Good-bye to June

I thought I'd end the month by sharing another of my Bee Stitches.

Design - "Keeper of the Bees"

Designer - Ewe & Eye & Friends

Fabric - 32 count Belfast Dirty Linen

Fibers - Anchor & Threadgatherer

Started - 24 April 2005

Completed - 7 August 2005

Framed - July 2010

I thought the simplicity / complexity of the border was most clever.  I liked it so much, that when it came time to have the piece framed, I decided it did not need a mat to provide separation - the border did that just fine.  

This piece tested me a bit - Threadgatherer Silks were used to create the four spiderweb rosettes - some turned out better than others. I came to the conclusion that it looked like nature - each flower a bit different than the others.  Lastly, I was most pleased with the frame.  I felt that the running floral pattern echoed the rambling flowers in the stitch.

We'll take a moment to check in with the critters before signing off today.

Yesterday evening was cool and gray - Tom-Cat decided to observe the outdoor world from the comfort of a padded cat tube.

Chip did not let the cool weather deter him from collecting a last few sunflower seeds.

  

And the hummingbirds were active too...

This is the guy who caused a Big ruckus last night.  He is either a Cooper's Hawk or a Sharp Shinned Hawk.  One has a curved tail the other's tail ends in a straight line.  He flew into a Maple Tree and caused a stir - all the doves flew away and the Steller's Jays began to yell.  I think he was attacking their nest.  They successfully drove him off - he tried a couple of more trees, before eventually flying away. 

Messing about in the Garden Room, I unearthed these two ornamental Quail and decided to set them out.  We've now confirmed two different quail families - both with large broods.  There is one close to our house - their babies are a week or so older than the other family who resides down by our gate...the gate babies are tiny, tiny, tiny bits of fluff!