Hurry Up And Wait mode

 Yes, I'm suffering from a case of Hurry Up and Wait.  We spent much of the weekend re-thinking our pictures and where things will either be hung (or if they'll stay in the same place...or....even stay at all) and the RC has been flitting about with a tube of 'filler' and some sandpaper.  Much thought has been given to how we can remove as much 'stuff' as possible out of the way of the painter...not an easy feat when this place is small and already filled with 'stuff'.  The air conditioner has been put to bed for the winter (waaaaaaah) and our lemon plant/tree has been moved back inside.  It loves the balcony and will no doubt show her displeasure with the move by shedding leaves.  

We don't have a date for the painter to come but have instead left it that if he has a couple days when he can't work outside he'll arrive.  That means we have to be as ready as possible.  Last week we made a trip to JYSK and got new curtains for our bedroom and the sewing studio.  Their idea of 'room darkening' and mine are worlds apart but at least they cover the windows and are in the same green as the paint in the rest of the apartment will be.  I also invested in several new plants to replace the ones that I've managed to kill over the summer (why, I don't know, but I lost at least ten all at once....must have been something in the water, maybe?).  

....The Resident Chef is more than happy with the new kitchen cupboard and has commented on it at least a dozen times a day.  

....Have you priced canning jars lately?  We want to revamp our spice storage system and have decided to use small canning jars which have, I think, doubled in price.  Ouch.

....I'm still working on the cross stitched postcards but rather than bore you with seeing them individually I'll wait and show them all completed.  Don't hold your breath though because it's going to be awhile.

....And speaking of breath holding and hurry up and waiting - I'm still waiting for the fabric for my fusion quilt to arrive.  Serves me right for wanting a line I have to preorder...and now I wonder, with the latest round of the Orange Idiot's tariffs, if it will even come at all.  I ordered it from a Canadian store but no doubt it originates in the US.  

- THIS is a fun bag that would make a really nice gift. And while you're there, check out all the other free projects beginning HERE.  

- THIS is an interesting technique...reminds me of temari.

- I like how THIS artist combines fibre and wood into her creations.

- Something HERE might spark some ideas for your own work.

- And THIS is a nice project too.

Today's quote...

Recipe(s)

 We were gadabouts yesterday and spent today awaiting delivery of this....

Our previous cupboard/small island is one the Resident Chef made when we moved here fifteen years ago and it has served us well.  Sadly the drawers no longer work properly and we were fed up with playing the "Will It Close Or Won't It' game so we parted with an obscene amount of money to have this one professionally made.  It's extra high because we're both tall and also has heavy duty casters so it can be moved easily.  

So...it's been awhile since I shared a recipe with you.  I know some of you are suffering from a glut of cucumbers this time of year, so perhaps you might want to give either (or both!) of these recipes a try.

REFRIGERATOR PICKLES

1 c. white or apple cider vinegar (we use white)
1 c. water
1 c. white sugar
1 tablespoon (total) of either fresh minced garlic, 
sliced chilies; peppercorns, pickling spice, mustard seeds,
bay leaves or coriander seeds (choose whatever 
are your favourites, as long as it's 1 T. overall)
1 heaping tsp. kosher salt
2 lbs. sliced cucumbers (you can replace some of the
cucumbers with pearl onions or sliced red or 
sweet onions)

Peel and slice veg's into 1/4" slices and pack into clean jars leaving about 1" headspace.  Heat water, sugar, spices and salt over medium heat, stirring occasionally until dissolved.  LET COOL COMPLETELY.  Pour cooled brine over
veg's making sure they're completely covered.  Cover and refrigerate at least three days before serving.

+++++++++

FREEZER PICKLES

10 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
3 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 large green pepper, chopped
3 tablespoons salt
2 c. sugar
1 c. white vinegar
1 tablespoon celery seed
Crushed ice

Combine cucumbers, onions, green papper and 2 tablespoons salt.  Cover with crushed ice and mix well.  Refrigerate 8 hours.  Drain, rinse, and drain again.  
In large saucepan, combine sugar, vinegar, celery seed and remaining salt.  Bring to a boil and cook and stir one minute.  Spoon over cucumbers.  Pour into jars, leaving 1" headspace.  Cool.  Top with lids and freeze.

- You might enjoy spending a few minutes going to a really great quilt show HERE.

- Our little boys are a bit too old for THIS, but had I seen it a couple years ago I would have definitely made them one.

- If you want to make a cute 'emotional support' chicken that seem to be all the rage right now, how about THIS one.

- THIS little guy made me smile.  And so did THIS fellow.  And THIS one simply made me laugh out loud.

Today's quote is from William Arthur Ward..."Leadership is based on inspiration, not domination; on cooperation, not intimidation"

Another one

 Postcard #2, ready for finishing....

- THIS little guy made me smile.

- And so did THESE (even though I don't decorate for Halloween)

- Making one (or more) of THESE might be of interest (and would make great gifts too).

- I know I've given you a link to one of THESE before, but this one is somewhat different.

Today's quote is from Paul Avellino..."Call me crazy, but I dream of a world where equality isn't debated, kindness isn't rare, and joy isn't reserved for the lucky.  If a few more hearts held onto that dream, maybe we'd finally get it right"

One done, sort of

 It's taking longer than I thought to cross stitch these postcards, but it's fun to do something different for a change.  This one is all done but the finishing step which I'll wait to do until I have them all stitched...

- For those of you who like to decorate for Halloween (or even fall - wouldn't have to be for Halloween!), perhaps THIS might be fun to make.

- THESE look like fun too!

- There are lots of fall-themed ideas HERE.

- I thought THIS was rather cute.

- There are some really cute patterns HERE.

Today's quote..."A person who can't answer your questions without getting angry or defensive is hiding more than just the answer"

Squirrel!

I am procrastinating starting on a landscape commission because I'm not sure where I want to go with it quite yet so while the brain ruminates on that, I started something else altogether.  I've cross stitched several of these little hearts which will end up being turned into postcards eventually.

And...the mail lady has delivered several balls of yarn and some pearl cotton ready to use for my fusion quilt.  See?....

- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS artist!  And THIS one too!!

- You might want to consider making some of THESE for the cooler fall weather.

- HERE is something fun for your fall decor.

- THESE would be fun to make for gifts.

Today's quote...

It's only money

 We have reached the ultimate conclusion that we're just too darned old and decrepid to consider painting the walls ourselves, so...we've consulted with a pro who is much more able to crawl on the floor and swing from the ceiling.  The paint we chose is THIS one which I think (hope) will marry well with the fabric I chose for the fusion quilt (picture of that is in my previous post).  I really do hate choosing paint colours because I'm always terrified of making a huge mistake - and at the cost of paint these days one doesn't want to have to repaint if we don't like it.

Now I await deliveries of fabrics, yarn and threads so I can start the quilt.

And duh - I had plans to show you the cross stitch postcard I made as a get well giftie - and guess who put it in the mail, forgetting entirely to take a picture of it.  Ooops.

- THIS is a pretty afghan design.

- I can see a number of possible uses for THIS.

- THIS would make a really pretty fall bouquet.  And if you look HERE you can find links to lots of other flowers too.

- I like the textile creations of THIS artist. 

Today's quote..."People don't defend what's right anymore; they defend who they like, even when they know that person is wrong"

Helpless

Well, over the weekend my credit card was smokin' hot.  And I'm blaming Kim 100%.  It's her fault I am suffering from a powerful hankering to make another fusion quilt.  She twisted my arm and twisted my arm til it nigh near broke and now this is on the way...

It's Nantucket Summer by Camille Roskelley.

  

Plans are afoot to repaint our living room, hallway and kitchen once the weather cools down and I'm looking at a lovely soft sage green (not sure about the kitchen just yet).  Blue just happens to be my favourite colour and this collection marries the two colours together.  

Some would say it was meant to be.

(if you want to see what's started all the fuss here
at Chez Magpie, go to Kim's post HERE).

 

- If I had the space, I would absolutely LOVE to make a dollhouse using THESE techniques!  It would tie in so beautifully with the landscapes I like to create.

- THESE would be really cute for fall

- Thank you to Jocelyn for pointing me towards THIS free resource (strongly suggest a pot of coffee and some bread crumbs before you go there!).

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS talented artist.

Today's quote..."The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but what dies inside while we live"

BOO!

 I just put the finishing stitches into the latest landscape and here you are...

(clickable to embiggen I think)

"FRIGHTFUL NIGHT"
measures approx. 28x22"

FOR SALE!

- THIS would make either nice coasters or could be used in a larger project.

- I rather wish there was a baby coming in the family because I'd love to make THIS.

- THIS would be handy if you're doing any traveling.

- THIS also would be handy for carrying so many things and would make a great gift too.

Alas and alack....

 I'm sorry to say there hasn't been a whole lot on the creative front happening here at Chez Magpie over the past couple of days.  It's been too hot to do much of anything, so you know what that means, don't you....

- There are lots of great ideas HERE for using denim seams.

- THESE would be a cute addition to your fall decor.

- If you happen to like owls, have a scroll through THESE

- THIS is an interesting bag that might be fun to make.

- THIS guy made me laugh (sorry it's a paid pattern though)

Today's quote is from Marianne Williamson..."Hate has talked so loudly for so long.  Greed has talked so loudly for so long.  Liars have talked so loudly for so long.  Love has got to stop whispering"

Public service announcement and watermelons?

 For those of you who have an Instagram account,  this is something you should be aware of and probably will want to deal with.  Be safe!

Over the weekend I put the finishing stitches on these socks.  They're in the watermelon colourway by Premier yarns.  Our #1 son likes funky socks so guess who is getting these for Christmas!

- HERE is a technique you might like to try.

- THIS is another awwww-thing.

- I can think of a few people who would get a kick out of one of THESE.

- I'm not normally a huge fan of crocheted garments, but THIS one caught my fancy.

Today your quote is from Erasmus..."The less talent they have, the more pride, vanity and arrogance they have.  All these fools, however, find other fools who applaud them"

Some more progress

 It's not very exciting to see today but I did get the sky and the grass areas quilted.  

You should be able to click to embiggen and hopefully see the details a bit better.

And...because most of you couldn't see the 'sliver' details, hopefully this might show it better....

The Resident Chef is most disappointed in his little balcony garden this year.  He finally chopped down the Roma tomato plants that were producing nothing but little tomatoes all with blossom end rot.  Yesterday he did the same with his pepper plants - he harvested three little tiny peppers that weren't hardly enough to chop up into an omelet.  He's fed up with carrying water four times a day and swears that next year we'll only plant some herbs and be done with it all.  Can't say as I blame him.  We desperately need rain and it's not looking hopeful for at least another week.  I feel so sorry for the farmers whose crops are dying in the fields for lack of water.  

- Best pour yourself a cuppa (and have the pot handy too!) before you venture forth into THIS rabbit hole.  Some bread crumbs might be useful too (just sayin').

- THIS little fellow caught my eye.

- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS incredible artist!  Her medium is organza and I simply can't imagine how she does it.

- THIS takes you to a video showing how to make a tunnel book (something else I had never come across before). 

Today's quote is from Voltaire..."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"

Slivers and something a bit weird

 First of all, I have to show you this so you too can marvel at what must go through some people's minds (and no, I'm not talking about the orange idiot!).  I bought three balls of Premier Fruits sock yarn in the watermelon colourway and it came in a plastic bag sporting this label....

😕😆😄
I've heard of some pretty strange diets but this
one takes the cake!

And, to explain the slivers designation in the title of this post, I spent most of an entire day cutting little slivers of fabrics to end up creating the trees I added to the landscape.  I'm not sure you can tell from this picture though, but trust me, they're there.

- Becki showed her very first Manx block on her blog and, because I'd never heard of it before, I had to check it out further.  You can go HERE to read more and see how it's done.   Becki also provided further links in her post if you'd like to explore the technique more.

- THIS is for those who like to knit hats.

- THESE look like they'd be fun (albeit somewhat messy!) to make.

Today's quote is an African proverb..."A wise man fills his brain before emptying his mouth"

Can you see the progress?

 Here's what happened to the haunted house over the weekend....

....and, in case you're wondering, these are the zipper pulls I ordered to put the finishing touch on the pouches I showed you last week...

The RC removed the 'zipper' section and I replaced that with split rings to hang them on the existing zippers.  I was happy that the cows are reversible.

- THIS reminded me of my maternal grandmother who often made things similar.

- THIS is a cute little project.

- I thought THIS was a pretty 'take' on granny ripples.

- There's no link to any sort of pattern but I rather like THIS.  

Today's quote is from Anne Frank..."Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness"

Booooooooooo

 I'm not normally a Halloween person, but for some reason I thought I should make a haunted house landscape piece, so this is the beginning....

                        There's a long way to go on this one!

- Because Christmas in July is a 'thing' (even though I know it's technically not still July!), perhaps you might like to make some of THESE ornaments.

- THIS is an interesting article.

- I've noticed granny squares are coming back in style lately, so when I saw THIS I thought I'd share in case someone is interested.  I rather like the plain coloured version.

- I love THIS (if I were a shawl-y type of person).

- THIS is awwww-worthy.

Today's quote...