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 29, 2022

The smell is everything!

 Resident Chef has been playing in the kitchen with his new cookbook and ingredients and this is the first thing - it's a teriyaki sauce and does it ever smell amazing!!!


It still needs to be strained, but if this is any indication of the goodies to come I'm definitely on board!

I would show you an update on the landscape....but....basically it looks exactly the same as it did the last time you saw it.  There's been hours of hand stitching added but I can't seem to get a photo that shows even a sampling of it.  After all, when you've seen one French knot, you've seen them all, right?  And rows upon rows of closed cretan stitch?  Yeah, dead boring. Right now it's all about texture on this one.  

- I don't think I would dare attempt doing THIS living in an apartment, but some of you might like to have fun with it.

- Have a look through the galleries of THIS amazing artist!

- HERE is a great pattern to use up yarn stash AND learn some new stitches at the same time.

- And  check out the incredible creations by THIS artist too!

Today's quote is from Angel Chernoff..."When things aren't adding up in your life, begin subtracting.  Life gets a lot simpler when you clear the clutter that makes it complicated"

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Maybe - or maybe not

 There's another section completed (maybe!) on the latest landscape...


- If you are like a lot of people you have UFO's lurking in your creative space.  Joy has created some really pretty planning pages you can use to help you get a handle on them.  Go HERE.  

- Some people see things where I would never think to look!  Have a look at THESE!

- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS artist!

- I found a scroll through THIS interesting.

- Most of us have an empty pill bottle (or several!) kicking around because we hate to throw them out.  There are some interesting recycling ideas for them HERE.

Today's quote is from Madalyn Beck..."Don't forget to love the way you want to be loved, listen the way you want to be heard, give the way you hope others give, care the way you want others to care, because change doesn't start with them, it starts right here"



Monday, July 25, 2022

Does it look like a truck?

 The blue blob you saw in my previous post about the landscape has evolved to what you see here....



AND - there was a massive big box that arrived here a few days ago that was earmarked for Resident Chef's 'significant' birthday from our #2 son and daughter-in-love.  Of course it was the subject of much curiosity but it wasn't allowed to be opened until we video chatted with them last night.  To put a little of this in context, our daughter-in-love is Taiwanese by birth and she knows that Dad is interested in Asian cooking.  So....a cookbook AND ingredients for him to play with....


I'm gonna love this!!!!!!😊

The gift that will keep on giving!

- THIS looks like it would be a fun quilt to make if you have lots of scraps in your stash.

- Don't blame me if you trip and fall down the rabbit hole HERE.  Do try to leave a trail of bread crumbs so you can find your way out.....

- Go and have a peek through the Collections categories of THIS amazing artist!

- There are tons of good resources for knitters available HERE.

Today's quote..."Whether my cup is half full or half empty today, I'm thankful that I have a cup and that there is something in it"



Friday, July 22, 2022

A bit more progress

 At this point, the sky has been mostly stitched as well as the grass area.  Now it's on to the truck itself.


UPDATED TO ADD THIS!  Resident Chef treated me to this for my birthday...



- THIS is a really pretty (and easy to memorize!) crochet design for a blanket of any size.

- Some of you might find THIS tutorial useful when making bags.

- THIS is an inspiration link, only, but perhaps if you're inundated with fabric scraps you might get some ideas.

- If you have old books lurking about, perhaps one (or more!) of THESE ideas might be of interest.

Today's quote..."Choose love.  Choose inclusion.  Choose empathy, compassion, equality, dignity and diversity.  Choose community, kindness, integrity, honesty, respect.  Choose justice, facts, peace, the planet.  Choose humanity.  But most of all choose love"

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Progress (of the landscape kind) and possibilities

 First of all, a shipment of yarn arrived and just look at the possibilities to be found therein!....


I have plans, serious plans, that involve a certain Christmas box that needs filling.

The landscape is continuing on and I'm embarking on machine stitching all the grass.  That takes at least a couple of days to complete.


- Those of you who enjoy hand stitching might find THIS project to be a fun one to try.

- Or maybe THIS one?

- THIS is one of those things that have the wow factor (at least I think so!).  While you're there have a look through THESE!!!!

- I thought THIS was an interesting concept and would be fun to attempt on your own (scroll down for the hexxie version which is the one I'm referring to)

- Some of you might like THIS project.

Today, instead of a quote.....





Monday, July 18, 2022

More and more

 and.....we have another little outfit heading out in the mail....


Pattern is THIS one for the dress and THIS one for the hat,
diaper cover is the same as I used in the previous post.

and....another landscape starts using this photo for inspiration...


Once more using a photo with the
kind permission of Dale Stewart

Here's the beginning....



- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS artist.

- THIS is going in my awwww folder for future reference.  While you're there be sure to scroll down and see all the other amazing free toy patterns!  There's enough there to keep this Grandma happy for a long time!

- There's no pattern for THIS and I don't know who to attribute it to, but it's worth a look.  (If you happen to know who made it, let me know and I'll give proper credit)

- THIS looks like a fun tutorial to try.

Today's quote is from Martin Luther King - "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character"




Friday, July 15, 2022

Couture?

 I've been working on a couple of little outfits for our wee grandie and this is the first one...



Dress pattern is THIS one and the diaper cover is from HERE.  I added the lace and the little flower just because I could!


- THIS is an easy way to create a hanging kitchen towel (and would make great gifts too!)

- There's a ton of fun free embroidery patterns to be found HERE.

- They also have some printable adult coloring pages that might be fun to tackle.  Go HERE.  

- Have a peek through the amazing creations found HERE.

Today I have this for your quote...




Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Wee knit

 This is a really simple quick crochet hat that I whipped up for our wee one to wear in the fall and winter.  


Yarn is Bernat Blanket Yarn and the pattern can be found HERE.

- If you are interested in miniatures, perhaps you might like to read Mary Corbet's post HERE.

- HERE is another great little case that could be used for so many different things!

- There's something so eye-catching about THIS design.  

- THIS is a great divided tote bag tutorial.

- Those of you who crochet might find THIS to be a fun project.

Today the quote is from Suzanne Collins..."Live your life.  Take chances, be crazy.  Don't wait.  Because right now is the oldest you've ever been and the youngest you'll be ever again"





Monday, July 11, 2022

For sale!

FOR SALE!


 "Herbie Needs Some Love"

inspired by a photo by Michael Trueman
and used with his very kind permission.
Photo was taken near Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan.

Measures approx 26 x 19"

This is the original photo...



Yes, I finally finished the latest landscape!  Took me awhile but there you have it.  I tried to do a little video for you but it's refusing to load here so I guess that wasn't such a good plan.



- Karen Ruane (embroiderer extraordinaire!) has announced her new venture and you can read more about it HERE.

- THIS is a really cute little bag that would serve so many purposes.

- Have a peek through the creations of THIS artist.

- THIS is another tutorial for a great little bag.

Today the quote is from Lisa Heckman..."In a society that has you counting money, pounds, calories and steps, be a rebel and count your blessings instead"





Friday, July 08, 2022

oops - a squirrel......

 #2 grandson is taking music lessons and a special request was made for a tote bag to carry his supplies.  How could a grandma refuse?  So....this was the result and it's already in the mail...


I haven't shared a recipe for awhile and thought some of you might find this to be a good use for excess rhubarb.  It's SOOO good!!


Ruthie's Rhubarb Punch

8 lbs. diced rhubarb
8 quarts water
2 x 12 oz. cans frozen Orange Juice
1 x 46 oz. can pineapple juice
2 x 3 oz boxes strawberry jello
     Cook rhubarb and water together until comes to a boil.  Boil 20 minutes or until rhubarb is practically mush.  Strain the 'mush' out of the juice and return to stove (you'll need more than one pot!).  Keep hot and add remaining ingredients.  Bottle (makes approx. 15-ish quart jars) being sure to leave headroom in the bottles for expansion as it freezes (very important!).  Freeze.



- THIS is the first time I've come across these - but what a fun idea!
- THIS is a pretty pattern that would make either a beautiful afghan or even coasters.
- I can think of a whole bunch of uses for one (or more!) of THESE!
- I think maybe I should post a warning about the rabbit hole you are bound to fall into when you start exploring THIS site.  At the very least you'd best be leaving a trail of crumbs to find your way back out (just sayin').  
- I don't know if you're as fascinated by miniatures as I am, but if you are, check THIS out.

Today, instead of a quote, how about this...



Wednesday, July 06, 2022

Stitch, stitch, stitching away

 No, the embroidery isn't done yet.  Soon, I promise.  In the meantime, here's a little peep at another section I've been working on...


- Some of you might enjoy trying out some of THESE.

- Some things just boggle the mind....like THIS, for instance.

- THIS tutorial produces a rather interestingly shaped bag.

- THIS is a very pretty design that could translate into so many things.

- Some of you might find THIS chart of interest.

Today's quote is from Harvey MacKay....."Time is free, but it's priceless.  You can't own it, but you can use it.  You can't keep it, but you can spend it.  Once you've lost it you can never get it back"


Monday, July 04, 2022

Embroidering on....

 It's like the galloping ick - I can't seem to stop adding embroidery to this landscape.  I guess it will tell me when I should be done....




- Perhaps some of you might like to try doing THIS.

- THIS caught my eye - a fun project to make for little ones.  And THIS one too!

- THIS is another fun project and would make wonderful gifts.

- THIS is supposedly for carrying dolls but I can think of all sorts of other uses and I'm sure you can too.

Today's quote..."Everyone has the right to be stupid, it's just that some people abuse the privilege"


Friday, July 01, 2022

Part way

 


Happy Canada Day to my Canadian friends
and Happy Independence Day to my friends in the US

I'm part way finished with the embroidery on the landscape.  I'm still building on what's there now but you can see it starting to take shape.


- THIS looks like it would be great fun to try.

- The same blogger has THIS tutorial that looks like it would make great gifts (not that I think about THAT day in December all year round!)

- There's some ideas HERE for recycling denim.

- Have a peek through the art by THIS amazing creator.

Today's quote is from Thomas Sowell..."It is usually futile to try to talk facts to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance"