The shadow knows

That's me and my shadow with one of my transparent quilts.

I love to take photographs that feature shadows

because of the element of mystery.

Shadows reveal a lot ... 

and they go hand-in-hand with light,

which I love more than almost anything else.

Here are a few of my favorites from the past few months.

My watery self-portrait, taken while leaning

on dock railing in Victoria, B.C.

I wanted to photograph strangers

in the Starbucks in downtown Victoria,

but I didn't want to intrude

or violate their privacy.

I solved the problem by

photographing their reflected shadows.

 

The shadow-story here reveals

the mullions in a window

through which the quilt

-- titled "Light" --

 is glimpsed.

The shadows above let us know

that this quilt is transparent.

(I made it with silk organza

that I painted with Setacolor fabric paint.)

I call these my silk clouds.

After I painted the crisp, sheer silk organza,

I crumpled it and let it dry, sealing in the folds.

I photographed it outside

when the sun was almost overhead.

Only the shadow is seen below.

 

Another silk quilt, above.

I guess this doesn't really show shadows,

but the light coming from behind reveals

layers of fabric and thread tails.

 

Julia and her shadow back in Illinois.
(From 2007.)

 

I saved the best for last:

BUNNERS!

The shadow-story here tells of

the potted philodendron on the window sill. 

Have a bright shadowful day!

Red chakra, blue sky

Detail, "Red Energy -- 1st Chakra," by Sherrie Spangler
 Size:  17"w x 20"  Copyright 2006

My daughter mentioned that her Taiji Quan (tai chi) teacher focused on the first chakra -- the red one -- yesterday, and that reminded me of my red chakra quilt that's been hidden in the closet for years. I'm not going to go into chakras here. You can google it if you need to know more, or read about it in wikipedia by clicking here.

So, since we had a nice sunny day with a brilliant blue sky, I unwrapped the quilt and took it outside for a photograph. While I was at it, I snapped a photo of the sky to have on hand when the clouds move back in.



The sky today in Gig Harbor, WA!

View of Mt. Rainier today.

I also took this photo of Mt. Rainier towering over the South Puget Sound this afternoon. It was very cold, and people were torn between wanting to linger at the park where I took this photo and wanting to get back in their warm cars.

Detail showing gold foiled spiral.

Getting back to the quilt ... I had planned to make one for every chakra, working my way up through the body and the rainbow. (Remember, "Sherrie Loves Color!") But I wasn't crazy about this first one ... it's not the warm rich red I hoped for ... not enough depth or complexity... maybe I need to work on that chakra.

I've almost convinced myself to shove this one back in the closet and move onto the next one, which would be ORANGE, my favorite color! I'll keep you posted.

Have a colorful day!

A sunny, cold break

Even the tube worms celebrate!

Actually, this is normal "behavior," if you can call it behavior.

The casings for the tube worms are exposed when the tide goes out -- sunshine or not --

but it always looks to me like they're poking out and

celebrating something.

I took these afternoon photos about a week ago when we had a day of sunshine.

It was cold by Puget Sound standards -- in the 30s --

although I know my friends elsewhere scoff at this.

The neighborhood was quiet, cold and bright.

The sea gulls didn't seem to mind my camera, and the cow was unperturbed.

I spent a long time crouched at water's edge

watching the rocks and tube worm casings.

They didn't move.

Only the water and light moved.

The only sounds were the cry of gulls

and the lapping of the wavelets.

Mostly, though, the gulls were quiet.

A few hours later, I watched the sun set

over the snowy Olympics

and Wollochet Bay.

A soft wash of orange, then night.

As beautiful as this is, I still long for the desert. Do any of you readers out there in blog land have some desert photos you can share on your blogs? What's it look right now in New Mexico and Arizona? How about the Outback? I know you're out there with your cameras, I just don't know if any of you read this blog.

Walk on the wild side

Dave and I took advantage of Sunday's break in the rain to hike in not one but TWO nearby state parks: Kopachuck and Penrose Point. We wandered through old growth forests and along the rocky Puget Sound ... through towering Douglas firs, cedars, hemlocks and maples.

Moss carpets the ground, wraps itself around trees and hangs eerily from branches. Mounds of moss support ferns growing high on trees above the trails.

Mushrooms nestle in moss underfoot. (Anyone know what these guys are?)

At water's edge, the rain forest gives way to driftwood, rocks and shells, beachcombers, fishermen, gulls, hawks and eagles.

We watched this seagull drag and tug at a flopping fish at Penrose while a juvenile gull went crazy, shreiking and darting around, hoping for his turn. The other two adults kept a quiet, more respectful distance.

The tide was going out, uncovering barnacle-encrusted rocks, mussels, and broken shells.

A colorful sign at Kopachuck aquaints visitors with the local wildlife.

Other wildlife includes photographers like Dave, who is practicing with his new camera.

Now the rain has returned and I'm back to my usual haunts -- Starbucks and my little computer corner.

Have a colorful day!

The Love Bunny

Bunners wishes everyone a

Happy Valentine's Day!

In Memory of Laura

My friend Laura passed away yesterday from a brain aneurism.
She was vivacious, healthy, full of life ... and suddenly she is gone ...

"My heart is breaking,"

said a stunned friend.

I was working on this quilt when I got the news that she had been rushed to the hospital. I had started it the previous day, not sure where it was heading but just wanting to handle bright fabric and be at the sewing machine. Well, among her many interests, Laura was also a quilter. So I will dedicate this unfinished piece to her.




And when I look at it and think of her, I will do as another friend advised. I will ...

"Remember her with a happy heart."

Burp Bowl update

Even though we ate pierogies Pittsburgh style,

with onions, butter and sour cream ...

... and waved the Terrible Towel

(or at least Duane dangled his napkin)

... and consumed copious amounts of BEER

(Dave's own Baranof's Illusion),

my hometown Steelers still lost!!!

No matter.

By the time the Packers packed it in,

we had staggered from the appetizers in the livingroom

(bowl of cheese curds on the right) ...

... to the main event around the kitchen table.

Somehow, I forgot to get pictures of the oysters

and the taco bar and chili

and Paula's awesome banana cream pie

and the mountain of chocolate-chili cookies.

I did snap the plate of limes

and corn-tomato-avocado relish,

because they were so colorful

and that's what this blog is about.

Bunners

wisely went into hiding during the party,

but he seems to be recovered now.

Have a Colorful Day!

Go Steelers! Yeah Pierogies!

I HATE sports, but this year I'm a little excited about tomorrow's Super Bowl because:

I'm a Pittsburgh native.

So I decided to throw a little party, and in researching Bowl recipes I found that one of the top foods being served by 'burghers is PIEROGIES! I picked up a few boxes in the frozen food aisle today.

Other Steeler fan faves are chipped ham barbecue sandwiches (Isaly's style), kielbosa (we pronounce it kill-bossy), hot sausages with fried peppers, Klondike bars, and of course, Iron City beer. Burp. Although these were beloved foods of my childhood -- including beer foam -- I'm staying away from them this year, except for the pierogies. On our menu are grilled halibut tacos, guacamole, Spanish rice, oysters, vegetarian chili, beer and hot 'n' spicy chocolate cookies. And I'm giving the Wisconsin guest a plate of cheese curds.

Fabric-wise, I whipped up this tablecloth from some yardage that I bought about 10 years ago. Better late than never. It was supposed to be napkins, placemats and an apron, but one tablecloth was a lot easier.

And sound-wise, check out this video of

"A Pittsburgh State of Mind."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39gDMRbzibw

Go Steelers!

Blizzard?

I've been randomly sewing together leftover strips from my fabric baskets and other projects. It's a good way to get a color fix while warming up at the sewing machine without having to think.

While 30-some states were being pummeled this week by the blizzard, ice, wind, snow, bone-chilling temps, power outages and traffic nightmares, Gig Harbor was amazingly balmy and calm. I can gloat, because I put in my time in PA, IL, and St. Louis during many a horrid winter. I feel your pain, but I'm going to enjoy our weather while I can.


I took advantage of the unseasonable sunshine to walk through downtown Gig Harbor and take a few snapshots. Mt. Rainier towered over the trees, 40 miles away but seemingly right on top of us. Much of the winter it's invisible because of the clouds. And these rental kayaks by the public pier always catch my eye with their cheery colors.

 

Last but certainly not least, here's Bunners! I gathered him in my arms and took him outside to enjoy the balminess. I plopped him on a soft pile of moss in the front-porch planter and stuck a carrot in front of him. He was totally confused, so back into the house he went.

Have a colorful day!