

painting filter

 

 

oil painting filter, heightened reflection

SUMMER RESPITE

I'm at the end of a delightful summer vacation and I think this photo (with a boost from Photoshop and my Topaz filter program) captures the beauty of my trip.

NEW FILTERS TO PLAY WITH IN PHOTOSHOP

I recently purchased some new Photoshop filters (Topaz Lab) and have spent this morning playing with pictures I took yesterday in Chaddsford, PA.

This is the front of the bed and breakfast we stayed in.

Below is an old building on the grounds of the bed and breakfast.

It was a beautiful day and people were canoeing on the Brandywine River.

MAKING PHOTOS BLACK AND WHITE

Sometimes, a photo is more dramatic in black and white. Marie Otero recently offered an online class on black and white photos and, although currently lagging behind, I am learning a lot from the class. 

Below are some of the photos I've worked on.

A train from Japan:

 

a photo taken at a gift shop in Japan:

 

 

 

a begger near the Vatican:

 

 

roof tiles in Orvieto, Italy:

a freize in Ostia Antica, Italy:

a zebra in Tanznia:

a Tanzanian leopard:

a giraffe in Tanzania:

The Serengeti in Tanzania

FOLLOWING A LEOPARD

There were two leopards lying in a tree when our jeep approached. One decided to climb down.

 

We were able to follow the leopard as he walked across the savannah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TARANGIRE ANIMALS

Tarangire National Park is full of elephants.

 

 

There are families of baboons.

 

Warthogs are also plentiful.

 

And, Wildebeasts and zebras mingle - a foretelling of the Great Migration, which will start during the rainy season.

 

I was lucky enough to capture a picture of a gazell leaping.

We passed two lions relaxing on a hill.

And, we saw two juvenile leopards in a tree.

The photos above (and in the previous Tarangire posts) are just a few of the photos I took my first two days in Tanzania.

MORE TARANGIRE BIRDS

The vultures (I'm fairly sure these are vultures) look like the drawings of birds (yes, I do know it's the other way around; but I saw the drawings before I saw the real things).

I was lucky to get this photo of a lavendar throated roller just as it was taking off.

The birds flying over the elephants at the tarangire swamp almost seemed like one big being. I loved how they swarmed.

SOME BIRDS FROM TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOW! I WENT TO TANZANIA!

Wednesday night, I got home from two weeks in Tanzania. I traveled with a group of 7 other ladies (I didn't know any of them when the trip started and they were kind and inclusive); we spent 11 days in national parks (the "bush") and the rest of the time traveling and in Arusha. It was an incredible trip. I took 5,000 photos (don't worry, I'm not going to show ALL of them to you). I'm still recovering from jet lag and I'm still digesting all I saw and did.

 

In fact, I'm a little tired and have been taking some naps these past few days.

I was impressed by people in traditional garb embracing technology (note the lady on the cell phone) and took as many photos as I could without being intrusive.

 

I was often overwhelmed by the vast surroundings and natural habitat for the wildlife.

And, I was sometimes observed as if I were an intriguing piece of wildlife.