Canadian Spring, A Gardener's Alphabet, Links, Free Patterns, Inspiring Quilts

Crabapple Hill Designs A Garden's Alphabet BOM, pink crayon tinted and embroidered. Blocks all done; assembly required. 😄

 I really don't mind winter; in fact there are many aspects of it that I love. But there is something magical about spring and the way the earth awakens as it were after a long sleep. And all the little creatures along with it. It's all happening right now outside my wooden house in the middle of our eleven acres. I'm taking the time to note it and be amazed at what a miracle a Canadian Spring truly is.

And I'm trying to feel these things below I wrote on this photo with thanks to so many of you who left me such encouraging words in the comments 0n my last post. Sometimes we think we are unique and alone with feeling a certain way which adds to the sadness. It helps to know others are feeling similarly so thank you for sharing your experience and also what helps you to feel better. It is hard to believe that even at my age, I'm still a work in progress. 

This pair is back; I think it might be the same two from years past.

Enough about that. On to other noteworthy things. This is interesting. I'm finally reading James' book and enjoying it very much. I'm finding out that I've been practising a lot of these things most of my life. I do wish I could have had this book when very young. There is a great lesson in it all.

I'm still loving the cross stitching of this piece, The Scarlett House, Floral Motif Sampler. I've made it across the top and down the side a little. It is almost 20 inches across and I'm nearing the half way mark. 

Talented and generous Sarah at A Little Happy Place offers a free pattern and tutorial for a very cute mini quilt for spring. Be sure to check out her bank of lovely patterns with tutorials that include applique and embroidery with the quilting. I especially love when designers do that!

I want to also share this post at Magpie's Mumblings. Mary Anne is stitching a quilt from a photo of an old barn. Her perfect rendering is quite remarkable!

Also Gladi at this post shared her photos of quilts at the New England Museum including several amazing quilts from Barb Vedder of the Fun With Barb blog. So much inspiration; I am in awe which goes without saying. 

Here is just one of Barb's amazing works. I love the idea of using motifs that are personally meaningful to create a quilt.

We finished the last season of Shameless and while some of the scenes are over the top and a bit much, let's just say, we enjoyed following this remarkably scrappy Chicago family and friends right to the end. 

Here is sweet Ned with a stick he very happily recovered from the bottom of the ice free pond. I had to sneak it from him because he could seriously stab someone with that and since I was the only one with him, I mean me. LOL

That's my little roundup for this Thursday. Check out Not Afraid of Color and the gang there who share thankful, likeable things too. Also sharing with Brian's Home Blog, It's A Small Town Life, Alycia Quilts, Creations Art Whatever, Kathy's Quilts, So Scrappy, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Life in the Scrapatch.