175 Foot Giant Jaguar Seen on A-Mountain Today!!!

With the help over 50 friends, neighbors, and volunteers WE DID IT!  We carried the jaguar and all its glorious biodiversity up and down A-Mountain as part of the first annual Beyond-Tucson event!

Thanks to Sandy Landham of Environmental Flying Services we even had a plane for Paul Hamilton of Biodiversity Photography (and my super-supportive hubby) to take photos from overhead.  And, because of the patience of our neighbor Mark DeLevie, some sweet video was taken as we emerged from the gazebo on the mountain.  Here, check out these images and video clips and see for yourself how beautiful it was:

Randall Longcore was our on-the-ground photographer.  Randall must’ve run about 10 miles today getting images to share.  We’ll post his stuff in the next blog.  I can’t wait to see them and the close-ups of all us jaguar-handlers!  But here’s just one more for now:

Photo by Randall Longcore

Lots of folks who were on the mountain for a morning run or bike ride were quite intrigued and excited, including a local boyscout troop who “ohhed” and” ahhhed” over the images we carried.  One of the best moments was when the folks from SIA Tech High School ran to meet us in the gazebo to add their last-minute but lovely heart-covered panel.  We decided to let them bring up the rear to remind everyone that panels can still be made.  Yep folks, this jag is a juvenile, who will continue to grow as he migrates all over jag territory!

So, please share your comments, stay posted for Randall’s as well as others photos and video, and a final THANKS to Defenders of Wildlife for coffee, bagels, and getting this thing off the ground!!!

Here’s a close-up of SIA Tech’s gorgeous surprise panel:

A Panel for the Underfrogs!

I was speechless today when the Fed-Ex guy arrived with a new Sewing Spots Together panel freshly made over the holidays by Nathalie Aall and family in Utah.  As you can see, she gave a focus to those cute little critters often found over the heads and under the feet of jaguars.  The pictures speak for themselves. but do you know that amphibians all over the world are vanishing and need our attention?  If you aren’t familiar with the organization, Save the Frogs, check them out…… they do important work for all of our frog friends.

The Fed Ex guy had to wait for me to open it so he could see why I was so excited!

The golden frog is now basically extinct in the wild and scientists are struggling to save them!

Esther, Nathalie's mom and fellow artist, crocheted 26 of these leaf bunches by hand over a VERY busy holiday season!

The cute toe pads on this poison frog are to die for!

Everyone loves a tree frog!

Now, that's a mouthfull!

I’ve got to run now and add this panel to the tapestry before the big day when our jaguar climbs A-Mtn!

A big warm furry HUG  to Nathalie, her mom, and her grandmother, Caroline for the beautiful work they did!  WOW.  And here are photos of the awesome women at work:

We are all truly impressed by the variety and volume of embroidery floss at this household!

“Hey mom, if a jaguar and an allosaurus got into a fight, who would win”?

The Tucson Children’s Museum not only displayed Sewing Spots Together last week, but the young visitors created a whole new panel for the project.  Very Sweet.  Thanks to Jennifer and all!

The Allosaurus gives the jaguar a nod.

Our Jaguar Joins Beyond-Tucson

From the Beyond-Tucson website:

“The tragic shooting events of January 8, 2011 shook our Tucson community, affecting each of us deeply. It was a horrible day.

But in the days and months afterward, our community came together in a way it never had before. We supported each other, leaned on each other, and generally looked out for one another. The sense of togetherness was tangible.

BEYOND is a community-wide event to commemorate the anniversary of January 8th, celebrate the spirit of togetherness we felt in the days and months afterward, and re-commit ourselves to working together to build a stronger community every day.”

This is an invitation to you folks to have a part in Beyond-Tucson and Sewing Spots Together…  to bring attention our conservation initiatives.  After all, this is about more than just saving a big beautiful cat.

We are currently in a mad rush of creativity as we have just been invited to be a visual and media highlight of the Beyond events taking place in and around Tucson this January 7^th.  And, with your addition we can make it big enough to generate environmental curiosity and excitement in our community.  Our goal for Beyond is to make the jaguar long enough to eclipse the “A” on A-mountain on January 7^th!

Beyond is a way of honoring friends and loved ones injured and lost on January 8^th, acknowledging how the events of that day have changed us, celebrating our community, and committing to building a better future together.  I, for one, would like to work with you to create a future together that has room for the jaguar and all native life.

Please see and share this informational PDF which explains more fully what “Sewing Spots Together” is, how it will be part of Beyond on January 7^th, and exactly what you can do to join us and make it a big environmentally-attention-getting success!  It’s free and fun.  Also, please find Sewing Spots Together on Facebook!

Together, piece-by-piece, stitch-by-stitch we can sew spots together.

New Zealand’s National Aquarium Hosts Our Eel!

Velvet is currently on display at the National Aquarium in Napier.  How cool to go see our handmade tuna, as well as the real live longfins they have there!

Our Velvet hangin' with her fishy mates!

An elderly longfin eel in captivity.

Here is what Carol Larson, Education Team Leader at the National Aquarium, had to say about it:

“Velvet goes around our Exhibition Hall and up the ramp to the foyer…. she looks great swimming down the ramp to the Pania of the Reef tank.  I have seen many people touching the fabric and making  comments. One mother was telling her small daughter that ‘school children made this’!  You all are reaching far and wide with this project and it’s travels. Well done!”

Thanks Carol, and “well done” yourself and for all you folks there do to educate and inspire regarding the amazing life under New Zealand’s waters!

Velvet Swims to Hawke’s Bay

Thanks to the flexibility and patience of Gabriela Gomez Fell and others in Hawke’s Bay Velvet was enjoyed by many, including visitors to the National Aquarium.  Here is the full newspaper article on her visit in the Hawke’s Bay Today .   Somehow, “Velvet” took on the name of “Wendy” in this article, but, no worries, it looks like her tuna-in-trouble message got through regardless.

Here are some photos of Velvet being hung in Hawke’s Bay:

I love how the head and tail circle around to meet.

How to deal with the great mess of tuna?!

The ties Peta added are really working well! Thanks Peta!          If you want to see all the photos, go here http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/34542351/1/Velvet?h=539bd0

Thanks Gabriela and everyone in Hawke’s Bay!

Tuna in Wellington!

This gallery contains 4 photos.

Due to all the busy-ness here in the desert with the growing jaguar tapestry, one would think that with regards to the dear eels that a cat got my tongue!  Well, I may have taken an eel-blog writing break, but … Continue reading →