The Spoonflower challenge this round was for poisonous plants. Hmm. It had me wishing, once again, that I was better at drawing. I decided to go semi-abstract. Semi-mod. I don’t think I was successful. But I had a working, repeating pattern.

Dieffenbachia is also known as dumb cane. Dumb cane gets its name from the temporary speechlessness that can occur after chewing a piece of the stem. The cells of the plant are armed with stinging crystals, raphides, that are composed of calcium oxalate. If chewed or ingested, the raphides and sap of the plant can irritate the mucous membranes and cause swelling and inflammation of the tongue and throat. The plant is considered to be toxic to cats and children, though ingestion is not usually deadly.

The design name came to me after reading the plant description. It comes from a funny scene in one of the Star Trek movies. Captain Kirk has numb tongue and no one can understand what he is saying. Obscure, I know. But the movie made me giggle.

There is texture through out. I mixed a wonky plaid with a linen for the background. And I mimicked the variations of color in the leaves.

I don’t feel confident to ask for votes on this one. Voting is open now until January 17th.

Dad’s birthday.

Bee Decree placed at 535 of 811 entries with 26 votes. You can see the top 63, here. Thanks so much everyone, for taking the time to vote.

You are bee-nomenal! 😊😊😊

I do feel a sense of accomplishment for the learning in this process. Adding that to my little pink book of techniques. Haha. 🙂

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes a year has been so disastrous and so terrible
that entering a new year will automatically mean
entering a wonderful year!
Mehmet Murat Ildan

Kindness, kindness, kindness.
I want to make a New year’s prayer, not a resolution.
I’m praying for courage.
Susan Sontag