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.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Progress on CQ project...

Before I show you pictures of what I've accomplished so far on the next purse, I stumbled across THIS whilst poking about on etsy and must say that it would be an invaluable tool for those of us who like to knit cables and are constantly losing our cable needle into the bowels of the chair or couch.  The creator was definitely thinking when they came up with this piece of equipment!   Be sure to read the description of the item.

Now, on to pictures of what I've been doing today...






As usual, you can click on the pictures to embiggen!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Being prepared....me???

Never let it be said that I don't pay attention when my friends happen to mention that they're looking for something, either purchased or handmade.  Late last winter one of my friends was searching for bed socks because her tootsies were cold in bed and lamenting the lack thereof in any of the stores.  Hmmm, said I....surely there are patterns on the internet for such things.  Sure enough, I found one (although there are very few out there) and I proceeded to knit her some.  This morning we had coffee together and I presented her with these...


Unfortunately I have lost the band from the yarn so I have no clue what I used, but I do know it was a 4 ply worsted from Lion Brand, probably Wool Ease.  The pattern is called 'Baba's Bed Socks' and I think I got it from Ravelry.  They're nice and cushy and should keep her feet warm this winter.

+ + + + + + + + + + +

I've also been working on the prototype of the 'project' I will be sharing with the ladies that are taking my embroidery workshop class next month.  





(and yes, you can laugh, because it DOES look like a boob!!)

I think I've managed to cover pretty much all the basic stitches in this project.  The finished size is 8 1/2 x 11", which means they can put it into a binder and keep it for future reference.  At the very least, I suppose they could mount it on the wall and use it for dart practice!


Thursday, September 26, 2013

Questionable!!

First of all....a response to Heather M. who asked what size my faces I created yesterday....they range from about 2" for the biggest down to 1/2" for the smallest.  They are done with a mold that I *think* I got from Michaels several years ago.  btw Heather, I can't respond to you directly because you have your comments set to 'no reply'. 

Secondly....I'm beavering away on getting the 'stuff' I need ready to teach the embroidery workshop next month.  Thought I'd better be ahead of the game and not put myself into TOO much of a panic mode closer to the date.  I'm going to have enough trouble coping with the heebie-jeebies as it is!!

So....
today I attempted to draw some
stitch diagrams in a large size.

Please do keep in mind that this gal 
can't draw to save her soul!!
 Here's a sample....


Yep, good thing they're not there to learn to draw!!


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Silly husbands and meeting

I must firstly apologize for the horrible picture, but I simply have to show you just what type of man I married!  Last night he asked what I wanted for dessert...the choices were frozen yogurt, a coconut tart or some cheesies.  My response was that I didn't care what I got and I would eat whatever appeared.  Well, being a nut case, he gave me all three...presented artfully....

How in the world he managed to balance the tart on top
of the cheesies is beyond me!

And, in case you're interested, here's the
recipe for the tarts...

JELLY COCONUT TARTS

2 eggs, beaten slightly
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon apple jelly, per tart

Combine eggs, sugar, coconut, and vanilla.
Place small piece of butter and jelly in the bottom
of each prepared tart shell.  
Spoon egg mixture over top.
Bake 15 minutes at 450 degrees.

Today was the CQTeers meeting at my house.  Irene was here, but Sue was absent due to having shingles...ouch.  Anyway, we had our usual exchange of atc's - this month the theme was 'embroidery'...


Irene did the one on the right.  Her background
was a lovely hand-woven piece of cotton she got 
while on a trip to Montserrat in the Caribbean.
Mine is the little fellow on the left - my background 
is some of my rusted fabric.

We always try to have some sort of programme at our meetings whereby we try a new technique or play with some sort of material.  This time we made little faces using paperclay and some face molds I have in my stash.  (and yes, Sue...I made a few for you too!!).  




These are now drying and will be ready to use in
future projects.





Friday, September 20, 2013

Next crazy quilt profject - beginning

Yesterday I pieced together the parts I need to make another purse.  Brown isn't usually my 'comfort' colour to work with, but we'll see how I get along.  Here's a picture of one of the pieces...


Obviously, with the blue background on the image, I will be letting some blue creep into this one too!
  


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Finished purse

Here you go....

Front view - 


Back view...


Pattern is 'Baggalista' 

The embellishment on the front and back came from
a pre-embroidered pair of jeans that I
recycled.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

A dose of mumbling...

Today I finished stitching the latest purse but haven't had a chance to take any photos so you will have to wait until tomorrow.    

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Feedback wanted!!

I know I don't normally post on the weekends, but I think we may be going away tomorrow so I thought I'd put this out there tonight and see if you would be willing to give me some help/feedback.

I have been asked to teach a class in embroidery for our local quilt guild and I'm looking for ideas.  I have to assume that the majority of the ladies have never embroidered before so I will definitely be dealing with beginners.

So....if you were taking a beginners embroidery class what would you expect/want to learn?  

Any and all suggestions will be gratefully received!!  TIA.

 

Friday, September 13, 2013

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Humble beginnings

Today I haven't had much time to do any stitching, but I did get the pieces cut out for my next purse creation.  Most of you know that I'm a huge fan of using recycled denim in my pieces, and a root through my denim stash yielded a perfect pre-embellished piece that will end up being the front of my purse...






If you embiggen the photo I think you can see that the flower is nicely decorated with sequins.  I also have another piece from the same pair of jeans that repeats the flower theme, but in a smaller size that will be perfect for the back panel. 

Perfect design element..
for pennies!
Win/win.


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Finished purse

The purse is done!

The purse is done!

Let the bells ring out,

The purse is done!

And here is proof...

(the front)


(and the back)



The pattern is 'The Gadabout'



Tuesday, September 10, 2013

A finished UFO

Still working on sewing the purse together and hope to have it finished tomorrow.  In the meantime, I did finish this project...


This one is really simple to do...the base is recycled rug canvas.  I cut strips of cotton fabrics approx. three quarters of an inch wide and, using a big-eyed needle, wove them through the canvas.  In the end, with a little stitching with the machine, I ended up with a nice journal cover.  Cheap, cheerful, and easy!  Unfortunately, I have NO earthly idea where I got the idea from in the first place so I can`t give proper credit.  If you happen to know, I would appreciate a comment so I can put it on this post.

It`s gone back to being hot here, at least for a couple of days.  Had a massive thunder storm last night...great lightning show (almost continuous) with the accompanying thunder.  It lasted for almost an hour so made it hard to sleep.  I`m not bothered by thunder storms, but constant lightning tends to keep me awake!

EDITED TO ADD:  Please be sure to read the comment on this post that Boud made - she knows EXACTLY where the pattern idea came from!!  

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Stitching....wow!! And singing??

Yes, there was.  There was some stitching today.  Be still my beating heart!!

See???


Above is a close-up of the area I was working on...
feel free to click on it to embiggen it.

Below is the completed front flap of the
purse.
 

= = = = = = = = = = = =
The 'singing' part of this post comes from 
something I found floating around the internet...

To commemorate her birthday, actress/vocalist Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall.  One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favorite Things' from the movie 'Sound of Music'. She received a standing ovation from the crowd and repeated encores.  Here are the lyrics she used  (be sure to sing along!):

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favourite things.
Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favourite things.
When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favourite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favourite things.
Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin', 
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favourite things.
When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.


Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Crazy quilt - of the old sort....and a pressing need

I guess this post falls under the classification of 'mumbling' again, but when there's precious little happening on the stitching front a girls gotta do what she's gotta do (either that or you get nuttin' - which, come to thing of it, might just be preferable!!).  

Anyhooo.....

On Monday we made a visit to the Scugog Shores Museum in Port Perry and had a great time looking around at the various old buildings and artifacts.  Of course my eye immediately fell upon a lovely old crazy quilt and I had to get a photo so I could share it with you....



I also took a couple of pictures of the beef ring building which I have plans to include in my book I'm working on at the moment.  





You mean you don't know what a beef ring is??


Too much information??