Around the Spinney

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  • Quilted Panel Project – IPAD zipper pouch

    As part of my Free Motion Doodling focus this month, I wanted to give you some easy projects in order for you to use your quilted panels and here is the first one- the IPAD zipper pouch. This is a tutorial, which means it’s not written in the same detail as a pattern, but I…

  • Free Motion Doodling Fun – Baby Goats

    Free Motion Doodling is one of my favorite ways to quilt. It helps loosen both my shoulders and my creativity, and little by little, I get better as I make time to have fun and practice. If you want to try yourself, I suggest you grab some fabric that really inspires you and make some…

  • Rosebreast, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak

    Rosebreast, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak

    Two years ago I was astounded when I looked outside my window and identified the first Rose-breasted Grosbeak to visit our bird feeder. It was early spring and I was enjoying the number of birds migrating through north eastern Illinois. I felt like it was a major triumph to attract a new bird, and one…

  • Killy, the American Kestrel

    The American Kestrel is truly a beautiful bird. Burgess describes him like this: Very trim and handsome was Killy. His back was reddish-brown crossed by bars of black. His tail was reddish-brown with a band of black near its end and a white tip. His wings were slaty-blue with little bars of black, the longest…

  • Bob White, the Northern Bobwhite

    This Spring, I took a break from posting in order to observe and enjoy the Spring Migration. It has been absolutely amazing to meet the different birds that pass through our area on their way North. Some of the highlights of the Spring Migration this year were seeing: Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, SOOOO many Warblers enjoying the…

  • Bubbling Bob, the Bobolink

    Bubbling Bob, the Bobolink

    What a fun sentence full of alliteration: Today our Burgess bird is Bubbling Bob the Bobolink! Writing that this morning is a great start to the day. Bobolinks… ever heard of them? Unfortunately, this is a bird that is getting harder to find. If you are hoping to ever spot one you should look in…

  • Redwing

    Growing up in Texas, I had no idea about Red-winged Blackbirds, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t there. It wasn’t until I moved to Illinois that I saw one for the first time. They are so prevalent around us and I have a few stories to tell about them because of their habits and characteristics.…

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