Thank you!! It's really not hard. Its just getting organized. I lay each piece on top of where it's supposed to go leaving a half inch allowance for the seam and then just flip the fabric back and stitch the line. Not too hard. Just takes time. I make sure I pin each seam that needs to meet another like the tail feathers to the back. That line needs to be right because if it not it will look odd. The hardest part was the waddle thing. Getting that even was a pita. It's two pieces. One on the head piece and one on the neck piece. Sighs...took me a day to complete. The next one should only take about an hour. The first one is always the hardest. I will work all the pieces in a chain next time instead of one at a time. I will probably go with the placemats. They are quick and will sell on ebay. Or should. Maybe.
This is my favorite site for paper piecing patterns. I really think she is the best designer on the planet. I have a real hard time with her patterns. They are hard but well worth it. She will send you a free pattern each month if you sign up for her newsletter. Her patterns are wonderful. The picture below is one of her patterns. It's the first pp pattern from her that I completed.
http://www.silverliningsoriginals.com/
I like your system with the cold and keeping warm. Sounds like a great idea.
Beautiful work, I love foundation piecing, and that site is deadly dangerous!!!!!