a little thread painting

I can see where the phrase 'starving artist' may have come from. If I was paid for my actual time I'd be wealthy. I know, I know, you're going to say that I may be rich in the time I have to create, and I agree completely. I am lucky to have the time.
I've just been at my sewing machine for about an hour doing bits of thread painting on my little chickadee. The first thing I did was to spray starch (on the advise of a friend) all the little pieces since I wasn't using any fusible. Then using my tracing paper pattern as a guide, I laid them onto the background and ironed. Next, I started free motion stitching the different sections down and that is what takes time.

Sometimes, I will try to keep a couple of projects at hand so that I don't have to keep changing thread. Today though, I just had this to do, so after every little section, I had to change colors.
The other thing that takes time is that I kept turning around to my computer to check the color and the lay of the feathers on the chickadee and the colors in the leaf I was using as a model. Although, I did do a drawing, it would be better in the future to do a more detailed drawing with either color or more color references.
On the little dried up leaf, I still want to add some darker color for definition and the chickadee isn't quite done.

 Besides all the changing of threads and looking back at the computer screen, I am simply slow. I tend to deliberate too much. For example, my hands were itching to go at those birches. Should I do anything in the background? I think not, it's background, there shouldn't be any details. Perhaps there should be a few more little branches. Should I do it with the machine or by hand? These are my thought processes. I'm thinking what I should do next, perhaps a bit of snow on the branch, or a few snowflakes in the air, or both. Oh to be so indecisive!
I always have a certain amount of trepidation when I start out liking a piece because then I fear I will ruin it. It's almost better to be neutral and go at it without worry because if it's already not that great, well then, I can sew more freely. Occasionally, those pieces will turn out better because I think I am relaxed.
I am linking to the Needle and thread Network today, for WIP Wednesday. go and check out what everyone is doing.