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, October 31, 2012

Back to pink (of two kinds)

First of all, I have just become aware of a wonderful year-long 'pink' project being spearheaded by Vicki of 2bagsfull.  We are being asked to make or purchase a scarf in predominately pink colours and send them to her and in turn she will see that, come next October, the scarves are given to women going through treatments for breast cancer.  Along the way Vicki has planned to have some givewaways for those that participate.  - - - -

And,
here's some of my latest stitching on my pink project...



Tuesday, October 30, 2012

A relief from pink

I thought that today I would give you a little break from the pink onslaught that's been going on and show you what came in the mail yesterday....




Aren't these gorgeous little treasures?  They came beautifully packaged too (and I forgot to take a picture...oops).  Hopefully you can see the lovely detail on the glass button!  


Monday, October 29, 2012

Pretty in pink? And be safe!!

First of all, I want to say that I am 
hoping that everyone in the way of
Hurricane Sandy 
will stay safe.

We're expecting high winds and rain here which is nothing in comparison with what is predicted to happen elsewhere in the path of the storm.  The news reports are quite frightening at the moment.

Now, on to things that are more fun....   More Pink!!



Friday, October 26, 2012

Tired of pink yet?

So sorry, but there's more pink today!  

See?




Thursday, October 25, 2012

Pink - of a different sort

Very little on the stitching front done today, so I decided to show you this instead....



.... a knitted (and felted) wine bottle carrier I made for a Christmas present for a friend who makes her own wine. Thought the flowers would make it a touch more feminine!



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

More pink!!

Yes, there's more pink...
and it's stitched too!!  



Those of you who know me well know that
pink is NOT my favourite colour
and for me to work with it 
is W-A-Y outside my
comfort zone.

This is another part of the great mystery project
I'm working on.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Stitching? Who knew?

Yes, I've been stitching!  

SEE?

+
+
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This is a lovely little cross stitch pattern designed by Pam Kellogg.  It was great fun to stitch!  Yes, I know....it's pink, and Christmas trees are usually green.  Once you see the whole project you'll understand why it's pink!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Imaging

I don't have any pictures for you today, but perhaps I can send you to some places where they have LOTS of pictures instead.  These sites all have free images for download for use in your artwork and/or stitcheries. 

1.  Antique Clipart HERE

2.  Karen's Whimsy  HERE.

3.  Magic Moonlight Studio HERE

4.  Graphics Fairy  HERE.

5.  Art Freebies   HERE 

If you know of any more sites, please add them to the comments so we can all have fun exploring!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Fodder!



There are fodder for Christmas presents...






Now to fire up the knitting needles!!


Thursday, October 18, 2012

TUSAL


AND, here's my monthly TUSAL* report (a bit late, as usual!)...




* TUSAL?  Totally Useless Stitch A Long!!  


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Food for the kings!

(or at the very least for the parents!)

We had our #1 son home on the weekend and he, being a chef, decided that we should be guinea pigs for a recipe he wanted to try out.  As if we'd turn THAT down!!!


Now doesn't that look good??

Tasted good too!!

- - - - -



Thursday, October 11, 2012

Hodge and Podge

Today will be a hodgepodge of things you might (or might not) be interested in.  I've been stitching, but not on anything I'm able to show just yet.


Monday, October 08, 2012

Hmmm.....what do you suppose......

THIS is gonna be????






Happy Thanksgiving!


Saturday, October 06, 2012

Latest jacket....

I know I don't normally post on the weekend but this jacket is hot off the press (well, sewing machine) so I thought I'd let you see it....







This is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, which will mean the consumption of lots of turkey and trimmings. We'll be joining friends on Monday to celebrate the day and, in all likelihood, eat FAR too much!

Friday, October 05, 2012

Gimp and bucket lists

Today Mary Corbet (of NeedlenThread) has a review of silk gimp thread on her blog HERE.  I was quite interested to read her post because back in the day (probably about 60 or 70 years ago) my mother worked with gimp to make belts and small purses.  I undertook a search for the thread several years ago and had no success.  It's nice to know it's being made again. 

Here's a photo of a belt that my mother started (and never got finished)...


On a total 'nother topic - last night I did something extremely scary and modeled in a fashion show.  Yep - me (who is terrified of getting up in front of people) actually walked the plank runway.  If I had been writing a bucket list for myself I know that modeling wouldn't have been on there!  On the plus side I didn't fall on my face AND I think I put the clothes on right side out (which I'm sure was a bonus). 

Thursday, October 04, 2012

Crazy quilting news

Sorry folks, nothing exciting being created the past couple of days on this front, so no pictures to show you.

I see that another crazy quilt guru will be having a new book released on November 16th.  I've already pre-ordered my copy and can't wait to have it in my hot little hands.  Judith Baker Montano is well known to anyone who crazy quilts and this book promises to be a great addition to any library.  "Free-Form Embroidery" is available for preorder on Amazon.

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

A special treat today!

I had a great time today meeting an on-line friend and her husband who had driven up to visit relatives in Toronto from their home in the US.  We arranged to meet at their hotel and have lunch with them.  Of course on-line stitching friends can't get together without a big show and share session (the mens eyes glazed over, but they were good sports) and a wee exchange of gifties.  My gift for her was one of the pincushions I showed yesterday and imagine my surprise when I dug into a giant bag of white stash enhancement which was her gift to me!  I will be stitching with white for some time to come (and loving every minute of it I might add).

Who did I meet? 


In the middle, Freda and Harv Butler,
my DH (Jack) on the right, and me
just after we'd finished a delicious lunch.

Thank you Freda and Harv for a delightful day!

Monday, October 01, 2012

Reveal x 2

Here you go - the end result of my latest playing about with needle and thread...




How I wish I had a figure this good!!

These will be gifts for a couple of my friends - hopefully they'll like them!

Tomorrow I'm doing something really special (provided nothing happens to mess it up).  Keeping fingers crossed!  I will reveal what it is tomorrow.