Another finish...

Here's the last of the custom bags I had on order...this goes with the small one I finished last week...it is for my dentist. I am going over to the office this morning for a delivery. I sure hope the girls are happy with the bags I have made for them.

Here's a close up of some of the wool applique...a little bird I have used in another bag, but as an embroidery...not an applique.

Here's a close up of the large flower...I used four different pieces of wool on this flower...it gives it a bit of depth....

The inside...I pretty much stay with the same insides...everyone loves all the pockets...

A close up of the inside pocket...I also put a patch pocket on the back, but it was pretty plain so I didn't think you'd want to see that...

It's crisp and clear out today, and I have lots to do...inside and out, so I better get going!

Enjoy your Monday, my friends!!!

Our grocery store detour...

It was so pretty out this afternoon when Don and I headed out for a bit of shopping...this is a view from the end of our street directly north...the snow that fell a couple days ago is melting fast and is now at about the 2500 foot level.
This is the same place but I am looking north east towards Big Bear. Down in the valley is the city. We are up on a sort of bluff above the city.

We drove a little out of our way to see how much snow was left nearby...this is up in Waterman Canyon. It's about 10 minutes from our house. It's right around 2300 feet I guess.

This was about 5 minutes more up the road and the snow was a lot heavier...it was kind of crazy at this point because so many people were parked along the road to play in the snow. That happens when we get a big snowfall and then a sunny day...people drive up here prepared to sled and build snow men...they don't pay any attention to where they are...we even saw a family sledding right next to the freeway entrance...now that was smart!

Here's the opposite view...we are at about 2000 feet and thought our city looked pretty today. It was a bit hazy out because there were a few clouds hanging around...but everything looks so green from all the rain we've had this winter.

Shopping went well...and we tried a new Mexican place for lunch in the Target shopping center...Cafe Rio...it's a chain, we heard and it wasn't bad for a chain restaurant. Now for a bit of relaxing....enjoy the rest of your day!!

A little of this and a little of that...

It's a very cold and dreary day here today...with sprinkles on and off...when I went outside a bit ago...it was 42 degrees ...that is cold...brrrr! I even heard on the weather channel that there is a chance of snow at 1000 feet tonight...we are at about 1600 feet...so we could have some of that elusive white stuff here tonight...that would be interesting!
But as you can see...my birch trees think it's almost Spring! That's probably because of all the warm weather we had earlier in the month...now I think everything is going to be really confused!

We have a guest with us for a couple days...this is Paige...she belongs to my niece and is staying with us while my niece and her husband go away for a couple days. She is quite full of energy...running all around the house...inside and out...but as soon as I get the camera out to take a cute picture...she freezes...just like this...I have a bunch of pictures that look just the same! Silly puppy!!

I have been busy sewing and I finished another custom order bag. This one is a small walking bag made for my dentist. She is going to Europe and wanted a small and big bag that coordinate. The small bag, she can wear across her chest and carry her passport and other ID and camera, phone, money...even a water bottle will fit in there. I have one this size and it is the perfect size to wear on a walk!

Here's a close up of the wool applique...

There's a long adjustable strap on there too...

Here's the inside. Not too much room for pockets on this one, so I put a patch pocket on the inside and one on the back on the outside...

This was a fun bag to make...I like the little ones. I am making a big one to go with it for a carry on for the plane. I just have to finish the lining and I will be done.

Well...back to the sewing machine...enjoy the rest of the day!!

This was fun...

My sister, Debbie gave me a challenge...or should I say an order last week for a diaper bag for her daughter's best friend...she gave me the shower invitation...the expectant mother's colors are green and brown and she has a theme of elephants....so this is what I came up with...

There were certain requirements...she wanted ties on the side...check...

Maybe an elephant on it...I made two...check...

Here's the baby...they are done in wool...I love working with wool...

Of course you need lots of pockets...so I put an extra one on the back...

Lots of roomy pockets in the inside for bottles, wipes, etc...

Here's the inside...bad picture though...the sun wasn't right when I took these photos...I am happy with the results...it was supposed to be a smaller bag than the huge ones you sometimes have to lug around...but it is good sized and will hold plenty. I hope the new mother likes it as much as I liked making it for her...I am back to the sewing machine today...I have two more bags to finish for orders...I finished all the hand work and today I put them together.

I hope you have a happy, productive day today, my friends!!

President's Day weekend...part two...

I was so busy playing games with family during the weekend...that I didn't take too many pictures...but I wanted to show you a photo of a very special birthday girl...Jewel. Saturday was Jewel's 88th birthday and we were all gathered to have a wonderful dinner with her. Jewel splits her time in Central California and Missouri...depending on the time of year. Jewel is Don's sister's Mother- in-law...and she is a great friend to us all!!
For those of you who aren't too familiar with California...Central California is mostly a rural farming area. I took all of these pictures from the car on our way home. We were anxious to get home and it was pretty cold and windy out...so we didn't stop unless we had to. I thought the clouds were so pretty as we drove south.

Many fruit trees line Highway 99...

Here is a close up...the picture is kind of blurry...but they are so pretty in bloom. About half the trees were in bloom...these look like plum trees to me. They grow all sorts of fruit trees up there as well as many kinds of nuts...I think walnuts and almonds are the most popular here...and grapes for raisins...lots of raisins come from here!

This is along Interstate 5...it is wide open and very green right now...

Going up through the Tejon Pass...we see snow! That wasn't there on our way up on Friday...it looks like everywhere got a nice dusting of snow.

This is almost to the top of the Pass. It is at about 4100 feet up there...

We are on our way back down and we pass Pyramid Lake...this lake is very popular in the summer for boaters and skiers...it gets quite warm during the summer here...but now there is snow...it is very pretty!

Here is a close up of the pyramid by the lake...I don't know why that was built but it looks interesting out there. A few minutes after we pass Pyramid Lake we enter Los Angeles County and then head east to our home...we find our local mountains covered in snow as well...we had snow still up there but now it is quite low. Winter seemed to have taken a break for a few weeks but has returned to our area. We are expecting cooler temperatures and rain all this week...I do love the rain...so I gladly embrace the change in weather...living in California, you learn to accept the yo yo weather...or you complain alot! I choose to accept it...I wasn't really ready for warm weather yet anyway!

Enjoy your day, my friends and embrace the things you cannot change...they build character!!

Road trip to Central California...

This past weekend, Don and I took our yearly road trip to Central California to spend time with family and get our taxes done by our wonderful sister-in-law, Chris. Gerry and Chris come down from Northern California by train and Don and I pick them up in Hanford. Usually we drive straight to the station and back in the dark, but this year we decided to leave a bit earlier and explore a bit of Hanford. I learned that Hanford is the county seat of Kings County and has a population of about 50,000. This is the downtown area that I took some pictures of...it was raining on and off, so I didn't take too many shots. Above is the Fox Theatre. It was built in 1929. It has some live shows now and in the past has had visitors such as Bob Hope, Red Skelton and John Denver. Usually, local bands entertain there now.
This building, referred to as the Bastille, was the jailhouse to the area from 1898 until 1964. At one point it had shops and restaurants in it, but it looked boarded up right now.

Here is a close-up of the original name on the bricks.

Across the way is the County Courthouse. It was built in 1896 and used as an active courthouse until the 1980's when a new courthouse was built. It now houses some shops, offices and a restaurant.

Here's a close up of the facade. They don't make buildings like that any more. It was very pretty.

This building was also in the same square, but I couldn't find any information on it. It was closed when we were there, but it had a park area around it and we assumed that it was a gathering place for the Veterans.

The building was flanked by two of these big guns.

We had a nice time visiting with Don's family...we played games, ate too much and stayed up way later than our usual bedtime...it is going to take a few days to recover from all the fun!! I will post some more pictures tomorrow of our trip. I would like to thank Don's brother, John and his wife Hope for being great hosts for the weekend...and a special thanks to Miranda for giving up her room to us for the entire time...You're a doll!!

Enjoy the day, my friends!!

Out door Wednesday...Peach blossom style...

For the last three months my peach tree has been looking like this...
and on Monday...I saw this!!

And this...

and this!!

And even a little of this!! Actually those were the only things I saw, but it looks as though this little tree is waking up from it's winter rest. Soon...well, in a few months...we will have yummy peaches!! There is nothing better than a fresh peach picked from your own tree...especially when that fresh peach is grilled with a little vanilla ice cream and home made raspberry topping on it!

Today it is raining...we are expecting rain on and off for the next week according to the weather channel...I do love the rain and I especially love what the rain does to my yard! This gives me some time with no excuses to stay inside and sew...

Enjoy the day, my friends and go over to Susans and visit other Outdoor Wednesday sites!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my friends who come visit me each day...you help fill my days with joy! I picked out this little cupid for you because she is enjoying her time sewing...and I love reading about all of your sewing projects as well as working on my own...
Happy Valentine's day to my gardening friends as well...this Cupid's for you!!
But most of all...Happy Valentine's Day to my dear husband, Don. You are my one and only...my true Valentine!
Enjoy the day, my friends...I hope you will be able to spend some special time with your own Valentine today!!

Apples and Owls...

Here is the latest bag I have finished. It is a custom piece that I made for the office manager at my dentist's office. She wanted a bag for her son's teacher and quite frankly when she described what she wanted...I was a bit perplexed. She requested that the bag body be blue and white...that is the school's colors...she wanted the mascot on it...an owl...and she wanted apple fabric in the inside...because she said apples are for teachers. ..
So I decided that an owl in an apple tree would be best...that way the apple fabric would tie in...I'm all about logic in these things. Here is a close up of the owl in the apple tree I drew for the bag...I like the way it turned out...It is all done in wool applique...I know I've told you before how very much I love working with wool. I hand stitched all around everything to keep it nice and neat! I used four layers of wool for the owl's eyes...this was a fun bag! Hand stitching is my favorite part of the bags...

Here is a close up of the button...I really liked this big, thick button. I ended up using floss to sew it on because of the thickness of this button. I think a button can make a big difference on my bags since most of them have button closures...

Here is the inside...apples! Boy did I have to search the web for the right apple fabric...there are a lot of them out there, but none that I thought would be very good until I found this one...I admit, I was a bit leery of how it would look, but now that's it's done...I really like it!

Here's a close up of the inside lining and pockets...those apples look good enough to eat!!

All in all...this was a pretty fun bag to make...I have two more bags to make for the office...both of them for my dentist...so I better get busy!!

Enjoy the rest of the day, my friends!!!