Hawaiian cushions

I'm super proud of these cushions! This is a Hawaiian style quilting, and all applique and quilted stitching is done by hand. It took me a year to finish these, although I admit I kept putting them down for weeks at a time. I have come to appreciate Hawaiian style quilting, and have a queen sized quilt pattern waiting for me to take it one--someday.

Butter-Lips in gouache

This is the 3rd of my Flowers and Friends series featuring a bright red tulip being kissed by a monarch butterfly. I find monarch butterflys to be one of the most beautiful creatures of our earth, and always feel enchanted when I see one. Gouache on canvas board.

Black Bamboo shawl

In my most recent trip to Hawaii, I decided to seek out a LYS (local yarn store). There are few to be found as there is not really a need to wear knitted garments on a tropical island. Still, I did find one tucked away in a small industrial complex, and the inventory was sparse. I ended up with a black bamboo-cotton blend however that has a nice drape and perfect for my oldest daughter's new shawl. Here is the finished product, yarn is from Bamboo Pop.

A trip to Wilmington, North Carolina

My first memories were made in the Wilmington, NC area. I lived there until about age 6, and visiting always feels so familiar. My last visit was in 2012 on my grand American road trip. This visit was for 5 nights with my dad to just hang out. 

Carolina Beach

A Heron in Greenfield Park

Greenfield Park in Wilmington

I really like the swamps of this park

Downtown Wilmington is very quaint

Smoochie is my dad's dog, and such a sweetheart

Mt Hood on the way home

Rainbow shawl

So very pleased with this shawl! I started it for pride month in June, and finished it in August (just in time for cooler weather around the corner!). I definitely wear this one with a lot of pride! Pattern is called Revontuli-huivi, and the yarn is Alexandra's Crafts in Chelsea for the rainbow colorway and for the turquoise I used The Farmer's Daughter. 

Alvord desert in watercolor

This is one part of Oregon I have never been, and I would like to see this one for myself. At the foot of the Steens mountains lies a dry lake bed approximately 12 by 7 miles that just receives 7 inches of rain each year. Most of the time, it lies parched and cracked. Hot springs also are in this remote part of Oregon. Most people don't think of Oregon having desert areas, but in fact a large chunk of this state is desert landscape. It's the northwestern part of the state (and most populated) that receives the rain. This is painted on watercolor paper with ink outline.

Dragon-Lily in gouache

This is number 2 in my Flowers and Friends series. The purple calla lily is an exquisite flower, and I'm growing it my yard, because why not? The day I saw a dragon fly land on one of the deep purple petals gave me inspiration for this painting. Very pleased with how this came out, and is now framed in my living room.