A rainy day

It doesn't happen often here in the Sonoran Desert.  But it is monsoon season.  The temps are high and so is the humidity.  That brings rain and thunderstorms.  I haven't seen the sun today.  Been at my craft table, busy making some small pouches or bags.  This is what I see from my window.

Actually the shutters are usually across the window but open so I can look out.  I can see a lot of movement in my peripheral vision that distracts me.  That clump of bushes you see is home to quail and bunnies.  So far today, I have seen about 6 quail run for cover from the rain in there.  And just a few minutes ago I saw a tiny baby cottontail come out of there and head for the large Texas sages bushes over here:

You can see the reflection of the open shutters in the window, but beyond that is the river rock and the big sage bushes.  Makes an interesting distraction.  I knew there were a lot of rabbits hiding in the front yard because they are regularly scared out of the bushes when I walk out there or open the garage door.  Now I know what they have been doing out there -- making more bunnies!!! (((wink, wink)))  Of course, the landscaping in the back yard is good eats, so the rabbits are doing well.  Hmm!  Perhaps if I get overrun with bunnies I will have to call someone to trap them and escort them elsewhere.

So, you ask, just what am I making today.  Here's a glimpse for you:

This simple little bag or pouch is large enough to hold a CD case or a treasure like jewelry or a small book.  I think before I put these out for sale, I am going to make a simple journal or art book to tuck inside.

This one has a gypsy girl on it.  I am working on a third right now, but waiting for glue to dry.  Took a break to do the blog.

Queen Bee and a covey of quail

I was reading Dorthe's blog, Den Lille Lade, a few days ago and fell in love with a cloth heart that had a "queen bee" image on it.  See it here.  She noted in her blog that the image came from Digital Antiques.  So I did some searching and found it here.

After I got the images I promptly printed some on coffee dyed muslin and made this little journal.

I was lucky enough to find a wooden button in my stash that had a bee on it. 

Never one to let the back of something go without some detail, I stitched around the edges and put two daisies with flowers on the back.  Striped fabric to match the bee, flowers for the bee, and a beeline with the stitching.

I wish I could have gotten closer to take this picture, but the quail would never have stood still for that.  And it all happened so quickly that putting another lens on the camera would have taken way too long.  As it was, I only got this picture of papa quail standing on the rim of the fountain with about 9 babies running around.  There were lots more babies but they had disappeared behind the wall and the fountain.  Best guess is that there were nearly 15-18 babies of varying sizes.  I wondered if some babies get mixed up and join the wrong covey to hang out with.  Anyway, what a treat to see all these little guys running around!  Too stinkin' cute!!!