Showing posts with label nature themed quilts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature themed quilts. Show all posts

Thursday, August 23, 2018

A Walk in the Woods

We went for a walk in the woods today. This summer was brutally hot, and my husband had knee replacement therapy, so we are just now getting to enjoy walking again.

We went to Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan, just a few miles away. I had never been there before but had seen photographs my brother shared from his walks there.
The nature center has 100 acres and includes an educational center.
The nature trails are nearly two miles long and go through deep, dark wooded areas filled with deer and birds, a marshy area, a pond, and meadows.


The woods are left quite natural, with fallen trees left in place. Michigan wildflowers are protected from the deer with cages over them.

There are sugar maples which are tapped to make maple syrup every year, which is sold in the visitor's center.
The Rouge River flows through the nature center. This is the same river that goes through Detroit. The Rouge watershed draws from the densely populated and urbanized area of Southeast Michigan.
We were told there are thirteen deer in the park. We saw at least four sets of doe and fawn. They are alert but used to people and don't run off.

The trails vary from mulched paths to dirt paths riddled with tree roots to wood walkways over the marsh. The most difficult part of the trail was the Fox Trail which had an uphill climb with steps to reach the top of the ravine...and of course then one must come down again!

I noted several quilts in the nature center. This tree quilt with an owl is a fundraiser silent auction.

 This owl quilt is a temporary loan.
The visitor's center has a library, display cases, and several interactive areas for children. Educational activities for all ages are offered.


I look forward to returning to see the woods in other seasons.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

AQS Grand Rapids Quilt Show, III: Natural Beauty

I am back in Pentwater and getting caught up. I am deluged with great produce and am making soups, sauces, and freezing for winter use.

Here are some more quilts from the Grand Rapids, MI American Quilt Guild Show. Today I am focusing on nature themed quilts.

I so enjoyed seeing the MasterPieces Quilts of Inspiration! Many of these quilts I had seen in photos, and it was so great to see them in real life. I had seen Velda Newman's Sunflower State, and it remains a favorite quilt.


Piece and Quiet by Cynthia England was another show stopper. I couldn't get a good pic of it until close to the end of the day!


This winning quilt was so interesting. Ann Horton's Bandelier National Monument was very innovative.


The first prize award went to Tim Latimer  for his hand quilted Tree of Life. This whole cloth quilt showcases his amazing talent in hand quilting.


Laura Fogg's Zucchini Quilt caught the eye of my friend who came along with me to see the show. Perhaps because her husband is a gardener!


I loved the rendition of water in Wolf River by Mary Ann Van Soest.



This Ultimate Guild Challenge quilt from the Tall Pine Quilters was so cute.


Lynn Randall offered Bees. A Small Blessing was the theme chosen by the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild for the Ultimate Guild Challenge.



Color Wheel Opposites was the theme the Milwaukee Art Quilters were challenged with. Gotta love blue and orange!


Claudia Pfeil's Silk Road Tour included this quilt, Parrot's Island,  that made me smile when I turned the corner and saw it.



Pfeil also offered The Magical Mermaid's Castle. Well, perhaps not really natural at all! But what nature's sea looks like in our dreams.