Progress

 I've been working on my fusion quilt and have to admit that it's at the rather boring stage.  I'm busily building piles that look like this (note...they still need to be blocked so they look somewhat wonky)....

Each square starts out at 5" and is sewn together double-sided.  Then I add a row of blanket stitches around the outside to create a base to crochet into.  Finally there's a row of double crochets around each.  All of these need to be done before I can start laying out the quilt to decide on placement of the squares before putting them together into the final project(s).  I'm hoping to have enough to create a throw for the back of our living room couch as well as two smaller matching throws for the back of our chairs.  

- There are several really pretty crochet afghan links HERE.

- There's a tutorial for a rather nice bag HERE.

- HERE you can find a tutorial for making yourself a quilted jacket.

- THIS is a really pretty cowl design that would make great gifts.

Today's quote..."Two things to remember in life:  Take care of your thoughts when you are alone and take care of your words when you are with people"

A little close up

 I meant to take a picture to give you a closeup of the planter box on the last landscape so, for lack of something else to show you today, here it is...

Hopefully you can click to embiggen and will be able to find the broccoli, cauliflower and carrots hidden among the vines.  

- You might want to give THIS a try.

- I'm not sure what to think about most of THIS!  

- Have a look at the fun creations by THIS amazing artist.

- THIS is a cute project that would use up scraps.

Today's quote..."We are not all in the same boat.  We are in the same storm.  Some have yachts, some canoes, and some are drowning.  Just be kind and help whoever you can"

Done and dusted

For those who might be interested, we had a nice couple of days 'off' visiting our family in their new city.  It was a long drive (over 5 hours to get there) but worth the trip.  I think they've made a good move and have gotten out of a high crime city where it's not a great place to raise our grandson.  They have a lovely apartment in a small building and we also got to check out the restaurant where our son found a job.  

 Ok folks, here is the completed landscape!  You will note that the outside border changed quite substantially from the narrow black  I had before and I think this is much better (you can scroll back to my previous post to see what it looked like before).  This one was created as a commission and I'm hopeful the purchasers will be happy with it.  

NOT FOR SALE

...and for my Canadian friends...

....

- If you'd like to collect up some breadcrumbs and go exploring through all the various  entries in THIS online quilt show, please enjoy!

- THIS is a rather fun way to use up fabric scraps.

- I've seen THIS several times now and thought it was cute enough that I should share it.

- THIS would be a fun fall/Halloween project!

- THIS is really pretty and would look nice on a table.

- If you like sunflowers and happen to be a quilter, perhaps you might like THIS design.

Today's quote....

A little announcement and an update

 First of all, don't worry when you don't see a post from me on Monday (and possibly on Wednesday as well).  We're taking a couple days to visit our #1 son and his family in their new town and I won't have internet access.  Please feel free to chat amongst yourselves.

**************

After a couple false starts on the border for the latest landscape, I think it's now done....(UPDATED TO ADD:  After peering at the black outside border once again, I've decided that it's too stark so it's coming off in favour of either a brown or a green, most likely brown.

NOT FOR SALE

- Those of you who like hexxies might find THIS little project fun to do.

- And HERE's another fun little project.  And THIS is another one.

- If my grandsons were a little younger I'd love to make them one of THESE.

Today's quote is from Morgan Freeman..."Maybe if we underpaid politicians and overpaid teachers, there would be smarter people and less stupid laws"

Yikes!

 I'm wondering if I'm quite sane (and no, you don't need to chime in on that!!) to cut a small mountain of 5" fabric squares and then sew them together, do a blanket stitch around for a base and then crochet around each block.  The piles I thought I had have multiplied ten-fold and now I have these on my sewing table.  

Some are sewn together but most are waiting their turn under the needle on the sewing machine and then hours of hand stitching before I can crochet them together.  Methinks this is going to be a long, long, long project!

- I'm not sure that I like THESE because I think they're rather creepy but in a cute way.  But....while I was there I saw THIS and you know I'd like it.  I would recommend a poke through all the categories on her site...so many interesting things to see and try (go HERE for her home page)

- I guess it's never too soon to think about Christmas ornaments and THIS caught my eye.  I've seen them made from fabric but never paper.

- THESE would be most welcome for those who feel the cold or for people in nursing homes.  

Today's quote..."Let's be good to people for no reason, simply because kindness can make someone's day a little brighter"

well, then

 Sometimes I astound myself.  Over the weekend there was a rather major panic here at Chez Magpie when my computer and my printer refused to play nicely together.  No apparent reason for the hissy fit because I haven't done anything differently.  Hmmm....what to do....I pushed this and I pushed that and I remembered #2 son's panacea for all things computer and unplugged everything, waited and replugged expecting a miracle.  Nope.  OK - then I went into the computer settings (uncharted ground, let me tell you) and monkeyed with a few things...nope.  Then I decided that a cautious consult with Mr. Google would be the next step into quicksand (remembering all the dire warnings about nefarious souls taking over the computer and holding it out for ransom).  Well, the first thing to come up was an AI-generated how to (who knew?!).  I figured it was worth trying and after I tried two different possibilities I hit upon something called a 'Printer Spooler' - and cautiously hit the 'restart' and lo...let there be printing!  I'm quite proud of me for figuring it out all by myself.  Maybe a new career in computer fixing is on the horizon?....

Sometimes I really wish I had a better camera because I would love to show the glow that comes from those two yellow trees.  This view is from our balcony overlooking the park and the river.  If you embiggen the image you can maybe see the struggles the two trees in the right foreground have shown between the results of the ice storm last winter and lack of rain all summer.  

- HERE is a quick and easy project for your Halloween/fall decor.

- THIS is a really cute little project.

- There are a number of great sewing tips HERE.

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS amazing artist!

Today's quote..."A satisfied life is greater than a successful one because success is measured by others, but satisfaction is measured by your own soul, mind and heart"

I've got piles!!!

 Yep, there are piles appearing in my sewing studio!  Firstly these flannelette fabrics appeared at my door which will be turned into sleep pants for my family for Christmas...

AND....the yardage arrived so I can start my fusion quilt!.....

- Lots of quilters eye candy HERE!  And there's more HERE too! And HERE!

- THIS caught my eye simply because it would be a good way to use up scraps...even using two yarns together would work.

- You know I like denim, so of course THIS caught my eye.

- HERE's something you might like to make for fall.

- Have a peek through the gallery pages of THIS amazing artist.

Today's quote..."Be the things you loved most about the people who are gone"