Views in my sunny border, yesterday...

I love the blousy and abundant feeling of the sunny border in the height of summer. The herbs and veggies share the rose circle (climbing rose 'Angela' about to re-bloom)  on the left.  The border is populated with many of the usual suspects, Phlox paniculata, Shasta daisies, Veronicastrum virginicum, Perovskia atriplicifolia, Monarda didyma, Achillea millefolium ' Paprika',  Agastache urticifolia 'Golden Jubilee', Coreopsis verticillata ' Moonbeam', Echinacea  purpurea, Eupatorium purpureum, Verbena hastata and others, many of which are native plants and survive drought and attract bees and butterflies. I do battle with the riot of yellow beyond my fence or it will march on into my garden.

Veronicastrum virginicum visited by a remarkable bee. 

He was very large with distinctive markings and long legs.

Small birds in the sunshine, perhaps sparrows, eating the mustard seed just before I cut it back.

Mustard seed pods.

Stitched paper piece in process

I'm embroidering a vermicular line in miniscule backstitch, inspired by the ground patterning of 18th century French block prints, the indiennes, produced in Jouy, France by Oberkampf. The scenic toile de Jouy style is the more memorable work of the renowned Jouy factory. Designers at this time were influenced by the Indian fabrics that had arrived in Europe, controversially banned for a time to protect local textile producers, and they were also inspired by the surge in botanical illustration and the fashionable craze for botany much attributed to the work of Linnaeus and since the publishing of his Systema naturae in1735.

A perforated drawing of a tree peony pod taken from my garden appears in the work and the word time. The paper is handmade paper from Papeterie Saint-Gilles in Quebec.

Printed fabrics

A range of fabrics hung on a vintage drying rack in my print studio.  They are all relief block-printed on cotton or linen, except Puzzled and Dotty which are screen-printed on cotton.

Prints (l. to r.) Afternoon Dress, Whirl, Memory Dress, Puzzled, Geo Spot, Sticks, Afternoon Dress (mirror-printed), and Dotty. Shirtwaist on natural linen is visible on the print table.

I came upon this beautiful wooden three fold rack at a yard sale years ago. Clothes were covering it, on display.  I asked if the rack was for sale. The owner was surprized that someone would want the rickety old rack so I was lucky and scooped it up for almost nothing.  It is so useful and I love the time worn wood. 

This is new, the first entry, starting a blog...

This week I am the featured artist in the World of Threads Festival website! See the Weekly Fibre Artist Interview Also check out the site for past interviews, info on exhibitions and other stuff.