A number of bloggers have been working on getting rid of 'stuff' so I was inspired to start tackling my sewing space. So far - one big garbage bag filled - one big bag of paper for recycling - and one bag of plastics for recycling - two books gone to the Friends of the Library. One 4-drawer filing cabinet housecleaned (who knew it was possible to get your fingers in the files without a struggle??) and one side of the closet. During my excavations I stumbled across my very first sewing project - probably done when I was about 6. My maternal grandmother made me a quilt for my doll and I decided I should 'sew' the quilting stitches on the back. Picture is of the front - and the back (showing my childish efforts at stitching).
- There are some fun ideas HERE for last-minute gift giving.
- THIS is something pretty much any knitter or crocheter would love to find under the tree.
- There are some great ideas HERE for gifts.
- Wouldn't some of THESE (along with a jar of homemade jam) make a great gift?
- Or maybe even some of any of THESE?
- HERE is another quick little gift you could make.
- And, just because of the awwwwww moment, check THIS out!
Remember that Christmas cactus I bought myself that I showed you a picture of? And remember how I said it was likely to meet its demise in short order? Well, it's happily shedding all those buds you saw, without a single one opening. I knew I should have left the poor thing in the store!
Had lunch with a good friend on Friday and exchanged our Christmas gifts. She finds the most intriguing sewing 'things' and gave me a set of these...
They're little silicone brushes for cleaning my sewing machine. Can't wait to try them because I think they'll be great. She also gave me a 'White Christmas' amaryllis which looks like it will be spectacular. And, there just *might* have been a bottle of my favourite alcoholic beverage tucked in there too (already tested for quality control!). Thank you MEK!
I've been spinning my wheels in my studio, not quite sure what to tackle next. Of course there's lots of landscape possibilities waiting for attention, but there's also a nagging thought that I really need to go through my sewing space and get rid of a lot of excess 'stuff' that I know I'll never use. I'm also trying to decide if a wee grandie who will be turning 2 next month is still too young for a rag doll 'made by Grandma'. I'm toying with the thought of maybe making matching little girl/dollie dresses. I suspect I should wait until she turns 3 for that one. (If you want to see examples of the rag dolls I usually make, have a look HERE.)
- I'm a fan of the old original cartoon version of the Grinch, so of course THIS caught my eye.
- There are lots of quick gift ideas HERE.
- I know some of you might be aware of THIS but in case you haven't seen it before, it's a great method to make quick gifts.
- Making some of THIS would be easy and a welcome gift for either yourself or others.
Today the quote is from Peg Bracken..."Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredient of a truly merry Christmas"
I thought, since the landscape was done, I should turn my attention towards the fact that I'm doing a trunk show for the local quilt guild in January, followed by teaching a workshop the next day. So....I spent most of a day making up 18 kits that contain the pattern for the barn, the fabrics to make same, along with some little bits and bobs, including a wee little cardinal. I don't know exactly how many kits will be needed so hopefully this will be enough. Apparently there were enough people interested in the workshop that they will be running two...one in January and one in the spring. I also spent considerable time attempting to write a 'presentation/speech' for the trunk show. I am NOT a public speaker and the thought, quite honestly, scares me to death. It seemed like a good idea to agree to do it months ago when I was first asked, but now that it's looming closer I'm seriously regretting the entire thing. I know how difficult it is for guilds to obtain speakers and teachers so I guess I'm going to do my part.
- I thought THIS was intriguing. THIS too!
- THESE look pretty easy to make (and, instead of cards I wonder if you could use old calendar pages...but perhaps they wouldn't be stiff enough)
- Anyone who makes Izzy dolls might find THIS of interest.
- If you do the 'Elf on The Shelf' with your family, perhaps some of the ideas HERE will be fun. If nothing else, some of them are good for a giggle.
- THESE are great memory ornaments that would be a special keepsake.
- There are some cute gift ideas HERE.
The landscape is finished! I'm sorry that you can't really tell in the photo that the snow has some areas that sparkle in the light but you'll have to trust me on that one. It measures approx. 29x25".
This is the photo I used for inspiration (full credit, and my thanks, to Dale Stewart!)
I took lots of artisitic liberties with this one, as
you can see!
- THIS link takes you to a tutorial to make a reversible tote bag.
- THIS is a really cute idea and wouldn't be too difficult to make.
- Giving jars of some of THESE would make a nice gift.
- Another great gift idea HERE.
- THIS gave me food for thought.
...well, maybe short hops 'cause I wouldn't want to hurt myself! As you can see from the photo quite a bit was accomplished on the landscape over the weekend. I still have to finish the border and then add the 'sparkle' here and there to the snow. Sadly that won't likely show up very well in pictures. When next you see this it should be done.
And, I succumbed and bought myself a Christmas cactus. Feel sorry for the poor thing because no doubt it will meet its demise in short order but in the meantime...
- THIS would make a really nice gift!
- There are lots of sewable gift ideas HERE.
- THIS is pretty for any time of the year.
- There are lots of fun ideas HERE too!
- I've just returned from a rabbit hole and, simply because I'd love company there, how about checking out THIS (and while you're there, be prepared to poke about in all the 'roots' in that hole!).
Today's quote..."Dance like no one is watching, but text and email like it will be read in court one day" (I suppose the same could be said for blogging too!)
I've been working on the landscape but truthfully nothing that you can see in a photo...so....how about a few extra links to explore today instead of a photo?
- THIS takes you to a PDF of a really pretty shawl. If I were a shawl person, I'd love this one.
- There are some fun ideas for gifting HERE.
- THIS would make a cute little gift.
- As a little further note on the chocolate orange cover I showed you last time, perhaps you'd like to check out THESE designs as well. OR if you'd like to cover bath bombs, have a look HERE.
- There's a great tutorial HERE for making really nice gift bags that you could fill with all sorts of Christmas treats, edible or otherwise!
- I came across THIS very excellent post about temperature blankets (and I love the colours she chose!!). I would really love to make one and the time commitment to only having to do one row each day wouldn't be too bad. But THEN, I price out the yarn and it gives me huge pause for thought.
- If you have a tea-lover on your list, perhaps one of THESE would be a welcome gift.
- THIS would be fun to both serve AND to gift.
- There are some fun ideas HERE too.
- THESE are really pretty and would make a nice gift with a candle tucked inside.
- Some cute ideas HERE too.
Today's quote..."May your day be filled with glitter than someone else cleans up"
I think you can see some progress on the landscape - namely in the truck itself. I've also 'done something' with the birch trees although they're by no means finished yet. Quilting has started in the snow as well.
Pattern is HERE.
- Sharon Boggon is running 'TAST' (Take A Stitch Tuesday) in 2024 and if you want to learn some new-to-you embroidery stitches or brush up on some familiar ones, check out her FAQ's page HERE.
- THIS is a really cute and easy to make ornament.
- As is THIS.
- I know it might be a tad late for THESE for this year, but perhaps get an early start on next year?
- It seems that every year THESE come up and every year I contemplate making one.
- Never let it be said that I don't lead you down some massive rabbit holes! All I can say, is be prepared with lots of bread crumbs when you go HERE.
- There are a number of fun gift ideas HERE, some of which I haven't seen before.
- And, to finish off the links for today, how about making some of THIS?? Please invite me over to help you eat it!
Today the quote is from Rumi..."Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder"
Another landscape has begun. This one, because it's snowy outside, has a winter theme although the original photo I'm using for inspiration was in B&W and not winter. Here's the photo (once again by Dale Stewart and used with his kind permission)...
Our local food bank has published this reverse advent and I thought I would share in case you'd like to participate in your area..
- The ingenuity of some people simply astounds as THIS will attest!
- There might be some ideas HERE that you would like to do for Christmas gifting.
- If you're interested in textiles, perhaps you might find something in THIS listing that would intrigue you.
- I think THIS would be fun to do.
Today the quote is from George Orwell..."The further society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it"
This little darling hopped all the way here and was created by the clever fingers of Donna who chose to give him away and I was the lucky winner! I've never attempted to do goldwork and when I saw this little charmer I know the odds are pretty high I never will because all those little beads (chips?) are SO tiny and I know I'd never be able to see well enough to even begin. Donna does incredible needlework so do pay her a visit HERE.
Thank you Donna!!!!💕
- THESE are quite pretty and don't look too difficult to create.
- THIS would make a great gift for someone with a sweet tooth.
- You might want to have a go at making THESE.
- THIS is something you can have fun with yourself or with younger family members.
Today's quote..."Don't change so people will like you. Be yourself, and the right people will love the real you"
I've been procrastinating over putting the zipper in the sweater I made for our oldest grandie. Turned out I really didn't need to fuss over it because it wasn't as difficult as I thought (who knew!!). The sweater isn't wonderful but I doubt he will care because, after all, Grandma figured out how to use the same Minecraft design I did on his hat and translate it into the sweater. This, as of this moment (barring any unforseen idiocy on my part), will be the last sweater the grandsons will get because they insist on getting bigger and my hands just won't agree with me knitting that large. I *might* still make one for our littlest one but that remains to be seen.
- THIS is a cute wee gift that you might like to create.
- THIS is a pretty little tree project.
- Pour yourself a cuppa and have a look through the ideas found HERE.
- THIS is cute too.
- There are lots of ideas for snowflakes HERE.
- THESE are pretty and would look nice either on your tree or used as gifts.
Today's quote..."Don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces"
The last Christmas present is finished!! The butter tarts are baked (and, for once, RC listened to me and only made a small batch). Heaven help him if there are no butter tarts. I even completed most of the wrapping over the weekend AND the Christmas cards are addressed and ready to mail. Now I can exhale and play with my new sewing machine to see how it performs doing landscapes.
One of the final gifts to be completed is this...
Well, it's now a proven fact that I'm losing what's left of my mind...and the Resident Chef isn't much better. We just spent over four hours searching this small apartment for two Minecraft-themed pillowcases that I distinctly remember making for the two oldest grandies that were supposed to be for Christmas. We turned everything upside down (oh, the dust elephants....and the sneezing!) but they were nowhere to be found in the bedroom. Hmmm....so....did they get scooped up with loose fabric and get put away somehow? Well....a grand dumpage of buckets and bins and sorting on a grandiose scale certainly neatened things up but no pillowcases.
Surely we didn't.
Did we??
A mad dash to the computer to message our respective families begging them to put us out of our misery and tell us that we'd already gifted them.
Crisis averted.
Apartment cleaned.
Dust elephants wrangled.
Back to the regularly scheduled chaos
here at Chez Magpie.
I finished making five postcards and a greeting card and, in a fit of no-brains, I sealed them into envelopes ready to mail without taking pictures to show you. Oh well, suffice to say, they're done.
You'll just have to imagine what they looked like!
- I know THIS is a paid pattern, but it made me laugh.
- I apologize if I've sent you to THIS before but I think it's a great gift idea that's quick and easy to make.
- I think THIS is cute and a great use for that package of specialty buttons you haven't been able to find a use for (scroll down for the pattern).
- If you're giving gift cards this year, perhaps you'd like to make THESE to go with them.
- THESE are different and don't look hard to make. Good use for some scrap yarn or that over-sized ball of twine you've been saving.
PJ's for two out of four grandies - check!! Well, almost - still have to add the elastic in the waist and awaiting measurements for that so I can finish them up. There is enough fabric left to make them each a matching pillowcase too...bonus.
- Some small ideas HERE for quickie gifts.
- THIS is meant for a baby but I don't see why, with different colours, it couldn't be embiggened for adults too.
- THESE would be fun to make with kids (or without!)
- Perhaps you might like to make one of THESE for your December decor.
- Some things use the simplest of supplies and turn out rather cute, as THIS shows.
- I absolutely need to make one of THESE now that I have a new sewing machine!
Today's quote is from E. Joseph Coffman..."If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today"
One of our grandies loves Catboy from PJ Masks so of course what is a grandma to do but try to make him one for Christmas. This is the result...
Pattern is THIS one, yarn from my stash (mostly Paton's Canadiana I think).
I also made one of these - again using scrap yarn I had on hand. Pattern for that is HERE. I liked that this one has a bottom which many of them don't.
- Perhaps you'll find an idea HERE for some gift-giving this year (thanks to Jocelyn for this one!).
- Although THIS is a to-purchase pattern, it made me laugh so I had to share.
- I've been curious how THESE are made and this tutorial spells it out.
- Scroll down HERE to see just what caught my eye!
Today's quote is one of those things about words that I find interesting...
Someone left a comment asking how I made the lip balms and I must admit I cheated somewhat this time by buying pre-made lip balm in a tub that I simply melted down and added flavouring to. You can find it HERE. I used peppermint and chocolate flavours (make sure they are safe for use on the body... not kitchen flavouring you use to bake with). You can find a selection HERE. As a further note, you can make it a little more involved and make the balm 'from scratch'. I've used this recipe...
- THIS caught my eye. I won't be making it, however.
- THESE would make nice gifts. She also has a number of other great gift ideas HERE.
- More ideas can be found HERE.
- THIS is really cute (scroll down for the English version)
Today's quote is from George R R Martin..."A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one"
Over the weekend RC and his Mrs were quite busy in the kitchen as you can see from this list...
- THESE would add the perfect touch to a handmade gift. There are more HERE. And HERE.
- THIS is really pretty and a great use for scraps.
I'm having fun playing with yarn and a crochet hook and working on a couple of wee toys for the grandies. This is the first one...
Pattern is THIS one. Jury is out whether or not it actually looks like the Creeper from Minecraft and I'm trying to figure a way to make the head appear 'square-er'. Had I thought ahead (hah, pun not intended there!) I should have put something like plastic canvas inside to help it hold the shape. Thinking hat is on....
- THIS is a rather cute little Santa cross stitch design. And there are more cute ones HERE.
- THIS was an awww moment (alas no instructions or even who made it).
- THIS would make a nice little gift if it were accompanied by a new mug and perhaps filled with hot chocolate packets.
When I came across this I had to share it - there are some good ones!
