Back in January, we made our second trip to The Wave, a beautiful striped oasis nearly sitting upon the Utah-Arizona border.
We'd been trying to score on the monthly permit lottery for seven years and finally were drawn last fall. Only 20 people are allowed to hike into The Wave each day, 10 three months in advance and 10 in a same-day lottery.
We'd taken our chances in 2012 and driven out to Kanab in the dead of winter to see if we might get lucky in the same-day lottery. A raging blizzard kept most same-day hopefuls warm at home, and we were able to visit The Wave for the first time. The winter day was short, we couldn't begin our hike until after the drawing, and Kanab is a good 50 miles or so from The Wave trailhead. We did it, but we longed for a full day and a sunrise at The Wave.
This year, we got what we wanted, minus the sunrise. We had a full day exploring The Wave and Coyote Buttes. I took about 800 photos. I turned one of them pink. Then I played with the pink landscape in Photoshop. I turned the manipulated images into Spoonflower fabric. And now I have a full yard, minus one square, with which to play!
I'm not sure yet what I will do with the fabric or the experimental quilt square I whipped up on the first night with my lovely new fabric, but I'm thinking that little square might make a nice baby blanket. I like to embellish my quilts with crochet, so I may make a few more log cabin squares, then cut a few white squares the same size to alternate with the pink ones, and then crochet pink snowflake motifs to applique onto the white squares.
I'd also like to make my favorite bag with a panel of six of the fabric squares. But I don't carry a pink bag. I may have to do this again with a blue Wave so I can make a bag I can use to haul my crafting on the commuter train every day.
I expect Photoshop fun is about to ensue...
Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict here and Crazy Mom Quilts here.
That is such an awesome spot indeed, it is great looking pink too, always creative at your now pink filled zoo
ReplyDeleteThank you! Couldn't agree with you more, Pat. The Wave is one of my favorite places on earth. I wish it wasn't so difficult to visit! But then I guess if anyone could go any time, it probably wouldn't be as special, and I'll bet it would be vandalized a LOT.
DeleteThat's amazing fabric!
ReplyDeleteThanks, A! I'm certainly loving trying to come up with ideas for how to use it!
DeleteWe entered the lottery for the Wave a few years ago; didn't get in, and probably won't be out that way again anytime soon. What a great idea to turn it into fabric.
ReplyDeleteOh, Ben, I'm so sorry you weren't able to get in. I hope one day you get another chance. It's so worth the wait!
Deletewhat a memory to make and the fun of fabric to play with. Ingenious! Such a lovely idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Monique! It's been a ton of fun!
DeleteThis is so interesting. I'm not sure I could hike that far anymore but certainly am glad you can. And what you've done with your photos is very unique. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann! I've had back issues for nearly 10 years now, and there have been days when getting out of bed in the mornings is an issue. It's places like The Wave that keep me trying to show my back who's boss... :)
DeleteYour images look amazing. Have fun using them in a quilt and playing with more colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jasmine! I've got so many more ideas up my sleeves...
DeleteWhat pretty fabric & what a fun story of how it came to be!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pieces! I believe every quilt has a story. Perhaps every fabric should have a story, too!
DeleteOoh, ooh, ooh! GORGEOUS! You know you'll have to show me this fabric in a few weeks....
ReplyDeleteYou could always carry a pink bag in October. :)
I can do better than that, Sue! I bet I can gift you a square or two! (I had a plan for a fat quarter of a different fabric of my design in mind for you, as well... See if that lifts your curiosity!!!)
ReplyDeleteOh, and I might just have to give second thought to a pink bag. October is the PERFECT time to switch over to a pink bag! And it could even be snowing by then, too...