Squirrel!!!!

 

Yes, a squirrel scampered through my sewing room and for some reason this happened...

This, being a little quilt for a doll bed.  Our little granddaughter will be getting a doll bed for her birthday in January (along with the rag doll I made her several months ago) and what self-respecting grandma could have a 'nekkid' bed with no bedding?  I *should* have been working on PJ's but that pesky squirrel had other plans.  

- THESE are awwww-worthy ( I know they're earmarked for Easter, but I don't see why they wouldn't be fun in the winter)

- Perhaps you might have a use for THESE in your Christmas crafting.

- HERE is another great little gift.

- I've seen a lot of THESE around the internet but thought it would be fun to share an article about them in case you're interested in doing one in 2026.  I think it would be an amazing gift for a newborn or commemorating the first year of a marriage.

Today's quote...

Nada

 Nothing much is happening in the studio here at Chez Magpie this week, at least not so far.  It's a busy week socially so the sewing machine is feeling rather left out.  Today I'm teaching a crazy quilting workshop so I'll be gone all day and tomorrow is a family lunch 'date'.  Hopefully I'll be able to get back to making things on Friday if all goes well. 

So...in the meantime.....you know what that means, don't you...

- Perhaps THESE would make a good gift for someone?

- Anyone with a sweet tooth would appreciate one of THESE.

- THESE would make a nice gift too.

- HERE is something that would be a welcome gift.

- THESE would be fun to give too, particularly if you accompanied the gift with something else that is kitchen-y.

- Several years ago I made a number of THESE and they were well-received.

Today's quote..."We don't always have to agree with each other, but it's important that we learn to respect each other.  Disagreement is natural, disrespect is a choice.  Respect costs nothing but it builds everything"

 

Still chipping away

 Four pairs of adult-sized lounge pants - ✔  (well, all but the drawstrings that are on the way).  I used McCall's # 4244 for three of them and McCall's 4979 for the green pair.  

Four pillowcases for the grandies - ✔  I use the burrito-method and the tutorial can be found HERE

Our local food bank's November food drive is rather a fun one so I thought I'd post it here in case you'd like to go shopping for YOUR local area.  We don't (obviously) buy and deliver one thing each day but we put it all together into one larger donation.  We also buy multiples of many of the items.  When we drop it all off we give them our grocery receipt and they send us a tax deduction.  Win/win!

- THIS, along with a bottle of nice apple juice, would be a nice little gift at Christmas.

- THESE are really cute and would make a wonderful gift for a little someone in your life.

- THIS might be a nice gift for a family.

- Some of you might be interested in THIS sew-along.  

Today's quote is from Dr. Jane Goodall..."Let us move forward with faith in ourselves, in our intelligence, in our indomitable spirit.  Let us develop respect for all living things.  Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion and love"

Whittling

 I'm whittling down the pile of fabrics and have three adult-sized pairs of lounge pants sewn up.  My stash dive let me down and now I'm awaiting delivery of some drawstring cording before I can truly finish them.

- HERE is a cute idea you might like to use for Christmas giving.

- And THIS is another one.

- THIS is a technique you might like to try.

- If you are a crocheter and need a gift, perhaps THIS might be a good one.

Today's quote is from George Orwell..."The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it"

Nothing but piles

 Yes, I have nothing done at the moment but am gearing up to deal with these piles of fabrics.  Somewhere in there are four pairs of pj's for the grandies and four pillowcases and four pairs of adult lounge pants, all destined for the Christmas box.  Should keep my sewing machine humming for a few days!

Sorry about the poor picture quality - it's yet another dull day here and I didn't take into account the 'busy' quilt that's in the background.  You can get the general idea anyway I think!

- THIS leads to all sorts of free crochet patterns, some of which are very cute.

- I'm going to have to remember THIS!

- Making THIS (or more than one!) would be fun for Christmas.

- If you have scraps of plaid fabric perhaps you'd like to try making some of THESE.  

Today's quote..."Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you're living"

Ta Dah!!!!!

 The largest of the fusion quilts is done!!  This one will be residing on the back of our living room couch ready for use when we feel chilly.  Now on to finishing the two smaller ones that will go on the headrests on our comfie chairs.  

and this shows the main fabric which I used on the back...

The fabric I used is the Nantucket Summer line from Moda fabrics and the yarn is Mary Maxim Mellowspun DK.  I initially bought a pack of 10" squares of the fabric and realized that 10" would make the blocks too large so I cut them into 5" squares.  If I had to do it over again I would prefer to have purchased fat quarters and cut them a bit larger - 7"  or 8" would be ideal I think.  

- I know some of you aren't ready to see Christmas ideas, but when I come across something I want to share before I forget about it.  So THIS would make amazing teacher gifts, next door neighbour gifts and all sorts of other 'little' gift giving occasions.  Doesn't have to be Christmas-themed either.

- If you have leftover Halloween candy, perhaps you could make one of THESE.

- There are several fun patterns available HERE for coffee/tea themed projects, both paper pieced and done with wool.

- THIS is a cute little project that would have lots of uses.

Today's quote..."Turn off the news.  Go outside.  Breathe.  We were not meant to carry the burden of the entire world"