back to crazy quilting....

First of all, there's a few things you might find interesting that I've found in my travels around the internet....

1.  There's a great recipe for making your own laundry detergent on Shawkl's site HERE.  I've often thought of trying one of the 'formulas' that I've seen and this one sounds particularly interesting.  Cheap too!!

2.  Mary Corbett has found a really interesting (and free) embroidery pattern book online.  It's one of the old ones and, therefore interesting to me.  Go HERE to have a look at some of the treasures inside the book and to find the link to access it.

3.  Also found via Mary Corbett is a good chart about how to identify fabrics with a burn test.  Go HERE for the printable chart (just remember not to burn your house down while you're experimenting!!).

- - - - - - - - - - -

And, as promised, a picture of 

my latest crazy quilting venture...

 

The background fabric is lightweight denim

(of the recycled sort, of course!!)

Odin - a fabric portrait

Over the weekend I finished the project I was doing to use the painted fabric you saw in the last post.  I signed up to do an on-line workshop with Susan Sorrell through the Fiber Arts/Mixed Media site and here is what I ended up creating...

This is supposed to be Odin - and I think I did a not to terrible likeness.  For those of you who have been long-time readers of my mumblings you might remember that Odin was our border collie/springer spaniel mix that we had to put to sleep at the age of nearly five because he lost both his eyes to glaucoma.  Our #2 son took this photo of him before all the troubles began and it's my favourite.

Here is the original...

Will wonders never cease!!

Lookee here....

There's some creativity goin' on....

Be still my beating heart!

You'll have to stay tuned to find out what this

might (or then again, might not!)

turn into.

In the meantime, if you want to

find out how I did this 

go HERE

but do keep in mind that I don't have the

same supplies in my stash as

was used in the original.

A puzzlement...

Has anyone else had a problem posting comments to blogs from the  BlogLovin reader?  It seems to be about 60% chance of success with me at the moment and I can't figure out why.  It's a pain in the patuskus to have to go to each blog individually and open them so I can leave a comment.  I really do want my Google Reader back!!!

AND,

There was actually some progress in the

studio today.

(be still my beating heart!).

Won't mention that the 'progress' took the form

of filing and putting stuff into what passes as

their storage spot.

Progress is progress.

Right??

It's a boy....

....and he shares his birthday with me!!   It seems that everybody has been caught up in the great baby watch and there's a great deal of excitement when the announcement was made that a baby boy was born to Prince William and Kate. 

Obviously nothing creative going on here as yet.  It's simply been too hot to even think of spending any time in my workroom.....

Goodies to check out

Sorry folks, still nothing creative happening around here, but I thought you might find these two items of interest...

1.  Mary Corbet of NeedleNThread has just published her e-book called 'Lavender Honey & Other Little Things' - I promptly ordered it and now am sitting on pins & needles to print it off so I can drool over it.  Of course my printer would choose now to decide that it needs an infusion of ink!!  Go HERE for further information.

2.  Sharon B has developed a REALLY interesting set of stencils for use in our crazy quilting and embroidery.  I ordered mine and am anxiously stalking the mailman waiting for their arrival.  Sharon has (in her usual generous way) included a couple of pdf's full of design ideas for using her stencils.  Go HERE to see what I'm talking about!

It has been quite hot here the past couple of days and according to the weather report it's going to continue for a few more.  My crafting room/studio is just too hot to spend much time in here, so you can find me camped in front of the portable a/c unit in the living room, ice tea in hand, and feet up.  I may, or may not, be napping.  If I am, don't wake me....

Just a hodge podge of stuff

Today, because there still isn't anything creative happening around here at Chez Magpie, there is going to be a hodge podge of 'stuff' for your reading pleasure (?!)....

Firstly, I had a couple of questions about the yarn bombing picture I posted.  Yarn bombings are when people knit (or crochet) covers for public statues, trees, or whatever catches their fancy.  The particular yarn bombing I found was on the railings leading into a little store on Granville Island in Vancouver...there were also some around several of the trees in the area.  If you google 'yarn bombing' I'm sure you will find lots more examples.

Next, I've been meaning to show you a picture of the great wooden holder for my cutting rulers that I was gifted with.  A friend has a very talented woodworking husband!  At least now I don't have to worry about them falling all over the floor (and my toes!!). 

Below is a photo of a beautiful handmade fabric postcard I received in the mail awhile ago from Suz.  It's hanging on my inspiration board where I can see it every day.  Thanks Suz!!

 Below is what my DH received as a Father's Day present from our #2 son and d-i-l.  It's carved from a buffalo horn.  Jack used to carve a lot of wooden birds so this was right up his alley.

A bowl filled with shells we found while beachcombing during our holiday...

 

and finally, the books I found on our thift store foray earlier this week...

 

Too hot to create....so.....

....more holiday pictures...

I actually saw a yarn bombing!

Had to take a picture just for proof.

Above and below are a couple of pictures of the mountains we were surrounded by.

They certainly make us feel VERY small!!

 

 The picture below was taken at the Butchart Gardens

in Victoria.  A beautiful place and amazing to know that

one family was responsible for it all and that it had originally 

been a limestone quarry.  The gardens were begun over 

a hundred years ago and they are still owned and operated

by the original family.

A few more holiday pictures....

 

 #2 son and d-i-l;  Jack and I - in Canmore, near where the mudslides were

Mountain view outside the place we were staying in Canmore.

 

Moraine Lake.  And yes, the water WAS that colour in real life!! 

We had climbed up quite high (rather scary for afraid-of-heights me!!).  Prior to this

we had visited Lake Louise which was also beautiful, but (in my mind) not

as nice as this place.

Emerald Lake.  Again the water was very green.  A very peaceful spot and SO beautiful!

 

We visited a local dairy for some of their ice cream and this was

my little friend.  They allowed you into the barn to pet the calves.

We're b-aaaa-ck!!!

Yes, we're back and are slowly trying to return to normal.  It was a wonderful trip despite the rather rocky beginning we had.  We flew into Calgary just between two of the massive rainstorms that hit the area.  If you have been watching the news at all you will be well aware that the cities of Calgary and High River were devastated by massive flooding.  Fortunately our plane was able to land and wasn't diverted elsewhere and our #2 son and d-i-l were there to meet us.  We drove onwards to Canmore and got into our lodging at about midnight, just shortly before two massive mud/water slides closed down the roads in both directions from the town.  We were effectively marooned for four days. 

Above is a picture of the highway in one direction taken the following day.  If you embiggen the picture and look under the green sign on the left side you can see a car mired in the mud/water.  Some poor person lost their BMW.  Wonder how the driver got out?  The highway in the opposite direction looked just as bad. 

Having said that, we were very grateful that we were not in Calgary and that we arrived at a safe place and weren't in the middle of the mudslide when it happened.  Watching the news coverage of the devastation in High River and Calgary was absolutely heart-breaking and definitely left us in awe of the power of nature.

Over the next few posts I will show some other pictures of our trip as I slowly manage to get my creative grove back in gear.  Loved our trip, but glad to be home!