Thursday 30 June 2022

Thursdays' Three Free, Five Fledglings, Two Bleeding Hearts, One Basket Case Quilt

I have had a good week and by good I mean productive as per a retired old lady. Played ball and walked the dogs a lot, cleaned and refilled the bird feeders, dug around a bit more in the garden, tidied the pesky cupboard and flotsam drawer. I also washed our bed pillows. Do you do that?  I run them through the machine with clorox and then again with no detergent a couple of times a year.  We don't have fancy ones that might need dry cleaning.  I swam a little too and took photos as well.  It goes without saying there was time well spent with needle and thread. 

Look at these faces! Despite our removing nest material from the eave over the front veranda, the Eastern Phoebe persisted and proceeded to raise her family there. This was almost directly in front of the front door so we used the back door further along the veranda to give her some privacy. By easing open the front door, I was able to take a couple of photos-I didn't want to spook them. 

All along we assumed there were three birds in the nest.  Not till they started to fledge did we realize there were five! They each took a turn sitting outside the nest for a couple of hours before leaving. This took a whole day for them all to fledge. It really must take a lot of gumption to make that first flight.
The next day I heard them chirping in the big trees at the end of the veranda and saw the parents still flying about. They are moved on now and it's a little sad to see the empty nest. But it is nice to have our front door back.

I had dug up and divided the white Bleeding Heart bush. This article was very helpful. It had more than enough roots to divide which you are supposed to do every 5 years I read - in that article. One part got planted in the back yard 

and the rest on the right side of the house.
 I'm happy to say that they both "took" and even produced flowers. Fingers crossed they return next year.

I think I mentioned I've decided to use the  Elm Street Quilts Monthly OMG link up to finish old WIPS. The one I've chosen for July is this one, Basket Case, which is a 2020 project. This was stitched with a free basket pattern from kind Michelle at Michelle Ridgeway Designs. The greys of the background fabrics are not as dark as shown here.

The center medallion was my own choice and all those fussy cut flowers are just tacked down with a running stitch. I plan to anchor them all with a little blanket stitch embroidery and then get the whole thing quilted. More hand work. But I don't mind as I do have the dresden blades for Wheel Within a Wheel being machine stitched and moving right along.  
Speaking of baskets, there are more in my future as I ordered a kit from Norma Whaley of Timeless Traditions to stitch a small and beautiful wall hanging. Basket Love can be seen here.
I love everything Norma designs as I've mentioned here on the blog before. More about that later.

Time for Thursday's Three Free

From the creative folks at the Live Art Gallery comes a pattern download and tutorial to make a lovely Summery Pillow top using their way of making flying geese. I never tire of flying geese projects and would use this for a table topper. 




Bev at Flamingo Toes cleverly combines quilting, embroidery and a little DIY know-how to create a wide variety of lovely items. She also generously provides quite a large supply of free patterns for every season too. I thought this one a pretty little mini quilt to stitch and it was in the RSC June colours too which could easily be swapped for July's purples.

And for my cross stitching pals, By the Bay Needleart, the folks behind this gorgeous design that I've ogled for a long time...

there is a page of lovely freebies to be found HERE.
That's enough for this rather long post; hope I did not bore you! I have thrifting news for next time.

27 comments :

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I must admit I do not wash my bed pillows - I'm afraid they will lose their shape and become lumpy - after many years of bad pillows we finally found some that we really like and they last us a long time - the first set we had we had gotten free with our new bed about 8-10 years ago? and they were good I finally ordered a new set last year and as they are $100 each I have not taken the chance to wash them. I hope just putting clean pillow cases on frequently is good enough. For many years inexpensive pillows didn't bother us and we just tossed them when we needed to and bought new inexpensive pillows, as we aged we found we needed better pillows I supposed because of neck issues.

Gretchen Weaver said...

The Basket Case quilt is beautiful! I look forward to seeing the progress you make with it. I'll check out the Bleeding Heart article. I want to divide one so I need to know what I'm doing. Thanks and happy stitching!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

The LOVE mini quilt is beautiful! And I LOVE seeing those baby birds. Way to go getting such good photos of them too!

Jenny said...

Oh, those cute little birdy faces! Taking that first flight from the nest must be a terrifying thing for little fledglings. Your basket quilt looks lovely, I've long wanted to make something similar, but.... and yes, you must definitely stitch that needle worker design, it certainly sums you up to a tee, as the saying goes.

Carol in Texas said...

Aren’t birds interesting. We are surrounded with Barn Swallows all summer, and their mud nests cover our eaves on the north side of the house and over our garage. I fight to keep them off the porches. But they are wonderful insect eaters and fun to watch. I do love your blog and look forward to every entry. I follow up on many of the sites you mention….the latest are from this blog and from your last entry, the beautiful Paisley Quilt Shop! Thank you for all your suggestions! I love seeing your garden too. How lush. This year in addition to the Texas heat I am beset by grasshoppers! It’s challenging. I emailed you about Norma Whaley. I was SO glad to see her mentioned in your blog!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Sounds like your week is going delightfully, Jocelyn! I love your photos of the Phoebes. Isn't it fun to watch the nesting process? You remind me that I have weeds to get out and pull. Your plantings look lush and happy! Enjoy working on your basket quilt - it's so pretty!

Brian's Home Blog said...

Those wee birds are such cuties. WOW, that Basket Case sure is beautiful!!!

Nancy said...

Oh my goodness, those little birds are so cute. They almost look grumpy in the first photo.
Your Basket Case blocks look great. The grey backgrounds give a different feel to the quilt.

Michele McLaughlin said...

That summery pillow is adorable and I downloaded the pattern for later! Thanks Jocelyn! Those wee birds are so adorable, how sweet of you to both accomodate the birds. I love your basket project! It's gorgeous! Have a great weekend!

Angie said...

Jocelyn - your posts could never be boring! The picture of the Eastern Phoebes is "aw, shucks", down-home adorable! Especially the shot with one of them cocking its head quizzically at the camera!!! Have a great weekend!

Jenn Jilks said...

I do like your quilts. Nicely done.
The phoebes are quite a hoot. or a peep! They look so fierce!
(ツ) from Jenn Jilks , ON, Canada!

Sherrie said...

Hi Jocelyn,
I love your basket quilt. I've got a pink one going right now. Not sure
what I'm going to do with it. But I'll think of something, I'm sure. I
really like the cross stitch project. I may have to head over and check
this out. Have a great day!

Rosemary Dickinson said...

So fun to see the birds grow before your very eyes! I love the Basket Case quilt. What a beauty! Thanks for the 3 free projects. Love them too!

piecefulwendy said...

I think those Phoebes are as curious about you as you are of them! Thanks for the info on the Bleeding Heart; I just planted one last year and didn't know I needed to divide it at some point. I'm off to check out your other links!

MissPat said...

My little bird fledged this week, too. I put up a bird house many years ago, solely as decoration, but the birds have made it a home and raised many fledglings. Not sure if they are house sparrows or wrens, but they sure do make a lot of noise while feeding.
Pat

Linda said...

I have a foam pillow, I wonder if it is washable. Those birdies are adorable. We had starlings last year and they attempted to build a nest this year but never finished it. That center medallion on basket case is beautiful!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Lucky you to capture such great photos of the baby birds! They posed so nicely too.
It's going to be fun to watch the rest of your Basket Case evolve.
And thank you for the links! I love the bright colours in the flying geese project and interesting 'trim' on each of the triangles. I love the needlesmith project as well.

Laura said...

Yes...I do wash my pillows!

Love the phoebes! They look like they are very curious! We have flycatchers that nest by the porch light...right by the door. They have done this for many years now. I love watching the family grow, and traffic going in and out the door all day long doesn't bother them in the least.

Your basket quilt is beautiful! Thank you for sharing the links...I am off to check out that bright summery pillow! :)

Angela said...

Your basket quilt is charming!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

The baby birds are so cute when one can catch a picture of them. Outside our dentists office ther is a bird nest of baby Doves. We enjoyed seeing their little heads Wednesday. I am enjoying watching the birds eating out of our bird feeders. We have Cardinals, Finches, and that beautiful bunting.

That Cross Stitch pattern is striking - and I love your basket quilt! Have a great Sunday and enjoy the great weather before you turn into an iceberg again! Hugs

Karrin Hurd said...

Love the phoebes! We saw some birds the other day at the beach I couldn't figure out what they were. Was wishing I had you around as you always seem to know the names of birds. Love your basket quilt! Thanks for sharing the links!

CathieJ said...

I wash my bed pillows, but not as often as you do. I've never added clorox to them. Those little birds are so cute. I can imagine that you are now happy to have your front door back. All of your projects are wonderful. You are certainly keeping very busy. I have got to spend some time this summer organizing so I can see what I projects I have stored. I know there are plenty.
Have a great week!

Delia said...

Love your basket quilt. Please share the link as I'm unable to find the pattern. Thank you!

Kim said...

Don't mess with Eastern Phoebe Mama and her babies. =) She is determined. You did very well for a "retired old lady"; you achieved a lot this week. All those little baskets are lovely and as for the big basket in the centre, overspilling with all those gorgeous flowers....just wow!

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

I switch out my pillows all the time. I am afraid to wash them though. LOL you are a very busy retired old lady, if only I do that much daily. I am jealous of your bleeding heart. I have been fighting thistle, cat nip, and volunteer trees in my flower beds this year. You always have so many cool projects going.

K Reeves said...

Love your bird babies and your basket quilt!

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

You accomplished a ton! I enjoyed your story about the baby birds. I like your 2020 basket project. That center is gorgeous!