Unusual Thrift Find, Happy Scrolling Sites, Bear Bell And Baskets Too

Pouring down rain lately made for a couple of  drab mornings. One of those mornings, I used my thrifted umbrella, the one that is kind of useless as it doesn't really keep the rain off just sort of but I love the shape and colour. I bought it years ago and it remains my most unusual and probably most impractical thrift buy. 

 It's unique enough I always wonder about who owned it before me. It's got a real wooden handle too.  This was at the end of the walk and I'm actually wet. Form over function in this case!

Though wet, Ned and I don't mind; the earth needs a good wash. 

The fox I showed before has been sighted a few times lately. I've decided to use this bear bell on our walks.  

 I've attached it to the handle of Ned's leash and it makes a continual tinkle. With a further shake, it sounds more like a clang. Hopefully, it will be enough to warn off the fox or any other wild things crossing our paths. 

My stitching this week is working on the Basket Loves handles and border. I've decided to use brighter fabrics for the handles backing for contrast and to brighten up the overall look. I've now finished the bottoms- I think there are 12. 

How appropriate...look at the difference a week can make. Though none outside yet...tulips on the wall and outside visions of green and sunshine.

My indoor White Polka Dot plant survived the winter and is now doing this. Seemingly shedding the old plant by growing a brand new one in the middle. I looked this up and it said it is the sign of a vigorous plant to be able to do this. Maybe this one just really loved coffee and egg shell water. 

A Few Happy Scrolling Sites

I'm so happy to see Jenny of  Elefantz is back blogging. I think I've always been drawn to her because she seems to be more of a hand stitcher than one working with the machine. Lately I've enjoyed seeing her branch out into stitching sashiko, for instance. And I was thrilled to hear Tilda had chosen her as one of their Australian designers this year. Jenny very generously offers many lovely patterns for us to stitch. I've downloaded her free Pear Hive pattern. 

HERE is her beautiful post about how to stitch lazy daisy and sew very neat backstitches. I once tried the test to compare my stitches to hers and, of course, she fit in many more in the space. Hence, hers look tiny and perfect. HERE is the link to her updated free patterns. And she is presently running a BOM for needleworkers, also free. I'm also in awe of how Jenny and her hubby contend with the climate where they live and strive so hard to maintain a garden and grow vegetables too. 

SoeDiDee was another interesting site I've come across in my internet wandering. They have all the cross stitch designers listed and when you visit there, the free patterns are listed as well. Interesting viewing. I went there in the first place because Dutch Comfort was stitching a free pattern that caught my eye. It took a bit of looking to find it but here is the link to Reindeer and Friends, a sweet design from Twin Peaks Primitives. You can pop over  HERE to see Nicolette's lovely version.

 Here at Phoebe Moon, there are neat free quilt patterns too. Pumpkin blocks always grab my attention. 

All the fabric designers offer a section of free patterns. At the Marcus fabrics site...Make it With Marcus, you will find many lovely patterns if sometime you are in the need of relaxing scrolling.  

But back to spring...lovely music too...

Be sure to drop by Not Afraid of Color to see what other folks posted as their wonderful likes this week. I hope you have something happy, lovely, or uplifting in your day, this last one of April, 2025!

Happily sharing this post with Creations Art Quilts, Alycia Quilts, Quilting & Patchwork, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and It's A Small Town Life.