Outline or Stippling?

As usual, Wisconsin is ushering in Spring with SNOW.  I'm taking advantage of the nip in the air to work on my Winter's Song quilt.  Its decision time.  Outline the cardinals with my trusty, reliable walking foot?  Or live dangerously and do some FMQ stippling? or FMQ snowflakes?

To be honest, FMQ still scares me.  My heart pounds and I break out in a sweat, cuz if I mess up it'll be nearly impossible to rip out.  I have to remind myself its supposed to be FUN.   I did some very detailed hand applique on this quilt, so I'm leaning toward the simpler outline stitch. 

On a side note, I observed two male cardinals in chase this week.  Territory skirmishes have begun.  The male goldfinches are changing from olive drab fall/winter feathers to their bright yellow spring/summer plumage.  At the suet feeder I had a female flicker the other day.  Today the suet attracted a gray squirrel with a blond tail.  Despite all this activity, I've not yet spied a robin.  Perhaps I'll spot one tommorrow, being the first day of Spring!

Birds, Inside and Out

Mrs. C is finally complete with red tinges on her crest and tail.

Yesterday I spied the male and female cardinals approached the feeder together.  Mrs. C  then flew up to a branch and waited for Mr. C to follow.  He picked up a seed, flew up to her and offered her the seed.  When she accepted it, their bills touched.  It looked like they stole a quick kiss!

Today I spotted a band of 5 bluejays.  I've been hearing them for about a week, but didn't see them.  The spring bands are led by a female with several males following after her.  This is the precursor to pairing off for nesting season.  Yet another sign that spring can't be too far off.

Quilt Top Nearly Done

Been doing some Olympic-style stitching, with the finish line in sight.  Will hand stitch red tinges on female's crest and tail.  Been thinking how to quilt this.  The pattern is pictured with diagonal straight-line quilting for the nine-patch squares and one simple outline around each bird.  Another option would be to stipple the light squares and light background so the reds, greens and yellow really stand out. 

Meanwhile the cardinal songs outside are growing louder, longer and stronger.  The males sing to establish territory and the females sing back and forth to strengthen the bond with their mate.  Now the males and females approach the feeder separately.  But soon they will come in pairs and begin mate-feeding.  All good signs that Old Man Winter is beginning to loosen his icy grip!

One Done, Three to Go

Completed all the applique on one bird, hoping this would inspire me to stitch up a storm.  My strategy isn't working.  Inspiration eludes me.

I often have a love-hate relationship with my projects.  Love 'em at the beginning, love 'em at the end...but somewhere in the middle I wonder "WHAT was I thinking?"  The tips of these pine needles are next to impossible, and I'm going blind trying to do this during the darkest month of the year. 

I get my best results sitting near a bright, sunny window.  So I either need quit my job (and quilt by the light of day) or find a really good task light.  Since I'm fond of regular paychecks, I better go with the task light!  :)

Miffed with My Muse

Put up a squirrel-proof bird feeder just after Christmas.  The cardinals were the last birds to warm up to it.  Only the males approached it - the females were nowhere to be seen!  So I consulted Roger Tory Peterson and the Audubon Society for the female facial markings.  Thought I had it nailed when I added the red mask.  No sooner had I completed my stitching, when a female finally comes along....sporting a BLACK mask.  Oh sure, NOW you tell me!  LOL  

     

The next challenge will be the pine boughs.  In the interest of preserving my eye sight (and sanity), I modified the pattern.  Stay tuned for further details.....  :)

Winter's Song - For Real

The cardinals (outside, the real ones) are singing again!  Woo Hoo! In honor of this momentous occasion, I will endeavor the provide my quilt-y cardinals with bills, so they might sing along!  :)