Two Thrifted Things, 4 at a Time HST's, Free Bird Pattern and Liberty's Too

Spring is trumping winter-at last- as I write this. I saw our first robin on Sunday last. And the little chipmunk has emerged from the underground winter den, the one I imagine lined with my sunflower seeds. 

Just after the snowstorm this guy below appeared acting like this, a sure sign of spring. The flock of females that were with him had wandered off but he hung about showing off, just because he can, I guess. I'm curious about the mechanics of this- being able to lift all these feathers and change certain body bits to different and bright colours is amazing. Nature is always so interesting. 

Our bank of ice/snow here at the front door is still there, sigh. It's in the shade so we joke at this rate it might be May before it's gone. Still below freezing temperatures overnight coaxing this thought. It also means we still can't order a new fridge because getting the old one out and a new one in over that snow bank would be dangerous. On the up side I'm getting in lots of steps going up and down stairs to the cold room. I hate talking on -and on, about weather and I know before too long I will be complaining about humidity.... 

I just read someone's post who shared the 102 hst's she had cut, prepped and readied for sewing. My mind just boggles at the thought of all that measuring and cutting in one go. I am in awe of you folks with your prolific cutting and machine stitching abilities! But it did spur me on to spend more time practicing accuracy machine stitching a few more of those 4 at a time HST's into blocks myself. So much stopping to measure and trim though! But here they are...I wish I'd pressed them for the photo but I think they look okay. I'm going to call this my closer counts project, LOL. I wonder what the name of this block is. I plan to make more in reds for the April RSC colour.

More about my Liberty's Birds, ...I think I showed this one prepped, ready to be stitched down before. I got sidetracked when I decided to swap out this brighter yellow fabric for the beige print I'd originally chosen. Why not go bright, I thought. Such nice easy applique. This is the Bluebird block.

That snarl of embroidery thread there is an example of thrifty me. I keep all leftover threads from old embroidery projects and have several unruly "balls" of them. I pull out the colours I can reuse in these applique projects. Yes, I know these should all be individually rewound onto bobbins or something (which does happen at the start of new projects), but no, not in this house. 

Update.. this week I spent a few hours stitching and embellishing this block. 

Just need to have a think about the eye, the feet and I also debated adding a wing. Do you think he looks a little bare? This is a first for me... With three blocks basically finished, I'm ahead on this project as per the SAL. Don't think I've ever been able to write that sentence before.

Someone asked what have I been cooking. I seem to be doing a lot of assembling these days. For instance, I put together a massive mostly vegetable soup in the Crock Pot (which I've been calling the slow cooker). I put in carrots, onions, celery, chickpeas, tinned tomatoes, chicken broth and sausage meat from a couple of leftover sausages. It made dinner with cheesy bread and then lunch the next day. And, btw, there are two great thrift finds in this photo below. The tablecloth, brought out for April, is April Cornell and a big find for me several years ago. Love the colours. It's getting that well washed/ well loved look.

I'm forgetting some things (unlike Tony whose brain is so sharp). Here is an example... this Royal Stafford bowl which I'm pretty sure was a thrift find as I can't think where it would have come from otherwise. I would have paid around $3.99 for it. It features many fruit and flower details and an old fashioned English haying and mill scene. I found an identical used one on Etsy for $24 Canadian. So perhaps it was a great find too???LOL

These loon babies look soooo comfortable they put a smile on my face and did you know they are called loonlets, which I find hard to pronounce. I also noted how vigilant the mother was. I'm discovering how wonderful most bird mothers can be...not all of them mind you, but by far the most.

I notice birds seem to be featured in this post. With that in mind I'll share the link to the cutest little chicken cross stitch free design at our generous friend's latest post...Melisa at Pinker n Punkin Quilting & Stitching. She also shares a beautiful Easter quilt in that post. 

And it's time to share this video I've had in my queue for awhile...Corrine shows how to slow stitch a little bird. She approaches it like solving a puzzle. This method just requires basics...scissors, fabrics, ruler, needle and thread. Corinne's YouTube channel is called To Be Loved Treasures By Corrine.

The free pattern for this particular bird pattern can be found at Charming Tribe HERE. And I think I've seen it in various forms other places too. 

I've been puzzled why I feel so much more energetic some days than others. As I've said I keep notes and they don't provide any real answers. I like to be up in the mornings an hour before sitting...that's easy here with chores and Ned but it feels like some mornings I have to push myself. I remember my younger grandmother saying this too. She said some mornings she felt like she could jump over the moon and then others barely move. So maybe it is a natural ebb and flow. What about you? 

Easter plans are for a ham dinner. Anything special happening at your house?

 Linking with wonderful parties at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, So Scrappy, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Kathy's Quilts.