MAGPIE'S MUMBLINGS

A blog about my interests, which include fabric landscapes and various and assorted other artsy pursuits and sometimes known to contain mumblings of a random nature.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Another beginning

 Of course you knew it wouldn't be long before I started on another landscape although why I do is rather silly in the grand scheme of things.  They are simply piling up and I sometimes wonder what our kids will do with them when I'm no longer here.  Oh well, it's going to be their problem!  In the meantime I love making them so see no reason to quit now.  The photo I'm using for inspiration is this one...

Photo by Dale Stewart and used with his always kind permission
Near Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan
I have a thought for how to include the 'Him and Me' old couple in the scene.  Will it work?  Time will tell!!

btw - if you're interested in the pieces I have available for sale, feel free to check the 'Landscapes For Sale' section in my sidebar.  

- I really need to test THIS method out on my cutting mat.

- Have a peek at what THIS artist does!

- And THIS one too!!!

- THIS is one of my awww-worthy things.

Today's quote...






Monday, July 27, 2026

Baa, baa, black sheep!

 I collected my parcel and promptly forgot to take a picture of my haul before I started using some of it.  At any rate, the acquisition of some iron-on fleece led to me being able to finish these additions to the Christmas box...


- You HAVE to go and see what my friend Kim has made for her granddaughter... so very adorable!  Go HERE to see!

- I think I sent you to a link last year to make THESE, but I thought a refresher wouldn't hurt.

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS artist!

-Really wish my knitting skills were up to attempting THIS.  Our wee grandie would love it!

Today's quote...




Friday, July 24, 2026

Treating myself

 It's been a week of eating out way more than we usually do (birthdays, back to back, will do that somehow).  Started with breakfast out on Monday, a steak supper on Tuesday, and a lunch on Wednesday.  Thankfully the celebrations outta be over until September when we celebrate our anniversary.  Feeling quite slothsome after all those meals led to me sitting in front of the computer and surfing where I shouldn't  have been.  Of course I felt the need to test out my shiny new credit card (a replacement after my old one was compromised).  This has arrived - and there's another order coming.

!!!!!!ARGH!!!!!!!!
Did you SEE the photo of what came in the mail?
Well, neither can I
because...
Canada Post couldn't be bothered to buzz
up to tell us there was a parcel waiting to
be delivered.
So now I have to make a special trip to the
depot to pick it up.
As I said....argh!

And, in order to show you that I've been doing something else with at least some of my time, how about an update on the sock yarn mitred squares afghan?   (and yes, I know I said I wanted to use up the part-balls I have, but what's a girl to do when some of the colours are lacking??...see above for the latest additions).  



I came across this while I was surfing the internet and being that it is tick season and they're evidently very bad this year, I thought I should share it....



- I may have sent you to explore all the free patterns found HERE before, but if I have it was a long time ago and I'm sure there are lots of new ones.

- Have a peek through the gallery by THIS artist!  And THIS one too!! Oh, and the paper pieces done by THIS artist!

Today's quote..."Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind"





Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Another project

 This is #1 of three (all different fabrics of course!) tote bags that I'm making for adding to the Christmas box...


The pattern is THIS one and came entirely from my stash.

Two more are cut out and awaiting  delivery of some fusible fleece before I can go any further.

- If you have bottle caps you don't know what to do with, perhaps THIS project would be fun.

- With the heat we're experiencing this summer, maybe making yourself (or those you love) one of THESE would come in really handy.

- THIS would be a fun way to use interesting selvages.

Today's quote is from Winston Churchill..."Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen"




Monday, July 20, 2026

 I finished a small project that is destined for the Christmas box....


This measures about 11 1/2" square and the pattern I used came from HERE.

As a little aside that falls under the 'small world' category, my friend and I were video-chatting and for some reason childhood toys came up.  She was talking about a Lassie dog pajama bag she had as a child and we began to wonder if we had both had the exact same one.  I scrounged around and found this picture of my bedgraggled, much-loved, Lassie and sent to her.  Amazingly, it turns out it's the same one as she had.  

Somehow I doubt hers was in  quite as bad a shape as this one!

- Have a peek through the creations of THIS artist - I love her use of colour!

- Although there's no real 'pattern' for THIS, it would be easy to create using any size of hexie.

- THIS would be handy for so many different things.

- There are some fun ideas HERE for making glass mushrooms for your decor.  I love the ones made with the glass marbles (scroll down).

Today's quote is from Normal Vincent Peale..."Dwelling on negative thoughts is like fertilizing weeds"

Friday, July 17, 2026

Out of the Twilight Zone

 The air quality here is pretty awful right now due to the wildfires that are burning all over Ontario.  I know it's hard to tell the surreal light that's outside from this picture, but hopefully you can (this was taken at noon on Wednesday)....

This is the view from our balcony towards the river that runs through the town.  That big tree to the right is just outside our bedroom window and you can see the pathway that runs along the river all the way to the downtown.  Our thoughts are with all the brave fire fighters who are battling in this extreme heat under very trying conditions.  

- HERE is a little project that would be a great way to gift something small to a quilter or sewer.

- Those of you who are interested in weaving might enjoy a scroll through the creations of THIS artist!

- And THIS artist does some interesting work (several galleries to peek through)

- Since it's watermelon season, perhaps you might like to try making THIS.

Today's quote is from Winston Churchill..."I'd rather argue against a hundred idiots, than have one agree with me"



Wednesday, July 15, 2026

 The latest on the tech front - I fixed the tv!  Don't ask me how I did it because it was more by luck than good management but the RC is happy so that's all that counts.  I even managed to get the screen brighter than it was which was an additional bonus I never expected.  Now I'm leaving the cell phone issues for another week or so in order to recover my equilibrium.

In the interim whilst I had no computer I finished the latest landscape...


FOR SALE!!

- If you happen to be searching for ideas for using up scrap fabrics, perhaps one of the ideas found HERE might interest you.

- THIS is a little different take on a pincushion design.

- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS artist!

- THIS artist too - check out all her galleries.

Today's quote is from Nelson Mandela..."Fools multiply when wise men are silent"