Working today...

I've stayed at Mellinger for much of the day, working either on the cartoon or on the sample weaving. Here's another view of Mellinger. This is one of my favorite spots at Hambidge. There's not as much room to spread out on the walls as in some of the cabins but I've had plenty of space for 80" wide papers that I'm using to develop the cartoon. I also have two spacious worktables and was able to borrow another small table for my computer and projector. I've also taken over the small table near the kitchen area as my paint table and am using a smaller side table for meals. So it all is perfect.



Mellinger is at the end of the road -- a dead end-- on this side of the Hambidge property. It's a nice walk down through the trees to the Rock House where we have the evening meal and where I can get online. The path this morning:



This view of Mellinger Trail is almost to the lawn at Rock House.



And this is looking back in the opposite direction.

Around mid-day I drove into Clayton to return things to the Rabun County Library and checked out a few more books on CD. On the way into town, I traveled on a new road for me... one that Brenda and Donn had recommended yesterday and it was a wonderful winding road along a valley, lovely views of the fields and mountains. I was sorry I didn't have a camera with me but my eyes filled with many views of the developing springtime here in north Georgia as I drove.

I'd worked on the cartoon earlier this morning and then later this afternoon, and here it is at the stage I've gotten to. There are more hours of work before I'm satisfied with the value contrasts and the color.




Here's the section of the earlier watercolor of a section that I've framed off to use as reference as I do the sample weaving:




Here's where the tapestry sample has gotten to today--not a lot of change from yesterday but some. The sample is turned 90˚ to the way it would hang and is a 7.5 x 7.5" section of the 13" w x 80" l cartoon that I'm working on.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Another trip to Black Rock Mountain

I spent a wonderful day spent walking along the Tennessee Rock Trail at Black Rock Mountain in Rabun County with a couple of friends and collecting more photos of wildflowers.


Brenda and Donn were my guides and here they are at the overlook:








And, as you can see, I was quite tickled to have gotten to this point after an pretty long uphill climb!







The weather couldn't have been more perfect, breezy and cool with clouds flying by.







We spotted Yellow Trillium -- at last.



I can't find this lily in my books... perhaps the buds will open into a more full bloom later. Any help out there??



Brenda said this was Bloodroot, she thought.



Donn took lots of photos, too.



Many of these Trilliums, as well.



And Galax.



In addition to the wildflowers, several other things caught my attention... like rocks and lichens.




More adventures tomorrow!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Jack in the Pulpit--found today!

I've been looking for this plant for the past two weeks. Today, a friend and I walked on Cove Forest Trail here on the Hambidge property. I'd walked there last week and didn't have the list of the identified and flagged plants with me. And this time I had the list to use as reference while we searched for elusive Jack. He was number 12 on the list of 41 identified wildflowers along this trail, as of April 26. While a few of the plants were past their blooms (some of the trillium) I did indeed find the one example of Jack in the Pulpit that was flagged. Possibly there were many more, most likely there were many more off the trail... but I was quite thrilled to see this one.





Brenda and I had a wonderful time ambling along and gawking at the verdant woods. Here's Brenda as we were taking a break along Betty Creek:



Brenda lives in Rabun County and is very familiar with many of the trails around the area. In fact, I'll be going on another hike either tomorrow or later in the week with her to a trail at Black Rock Mountain. She said she'd spotted yellow trillium there and that's one of the plants I'd like to see and photograph.

Back at Mellinger, the cottage where I'm staying while here, I continued to work on the weaving sample. First, here's Mellinger and then photos from inside.







Here's a portion of the larger design in watercolor sketch. I'm sampling with tapestry about a 7 1/2" square section of it to see how the design will translate into tapestry and also to try a few colors.







And, the day began with Mr. Big at the Weave Shed... you can see from the photo why he's called "Mr. Big"... he works hard at it!




Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A few views of Hambidge

This Center holds such beauty. Its location is in the extreme northeast corner of Georgia near the North Carolina state line, in the foothills of the Appalachians. The mountain region of north Georgia and Western North Carolina holds my heart--I was born in the region and have lived here most of my life. When I spend time at Hambidge my heart fills to almost overflowing when I wander around with no agenda other than to open my eyes and look at what surrounds me.

I'll share a few of the things I saw this morning when I came to the Rock House to get online. First, here's what I see at my left as I write this. I'm sitting in the dining room. By the way, the rag runner under the flowers on the table is one I wove for the dining room here a few years ago.




Here's the Rock House... it's where the residents share evening meals and where we have internet access.




A lovely winding stream flows from the spring-- here's the spring house:



And here's the stream tumbling along at the edge of the yard:




The old weaving building, appropriately called the Weave Shed, now houses a gallery and the main office:




There's a show up at the gallery right now called Fables of the Eco Future. I have a small piece included:



This is called "Remnant of Spring and Bee Flight" and is tapestry with machine stitching.

I have a loom with me now and will be trying a portion of the design I've been working on while here. My last day is next Sunday and I want to make the most of my remaining days. More later!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad