Hike to Praying Hands

These photos are also from a hike last week. I realized I have not done this hike. I am putting it on my list for next season.

 That is a hawk on the top of the cliff.

 That is Old Slow Hans. He takes many, many photos on the hikes. I am using a couple of his photos from this hike.

 The hikers climbing towards the peaks.

 Praying Hands...the goal of the hike in the Lost Dutchman State Park.

 Some unusual holes in the cliff; probably from erosion. (Hans's photo.)

 And the Arch, an easily missed feature on this hike. (Hans's photo.)

A Nearby Hike

Curt walked to nearby Silly Mountain for a hike on Friday. Here are his photos:

 I have spent hours looking for the names of flora and fauna in the area. Sorry...no name.

A look north from Silly Mt. to its neighbor...the Flatiron Peak of the Superstition Mountains.

 Looking down on the numerous trails from the top of Huff & Puff Trail.

Looking to the west at the parking area of Silly Mountain and the circumference trail.

 Another 'I have no idea what it is called' bush.

And finally, a look to the southeast and Canyon Vistas RV Resort.

Names of Flowers

 Desert Marigold

 Globe Mallow

Parry's Beard-Tongue

Wednesday's Drive

Diane, a friend from SD, is visiting in AZ for a couple of weeks. We visited The Olive Mill in the morning and for lunch and took a drive in the afternoon to one of my favorite spots. Along the way we saw some spring flowers.

 The sad part is I do not know what plants these are.

 Yes, Diane, I will learn their names.

 This one is one of the few Mexican or California poppies we are seeing this spring. Not enough rain at the right time for the wild poppies.

The bees were busy on these 'like wild daisies' blooms.

Then it was onto the mountains...

Thanks for spending the day with us, Diane & Judy.

The Pepper Gourds

A very popular decorating item in AZ is a hanging bunch of peppers. In fact the wall above my cupboards has a unique collection of peppers. The first time I saw these little guys...

I immediately thought peppers. I purchased a few three years ago, but other than clean them, I did nothing with them. They too traveled between AZ & SD several times.

But last week, they also got attention.

I used inexpensive acrylic paint, several coats and a clear, glossy spray to finish them.

This is how they will look once hubby helps drill the holes and I string them on a twine. A completed picture will appear when they are done. They'll also stay in AZ. I'm not sure if they will decorate the outside or inside.

I have one more technique to try on some of the gourds I have cleaned. That may be a summer project...

The Traveling Bowls

I should have taken pictures of the bowls before I began working on them. I didn't. I bought two bowls three years ago because they were already cleaned and cut. I was not ready to invest the big bucks necessary for the equipment to cut and clean the inside membrane. They were reasonable in price and seemed the way to start.

The gourd bowls traveled to SD, back to AZ, back to SD and back to AZ. They weren't going back to SD unless they were finished this year. Well, they aren't finished, but here they are...

This is one of the traveling gourd bowls. It has a 

coat of honey leather dye. No dye lines and no plan 

at this time. A blank canvas???

I purchased this one this year. I liked the scalloped

edge. I applied the black leather dye. I bought some 

unusual beads thinking they might work with this, 

but I am still contemplating it's design.

My Favorite...

This traveling gourd started with honey dye run lines.

I carefully added a second coat of honey, trying to control 

its run. Just like the ball on Monday's post, I added a

bit of mahogany following the same process.

And finally some black for contrast.

A couple of hours of browsing in Hobby Lobby led to the 

leather strip around the neck with the contrasting black 

leather strip. It isn't quite done, as I need to use a sewing 

machine to sew the leather 'tassel', or maybe not. I just

had an idea. And I know what I want to add as a final 

touch. This one may appear again next week!

This one is also staying at my place in AZ.

Next...the pepper gourds

The Big Boy

I had a plan for this one all along. When I bought the dyes three years ago, I was thinking about the color scheme in my winter home. I had also bought a couple of cleaned, cut gourds back then. The only action they saw was a couple of road trips between AZ & SD. But their story is later...

Aren't the natural lines interesting in and 

of themselves? 

But I had a plan...

This guy got the mahogany dye. After a couple

of run applications, I put some honey leather dye

as the third and fourth coat...in some areas.

But I wanted more red...

I had also purchased another leather dye kit so

did some experimenting applying a red spray along 

the warty bottom, in certain areas. Not too much, just

a bit for color.

The blasts of red led to trying to make the warts

'stand out'. Years ago I had used a Rub & Buff product

when I did plaster crafts. It took awhile to find

what I was looking for, and again the good lady

at Hobby Lobby came through for me. 

The warts got a buff of antique gold, which was too

bold. An application of a red Rub & Buff toned it down 

just enough to emphasize, but not over power.

The finished product...

A wrap of black leather seemed to add just

the right touch. Again, I spent at least an hour 

trying to adorn this one on Sunday afternoon, 

but the black seemed to be the right touch.

And sometimes, less is better.

This big boy will sit on the shelf above the TV

in our winter home.

Tomorrow...the bowls

The Warty Gourds

When I saw these gourds in their wire baskets at the gourd festival, I could hear their call...try me, you can do it, try me! So I bit and bought...

 three of them, 2 smaller & 1 larger.

Cleaning them was easier than I expected.

Both gourds were dyed turquoise, same color leather dye.

The left was more blue, the right more green. The color 

difference lead to more creative thought & purchases.

The Green Warty Gourd

As I applied the turquoise leather dye, it ran. I had less 

control on where it ran and where it stopped because of 

the warts. This had just a couple of dye applications.

 

 In the sun the dye had a 'pearly' look. I tried to

find a pearlized gloss spray, but couldn't. The kind 

lady at Hobby Lobby suggested I water-down a

pearlized iridescent wash. I did and it did exactly 

what I hoped it would.

The finished product...

I braided some twine, added some beads

and green feathers. It will look great in a

friend's new resort home, but don't tell her...

it's a surprise!

The Blue Warty Gourd

 Less run lines with the turquoise dye

applications.

I'm not sure it this one is finished. It might 

need a third peacock eye. I spent more than an 

hour on this one on Sunday afternoon. What I

thought would look okay, didn't. Luckily,

this one doesn't have a specific home...yet.

Tomorrow...the BIG warty gourd...

Playing with the Gourds

I am finally having the time to play. I have been working on the gourd project off and on this week. This is some of what I have accomplished:

This post is about the larger ball gourds...

 First, I used a leather dye to color the gourds.

The reason for the pictures of the same gourd

are to show how the natural blemishes on the gourd

 affect the color applied, especially a light color. 

This dye color is close to its 'natural' color.

This color is honey. It does have a leather look to it 

although that wasn't why I used the leather dye. 

I just wanted a background color and the leather dye 

was recommended by the folks at the gourd festival.

Inexpensive, lots of color varieties & EASY!

 As I applied the honey dye on this gourd, I let the dye

run and noticed how it formed a dark outline as the

dye dried. I liked the look. So I carefully applied a bit

more honey dye in the same area and let it run. Most of 

the time the dye stayed within the dried line of the first 

application. So, I got brave and applied a mahogany

(reddish color) dye in some areas, trying the same
technique. Apply, let it run or try controlling the run
and doing it a second time. The mahogany dried with a
darker line, giving me the urge to apply some patches
of black leather dye in controlled areas.

A background of honey leather dye, with some patches of

mahogany dye, and finally some black dye for contrast.

Tomorrow...the warty gourds!