It snowed and since we're in the PNW a bear family came out to play

Recent additions

Suzani's

Bukara and Nurata (Uzbekistan)

And India cloud quilts 

And........ Drumroll....

A baby!!!!

Baby Max!

He's charming everyone already and he's only 2 days old !!!

:-( No mums for next year...Paul Allen, Kings Mums needs your help!!!

Kings provides a very special service in our country. They're growers of these amazing chrysanthemums (Kiku) of outstanding cultivation and quality. 

They have a problem with their stock this year, and can't get the plants out. 

It's very sad and I would hope they could get help to cover this loss somehow because what they do is very important by way of contribution. 

These are mums  I grew last year. I've been growing them for 3 of 4 years. Completely new at it but learning. 

So if anyone knows some person who is a philanthropist send them to Kings to support their cause.

Maybe Paul Allen will be up to it after his Seahawks team win!
Call me Paul. I'd love to meet you!

Boeing Seahawks 747

Go Hawks!!!

This is a close up of a beautiful tye dyed (shibori) 

Kimono. It's all hand dyed and made on silk satin.

Another beautiful kimono. 

Photos cannot do justice. 

All silk lining as well.

Color Of Late

Snowy branches from the snow country

A new suzani, pomegranite.

Shibori obi,... silk tye dye

My appreciation, always  of interest for Japan has only grown since I was a guest there in Nagaoka
Some years ago before moving to Washington.
Since then I've cultivated Kiku and learned about kimono and processes for designing the fabric. Such as shibori shown here.
In Japan I found shibori in black and white twisted ribbons which was quite a synchronicity since I made porcelain pots with black and white twisted ribbons.
I'm fact the gentleman from nagaoka whom I met and visited in the family home of, met me due to seeing my ceramic artwork with twisted ribbons.

To this day I remember this surprise shibori of ancient pattern. I wish I had had the kimono made. And decorated with beautiful Kiku obi. It is because of this obi that I've grown Kiku.

My love of Japan has grown. But I think I'll never return to Japan now.
Still much of me lives and walks the streets and roads of Nagaoka forever.
Japan is like a home to me.
It's beauty resonates with my being.
To my friends there, I will never forget your hospitality.
Thank you.

Uzbek cotton ikat

Contemplating winter and more..

The frozen winter expected

What goes on indoors...

A floating ferry sends an invitation to travel. 

Dreams of summertime.

Back from my birthday trip this year

The Methow Valley was low on snow. 

Next year it's the Alps or Bust!

Nature is beautiful

Twisp Billboard

Tipi dinners

Nice ring to it!

Love it

We'll be back!!!

A duvet I'm

Making plus quilt for baby blanket. 

The back is Vintage Japanese indigo ikat. 

Front is linen. 

Almost done!!!

The Skagit Valley, Swans, and a horse with a large heart

The trumpeter swans winter 

here. They arrived about a month ago. 

Some fields planted and green and vaguely

In the distance, Mt Baker. 

Mandela of sand and Moroccan chicken with fruits, tapioca pudding.

In thought it began as a leaf 

Days and days and days went by, me walking past and looking at it. 

Then something happened, the art, or life of it. 

It began having seeds

Then roots that grew into the top. 

And then it appeared as a lyre

With vibrations. 

Obviously alive and it was both masculine and feminine. 

It was vibration as well as  manifestation 

Then it flowered. 

That is like us. 

We are that life 

And we must 'allow' what comes to 

Be. No resistance 

Let it be,....

What is needed so we may also flower. 

So that all will flower and see the 

perfection. Be that. 

. 

And here is chicken dinner. 

Tagine. 

And dessert. 

A few Christmas presents...

Later I'll post my spirit house from Indonesia. 

This nice box from one of my best friends. 

10,000 villages, too. 

Tagine (Indonesia, 10,000 villages)

from

My daughter...I'm cooking in it now!

A Moroccan chicken dish 

With apricots and cherries, onions , spices;

Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, ummm..

Some beautiful Italian pieces

I have loved and now they're mine...

Another clay containing mica piece. This one from Bolivia. Got it in Vancouver. 

I made a great risotto in it. 

Was delicious. It was portabella mushroom and cheese risotto. 

Mushrooms are high in Vit D

Btw. 

Some higher than others. 

Victoria BC holidays 2013-14

A few more photos! 

Can't forget fish n chips!

From The Empress Hotel

What's this? 

Lol