A little close up

 I meant to take a picture to give you a closeup of the planter box on the last landscape so, for lack of something else to show you today, here it is...

Hopefully you can click to embiggen and will be able to find the broccoli, cauliflower and carrots hidden among the vines.  

- You might want to give THIS a try.

- I'm not sure what to think about most of THIS!  

- Have a look at the fun creations by THIS amazing artist.

- THIS is a cute project that would use up scraps.

Today's quote..."We are not all in the same boat.  We are in the same storm.  Some have yachts, some canoes, and some are drowning.  Just be kind and help whoever you can"

Done and dusted

For those who might be interested, we had a nice couple of days 'off' visiting our family in their new city.  It was a long drive (over 5 hours to get there) but worth the trip.  I think they've made a good move and have gotten out of a high crime city where it's not a great place to raise our grandson.  They have a lovely apartment in a small building and we also got to check out the restaurant where our son found a job.  

 Ok folks, here is the completed landscape!  You will note that the outside border changed quite substantially from the narrow black  I had before and I think this is much better (you can scroll back to my previous post to see what it looked like before).  This one was created as a commission and I'm hopeful the purchasers will be happy with it.  

NOT FOR SALE

...and for my Canadian friends...

....

- If you'd like to collect up some breadcrumbs and go exploring through all the various  entries in THIS online quilt show, please enjoy!

- THIS is a rather fun way to use up fabric scraps.

- I've seen THIS several times now and thought it was cute enough that I should share it.

- THIS would be a fun fall/Halloween project!

- THIS is really pretty and would look nice on a table.

- If you like sunflowers and happen to be a quilter, perhaps you might like THIS design.

Today's quote....

A little announcement and an update

 First of all, don't worry when you don't see a post from me on Monday (and possibly on Wednesday as well).  We're taking a couple days to visit our #1 son and his family in their new town and I won't have internet access.  Please feel free to chat amongst yourselves.

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After a couple false starts on the border for the latest landscape, I think it's now done....(UPDATED TO ADD:  After peering at the black outside border once again, I've decided that it's too stark so it's coming off in favour of either a brown or a green, most likely brown.

NOT FOR SALE

- Those of you who like hexxies might find THIS little project fun to do.

- And HERE's another fun little project.  And THIS is another one.

- If my grandsons were a little younger I'd love to make them one of THESE.

Today's quote is from Morgan Freeman..."Maybe if we underpaid politicians and overpaid teachers, there would be smarter people and less stupid laws"

Yikes!

 I'm wondering if I'm quite sane (and no, you don't need to chime in on that!!) to cut a small mountain of 5" fabric squares and then sew them together, do a blanket stitch around for a base and then crochet around each block.  The piles I thought I had have multiplied ten-fold and now I have these on my sewing table.  

Some are sewn together but most are waiting their turn under the needle on the sewing machine and then hours of hand stitching before I can crochet them together.  Methinks this is going to be a long, long, long project!

- I'm not sure that I like THESE because I think they're rather creepy but in a cute way.  But....while I was there I saw THIS and you know I'd like it.  I would recommend a poke through all the categories on her site...so many interesting things to see and try (go HERE for her home page)

- I guess it's never too soon to think about Christmas ornaments and THIS caught my eye.  I've seen them made from fabric but never paper.

- THESE would be most welcome for those who feel the cold or for people in nursing homes.  

Today's quote..."Let's be good to people for no reason, simply because kindness can make someone's day a little brighter"

well, then

 Sometimes I astound myself.  Over the weekend there was a rather major panic here at Chez Magpie when my computer and my printer refused to play nicely together.  No apparent reason for the hissy fit because I haven't done anything differently.  Hmmm....what to do....I pushed this and I pushed that and I remembered #2 son's panacea for all things computer and unplugged everything, waited and replugged expecting a miracle.  Nope.  OK - then I went into the computer settings (uncharted ground, let me tell you) and monkeyed with a few things...nope.  Then I decided that a cautious consult with Mr. Google would be the next step into quicksand (remembering all the dire warnings about nefarious souls taking over the computer and holding it out for ransom).  Well, the first thing to come up was an AI-generated how to (who knew?!).  I figured it was worth trying and after I tried two different possibilities I hit upon something called a 'Printer Spooler' - and cautiously hit the 'restart' and lo...let there be printing!  I'm quite proud of me for figuring it out all by myself.  Maybe a new career in computer fixing is on the horizon?....

Sometimes I really wish I had a better camera because I would love to show the glow that comes from those two yellow trees.  This view is from our balcony overlooking the park and the river.  If you embiggen the image you can maybe see the struggles the two trees in the right foreground have shown between the results of the ice storm last winter and lack of rain all summer.  

- HERE is a quick and easy project for your Halloween/fall decor.

- THIS is a really cute little project.

- There are a number of great sewing tips HERE.

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

Today's quote..."A satisfied life is greater than a successful one because success is measured by others, but satisfaction is measured by your own soul, mind and heart"

I've got piles!!!

 Yep, there are piles appearing in my sewing studio!  Firstly these flannelette fabrics appeared at my door which will be turned into sleep pants for my family for Christmas...

AND....the yardage arrived so I can start my fusion quilt!.....

- Lots of quilters eye candy HERE!  And there's more HERE too! And HERE!

- THIS caught my eye simply because it would be a good way to use up scraps...even using two yarns together would work.

- You know I like denim, so of course THIS caught my eye.

- HERE's something you might like to make for fall.

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

Today's quote..."Be the things you loved most about the people who are gone"

Some progress that's hard to see

 I know it's hard to tell from a photo but I have been busy on the landscape and have it pretty much all quilted now.  

I think you can click the picture to embiggen it.  Next 'up' is to do some more details on the house itself and then it will be on to adding some embroidery and deciding if I want to add a border or not.  Jury is out debating on that one.

- THIS made me laugh.  I'm sorry I can't find who created it (if you know  I will update this post)

- Have a look at the amazing creations of THIS artist!

- THIS is a cute (and quick) project for fall!

- I think THESE are rather cute (scroll down for the pattern)

Looks the same

 The landscape, although there's been quite a bit of stitching, still looks pretty much the same in a photo so I'll wait to show you a progress picture.  Instead, how about I show you the socks I finished knitting for the RC...

Pattern is my usual generic one and yarn
is Paton's sock yarn.

- Better stock up on your bread crumbs before you head down THIS rabbit hole!  

- HERE is something the coffee drinkers among you might like to try.

- If you have someone with long hair on your gift list, perhaps THIS might be of interest.

- THIS is a pretty scarf that might be good to use up some leftover yarns.

...and it begins again.....

 Yes, there's a new landscape underway as you can see from this...

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For those of you who live in Canada and are interested in
our history, I just finished a really good book called
"The Forgotten Home Child' by Genevieve Graham.

Thousands of children were sent here to Canada via organizations such as Barnardo's and many were simply taken off the streets and shipped here, leaving their family behind.  Others came through the orphanages and through being voluntarily given up by their family in hopes they could rejoin them once the circumstances of the parents improved.  They were shipped to Canada (and other places throughout the world, but primarily Canada) and then were sent to live with families who most often treated them as slaves.  My uncle was one of them so this novel, based in fact, certainly struck a chord with me.  

****

- If you would like to drool your way through some luscious fabrics AND quilt patterns you might want to have a peek at THIS.

- THIS is a cute hat that would be fun to wear in the fall.

- You might know someone (maybe even you?) that would like one of THESE for fall.

- I really like THIS blanket and it could be made bigger for adults.  I like that the pattern changes throughout so I wouldn't get bored.

- THIS is a little different take on a wallet design.

Today's quote..."If you leave your children a world where you never stood up, they'll inherit one where they can't"

 I'm a happy camper because the pre-cuts for my fusion quilt arrived.  Now I just have to await delivery of the yardage I need for the backing. 

I've begun the new commissioned landscape but it's not ready to show you quite yet.  It's at that 'dang, it's ugly' stage when even I question my ability to make it into anything.  Who knows, maybe I can't!!

In lieu of having any photos to show you, I thought I'd share this...

- HERE is a technique you might like to try.

.- I really wish I had the confidence to attempt making THIS for my grandie.

- THIS is an interesting article with some good tips.  

- Perhaps you might find THIS to be a project you might like to attempt.

- THIS little guy made me laugh.

Today's quote..."We rake, bag, and burn the leaves that feed the soil, then buy plastic bags of fertilizer to replace what we stole.  That was never supposed to be the plan"

Done, done and done!

I finished working on the postcard series and here's the proof...

Each one has the same heart design but the 'seam treatments' are all different.  Most of them come from Pam Kellogg's 'Elegant Crazyquilt Seam Treatments' which can be found at her Etsy site HERE.

Along with that I also created a Christmas card which will be going to a cousin who has a Scottie dog (she doesn't read the blog so it's safe to show it)....

- There are lots of free hat patterns HERE.  While you're there, check out some of her other free designs too.

- THIS looks like a fun technique to try.

- THIS would be great to do with kids (and adults too!)

- THIS is one of the awwww-worthy things.

- HERE is another sweet Halloween/fall design.

Today's quote is from Theodore Roosevelt...."This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in"  (feel free to replace the word 'country' with 'world')

Oh dear

 I have to tell you that I have absolutely nada to show you today.  I'm still working on the postcards and will show you when they're completed.  You've seen them in mid-go so no point in showing them again.

Good news however - the fabric I've been  awaiting for the fusion quilt  has been shipped and I should get it the first of the week.  I had to order yardage from another shop but there's been no word from them as to when they might ship.  

- Most of you know I love denim, so THIS caught my eye.

- I don't know if you would have cause to use THIS technique but perhaps you might want to share it with someone who does.

- Making THIS might be fun for your fall decor.

- HERE is another fun thing to make.

- THIS is a pretty scarf design.

Today's quote..."True connection begins when you stop waiting to speak and start caring to hear"

Nothing but stitching

 I was going to wait until I had the postcards completely done, but since they're all I've been working on I don't have anything else to show you.  So...here are some of them.  None are completely finished.

And, here's a photo of the freezer pickles using the recipe I gave you last time....

- THIS is awwww-worthy!

- I thought THIS was interesting to read about.

- Perhaps you might like to make some of THESE (but be sure to leave some acorns behind in nature)

- HERE is another fall project you might like.  There's THIS one too.

- And HERE is another.

Today's quote is from Booker T. Washington...."A lie doesn't become truth.  Wrong doesn't become right and evil doesn't become good, just because it's accepted by the majority"

Another recipe

I know many of you suffer from a glut of zucchinis this time of year so, because the RC and I made these over the weekend, I thought you might like our recipe to try.

ZUCCHINI RELISH

5 - 8 medium zucchinis, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 - 3 medium onions, chopped

3 - 4 red peppers, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/3 cup coarse pickling salt
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2 1/2 cups white sugar

3 1/2 cups white vinegar (pickling preferred)
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. celery seed
1 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds

The vegetables when chopped must equal 12 cups in total (6 cups of which should be zucchini). (NOTE: if using a food processor,  the peppers and onions will turn to mush so best to chop those by hand).  Combine veg's with salt in a large pot, weight down and let sit overnight.  Drain and rinse well.  Combine remaining ingredients and bring to boil and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add vegetables and bring back to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring every couple minutes.  Place in sterilized jars and process in covered boiling water bath 15 minutes.  Turn off heat and let stand for 5 minutes before removing jars.  Makes about 6 pints.

 - Seeing THESE was rather nostalgic.

- THIS is rather cute for Halloween decor.

- I found THIS article to be quite informative and gave me a few new ideas.

- THIS is a nice maple leaf design that would be nice for fall projects.  And THIS would be too.

Today's quote is from Franklin D. Roosevelt...."The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little"