Happy New Year!

 

The Resident Chef and I would both like to wish you and those you hold most dear a very happy, healthy and creative 2026.

Back to regular scheduling - sort of

 POSTING THIS EARLY BECAUSE ONCE MORE WE'RE BEING INUNDATED WITH A SERIOUS ICE STORM.  HOPEFULLY IT WON'T BE LIKE THE LAST ONE WHEN WE LOST POWER FOR DAYS.  IT'S TO BE HOPED THE WIND THEY'RE PREDICTING DOESN'T HAPPEN.

***************************

UPDATED TO ADD:  Overnight the temperature rose and some of the ice melted away.  So far the power has stayed on.  Still treacherous out there but not as bad as what they were predicting...phew!!

********************************

Well, I guess we can put the Christmas festivities behind us for another year, a relief for many I'm sure. 

I spent my off time adding to the birthday gift for our wee grandie (who is turning 4 the end of January).  Some of you may remember me making this doll and outfits...

She will also be getting THIS doll bed from Ikea.

Now what self-respecting doll with such a nice bed doesn't deserve some bedding to go along with it?  Grandma to the rescue, and it will have a mattress, sheets, a quilt and a pillow.  It's such fun having a granddaughter to spoil!

#2 son got a 3-D printer for Christmas and he made us these for our Christmas tree...

I've asked him if he can make us some more in various sizes because they look so pretty on the tree.  Added bonus is that they store flat so don't take up much space in the container we use for Christmas decorations.

- THIS is something that you might like to make for yourself now that the holiday hype is over.

- I haven't shared an awwwww-thing for awhile, so how about THIS that made me smile.

- If you're a fan of buffalo plaid perhaps you'd like to make THIS.

- THIS is something you might like to make for yourself.

Happy Holidays!

My gift to you this Christmas, as it has been in recent years,
 is THIS.  Turn your sound on and enjoy!

“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans--and all that lives and move upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused--and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself.”
― Sigrid Undset

“Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.”

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”
― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

The Resident Chef and I would like to take this
opportunity to wish you and those you hold most dear
a very happy and blessed Christmas.

Something fun!!

 Thanks to Gill at 'That British Woman' I thought we could have some fun with this...

OK - now over to you....what are you gifting me??

- If you're like me (and I do indeed feel sorry for you!), perhaps your thoughts turn to organizing and purging throughout your house, so I thought I'd share THIS in case there are any good tips you might like to make use of.

- I know it's probably too late to make any of THESE for this year, but I'd love to try making one for next year!

- HERE are some easy (and better yet, quick!) giftables you can make.

- THESE would make great gifts too.

- Although I haven't tried THESE, I understand people really like them.

- THESE would make a great last minute gift.

A hodge podge - perhaps thinly disguised as mumblings?

 

- There are a number of quick gift ideas HERE.

- THESE would make nice gifts from your kitchen.  As would THESE. Or THESE! Or maybe someone on your list might like THIS.

- I don't know if there's time to make any of THESE for this Christmas (but maybe some of you could), but they're pretty enough to save and get a start on next year!

- There are some cute ideas HERE too.

- Although there are no directions for THESE, they are so pretty so I thought you might like to see them.

- If you happen to be giving money this Christmas, perhaps you'd like to make it fun with one of THESE ideas.  Or THESE. Or maybe THESE?

There's a lack

 Yes, there's a lack of anything creative happening here at Chez Magpie, so that means there's nada to show you at the moment.  

- If you're contemplating making a temperature cross stitch project, perhaps some of the ideas HERE might be what you're searching for.

- HERE is a lovely little gift you can easily make.

- There are a number of gift ideas HERE.  And links to more HERE.

- There's some fun little ornament ideas HERE.

- HERE are some more really nice (and quick!) gift ideas.

- Of course there isn't a single calorie with ANY of THESE!!!

- THIS ornament is a new-to-me version of folding.

The Quilted Hug

 Over the weekend I finished making my Quilted Hug and I'm happy with it (although haven't had a chance to really test it out to see if it helps keep my shoulders warm when we have a nasty east wind).  Here it is...

This shows it closed as it would be for wearing and below shows it flat...

Modifications I did:  I used three of the crazy quilt blocks I had languishing in my stash and worked around them.  The rest was made using 2 1/2" strips of various fabrics.  I backed it with some leftover flannelette (had to use two colours to get the amount I needed) and I didn't add batting because I felt it would be too warm.  For quilting, I simply did a stitch in the ditch application.  If you're interested in making your own, I used the directions found HERE but there are numerous versions 'round and about the internet, along with many ideas for pattern modifications.  

- I absolutely love listening to THIS!  Hope you enjoy it too.  And I love THESE guys too!  And THIS pretty much says it all.

- If you happen to have leftover sock yarn and don't know what you could make with it, how about THIS

- THIS is a cute wee ornament that wouldn't take long to make.

- There are lots of great gifting ideas HERE.

- AND, just for fun, perhaps a gift for yourself might be THIS?  

Sorry to say

 Yes, I'm sorry that I don't have much to show you or talk about today.  We were away most of Thursday and my quilted hug project isn't to the point where it's showable quite yet.  Hopefully I can finish it over the weekend and show you on Monday.

- THIS would make an easy and welcome gift.

- Perhaps having a play with one of THESE ideas would be fun.

- Or maybe one or two of THESE.

Maybe an hour

 Yes, my sewing room stayed tidy for about an hour and then I promptly messed it up.  I pawed through all my neatly folded fabrics in search of cottons I can use to make one of THESE.  I'm hoping I can use some of my crazy quilted blocks somehow, plus a bunch of 2 1/2" strips I cut.  Sometimes when it's cold my shoulders and upper arms aren't happy, but I don't want a full sweater or a shawl that falls off.  Maybe this will be the answer.  You can see some examples HERE.

- THIS takes you to a PDF file for something cute, and quick, to make for gifts.

- There are a bunch of links HERE for foodie gifts.

- And HERE's another collection of gift ideas.

Today's quote is from Jane Goodall..."What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make"

....into the abyss.....

 

Over the weekend I decided it was time to tackle a grande scale cleanout of my sewing room so I brought in the backhoe and set to work.  So far there are two full garbage bags and a whole bunch of recycling heading out of here.  Two bags of books and magazines heading for the library donation bin too.  

- THIS is the only kind of Christmas cactus I'd stand a prayer of keeping alive.

- I like the idea of THIS, but I definitely would make it in fleece to keep the cost down.

- Any of THESE would be a welcome gift.

- HERE is something that would be easy to make and would be very practical (and cosy!)

Today's quote...

A re-do

 Recently I was going through some of my previous Christmas posts in an effort to refresh my memory over some of the things I've made and I came across this and thought it was worth sharing again....

Barely the day started and

it's already six in the evening.

Barely arrived on Monday

and it's already Friday.

.. and the month is already over.

.. and the year is almost over.

.. and already 40, 50 or 60 years

of our lives have passed..

.. and we realize that we lost

our parents, friends.

.. and we realize it's too late

to go back..

So..

Let's try, despite

everything, to enjoy

the remaining time..

Let's keep looking for

activities that we like..

Let's put some color in

our grey..

Let's smile at the little

things in life that put

balm in our hearts..

And despite everything,

we must continue to enjoy

with serenity this time we

have left..

Let's try to eliminate the

afters..

I'm doing it after..

I'll say after..

I'll think about it after..

We leave everything for

later like " after ′′ is ours.

Because what we don't

understand is that ~

Afterwards, the coffee

gets cold..

afterwards, priorities change..

Afterwards, the charm is

broken.

Afterwards, health passes..

Afterwards, the kids grow up.

Afterwards parents get old..

Afterwards, promises are

forgotten..

Afterwards, the day becomes

the night.

Afterwards, life ends.

And then it's often too late.

So..

Let's leave nothing for

later..

Because still waiting to see

later, we can lose the

best moments, the best

experiences, best friends,

the best family..

The day is today..

The

moment is now..

We are no longer at the

age where we can afford

to postpone what needs

to be done right away.

It Looks Like An Eternity,

But It's A Short Trip..

Enjoy Life And Always

Be Kind..

- Caitriona Loughrey

- Maybe you'd like to make THIS for your Christmas decor.

- THIS would make a really nice gift.

- Although we haven't tried THIS (yet!), wouldn't it be pretty for Christmas giving?

- THIS looks like a pretty easy thing to create.

- THIS would make a welcome gift for the youngsters or teens on your list.

- If you know someone who has issues with their neck and shoulders, I bet THIS would be a welcome gift. And HERE are the instructions to make a quilted hug (the link takes you to a PDF file). I think I will deep dive into my stash to see if I have the makin's to make one.

Today's quote..."Happiness comes a lot easier when you stop complaining about your problems and start being grateful for all the problems you don't have"

A little side trip

 One of my friends was given a kit to make this little fox and, because she doesn't crochet, she passed it on to me to create.  He (she?) was a little fiddly to make and I ended up playing a rousing game of yarn chicken with the orange yarn. I won, but barely.  Hopefully she's happy with him.  Personally I think he looks pretty bedraggled.  

And....the Resident Chef decided that we needed to have eggnog pie and this is the result...

If you want to make your own, he used THIS recipe.

- I know THIS is a pay-item, but it's absolutely awwww-worthy so I had to share!

- If you have an avid bird-watcher on your Christmas list, perhaps they would like THIS.

- Every year about this time I start to see the emergence of 'temperature' projects - either people posting about their finished projects or talking about starting one in the new year.  Every year I contemplate doing one but then never do.  Initially I thought that they were only done in knit or crochet  using yarn and just the thought of the cost of purchasing that many different colours put me off.  I have discovered that people are also doing them using cross stitch which is MUCH cheaper and would involve (mostly) less time each day.  One example I found was THIS one but there are lots more to choose from if you would like to do one.

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