Springtime in Wisconsin

 Welcome to Treadlestitches!  Happy International Quilting Day!

We are feeling the joy of early spring here.  Our winters are typically long and cold, but it's all worth it when the trees start budding out...

the rhubarb breaks through the ground ...

and lovely green tulip leaves appear.  

Speaking of green, I finished my green blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

I love making these green hearts from tiny leftover pieces.  I wonder if someone (like me?) who loves plants and gardens but can't quite be said to have a green thumb could instead have a green heart?  I hereby apologize to all the houseplants I have neglected.

I tried to think of flavors for this month's ice cream cone blocks. I've got lime sherbet (with bits of lemon and raspberry), mint/blueberry, and pistachio, but the fourth one has me stumped.  I have read that there is actually a green tea flavored ice cream, but I'm not sure that sounds delicious.

Last are the half square triangles, four of each fabric.  I still don't know exactly what blocks I'm making, so they'll stay loose until I figure it out.

How are you coming along on your RSC blocks?  It's always great and inspiring to see everyone's projects.

This is the March block for Barbara Brackman's Hands All Around block of the month quilt, which is based on Louisa May Alcott and her family.  The block is called Anna's Choice, and Ms. Brackman chose this one for Louisa's sister Anna.  (Click HERE for the block.)  Meg in the book Little Women is based on Anna Alcott.  For my quilt, I'm using the same blue print and light background in all the blocks, and the RSC colors in the center.

New project alert!  It's called the Lemonade Challenge.  My quilt guild has literally tons of donated fabric, which we use to make charity quilts.  The intrepid ladies on the charity committee have made up packets of fabrics, mostly half yards and fat quarters, and challenged us to make a quilt top.

 

 

These fabrics are good quality quilting cotton, just not currently fashionable.  We have to use at least a small piece of 2/3 of the fabrics, but can add in our own.  I love scrap quilts (of course!) and I have lots of older fabric, so this should be fun.  Any ideas?  It's not due til October.

Sadly, no photos of Baby Buddy this week.  He was recovering from a cold and needed lots of cuddling.  I did get a not-very-good photo of Little Buddy, seen here with his usual fierce dinosaur face on.   Little Buddy and Grandpa set up pirate ships and forts in the living room, and Little Buddy added the dinosaurs to the mix.  We always have to have dinosaurs, of course!

One more sign of spring--the Sandhill cranes are back!  I wasn't fast enough to get a picture when they walked by a few moments ago, but here's one from last year so you know what I'm talking about.

The cranes are migratory birds that were once rare in Wisconsin, but have rebounded in great numbers.  For the past couple of years we have seen a nesting pair in the small wetland in the park behind our house.  They are about 4 feet tall, with a wingspan of 6-7 feet.  I am always overjoyed to catch a glimpse of them flying overhead, or just strolling past the window.

Spring is always a joyful time, and more so now as we begin to emerge from this terrible pandemic.  Have a good week, and stay safe!

Cheers for reading,

Sylvia@Treadlestitches

Linking up with:

Angela at So Scrappy, Home of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Alycia at Finished or Not Finished Friday

Sarah at Can I Get A Whoop Whoop

Cynthia at Oh Scrap