Dragonfly Dreams Crafts: Spring Cones & Blue Birds!

I never seem to leave Judy's house with more than I came.  Such was the case yesterday.  I was there to figure out a pattern (which I was way over-thinking!) and left with 2 patterns, and the fabric I needed to try the second pattern.
This pattern was for these adorable little guys!  (I am so enjoying making them!)

 

 

These sweet little blue birds have been a lot of fun to make and I am planning all sort of different color combinations.  I will post more pictures of the colors as I come up with combinations!
I have another darker bird I made as well, that I played a little with.  Adding flowers on the wings.

 

 

The pattern I was going to Judy for help with was this one: Spring Cones.

 

 

Here are the other ones I've been working on, and the mixes and matches.

Fun spring fabrics!

Deciding on the combinations.

 

So, Judy, thank you for encouraging me and for being open to helping me as I learn!  I look forward to many more little birds, and for sewing parties at your place!

Country Diary of a Lady: Snow in March & Orchids

It is March. And while I am ready for spring, the weather is not ready to cooperate with me on this matter as of yet.  This morning, it was snowing.

Yesterday, the sun was shining and the snow had been melting somewhat.  The sunshine felt warm.  I packed up the rest of the winter decor in my living room, and hung origami butterflies around my windows.  

My Amaryllis blooming has helped a little with the type of cabin fever that brews at this time of the year. I have two beautiful open blooms at the moment, and a third is opening while the fourth on the first blossom stalk is  a little behind.  Then, I have a second bud stalk well developed.

So, what do I do when I need my "green" fix?  I go and visit Forth Floral in downtown Rhinelander, WI.  The fourth generation florists and greenhouse.

At the moment, they are putting on their yearly Orchid Event.  So, while it was snowing and blowing outside, I paused and took a deep breath of the scent of green and growing things mixed with the sweet scents of orchids.

A tall papyrus plant silhouetted against the exterior of the greenhouse, highlighting the wintry weather outside.

Here is a small selection of the beautiful orchids that they had on display.  Many are actually from local gardeners, and are loaned to Forth Floral for the show.

There were other flowers there as well.  Many Amaryllis still blooming, as well as some gorgeous tulips!

 This amaryllis is similar in coloring to the one that I possess (which I purchased from Forth Floral last year).  This year, my pinks are much more delicate.

 Some absolutely gorgeous ruffled tulips (parrot tulips?) Loved their coloring!

 Also, some lovely double tulips in a soft pink.

And some classic red and white tulips.

 There were these beauties as well.  I'm not certain what family they belong to.  The leaves on the orange and yellow one reminded me more of a bromiliad than an orchid, but I do not know.

 Either way, I thought that they were especially lovely!

So, I am managing to survive this wintry day in March.  I have the return of the Finches as well as the knowledge that the horses have begun to shed their winter coats to keep me moving forward!

Spring will come!