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, October 28, 2019

And....another little project for baby


These will co-ordinate with the sweaters I've already
made.  The hat is 'Golden Pear' from Viridian Hue and
can be found HERE.  
The mitts are just generic using the same
stitch pattern/colourway as the hat.
Yarn is Cascade 220.


Friday, October 25, 2019

Another wee project for our expected grandbaby....


This pattern is "Little Coffee Bean' by Elizabeth Smith and can be found HERE.  For this one I also used Cascade 220 yarn.  Yet to be blocked!

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UPDATED TO ADD:
For better or for worse (hopefully not the latter!)
I pushed the 'order' button on Amazon and a
new Brother CS6000i sewing machine is
on the way!

Now - is anyone in the market for a good used
boat anchor??
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Today's quote:  "You might think that you don't matter in this world, but someone hears a song on the radio and it reminds them of you.  Someone has read a book you recommended to them and gotten lost in its pages.  Someone has remembered a joke you told them and smiled to themselves.  Never think you don't have an impact.  Your fingerprints can't be wiped away from the little marks of kindness that you've left behind"

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

First of all - a question for you...
do any of you own a Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist
sewing machine?  If so, what do you think of it?
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Obviously no sewing happening here at Chez Magpie for a few days so how about I show you one of the baby things I've completed...


This is the 'Everyday Toddler Hoodie' by Megan Goodacre and can be found HERE.  I used Cascade 220 yarn.  It still needs to be blocked but I'm waiting to complete all I have planned and I will do them all at once.

Today's quote is from St. Jerome...."Good.  Better. Best.  Never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best"

Monday, October 21, 2019

Small project


I wasn't planning to show you this until I had the quilt that accompanies it done. But....with no sewing happening here at Chez Magpie, I need to come up with something (anything!) to show you.


It's a pillowcase, made using the burrito method.

And...beware - there's a computer hack going around that says that you have detected viruses through Google Chrome - it keeps popping up with dire warnings that your computer is infected with dangerous viruses.  I checked.  It's a scam.  

Well, now I'm officially bored.  No sewing.  Patterns have been downsized and sorted.  Does this mean I have to tackle trying to fix PMS Albatross which I already know will do nothing more than increase my blood pressure.  Sigh.


Today's quote...."Time and good friends are two things that become more valuable the older you get"

Friday, October 18, 2019

Another page


Here is another page for the quiet book...



Now I've switched gears while I try to figure out PMS's latest issue and have a gigantic mess in my sewing space.  See?.....



This is the result of attempting to downsize two hugely stuffed 2" binders of embroidery patterns I've collected over the years into just one.  Am I suffering from piles?  Oh yeah!  (You, at your peril, can click to embiggen if you dare).


Today's quote ... "Love the people God gave you because he will need them back one day"



Wednesday, October 16, 2019

More on the book...and yet another rant

Here are a couple more pages I completed for the quiet book...


The lights are removable and the
beads slide up and down for counting


Now I'm at a complete standstill because PMS Albatross has thrown the biggest hissy fit yet.  Now she's decided that her take up lever for the thread ought to just throw it out of the slot at will.  I'm at my wit's end to know what to do to fix this particular issue - she's determined to thwart me every step of the way.  The closest repair shop is nearly two hours away and their 'person' keeps insisting that there's nothing wrong with it.  Of course she performs admirably for him and then the minute she comes in my door she says 'I'll get you" and comes up with something new.  As I've said before, do NOT even consider buying a Bernette (or a Bernina either - I've read a ton of reviews for the top/best sewing machines and guess what - not one Bernina is listed).  I know there are Bernina 'people' out there but you're the lucky ones.  Seems like you're few and far between.  

Today's quote - "Speak to your children as if they are the wisest, kindest, most beautiful and magical humans on the earth, for what they believe is what they will become.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Quiet book


Over the weekend I started working on a quiet book for our expected addition to our family.  Two pages are finished....





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Friday, October 11, 2019

A finish - of sorts, kinda, maybe

I started this sweater for our oldest grandson last Christmas and got bogged down for two reasons.... #1 - it was going to be too big and #2 - I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to make the hood look right.  So it got put in the time out box until recently when I decided it was either finish or frog time.  I took the hood off and just replaced it with a simple ribbing around the neck.  


And - I also finished these....four pairs of sleep pants for #2 son and daughter-in-love.  



It's impossible to take decent pictures of lounge pants!!  So, they're simply in a pile so you can at least see my fabric choices.  All flannelette.   Men's are made using McCall's 4244 and women's are McCall's 4979.  


Today's quote...."The rest of your life could be the best of your life"

Wednesday, October 09, 2019

Just a little bear

My stash yielded just enough fake fur fabric to create this little guy...


Pattern is an old one - Vogue #7534 - and probably is no longer available.  He's about 15" tall.

Today the quote is from Jules Renard...."It's not how old you are, it's how you are old"


Monday, October 07, 2019

Another finish


This one has been ongoing for a couple of months so don't get excited and think I'm churning things out with great pizzazz!  We're expecting a new baby in the family the end of January so this little blanket will be for him....



Today's quote..."Give, but don't allow yourself to be used.  Love, but don't allow your heart to be abused.  Trust, but don't be naive.  Listen, but don't lose your own voice"

Friday, October 04, 2019

A grand finish!!!!!!!!

Although this doesn't look like much on its own, these represent the end of the Grand Sock Knitting Caper of 2019.....


Although it's hard to tell in the picture, these pairs are child-sized....hopefully they will fit!  Now everyone in our family will have new socks for Christmas this year.

Today's quote is from George Carlin...." We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.  We've added years to life not life to years.  We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour.  We conquered outer space but not inner space.  We've done large things, but not better things"

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

The big reveal

Yes, it's time for the big reveal and I know, beyond any doubt whatsoever, that you are all going to be SO disappointed when you discover what it is!!  


Can you guess now?



How about now?

Yes, that's a toilet paper roll lurking in there!  Our bathroom is very small and there's no room for any sort of spare roll holder that might sit on the floor.  So....one that hangs on the cabinet instead, and I couldn't resist adding crazy quilting to it.  

I know.....the disappointment is hard to bear isn't it

Today's quote:  Time decides who you meet in life, your heart decides who you want in your life, and your behavior decides who stays in your life"