Cactus town quilt

This wilderness quote and photo were posted today in a Facebook hiking group that I belong to. The colors in the cactus quilt that I've been working on are pretty close to the greens in the photo.

I decided that the stitching I'm doing on the squares is more "mark making" than embroidery. I like that it looks like patterns scratched in the dirt with a stick. I'm using DMC pearl cotton NO. 8.

I pulled out some beiges for desert dirt squares ...

... and blues for the sky.

Meanwhile, in the real desert, wildflowers are really taking off! The next photos are from yesterday's hike in Catalina State Park along the 50-Year Trail.

 

Have a colorful day

Green and yellow for spring

I got the urge this week to work with lovely lemony-greens, but I couldn't think of a big project. So I started layering scraps on coaster-size pieces of batting and backing and holding them down with embroidery. Hard on my wrist and thumb, but it's so satisfying because I can complete each little square in no time at all.

I don't know if I'll use them as coasters or put them together into a wall hanging. And I might incorporate some other colors -- I'll just go with the flow and see where it takes me.

In other color news, the neighborhood is bursting with yellow blooms. This bouquet is from Trader Joe's and has brightened my kitchen for almost two weeks!

Yellow spines on a golden barrel cactus

Mexican marigolds, I think

Aloe blooms

Lemon tree

I wasn't sure what this plant is, but one of my blog followers, Sonja in Hawaii, looked it up and we think it is known variously as Desert Cassia, Senna Hybrid, or Scented Senna.

Barrel cactus blooms that look like little pineapples

Poppy

Have a colorful day

Spring color splash

I came across this picture on Instagram and LOVE the quilt and the lady! Yellow is one of my favorite colors for its cheeriness. It just might inspire my next piece.

I haven't done much wool embroidery because of my arthritic thumb and wrist, but last week the weather was so nice that I did a little stitching outside on this three-year-old project. My wrist hurt like hell the next day, so it's back to machine work. 

I could have surgery to fix it, but I'm not up for that right now. Also, I just found out that I have a torn rotator cuff (it's been hurting for a year) and am waiting to see what the surgeon recommends when I see him in May. I did months of physical therapy, which only made it worse, before my doctor ordered an MRI that showed the tear.

Luckily, making spirit dolls doesn't hurt my hand. I just made these two for the gallery. Instead of my usual saturated colors, I toned it down and called them "Sand Tracks" and "Sand Tracks II." I've started making them a little bigger, about 15 inches tall, and that seems to have boosted sales.

I'm still collecting inspirational and funny quotes, and this one definitely speaks to me!

I indulge in too much comfort food, but I'm still hiking to help offset that. Here's a picture I took last week at the start of a full moon hike. That's the sun setting behind a row of saguaro cactuses west of Tucson. The full moon was spectacular as it rose above the mountains, but my pictures don't do it justice so I won't show them.

Have a colorful day

Welcome Spring!

Today is the first day of spring, which calls for more color! So I replaced the old, faded brown chairs in my front courtyard with a new pair in bright blue, perfect for sitting in while having morning coffee or watching the sunset.

Flowers are blooming all over Tucson ...

... and birds, like this Vermillion Fly Catcher, fill the trees ...

 

... along with butterflies.

This prickly pear is sprouting bright green baby pads ...

... and poppies are popping up.

Desert Marigold

I spent this morning wandering through the Tohono Chul Gardens, which are bursting with spring color of desert plants. Here's a sampling:

Lantana

Baja Fairy Duster

Barrel Cactus (always leans south)

Penstamon

And let's not forget the reliable green of our cacti.

The saguaro below reminds me of an elephant with its tusks and trunk to the left.

And this rare crested saguaro (see the crest on its top?) appears to be looking at visitors. You can't see it in this picture, but a prickly pear cactus has sprouted in the crest! Stay posted for more color as spring in the desert progresses!

Happy Spring