Birds and Blooms + critter

This is a warning........if you do not like pictures of critters and flowers, stop here and retreat! If you are curious, continue. Most of the critter pictures were taken from inside my sunroom, through glass and screen. For some reason the birds and squirrels will not sit still for me to go outside to get better pictures of them. I don't know why, it is a mystery. Anyway, you will probably think I have nothing better to do, but, I do! I just get distracted easily. And I do love the outside drama that these critters provide.
This first picture is not great, but there is a good reason it is here. You really have to look close at the top of the fence. I've never seen this little one before. He is tiny and at first I thought maybe I had a Painted Bunting, but I don't know. It looks like a Bluebird. The second picture is a bit clearer. He only stayed for a second and has not been back.
I tried to enlarge it so I could see it better....

Flowers

Flowers

More flowers. These are really a beautiful color, doesn't show up well here. Okay, it's really my pictures taking! Too much sun, too little sun!

I got so excited thinking I was going to have grandbaby birds, but, no, they were just checking it out...

Now, this little guy comes around pretty often. He is so pretty and I like him.

I like him alot....

Really!

And here is my prize bird, a for real Birdbird. He doesn't come around much at all. There is usually a couple of them. This picture was taken through my kitchen window, no screen so it came out really well. His tummy is more red than it shows in the picture and when he flies, the blue on his wings almost glitter. I really really love him.....

The Blue Jay comes to eat too. He is loud but he is welcome.

This bird is a new one to my yard. He started coming around about 3 weeks ago. I think he is a Black Headed Grosbeak. There are a couple of them, maybe more, it is hard to get them to sit still long enough for me to check them out. I try!

I thought you needed to see more of him.

Just in case you didn't see him the first time...

Last one, I promise.

I took the next three of the front of my house (in case you couldn't figure that out) it was a beautiful day, the sky so blue and clouds so white.

And just a few more flowers.

Sorry, I didn't realize I had downloaded so many.....well, okay I did, I'm just saying I didn't.

Isn't he cute!!!! He thinks he is a bird...

He use's my fence as his freeway to the oak trees across the road.

Okay, we are coming to the end. This is a hummer.

The birds have their own fountain to play in, but they like to sneak over to this one to play in. Can you see the bird on the top?

How about this picture? He is on the side.

This one is better. He's "sitting on top of the world..just singing a song".....Sorry for you youngin's that is from an 'old' song.

Here is one of the little bitty ones.

Okay, thats it folks.........................Aren't you glad!?!?!

Rain day? Just Play!

Today Sherie was coming over so I could help her take new pictures of her creation, Rebel Fish, for her Etsy shop. He has someone interested in him and Sherie wanted him to look his best. The plan was for a coffee break and photo session. When I opened my front door, she stood there with Rebel Fish, camera, a shopping bag and chocolate cake. My kind of visitor! We got the photo session out of the way and worked on the cake and coffee. Then, da da da da! she brings out of the bag, two, beautiful charm packs by Moda. One design is Cherish Nature and the other, A Breath of Avignon. For you see, yesterday we had been shown a fun project to make, thank you Charlotte!

A little background: a friend and I have started a crafting group. Once a month (or more for some of us) we get together and share creative ideas. The group consists of quilters, painters, knitters, jewelry makers and just sewing in general. Yesterday we were shown how to make really pretty coasters. Now, I'm not into the cutesy, country coaster set thingies. Neither is Sherie. However, these are really cool, of course the pattern of the material helps. Plus, they are SO easy to make. Although, I did manage to make 2 mistakes that caused some ripping out and starting over. I do have, really pretty crystal coasters in my living room, so, do I need more coasters? Yes, I do, I need ones that will wick up the moisture from the glasses instead of causing the glass coaster to stick to the bottom of the glass or the bottom of the glass is wet when you pick it up, causing drips on the floor or you! Besides, truth be known, we just wanted to make some, they are pretty!

So, here is my and Sherie's attempt at showing how to do these. Sherie took the pictures as I worked (sorry for the poor hand model, Sherie's hands would have been better).

This is some of the Cherish Nature spread out for you to see. We forgot to take a picture of the A Breath of Avignon spread around.

First you pick out the piece you want for the back and then four other pieces for the front.

You fold the four pieces and weave them on top of the bottom..... That sounds weird...

After you decide the way you want it to be, press all the pieces. You will notice that all the raw edges are along the outside. If you forget you will be ripping and redoing, yep, that's what I did!

Press, press.

Pin the four sections for the top that you have ironed, to the bottom one.

You will then just sew all around the outer edge, that is all the sewing you do. That's why I like this project....

Trim the corners. I can do that too!

Now you just start turning it inside out, or is it outside in???

Keep turning..

More turning!

All you do now is press it!

Isn't that pretty?!?!?!

Here is a picture of the two different material patterns. The two groups that just have 3 coasters are mine, cuz I was busy ripping and redoing. That leaves the two groups of 4....being Sherie's. She did not have to rip and redo....

We should have also taken a picture of the backside of these, they are just as pretty as the front.

We hope you enjoyed joining us on this creative journey! Next time I think Sherie should do the writing and I the picture taking. Since we were in my home, she thought I should be the one to do this, not necessarily so!

My New Painting - It's mine!

This is my newest painting. I'm going to keep it. It makes me happy when I look at it for some reason. I think it is all the colors. Just by chance I created a painting that has four leaf clovers on it. You can check those out on the last picture, it is a close up of the green circle.......Can you see them? Use your imagination...look closely at the green circle. I had to place the Swarovski crystals in-between dots and wa la, four leaf clovers! Keep looking, hopefully you will see them, or is it just my weirdness that sees them?!?!?


Here is a close up of the red circle so you can see the dark wine colors. Didn't want you to think they were black, since they don't show up well in the pictures.

Okay, this is the close up of the green circle...........................

AND......ta da!!!!!!!! This is it on my wall. Only problem now, I think I need a bigger picture for this spot. Hmmmmmmm, back to my crafting corner of my sun room..................