A beginning, sort of, maybe

 Remember I showed you a photo last time that I hoped to turn into a landscape?  And that I had a scheme in mind to attempt to use a road map?  Well, I've been putzing with that idea and this is what I have so far...

I had the copy shop embiggen the map and print it out at the 18x24" size.  But.  It was too white.  Too stark.  So, out came the tea bag** heated with a little bit of water and sponged on.  Still not quite aged enough to suit me so next up was a little bit of water and coffee, also sponged on.  Then...how to make it act as fabric?  Well, first of all I tried attaching it to fabric with HeatNBond but I was still afraid it would rip.  So...multiple tests were done using various potions I had in my stash with me ultimately settling on 'Golden Soft Gel' - two coats, applied in two directions.  There it sits.  Me...here I sit....contemplating the wisdom and the how of attempting to quilt it now.  

** Did you know....that Red Rose tea no longer uses bags that dye successfully for future use?  Instead they seem to be using some sort of plastic-y material that refuses to stay coloured.  Boo.  

- If you like aprons for yourself, or want to make them for gifts, there's lots HERE to choose from.

- THIS is a really pretty shawl pattern.

- THIS was created as a cosmetic bag but I can see all sorts of other uses too.

- I think THIS would be fun to try.

- Once more I have a little tidbit that proves you never know what you'll find when you visit with me...go HERE to see what I'm talking about.  I didn't know such inserts existed and I can think of several other ways to use them.

Today your quote is from Nelson Mandela..."Our world is not divided by race, color, gender, or religion.  Our world is divided into wise people and fools.  And fools divide themselves by race, color, gender, or religion"

You knew it, didn't you

 I'm sure you're not the least bit surprised that another landscape is underway.  This time I'm using this photo by Dale Stewart (and used with his always kind permission)...

I have the hare-brained idea that I can incorporate a road map in to the design.  Stay tuned to see if that thought will bear fruition or whether it might be a total flop.   Right now it's pretty much 50/50.

- You might want to give THIS technique a try.

- THIS looks like a useful bag you could make.  And there's THIS one too.

- The creations by THIS artist are interesting.

Today's quote is from Abraham Lincoln..."Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most"

Done!!

 

 'The Witch House'

(near Dollard, Saskatchewan)

measures approx. 27x29"

FOR SALE!   SOLD!!

based primarily on this photo by
Dale Stewart (and used with his kind permission)
as well as photos by Michael Trueman and Glen Bowe

- I rather wish I could sit in a corner and take notes when THIS artist is creating!  Be sure to check out her eco-prints HERE as well.

- THESE are cute and would be easy to make...perhaps attach them to a 'pick' and plant them in your flower pots?

- THIS artist takes pintucks to a whole 'nother level!

- Although  THIS was originally geared towards Christmas, I don't see why it wouldn't be pretty hanging in a window any time of the year. OR maybe THIS take on it would be fun too.

Today the quote is from Teresa Funke...."Putting our art out there is one of the biggest risks we can take.  It's a special kind of vulnerability.  It takes guts to be an artist"

mmm, mmm, good!

 

Resident Chef made this and I can attest that it's delish!  Thought I'd share in case any of you would like to try it.

GINGER PORK/CHICKEN STIR FRY

2 lb. pork, chicken or beef, sliced thinly
Sauce:
2 T. veg. oil                             1 c. fine chopped onion
1 ½ c. chopped green and/or red peppers
1 ½ c. grated carrots
_____________
12 T. white vinegar       1 c. brown sugar, packed
4 T. soy sauce               4 T. ketchup
1 tsp. ground ginger     1 tsp. garlic powder
_________________
8 tsp. cornstarch          4 T. water
________________
1 can sliced mushrooms, drained
200 grams (approx) Udon or Rice noodles - cooked
        Heat oil and stir fry onion, peppers & carrots til
soft.  Add next 6 ingredients.  Mix cornstarch & water;
 add & stir til thickened. Heat 2 T. oil & add pork strips.
 Stir fry til no longer pink.  Add mushrooms & sauce.

- The quilters among you might enjoy seeing some interviews of the winners at the Quilt Week Show at Paducah.  Go HERE.  

- And, better get those bread crumbs ready for when you visit all the free patterns to be found HERE!

- Sometimes you just never know when a tidbit of information just might be the very thing you need to know as THIS will likely attest (and yet another example of you not quite knowing what to expect here!).

- Although I don't often work with paper, I thought THESE would be a fun project.

- Must admit THIS is beyond my abilities but I know some of you enjoy spinning so perhaps you'd like to give it a try.

Today's quote is from John Bunyan..."You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you"

A close up

 I've been wanting to attempt this sort of technique on one of my landscapes and decided that the time is now.  I didn't know if I could pull it off but I'm quite pleased.  The original photo I'm working from for the landscape shows a field of autumn grasses in the foreground and I didn't want to spend the days/hours/ weeks?? of time it would take to embroider them individually.  This consists of bits of hand dyed cheesecloth and various other fabrics of unknown origin and some teeny bits of tatted edging that had frayed to the point of being unusable for anything else.  What do you think??

I tried to do a video but it doesn't want to load, so
you'll have to see it this way instead.

- Perhaps you'd like to try THIS?  As a little side note, I saw an idea for using a splatter screen from the dollar store instead of the frame they call for in this post.  I'm all for cheap supplies!

- I think THESE would make a really pretty 'curtain' in a window.

- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS artist!

- THIS is a cute little project you might like to try.

 I thought I might point you to a really interesting post about the actual Witch's House in Saskatchewan....go HERE.  And now, perhaps you can see that I have quilted the sky area with a vague nod to a trapunto technique for some of the clouds...

Over the weekend Resident Chef appeared in my sewing room doorway bearing this...

Sourdough Cheese bread!
Yum!

- I must admit my jaw was dropping as I scrolled through the work of THIS incredible artist!!  AND, when you get to the bottom of the first page, click through to the next one...and the next one.  

- THIS might be a fun technique to try.

- HERE is another take on doing a temperature quilt.

- I enjoyed seeing THESE.

Today's quote..."Worry is a conversation you have with yourself about things you cannot change.  Prayer is a conversation you have with God about things He can change"

Maybe now?

 Maybe now you can see the progress on the Witch's House?....

- Have a peek through the portfolios of THIS artist - very creative.  And if you want to read more about her work go HERE.  

- If there's a bridal shower in your future, perhaps making the bride one of THESE would be a perfect gift OR you could change the colours and make it for yourself (maybe to carry your phone).  You could also make THIS to go with the bag.

- HERE is another artist you might like to visit.

- HERE's a technique you might like to play with.

This quote made me smile..."Today I completed a chore I'd been putting off for six months.  It took 15 minutes.  I will learn nothing from this"

A lovely surprise!

 These pretties arrived from #2 son and daughter-in-love for Mother's Day....

I'm blessed!!!

- THIS would be a fun project to create for your summertime decor.

- Please walk to your kitchen and obtain a loaf of bread.  You will need LOTS of crumbs to find your way back out of THESE!  There are pages of them!

- THIS sounds intriguing and we all know the raw materials are plentiful this time of year!

- THIS is a pretty piece of clothing that would be relatively simple to make and would be perfect for an additional layer.

- And, just to prove that you never quite know what you will find here at Chez Magpie, how about trying THIS?

- Or maybe THIS?

Today's quote..."Not sure if I'm bad at sleeping or just really really really good at thinking"

Nothing much of note

 I did work at the landscape over the weekend but you won't be able to tell much from a photo, so...because I don't have one to show you, I'll bet you can guess what's coming!

- If you're like me and have a sewing room in dire need of some organization, perhaps some of the tips found HERE might be helpful.

- HERE's something you might like to try!

- Oh my - just have a look at THESE and be prepared to be wowed!

- I had to embiggen the pictures in THIS gallery to believe that they are done in fabric.

- THIS is a cute little project that would come in handy when gift giving.

This quote made me laugh..."As a kid, I used to watch the Wizard of Oz and wonder how someone could talk if they didn't have a brain.  Then I got social media"

Good guesses, all, ..... but....

 

There were some good guesses about what I could be creating for the latest landscape, but none were quite right.  Instead, how about this...

This is the beginnings of the Witch House in Saskatchewan (ask Mr. Google for more information if you're interested).  I am using photos by both Dale Stewart and Michael Trueman  as inspiration, along with the many photos that can be found on the internet. 

And....we went to the nursery last week and I picked up a string of pearls houseplant just to see how long it would take me to kill it.  I know - cruelty to plants ought to be banned!  At any rate, I didn't know they bloomed AND that the blooms have an incredible scent too.  Mine has two blooms and one bud as you can see from the photo...

- If you like to knit dishcloths, perhaps you might find some fun designs HERE.  There are a number of pages of them to look through.

- THIS looks like a fun project some of you might like to try.

- Have a peek at the incredible creations of THIS artist!

- THIS is a really pretty cardigan that doesn't look too difficult to make.

- The detail on THESE is amazing!

Today's quote..."Funny thing about getting older.  Your eyesight starts getting weaker but your ability to see through people gets much better"

Veering slightly off track

 The other night I took these off the needles...

My usual generic sock pattern and the yarn is 'Silly Socks Flower Pop' by Hobbii.  Heading where else but the Christmas box.  

- I think THESE are so pretty!  Looks easy enough to do too.  Scroll down to see some of the pretty variations.

- Some of you might like to give THIS a try.

- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS amazing artist.

- I love THIS, although I know I would never wear it myself.

Yep - it's done!

 Yes, the new landscape is done!  

"Hayfield School"
Inspired by a photo by Glen Bowe,
and used with his kind permission
measures approx.  26x18"

FOR SALE!

This is the photo by Glen I used for inspiration...

And, of course you know, there's another landscape waiting in the wings and I got a start on it as you can see...

Now what do you suppose I'm going to do with it next?

- I might have sent you to scroll through THIS gallery once before, but it's worth another look if I have (be sure to scroll down)

- And THIS one too!  Oh, and how about THESE?

- I can't find the source for THIS little bit of awww-worthiness!

Today's wise words..."Truth does not mind being questioned but a lie does not like being challenged"

Nada, zilch, nothing, so...

 

Come back on Monday for the grand reveal of the latest landscape, as well as possibly a sneak peek at the next one.

- For a whole trove of awwww-worthy sights, go HERE and scroll down.

- Because dandelions are prolific right now (at least in this area!), perhaps you might like to play with one (or more) of THESE ideas.

- There are some more awwwww's HERE. 

- Have a peek at the gallery of THIS artist.

- I think THIS is well worth reading (although, to be fair, it is slightly bent towards Canadian consumers but I think most of it pertains to everyone).  Scammers are getting more and more sophisticated all the time and we need to educate ourselves in order to keep safe.

Doubt it looks any different

 Yes, I rather doubt you can see too much difference with the landscape but trust me - there is.  I played with the truck and the embroidery in the grass area.  

I fired up the backhoe and did a little clearing out in my sewing room and came across this book that is on the way out.  If you're interested in it, let me know in the comments (first come, first served and all that).  It was published in 1974 so it's old, but the illustrations inside are charming, touching on all sorts of crafts we did back in the day.

- I think THIS would be a fun thing to do!  For both adults AND kids!!

- Some of you might find THIS of interest.

- Have a look at the amazing artistry HERE - done with cheesecloth!  (Thanks Joy for telling me about this one)

- Being that dandelion season will soon be upon us, perhaps THIS might interest you.

Today's quote..."People were created to be loved.  Things were created to be used.  The reason the world is in chaos is because things are being loved, and people are being used"