Birds and Bags

Hello Friends!

So good to be back blogging again!  I've had a wonderful summer so far. My days revolve around  hooking, knitting, painting, gardening, reading, swimming,  and visiting with friends.  Of course I've also been cleaning, cooking, pulling weeds, paying bills, watering, watering watering .... you get the picture..... everyday life.

What I've really enjoyed this summer is bird watching!  I'm a card carrying, binoculars on a strap around my neck, member of the Audubon Society.  My hubby bought me a pair of super duper binoculars for my birthday. I now can see things far away, really really close up, and crystal clear!

 The above shot is me looking up at our family of yellow crested night herons.  Four of these "cuties" are now learning to fly and are all over our yard.  I can practically walk right up to them, as they seem to be very used to us now.  They've been watching down from their nest as we work around the yard and have our evening "deck time".  Deck time is a nightly affair that involves wine, sitting, and doing nothing.

We are also enjoying the family of adult cooper's hawks with their four new babies.  These sweeties are huge, and they whistle all day.  They swoop among the trees, and I can hear them whistling right now as I write this post!

These babies usually can be seen in the bird bath trying to battle the 100 degree plus temperatures!

And what outdoor nursery wouldn't be complete without triplet baby fawns and their mother roaming about?  These little guys suddenly appeared the other night.  They ran all over the place while mama drank from the pond.

So, it can be hard to get much done around here aside from wildlife watching and photographing, but I have managed to be a bit creative.

Below is my gazing ball pillow.  The pattern is from Primitive Spirit. 

 I think it turned out absolutely gorgeous!  I wasn't sure where I would put it, but seems to work nicely resting on my little gold-checked wing-backed chair.

I'm sooooo excited to be going to New York in the fall!  One of the things I'll be doing is attending a wool festival.  This trip was just what I needed to put me into high gear and make a new fall tote to carry on my journey.  I was trying decide color and design, when the obvious choice came to me.  My love for hedge apples!  I love the color, texture, and shape of these fall beauties.

The colors I chose evolved from the greens.... I knew I wanted a grey background.  I think hooked bags look their very best after being carried awhile with a bit of wear.  This one may come out late summer to very early fall so it will be nice and a bit frumpy for the New York trip.

Below is a quick shot I took of the inside before I assembled the bag.  I wanted roomy pockets so I wouldn't be digging for stuff all the time.

I've made other bits of this and that, but this has been sort of a lengthy post, so I'll share more of my life and creative endeavors here at the doorstep on another day.

xo
dulcy

Creating To Stay Cool!

Thanks so much for the sweet comments on Jim and Lily's books in my previous post.  Very much appreciated!

I've been riding out the heat in my studio, AC humming, while listening to books on CD.  Actually, I've been having the best time!  As a result of being forced inside, I created this sunflower tote.

Hooked with wool, and lined in a pretty soft teal plaid wool.  I have a wonderful collection of vintage buttons that I dug into for the closure and to secure the strap.  Found some really cute ones that work nicely.  This sweet little bag is 8"x10" with a 28" strap,  and is currently listed in My Little Handbag Shop.  You may notice it is now "My Little Handbag Shop" minus the patterns.  I'm going to concentrate on making one of a kind bags.... no two alike.  I really enjoy just getting into what would look interesting and sort of "WOW" for a handbag.  Choosing colors is my favorite part, along with construction and watching the whole piece come together.  I'm creating art bags that I would want to carry.  So, I may only have a new bag in the shop occasionally, perhaps two to three at a time at most.  No patterns for now.  I'll just see how it goes.

I've also been on somewhat of a knitting binge.  I was knitting a pair of socks, and just not really loving the wool.  So.... I purchased this nice and bright Alpaca from Peru.

 So soft to work with, and knits up like a dream....

I also bought this pretty yarn.  It's a cotton/nylon combo.  I love how it has these little bumpy things that give the impression of rosebuds, which is what it looks like knitted up.  I've got a pattern for a pretty swirly scarf that I'm saving this for.  I have an upcoming surgery that will keep me laid up for a bit, so this is a project I'm saving for my recuperation period.

These yarn balls look a lot like three luscious tomatoes!  Off topic, but Missouri tomatoes are like eating cake.  My current treat is tomato sandwiches.  I toast some bread, lay on the sliced tomatoes,   a bit of salt and pepper, and spread with mayo that I've mixed with fresh basil from my herb garden.  Oh my gosh.... summer heaven!

I'm still working with pastels, and am just about done with this heron .  Working with the blues and greens has been fun... and I really liked trying to get the feel of this sandy beachy sort of spot.  I'm hoping to start a new piece next week.

Well.... time to get outside and continue my never ending plant watering.  Everything is more or less hanging in there.  It's worth the hassle because once it cools a bit and fall comes on, things seem to pop back prettier than ever (I hope.....).  Stay cool, create, read, and enjoy a wonderful weekend!
xo
dulcy

Hydrangea Tote

The front side is just about done. I'm really working fast because I want to get to the assembling. I'm considering a pretty plaid lining of like colors with perhaps a matching plaid shoulder strap. My hope is to create a set of "flower bags". My next one (if this one is a success, and doesn't make me crazy) will be more fall themed with perhaps prodded mums. Well....don't want to get ahead of myself.