w-e-lllllll

 ummm....hmmmmm.....busily hand stitching on the landscape but nothing worth showing you yet.  Nothing else has been happening either b'cause my hands are complaining about trying to crochet too much with thick yarn and that happens to be what I'm wanting to work on.

so....how about some randomness from Chez Magpie....

- RC has been cleaning up his balcony garden because the tomatoes have all ripened at once.  The lettuce was pretty much a dud all summer long and even the herbs didn't produce like they usually do.  Right now there's only one pepper plant left and it's looking pretty sad so doubt it won't last more than another day or two.

- Got our first parking ticket.  Sitting in our own parking spot at our building.  The parking spot we've had for over 13 years.  Apparently there was a mixup with the numbers and we got dinged.  In the two weeks we've been waiting for the building management to sort it out, the ticket has gone from $65 to $100 - along with thinly veiled threats of sending same to a collection agency. Argh! 

- Finally got the car 'repairs' stemming back to the hail damage last August sorted out and have received a lovely cheque from the insurance company.  At first we had opted to have the repairs done but in the interim between the original estimate a year ago and now, the cost for said repairs has risen dramatically, and we were pretty certain that our car would be one of the many that the insurance was simply writing off (it's a 2016 RAV4) which would put us back in debt to buy another one - if we could even find one that was in good used condition.  We finally decided we'd just not bother getting it fixed (our car is now lovingly called 'Dimples') and the insurance company was happy to pay us the amount of the original estimate.  Works for us.

- Resident Chef had a very rare failure come out of his kitchen this week.  He made what we thought would be a decadant dessert that involved a graham wafer crust and chocolate/peanut butter filling.  Well....one issue was that the recipe called for melted chocolate to cover the graham crust which turned out to be harder than h-e-double-hockey-sticks to cut through.  And the other issue was that it was just way over the top sweet.  There was nothing for it but to bless the garbage and cut our losses.  

- Have a look at the award winners HERE from the American Quilter's Society 2024 show.  

- If you're brave enough to steal from the squirrels perhaps you could make some of THIS.  I did a number of years ago and it was fun to do.

- I think THIS is so pretty!

- I love Lego so when I saw THIS it caught my eye.

Today's quote is from Winston Churchill..."It is better to do something than to do nothing while waiting to do everything"

Some progress

 The landscape is coming along.  If you embiggen the picture you should be able to see that I used sashiko stitching for the grass area...just to change it up a little.

- If you like making your own jewelry perhaps THIS tutorial might interest you.

- HERE is another fun technique that looks interesting and easy to do.

- I would really like one of THESE but the question is...do I want to make it?

- Scroll down for the instructions to make THIS fun project.

Today's quote..."Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo"

Jammin'

 Over the weekend Resident Chef and I made tomato jam (which we like better than strawberry and most other jams).  See?....

Recipe is courtesy of Boud (thank you!)

- I thought THIS was really interesting and a great use for sheep wool.

- I know THIS is from 2010 but stunning quilts are stunning no matter WHAT the year!

- THESE are awwwww-worthy!

- THIS would be a nice project for fall.

- THIS would be a nice quilt to make using your scraps.

Today's quote is from Nelson Mandela..."Fools multiply when wise men are silent"

You knew it, didn't you

 Yes, I've started working on another landscape.  When I saw this photo by Tracy Baker of the Witch House in Saskatchewan I had to ask her permission to play with it and she very kindly gave me the okay.  This is her photo...

Photo by Tracy Baker
and used with her kind permission

and this is the beginning of my creation....

UPDATED TO ADD:  The grass area has been hand stitched using a sashiko pattern which adds additional texture and interest (I hope!)

Some of you will remember that I've already done the Witch House but I love it and think there's always room for another version of it.  

- THIS guy is really cute and would be a fun fall project.

- Have a peek at the galleries of THIS artist!

- HERE is something you might like to try.

- I found THIS article interesting.

Today's quote..."If I asked you to name all the things that you love, how long would it take for you to name yourself?"

What is a grandma to do?

 This grandma made the mistake of looking for a crochet project to play with because she was getting a bit tired of knitting.  So, what to her wondering eyes did appear....but this....

And, before you ask, it's a gift bag that measures approx. 16" high and the pattern can be found HERE.  I used Bernat Softee Chunky throughout.  Now, stay tuned, because heaven help Grandma if she doesn't make more.

- THIS looks like a fun project.

- Have a peek at the gallery of THIS artist!

- I think THIS idea for an easel would be a handy thing to remember (scroll down for the easel part)

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS artist.

- HERE is something you could try doing with your used dryer sheets.

Today's quote..."Your life is made of two dates and a dash.  Make the most of the dash"

Another project done

 This project is being put away for a wee grandie who will be celebrating her 3rd birthday in January.  

<<< This shows the purse closed (and notice the corking for the drawstring.  I hate knitting i-cord so this was my solution).

The pattern is THIS one.  

This shows the purse open with the doll inside

And here you can see the 'innards' of the purse.  The pattern had the sleeping bag included and the doll outfit came from HERE.

I added the mattress just to make the base of the purse a little more stable.

The doll came from Mary Maxim.

- I think THIS is pretty.

- There are all sorts of patterns HERE for bookmarks.  

- THIS made me smile!

- Although it's a bit early for THIS, perhaps making some now so you're prepared would be a good idea.

- And THIS is an awwwww!

- I thought THIS was an interesting article.

This quote made me smile too..."Be decisive.  The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn't make a decision"

Because sometimes you just need to be the light

 I found this and thought it was something that deserves to be shared, so instead of a picture of what I've been doing, please enjoy reading this and perhaps, just perhaps, remember that YOU can be the light in someone's life whether that someone is a family member or a complete stranger....

"Some years ago, I was stuck on a crosstown bus in New York City during rush hour. Traffic was barely moving. The bus was filled with cold, tired people who were deeply irritated with one another, with the world itself. Two men barked at each other about a shove that might or might not have been intentional. A pregnant woman got on, and nobody offered her a seat. Rage was in the air; no mercy would be found here.

But as the bus approached Seventh Avenue, the driver got on the intercom. "Folks," he said, "I know you have had a rough day and you are frustrated. I can't do anything about the weather or traffic, but here is what I can do. As each one of you gets off the bus, I will reach out my hand to you. As you walk by, drop your troubles into the palm of my hand, okay? Don't take your problems home to your families tonight, just leave them with me. My route goes right by the Hudson River, and when I drive by there later, I will open the window and throw your troubles in the water."

It was as if a spell had lifted. Everyone burst out laughing. Faces gleamed with surprised delight. People who had been pretending for the past hour not to notice each other's existence were suddenly grinning at each other like, is this guy serious?

Oh, he was serious.

At the next stop, just as promised, the driver reached out his hand, palm up, and waited. One by one, all the exiting commuters placed their hand just above his and mimed the gesture of dropping something into his palm. Some people laughed as they did this, some teared up but everyone did it.

The driver repeated the same lovely ritual at the next stop, too. And the next. All the way to the river.

We live in a hard world, my friends. Sometimes it is extra difficult to be a human being. Sometimes you have a bad day. Sometimes you have a bad day that lasts for several years. You struggle and fail. You lose jobs, money, friends, faith, and love. You witness horrible events unfolding in the news, and you become fearful and withdrawn. There are times when everything seems cloaked in darkness. You long for the light but don't know where to find it.

But what if you are the light? What if you are the very agent of illumination that a dark situation begs for?. That's what this bus driver taught me, that anyone can be the light, at any moment. This guy wasn't some big power player. He wasn't a spiritual leader. He wasn't some media-savvy influencer. He was a bus driver, one of society's most invisible workers. But he possessed real power, and he used it beautifully for our benefit.

When life feels especially grim, or when I feel particularly powerless in the face of the world's troubles, I think of this man and ask myself, What can I do, right now, to be the light? Of course, I can't personally end all wars, or solve global warming, or transform vexing people into entirely different creatures. I definitely can't control traffic. But I do have some influence on everyone I brush up against, even if we never speak or learn each other's name.

"No matter who you are, or where you are, or how mundane or tough your situation may seem, I believe you can illuminate your world. In fact, I believe this is the only way the world will ever be illuminated, one bright act of grace at a time, all the way to the river."

~ Elizabeth Gilbert

Not quite

 I'm not quite finished with the 'corker of a project' so I can't show you just yet.  Plus I'm waiting for a component to arrive in the mail so that might take a few days yet.  

I don't have anything to show you either because the Resident Chef and I spent pretty much an entire day 'renovating' my sewing room so I can do away with the heavy Rubbermaid totes I had filled with fabric.  You do NOT want to see pictures of THAT mess!!

So....you know what it's going to be don't you...

- There is a link HERE to download and print a handy yarn chart.

- I know we don't want to think about the dreaded season to come, but getting a head start on one of THESE might be fun.

- Of course you know THIS would catch my eye.

-  There are links HERE to lots of placemat and table runners.

- If you're doing any canning that you plan to give as gifts, perhaps you'd like THIS additional touch.

- I understand that weighted blankets are good for some people so perhaps THIS version might intrigue you.

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS aritst!

- And THIS artist too (she does amazing things with paper)

Today's quote is from Rigel J. Dawson..."Learn to deal with people for who they are, not who you want them to be.  Life gets a lot easier when you stop expecting apple juice from oranges"

Isn't it a corker?

 Do you remember corking when you were younger?  Or more snooty-called  French Knitting?  Well, your intrepid correspondent had a wee chat with the Resident Chef/handyman which resulted in him making me a loom (is it called a loom??) and now I'm corking away.  See?....

There IS a method to my madness which will be unveiled in due time.  

- Perhaps you have the makings for one of THESE?

- THIS looks like an interesting thing to try.

- HERE is an interesting 'recipe' to play with.

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

and now....for something entirely different.....

 How about some crocheting??

The pattern is THIS one and made using stash.

Now residing in the Christmas box.

- You might find THIS a good thing to keep in mind for next time you need to sew on buttons.

- THIS is one of my awwwww moments.

- I enjoyed reading THIS.

- Have a peek at THESE amazing creations.

The quote is from Russell Baker..."Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it"

Lookee that - 1+1 DID equal something!

 Well, my experiment of combining a Kawandi and a landscape is done...and I'm happy with it....

FOR SALE!!

The original photo I used for inspiration was this one...

with thanks, as always, to Dale Stewart,
for his kind permission to use his photograph

- THIS would be fun to make (and fun to eat!)

- Have a peek at the interesting creations of THIS artist.

- And THIS one too!!

- I think THESE might take a little patience to make, but they sure are pretty (and the raw materials are plentiful right now)

This quote is from Desmond Tutu..."My father used to say, "Don't raise your voice.  Improve your argument"

Progress??

 Over the weekend I spent some time adding to the kawandi landscape project as you can see from this....

(it's raining here this morning, so the 
picture isn't true to the real colours)

- THIS would be a great project to use up scrap yarns!

- And just because I know you've ALWAYS wanted to know how to make THESE!  While you're there, have a peek at all the other great miniature tutorials she has HERE.  

- THIS is rather pretty and would work up quickly.

- If you have kids (or are a kid at heart) perhaps you'd enjoy exploring THESE.

I love this quote..."When you are with your best friends it doesn't matter whose idea it was as long as your alibis match"

1 + 1

 In my world, 1 + 1 doesn't always equal 2 as this will attest.  Why do one technique when two is better?

Kawandi plus a landscape.

Do they work together?  I dunno, but I'm having fun with it anyway.  Stay tuned to see the end result!

- I thought THIS was a pretty design.

- THIS made me laugh.

- There are lots of links HERE to some really pretty  sweaters you could crochet.  There are several I would love to own.

Today the quote is by Albert Einstein..."The person who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd.  The person who walks alone is likely to find themself in places no one has been before"