Of Bags and Birds

I finally finished a knitting project. At last. And I'm OK with it.

I've been using this purse for nearly three years now;



It cost me about $5 while on vacation in Europe. And I loved it. A constant reminder of that great vacation. And cheap. And cool; at least in the states. (It's very dorky and touristy over there, of course.) The size was right. I like having a purse/bag, but not a large one.

But, alas, it's three years old and falling apart. Time for a new one. And since I like to knit, and I see knitted bags all the time I thought I'd try one myself.

Here is what I ended up with.







I used a pattern from the Stitch 'n Bitch book by Debbie Stoller. Very, very easy pattern.









At the end of the pattern the designer says, "Add a charm of your choice to any spot you choose."

"A" charm? "One" charm?



OK, I had lots of stuff around the house from when I used to make jewelry, so it turned into "lots o' charms."



















I lined the inside with some crazy flame-look material I found at the fabric store. I bought the handles from the same store.





First time I added the handles I sewed them on all the way across. Looked nice. Couldn't open the bag though.

I'll use this bag for a while, see if I like it. Received one compliment on it today.




Onto other projects.
What does this look like to you?




A ball of yarn you say? Not a sock?

Well, it's been on its way to being a sock at least six times. I'm still trying to knit my first "real" sock.
I'll get there someday.






Onto the birds title of this post. Last night I heard a smack on a back window. I looked out just in time to see this guy/gal pass out on the back porch.



So of course I went to the rescue by laying him/her on a chair and watching until the blood started circulating again.

Someone else was also watching.



S/he took its time coming around. But eventually found its legs,



and then its wings as it flew to the top of the Moongarden.



While I was out there standing guard I managed to snap a couple pics of a flicker visiting one of our bird feeders.





Our back garden has had a crazy gathering of birds lately; bathing, drinking, eating, singing, flying around. Doing what birds do in spring. It's been great.