Friday finishes!

 

This week I wanted to work on a Valentine project, but didn't have enough time to finish. I have a lot of loose threads and wanted to use them up in a project. This pile is from two smaller boxes and I still have another to go through. With the prices of thread going up, it is nice to use what I have.

I also wanted to try something new for charity. I have been looking at different ideas and the bear was one, that is simple and quick. I made this one up, this afternoon. I used a template that I made out of card stock and traced around that, onto the fabric with a washable marker. When I finished with the face features, I turned it over on the light pad and retraced the outline for sewing. 

Not perfect and I don't like the way the side seam came out, so I watched a video on the ladder stitch, so I will try that on the next one. I have lots of extra fabrics, so this is a great project to use them up and help others. I also forgot to add stitched claws on the hands and feet.

Here is one version, from Wendi's, Shiny Happy World. You can also search online for patterns. I used one that had more curved arms and legs, but I changed them a bit.

Last weekend we went to the backside of a pond, where there is a private beach. We paddle in the inner cove, but this area is nice at low tide since we could walk along the inner cove and on the other side of the dirt road, is the ocean. 

We also stopped in the beach parking lot and caught a group of Brandts and ducks. Then we stopped at the other end of the pond, but no birds were around.

 Our last stop was at the marsh, were I caught a few visitors in the smaller pond. 

I was busy this week, putting all the Christmas away. I have less of Valentines, so the house looks bare. For now I want to concentrate on getting old projects done, and ones for summer. I hope you all had a good week.

Friday finish!

 This week I finished the other Christmas pillow. It was from a design in my Christmas patterns booklet. I did the originals in rug hooking. They are fun to do in any medium and stitchery was something I never did with them. I liked using fun colors, since this is a whimsical design. I used glitter yarn for the edging.

Last week we spent time at the island beaches. It was a little cooler, but still nice to be out.

We spotted this starfish on the beach, it had washed in with the tide, so we threw it back in the water and hopefully it survived.

I also found a few treasures  on the beach, including a little ceramic dog.

This cove always has wildfowl, that winter in our area.

At another area I spotted a lot of White throated sparrows.

Today was a warmer day, so we went to the park for a walk. There was a bit of mud and some leftover ice, but we were able to walk along the dryer paths and got in 6 miles. A bit more than I have done in awhile, but it was worth a few stiff muscles.

After we drove the breakaway and saw that they were dredging the channel. The past storms had washed away all the stone borders and poured sand into the channel, which is where the boats come out to the ocean. They are doubling up on the rocks and getting the excess sand out of the channel, to get the depth back.

And we got to enjoy watching the Long-tailed ducks, diving for fish in the channel. I think these are young ones, they are a bit mottled in color.

I hope you enjoyed your week and are enjoying nicer temperatures, even if for a short while.

Happy New Year!

 

With the holidays, I haven't had much time for crafting. I have a little project I started, so I will finish that and get back to my unfinished projects. 

With Bill having days off, we get out more. We took advantage to some sales and did a few rides around the beach areas. On one day we went to Galilee, which is a port with lots of fishing boats and birds. I spotted a hawk on a pole, that was being harassed by a group of crows. He sat long enough for a photo before he got tired of the harassment.

Around the area I spotted a few Blue Herons and lots of seagulls. The Herons looked like they wished they had gone south.

We sat at the docks and enjoyed the views from the car. This building is one that they process the incoming catches of the day. Their idea of a Christmas decoration.

Then we stopped at the fishing area and walked up the hill to enjoy the views.

At another beach, we enjoyed the views across the bay.

Another day we did some areas to look for Snow buntings, none found but I spotted a large group of Lapland Longspurs.

At home our feeders are always busy. Some will stay still long enough for a photo and others, grab a seed and take off. Snow and cold, always brings in more visitors and it is a nice way to find joy on cold winter days. I hope everyone has a wonderful new year, filled with joys and good health.