We had a wonderful, peaceful and scenic day and can't wait for the next one!
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.
Friday, July 31, 2009
A day...for sanity
We had a wonderful, peaceful and scenic day and can't wait for the next one!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Creative? HAH!!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
I tried.....
.....to take a picture of some dust to go along with this post, but unfortunately I couldn't find any in my house (and if you believe that there's no hope for YOUR sanity).
Anyhoo...son #2 sent me this link last night and I was totally blown away. Scott Wade is an incredible artist and just wait until you check out what HE can do with dust!!! Enjoy.
Anyhoo...son #2 sent me this link last night and I was totally blown away. Scott Wade is an incredible artist and just wait until you check out what HE can do with dust!!! Enjoy.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Scent x Two!
From the sublime, to the earthy.....
As I said, scent, times two!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Two CQ's (CQTeers and CQOnline)...and...birthdays
Lucky me to be the recipient of all the treasures shown above! Today was our CQTeer meeting and I got some pretty kewl prezzies from my friends! Irene knows I like cats, so she went with a cat theme - the wonderful pieced cat (which I intend to frame) and a cute little cat atc/birthday card, both of which came wrapped in the fun piece of cat fabric. Kym made me a pair of beeswax candles, the knitted poppy, and a wonderful fabric basket - along with some cute paper clips. Thank you Kym and Irene! I'm a pretty lucky girl.
ATC Swap from the CQTeers
Our theme this month was outer space. The top two are by Irene...extreme outer space. Lots of texture! Kym made the middle two, with a cartoon character outer space theme. The one I made commemorated the anniversary of man walking on the moon, which also happened this week (July 20, 1969).
Below is what came in the mail today from Mary Corbet....just feast your eyes on this haul of wonderful fibery goodness!! I was an extremely lucky winner to receive some of Mary's generosity and now I can't wait to play with my new goodies. Thank you SO much Mary!!
Below is what came in the mail today from Mary Corbet....just feast your eyes on this haul of wonderful fibery goodness!! I was an extremely lucky winner to receive some of Mary's generosity and now I can't wait to play with my new goodies. Thank you SO much Mary!!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Butter Tarts by Jack
Here you go....the recipe for Butter Tarts....
The recipe makes approx 48 tarts. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Pastry:
8 cups cake & pastry flour
2 2/3 cups margarine (the hard kind, not the stuff that's whipped)
approx. 12 -16 tablespoons of ice water
Cut margarine into the flour until well blended. Add water until it reaches pastry consistency (note from MA...I haven't a CLUE what he means by that...I'd just buy pre-made tart shells!!). Roll out and cut. (he uses an empty l L juice can as a cutter). Line tin muffin cups with the paper cups you can get for muffins (the large size) - otherwise the filling might leak through the pastry and they stick to the pan.
Filling:
6 cups brown sugar
6 eggs, beaten
scant 1 1/3 cups of milk
6 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups melted butter (or margarine)
raisins (or pecans)
Combine all but the raisins. Place a few raisins (or pecans) into the pastry lined muffin cups. Fill about 2/3's full with the filling. Place in 375 degree oven for 8 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue cooking til lightly browned. Let cool approx. 1/2 hr before removing from pans.
The recipe makes approx 48 tarts. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Pastry:
8 cups cake & pastry flour
2 2/3 cups margarine (the hard kind, not the stuff that's whipped)
approx. 12 -16 tablespoons of ice water
Cut margarine into the flour until well blended. Add water until it reaches pastry consistency (note from MA...I haven't a CLUE what he means by that...I'd just buy pre-made tart shells!!). Roll out and cut. (he uses an empty l L juice can as a cutter). Line tin muffin cups with the paper cups you can get for muffins (the large size) - otherwise the filling might leak through the pastry and they stick to the pan.
Filling:
6 cups brown sugar
6 eggs, beaten
scant 1 1/3 cups of milk
6 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups melted butter (or margarine)
raisins (or pecans)
Combine all but the raisins. Place a few raisins (or pecans) into the pastry lined muffin cups. Fill about 2/3's full with the filling. Place in 375 degree oven for 8 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue cooking til lightly browned. Let cool approx. 1/2 hr before removing from pans.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Reports?
Yes, the reports that are circulating about my death, dismemberment, incarceration, kidnapping, and being buried in cement by my jealous husband are greatly exaggerated. Just thought you might want to have the record set straight.
I will return. Talk amongst yourselves. Be kind.
I will return. Talk amongst yourselves. Be kind.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Butter tarts...and....more Crazy Quilting
I've been following the blog at Don't Call Me Crafty and am constantly delighted with her crazy quilting. You might want to have a look at some of her eye candy!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Crazy Quilting content? Gasp!
It seems like forever since I talked about anything remotely involving crazy quilting. Since my creative efforts have been practically nil in the past week or so, I have no pictures to show you.
However, if you are interested in crazy quilting, I have this to show you... please visit Janet Stauffacher's Nostalgic Needleart blog where you will find the latest in her series of free crazy quilt block patterns. She now has 20 available for you to print directly onto fabric and then use as your foundation. She has very generously been sharing some of her vintage postcard images in each block. I am strongly tempted to start a quilt using these blocks!
However, if you are interested in crazy quilting, I have this to show you... please visit Janet Stauffacher's Nostalgic Needleart blog where you will find the latest in her series of free crazy quilt block patterns. She now has 20 available for you to print directly onto fabric and then use as your foundation. She has very generously been sharing some of her vintage postcard images in each block. I am strongly tempted to start a quilt using these blocks!
Monday, July 13, 2009
More garden 'stuff'...and SharonB's back!
SharonB has asked that we spread the word that she's back and posting again. We're glad to have her back because we missed her!!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Catalpa blooms
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Great summer giveaway at Two Creative Studios!
You might want to enter the latest giveaway that Sue and Terri of TwoCreativeStudios are doing on their site! Be sure to sign up for their newsletter here, and while you're at their site please check into their free projects section. They are really generous with their talents and have some pretty great tutorials to look at.
They also offer on-line courses and are constantly coming up with new things to teach us. While you're there, be sure to have a look at what they have on offer.
They also offer on-line courses and are constantly coming up with new things to teach us. While you're there, be sure to have a look at what they have on offer.
The life of riley...or in this case Mitzy
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Dolls - of the antique sort
I can't remember where I got the other wee doll. She isn't porcelain, and reminds me of some sort of really solid chalk. Her legs have fallen off (but I do have them). I think her little outfit must be original (including a tiny little pair of panties). Really wish I could find out more about all three of these dolls!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Doll Nostalgia continues
UPDATED TO ADD: You have to read the quote on Paula's blog today! It's one that will certainly made you think. Please read it!!
Monday, July 06, 2009
Yes, I'm that old!
Further on the subject, has anyone had any experience with the vinyl on old dolls becoming 'sticky'?? Her face is the problem (her body seems to be made with the different..harder..material). Any ideas?
Friday, July 03, 2009
Kyra is here!!
Decisions, decisions....
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Studio Storage
The picture shown above shows some of my storage (including the mess on the shelf that I just noticed now...oops!). These containers were a dollar each at the local $ store, cheap and functional. I can't remember where I got the ugly pink labels, but I have a humongous roll of them. I know I wouldn't have paid good money for them, so they must have been a freebie somehow. The two boxes labeled 'Paper' on the top shelf were another type the dollar store had. The red plastic mesh container (guess where it came from) holds scraps of paper. A recycled shoe box holds my collection of stickers.
Any fabric yardage I have is either stored on the same shelving unit as the denim or on the bottom shelf of the unit in the first picture. I also keep my muslin, cotton, and other fabrics I use for foundations in an old suitcase (if I remember rightly...ten whole cents at a yard sale). Another three drawer yard sale find holds my doll making supplies in the top drawer and the bottom two hold my paper crafting supplies. I don't scrapbook per se, but still use paper in a lot of my work.
All these pictures are clickable if you think you can stand it!
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Happy Birthday to Canada!
I don't have a picture for you today, but I do have some fun news to report. My friend Marie Alton has an article in the newest issue of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine AND her work made the cover too!! Go and have a look at what Marie does and while you're there check out what else is coming in the magazine too. This is one of my favourites because of the wide variety of topics and patterns they share AND it's Canadian too and is published not to far from here. I can't wait for my issue to arrive in the mail!
If you haven't been keeping up with the work that Susan Lenz is showing on her blog, please check it out! She has finished another of her stained glass pieces and it is spectacular. While you're there have a look at her Decision Portrait Series (found in her sidebar)...be sure to scroll down to see her finished pieces. Her work is amazing.
While you're checking out links, another one I love is Jude. She has a wonderful article about her work in the new issue of 'Art Quilting Studio' published by Somerset. I bought a copy just so I could read it.
And, finally, Allison Aller is doing something incredible again! Do go and have a look at what she's working on!
If you haven't been keeping up with the work that Susan Lenz is showing on her blog, please check it out! She has finished another of her stained glass pieces and it is spectacular. While you're there have a look at her Decision Portrait Series (found in her sidebar)...be sure to scroll down to see her finished pieces. Her work is amazing.
While you're checking out links, another one I love is Jude. She has a wonderful article about her work in the new issue of 'Art Quilting Studio' published by Somerset. I bought a copy just so I could read it.
And, finally, Allison Aller is doing something incredible again! Do go and have a look at what she's working on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)