Images of my visit to the Almonte Textile Museum

By on 9-30-2011 in Mixed Media, Original photos, Places to See, Vintage

My visit to the Almonte Textile Museium during this year’s Fiberfest was a wonderful treat. Upstairs there is a wonderful display of machinery as well as wooden spools and spindles. I spent almost two hours there taking one shot after another knowing they would be beautiful. I love earth tones and the machines are rusted, the spindles and spools are made of wood that has been polished through long handling. One word describes them to me and that is magnificent.

spools

Spools and spindles are sitting in large cardboard boxes beside the machines they were used on.

spindles from old cotton mill

weigh scales

This Toledo weigh scale caught my attention as I was leaving and had to go back to take more photos. I love the colours and the inner workings of this piece of equipment.

mill scale close up

scale close up

weigh scale close up

Shuttles were displayed in a box as well. How many hands have used these tools? How I wish they could tell us their stories.

shuttles

A hazy day in Ottawa on the Ottawa River…. a great day for sailing

By on 8-17-2011 in Original photos, Places to See

On a beautiful summer day in August the Ottawa River calls. The sailboats were out on the water, the sun was shining, just enough wind to power the boats with a hazy sky and the Gatineau Hills in the background.

hazy day

This photo reminds me of the pictures of tropical islands. The branches of the pine tree show off the sky, water and beach. What a great landscape quilt this photo would make.

fine day

There were a lot of sailboats on the river, but this one in the distance, with the Gatineau hills in the background looks so peaceful on this hazy summer day.

hazy day

Another photo of the Ottawa River from under three branches. I think they frame the river dramatically.

A rare and beautiful Monarch Butterfly plus a Bumble Bee on a Scotch Thistle

By on 8-16-2011 in Digital Images + Collage, Original photos

One bright and sunny day a Monarch came to visit. It spread it’s wings just long enough for me to snap a photograph.

monarch

When I was young they were numerous and you would see them almost every day. Now it is rare to see one at all and we have seen two this year. I will use this photo in a collage, soon, to honour this beautiful butterfly.

Bumblebee on a Scotch Thistle in the rocks of the Ottawa River

A Scotch Thistle that is growing in the rocks by the Ottawa River is sporting a bumble bee. What a pretty colour these thistles are.

Pileated Woodpeckers came for breakfast and pretty Brown-Eyed Susans

By on 7-28-2011 in Embroidery, Original photos

This pretty, huge woodpecker and two others were hammering away at our willow tree early in the morning. This photo was taken from my window. Hanging out the window, trying not to scare away these terrific visitors and still keeping hold of the camera all at the same time was hilarious.

pileated woodpecker

This was a new family of woodpeckers, Mom, Pop and the youngster. They kept moving to the other side of the tree, so getting a good photo was almost impossible. so glad I did manage to snap a decent one.

brown eyed susans

Brown-eyed Susans are one of my favourite flowers. So sunny and bright, growing wild in among the grasses in the field. They would be so pretty embroidered onto a bright and sunny quilt along with white daisies and Queen Annes lace.

brown eyed susans

The play of shadows along with the flowers creates a beautiful photo.

brown eyed susans

The last of the Brown-eyed Susan photos. They make my heart skip a beat they are so pretty.

Rain drops on day lilies, new fungus growth and ripe grasses

By on 7-19-2011 in Original photos

After a heavy downpour the sun came out and every plant that had a drop of water reflected the light. It was a beautiful sight.

rain drops on fungus

I almost missed these pretty mushrooms. They are huddled, growing on an old root of a Chinese Elm that has since grown back. Stunning growths that were gone two days later. It looks so peaceful under them, I wonder…..is that a rain fairy I see in their shade?

rain on day lillies

My day lilies are stunning at any time with their bright orange petals. Add a few raindrops and they outshine any other flower in the yard.

rain drops on day lilies

More lilies, growing in clumps in the borders along the fence, make for a magnificent display. They were breathtaking after the rain.

mature grasses after the rain

This photo was not taken just after the rain, but on a bright and sunny day, in the field behind our yard. Even grasses have their place among the wild flowers.