Sunrise and Sacred Threads

What a beautiful sunrise we had this morning! 

I was thrilled to learn earlier this week that both my submissions to the biennial exhibit "Sacred Threads" were juried into the show. This is one of my favorite exhibits and I always feel honored to be a part of it.

Both my pieces are small. The one on the right is "Harvest Moon" and the left is "Weeping Willow". The exhibit will be in July in D.C. I urge you to see it if you have the chance; it is truly a moving experience! 

Migration

 We drove to Utah for the Easter weekend. Ken was driving as we crossed the state line and I was looking out the window, scouring the area for bird life, as usual. In a flooded field just off the road I noticed a bunch - maybe a hundred - of black birds. It wasn't until we were upon them that I identified them as white faced ibis. This is by far the largest grouping of this rather rare bird I have ever seen! Ken made a U-turn and we drove by again as I got my camera ready. Just before we got in position to take some shots a harrier swooped in from above and scattered the startled flock. They re-grouped halfway across the field and so my photos are less than ideal. At least they exposed the one lone crane that had been hiding in their midst!

Happy Easter!

I think he is hiding Easter eggs!

Early Morning Visitor

 I knew something was up this morning when I looked out the window and saw all the llamas at full attention. When I went outside I found this coyote in the yard. At first he seemed to think I was just another llama.

 Then I moved and he went into defensive pose and seemed ready to flee.

When I didn't give chase he just stopped and stared at me for a while before sauntering off.

For the Birds

 Even Frank was glad to see the sun yesterday!

We have a pair of raven newly weds that have moved into the yard. We know they are young because they are doing things older, more experienced ravens would never do. For one thing, they are working on a nest within a stone's throw from our front door! In the photo below the mama raven is dining at the bird feeder, much to the chagrin of the magpie in the background.

This is Spring?

For an area that is considered high desert with an average annual rainfall of less than ten inches, we have had an amazing amount of snow this winter. 
And it looks like it is not quite over yet! 

Soy Wax

Today is the monthly WAV meeting (textile artists) in Billings. I am scheduled to give the presentation and I will be doing so on how to use soy wax in your work.  The two images I have posted here were both created in the past few days using soy wax but with very different techniques. The reddish egret was painted with Dye-na-flow paints, using the wax as a typical resist. There were numerous steps of applying wax, painting, removing the wax, reapplying wax elsewhere and so on and so on. The geometric piece below was created more in the way of a typical batik, applying wax, dyeing with procion dyes, applying more wax, dyeing with a darker color of dye and so on. Both methods are easy, fun and a great way to produce one-of-a-kind fabric!  

Starting Over

Welcome! As I begin a new business and follow both new and old interests, I thought it was time to get back to blogging. The name of this site is not based on a biblical reference as some might think but is rather an anglicization of my last name. Licht - en - dahl = Light in the dale (or valley.) As I prepare to launch a new website offering both quilts and photography for sale I am also launching this space as a more informal means of communicating with friends and family. I will try to keep it relatively up to date with photos if not words.