DIY Bee Hotel

I've been searching for a great diy tutorial that I could do and share with all my blogging friends. I found one that means a great deal to me. I'm all about saving the Bee's and Butterflies.

 Each year I raise Monarch butterflies. Now I'm going to give a try and help the bee's a little more, besides having lots of flowers for them to love.

 Did you know that the bee's are now are dealing with something called CCD or Colony Collapse Disorder? It's when the worker bee's leave their hive and the queen, to fend for themselves. In the last five years the bee population has been slashed in half. So this means fewer pollinators for fruits and vegetables, which means limited crop yields. In turn, driving up the demand and food prices for all. 

So how about helping out these wonderful insects that help put food on the table for us!

I found this tutorial on another blog at 2Paws Designs

 Here is how I made my Bee House. This is for solitary bee's not honey bee's.

Supplies List

• Brown Wrapping Paper or Paper bag
• utility knife
• scissors
• 8 oz. plastic bottle
• twine
• ruler 
• pencil

Rinse out your drink bottle and dry. Cut the top off with utility knife or scissors.

I had a roll of brown wrapping paper so I used that instead of brown paper bags which I did not have.

I cut stripes of paper that were about 5.5" long. I rolled onto a pencil a couple times around to make a tube.

 

I had a little help from my cat Bonsai! hehe You know how cats love to help!

When I had the bottle filled up, poked a couple holes with scissor point and threaded the twine through. Hung mine in one of my burning bushes. Will see what happens!!

 I finally have all my flowers planted in my yard. Did not plant as many in pots this year as I usually do. Saving a little money this year as we are doing a huge remodel right now on our kitchen and bath. The demo is finished. And the electrical, plumbing and dry wall is up. Just waiting now on cabinets, counters, tub and toilet to come in. 

So here are a couple pretty flowers from my yard!

Can't believe how well my Clematis is doing this year! I never have this much luck with them! Must be the very rainy spring we had.

 

And my fav flower, Gerbera Daisy!

Thinking of new sewing projects! So stay tuned!

Peace and Love to All!

 

Gardening Time!

Yes...I'm still alive. Can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. Now that the weather has warmed up I've been pretty busy in the yard with clean up, weeding and planting flowers. I'm so excited that I will have a vegetable garden this year!! My next door neighbor has offered to share his garden space with me. It's about a 25ft X 25ft space by his garage where he usually plants all tomatoes. 

Saturday planted my green beans, carrots and Kale and potatoes. And yesterday planted my Better Boy tomato plant, 4 Green Bell Pepper plants and a Cilantro plant. I love making homemade Guacamole!!

Should be interesting to see how my garden grows. Just have to worry about the wildlife eating it all up. We have many rabbits and deer. Any tips on keeps these critters away, leave me a comment. :)

I did manage to make one of my owl orines last week and got it listed in my Rock River Stitches Etsy Shop. 

I plan to get a few more Owl's made along with some other critters. My primitive shop is suffering since I've been trying to get my photography etsy shop going.

Here is something brand new I'm working on in my Red Oak Images Etsy Shop.

This cute little coin purse is made with fabric that was printed with a photo image I took of the Cone Flowers that grow in my garden.

I'm expecting more fabric later this week so I can add more of these adorable fine art photography coin purses.

Just have to show you what happened in the wonderful world of wildlife around my house a couple of weeks ago. I had been seeing this female turkey walking all over our neighborhood for about a week. One evening I walked into our living room and there she was sitting on our deck! I was shocked to see this huge bird sitting there! Pepper my cat was very interested in her and kept pawing and meowing at her. Didn't even scare her away. I think she was very amused with Pepper! LOL It was so funny!

She was very pretty if you looked at her close up. Had beautiful feathers! She sat on our deck for about 10 minutes preening her feathers. I haven't seen her since then. 

Well that's it for now and I will try to post more often. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

*New* Primitive Scrappy Birds!

Look what just flew in! These birds are a new design for me! They have the most cutest rusty wire legs, I think. They all are for sale right now in my Etsy Shop

In other news, I saw the mama deer and baby that I saw a couple of weeks ago in my neighbors backyard. Little one sure has grown fast since I last saw it.

And look who landed on my deck railing the other day! It's a young male cardinal just getting his bright red feathers and black mask around his beak and eyes. 

Making this short for today. Will be listing more of my new primitive birds in the future posts.

Primitive Squirrels!

I've finally gotten some time to sew after getting my flower garden in! I have a few new items newly listed in my etsy shop!

These sweet primitive squirrels can be seen here --->Rock River Stitches etsy shop

I just had to make one squirrel black like what we have around here. They are my favorites!

And another new item!!! I just love making these big crows!!

You can see this guy in my etsy shop too!

Almost forgot another new item I made last week!

If you are a follower of my blog, you know that I live in a residential area that has a over population of deer. A couple of weeks ago saw a Momma and baby walking through my backyard. The baby had to be no more then a couple of days old.

 I had to hurry and get the shot as they were walking fast! Excuse the blur of one of my flower pots on the left of the photo.

Mom was walking pretty fast and this little one was having a hard time keeping up! It laid down one time in my neighbors front yard before crossing the street. I held my breathe as the little one crossed the street over to mom who was quite a ways ahead of it.

And the birds have been busy in my yard raising families!

Chickadee with lunch for it's young!

Cleaning up after the kids!  

House Wren busy building a nest!

Wishing everyone a Happy Weekend!!