MAGPIE'S MUMBLINGS

A blog about my interests, which include fabric landscapes and various and assorted other artsy pursuits and sometimes known to contain mumblings of a random nature.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Another small addition

 I hope all of you who celebrated Mother's Day had a good one.  Today I am off doing another teaching gig which entails getting up at dark-thirty in order to get to the venue in time.  

As you can see, over the weekend I added a tree to the landscape....



- THIS would be fun to try.

- Have a look through the galleries of THIS artist!  Note what he uses for raw materials.

- THIS is a rather ingenious method for keeping ribbons in check.

- Further on rusting fabrics (since that's what I'm working with at the moment), I thought you might find THIS interesting.

Today's quote..."If it's not yours, don't take it.  If it's not right, don't do it.  If it's not true, don't say it.  If you don't know, then zip it"



Friday, May 09, 2025

Progress

 There's been a step forward on the landscape with the sky now being quilted and added (also done with circles).  I've also added borders but the jury is out as to what I'll do with them.  I do know that there will be lots of embroidery to come, along with a little surprise too.

Sorry about the horrid photo but my editing program simply would not work this morning.

- Some of you might find THIS of interest.

- I'm  sharing THIS primarily because of how pretty they are, but you can print them for your own use if you'd like.

- Perhaps you'd like to have a play with THESE.

Today's quote is from Pope Francis..."I ask you to ensure that humanity is served by wealth and not ruled by it"












Wednesday, May 07, 2025

Phew!

 I had enough thread to finish the circles!  Phew.  It was close though. Now I'm working on yet more circles to quilt the sky.  Nothing really to show you on that area just yet.

I'm sorry that I didn't think to write out the 'rusty' quote for you so here it is...

If there be righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.
When there is order in each nation, there will be peace in the world.

I hope, from reading that, you can understand why I decided that circles would be  fitting.

- I don't know how well THIS would actually work, but it might be fun to try it.

- THIS is something that looks interesting too and most of us certainly have lots of supplies.

- I fell in like with THIS.

- If your Mom is a sewer, perhaps some of the gift ideas found HERE might be good for Mother's Day.

THIS  I thought it was an excellent read and a good way to look at those UFO's most of us have. (thanks to Jeanne for the heads up on this one)

Today's quote..."The truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it.  A lie is still a lie, even if everyone believes it"




Monday, May 05, 2025

Circling the drain?

 Over the weekend I did some more circle stitching for the latest landscape.  I'm eyeing my ball of thread and wondering if I have enough.  Time will tell!



- You might like to scroll through all the patterns found HERE (thanks to Jocelyn for the heads up on this one)

- Although we haven't tried THIS (yet!) I thought I'd share in case any of you would like to.

- Some of you might find THIS process of interest.

- You'd best pour yourself a cuppa (or even make a whole pot!) before you peruse the offerings found HERE.

- And, last but certainly not least, you might want to look into playing along with THIS  (thanks Lyn for the heads up)

Today's quote...




Friday, May 02, 2025

A slight adjustment

 I've been merrily slow stitching circles onto the first section of the latest landscape and, upon sitting back and staring at it for awhile, I decided that the circles really weren't evident.  So...I'm 'whipping' them into shape and adding more definition.  I like it better now.



- There are lots of ideas HERE for creating small gifts, perhaps for Mother's Day.

- THIS caught my eye.  So did THIS.  And THIS!

- If I had a garden I would definitely try making THIS.

- I'd really like to try THIS and perhaps you might too.

- I found THIS interesting primarily because I'm saving pieces of all the dresses I've made for our grandie with the thought of making her a quilt one day.

Today's quote is from Ed Begley Jr...."I don't understand why when we destroy something created by man we call it vandalism, but when we destroy something created by nature we call it progress"





Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Slow stitching and another pair of socks

 I put the finishing touches on the first of four pairs of socks I have an order for (luckily they aren't needed until Christmas).  Same pattern I always use and Paton's Kroy sock yarn...


The hand stitching has begun on the rusty project.  I'm slow stitching circles to quilt it.  Still not sure what I will be doing for the sky but will mull on that whilst I stitch circles.  


- For some reason I thought I should share THIS.  Who knew there were so many uses for old keyboards?!

- There are some interesting ideas HERE.

- Making a kaleidoscope of THESE would be fun (and yes, I consulted Mr. Google to see what a group of them would be called).

- Although I haven't personally tried making THIS, I thought I'd share in case any of you would like to make it.

Today's quote...."In 1946 there were people in Germany and Poland who said "we didn't know".  Today no one can say they didn't know, you can only say you didn't want to know"





Monday, April 28, 2025

Mucking about with rust

 Over the weekend I played with rusty fabrics and made crumb blocks which got put together into this...



I discovered my sewing machine doesn't much like sewing rusty fabrics so she'll definitely be treated to a new needle and a good cleaning once I'm done.  There's one little section left to do and then it's on to the hand stitching.  I have an idea to do larger stitches using pearl cottons - sort of in the slow stitching vein.  There might just be a river running through it too.  I don't think this one will feature a building or vehicle but we'll see where my muse takes me.

Our Federal election is today - all eyes are going to be on the results and fingers are more than firmly crossed that it goes the right way and that Canadians are smart enough to elect the best man to fight the orange idiot.  

- THIS would be fun to do (no watering required!)

- You might want to make one of THESE.

- THIS caught my eye - fun use for teabags!

- HERE is a fun process that doesn't look difficult to do.

- Have a peek at the gallery of THIS artist.

Today's quote is from Angela Davis..."I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change.  I am changing the things I cannot accept"



Friday, April 25, 2025

I knew the day would come!

I knew it would happen.  It was only a matter of time.  This is a very short post because I REALLY have nothing to show for several days of spinning my wheels.  I can show you a treasure I found in my stash though...



I have NO earthly clue who gave this to me nor how long I've had it.  It's going to feature in the next landscape - somehow.  It will join in with these additional 'bits' I unearthed, some of which I rust dyed many moons ago....




 - If you want to show some Canadian pride, perhaps some of THESE designs might be what you're looking for.

- I thought THESE would be pretty for spring.

- HERE is a fun idea for your garden.

Today's quote is from William Faulkner..."Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed"



Wednesday, April 23, 2025

I got nuttin'

 I'm at the stage of spinning my wheels whilst I consider what I will attempt to do next.  I need to spend some time perusing photos to see what inspires.  My knitting is definitely yawn-worthy because it's yet another pair of socks.  I did, however, spend far too much time drooling my way through several different online shops searching out some fabric enhancements which will be turned into fodder for the Christmas box and lit a small flame underneath my credit card.  I know I swore I didn't want to buy anything unless I absolutely have to and I should have tried harder to make do from my stash but in the case of what I want to make I need yardage and my stash doesn't have much and what I do have isn't a suitable weight.  

- For those of you who thought I was a tad out to lunch for using teabags, go and have a look at the amazing creations of THIS artist!  (thank you Sherry for the head's up on this one)

- Sometimes it's the simple things that can give joy as THIS will attest.

- I know THIS is supposed to be an Easter project but there's no reason it couldn't be for anytime throughout the year.

- I like THESE!

- HERE is another idea that might come in handy!

Today's quote..."Just be a good person.  Love who you can, help where you can, give what you can"





Monday, April 21, 2025

Introducing!!

 "Teabags and Rust"


FOR SALE
SOLD!
measures approx. 25x20"
and is inspired by this 
photo by Dale Stewart
(and used with his kind permission)


This one involved all sorts of new-to-me techniques - using tea bags; printing my own fabric using lace as the resist; dyeing cheesecloth and stitching with it (I've actually done that before); using washaway stabilizer to help create the dimensional grasses; and several other things I did that were different.  

- I found THIS to be quite interesting.  I don't felt my projects but seeing this means I might just attempt it!

- You might find THIS a fun thing to try.

- I thought THIS was an awwww-thing.

- I found THIS article of interest, even though I'm not an actual quilter.

Today your quote is from Galileo Galilei...."I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use"


Friday, April 18, 2025

Happy Easter!

 



- THIS looks like it would be a fun process.

- I don't know who to credit THIS to, but thought it was pretty enough to share anyway.

- THESE were fun to look through.

- THIS is a fun project you might like to try.

- Once again I'm pointing you to a 'pay' design, but I thought THIS was just too cute not to share!

- THIS would be cute for your Easter decor (and wouldn't take too long to make)

Today your quote is from Helen Keller..."Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light"


Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Two days

 Two days of having other commitments in the afternoons means I haven't progressed very far on the landscape and so really don't have anything to show you.  So...you can guess what that means, can't you....

Perhaps to allay your boredom with links, how about I share a recipe from the Resident Chef?



- I know it's not Christmas and I risk incurring your wrath by pointing you towards something that is Christmas-y, but...if you want to try your hand at making THIS, you'll need time to collect the raw materials.  

- Some of you might be interested in making THIS

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

- You might like to make one (or more!) of THESE.

Today's quote..."There are four very important words in life: love, honesty, truth, respect.  Without these in your life, you have nothing"






Monday, April 14, 2025

Well, lookit that...

 Over the weekend I did some work on the latest landscape and I am happy with it.  The eagle-eyed among you will notice the used teabags forming the sky.  The even more eagle-eyed might notice that your writer mucked about with some lace, paint and a brayer to create the grass background.  And...if you embiggen the picture you might be able to catch the texture on the tree.  Oh...and have a look at the grasses (remember me showing you that in one of my previous posts?).  Oh yes - and there's the area below the grasses which is dyed and stitched cheesecloth.  Now I'm busy embroidering more grasses.  


- THIS takes you to a PDF for a really cute EPP'd basket.

- Have a look at the incredible works by THIS amazing artist!

-I try not to point you to too many 'pay' sites, but THIS one is amazing so I couldn't resist.

Today the quote is from George Orwell..."However much you deny the truth, the truth goes on existing"



Friday, April 11, 2025

Two more!

 I just finished knitting two more hats for the Christmas box...


Pattern is the same as the one I showed you the other day.  There might be a couple more of these done before Christmas but now I'm switching gears to socks because I have a commission for four pairs that the buyer wants for Christmas.  Those should take me awhile to do.

- I suspect THESE are AI-generated but aren't they spectacular? (scroll down to see what I mean)

- THIS is a different take on the log cabin design.

- I thought THIS was really pretty.  If I had nice curtains that would lend themselves to it, I'd be making some.

- Maybe one day I might make one of THESE.

Today's quote is from  Elie Wiesel...."We must take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim"





Wednesday, April 09, 2025

Some of you guessed

 Some of you guessed what I showed you the last time, or at least what it might be used for.  What you saw is a bunch of tea bags that are being used in the new landscape I'm creating which will be based on this photo by Dale Stewart (and used, as always, with his permission)...
What you saw is tea bags drying on plastic after having been coated with Konnyaku to strengthen them.  You'll have to come back to see what I'm actually doing with them!

And...I played with creating this...
Two layers of dissolvable stabilizer with snippets of threads, burlap bits and assorted 'stuff' that reminded me of what I was going for.  Stitched and then the stabilizer was washed away.

- Here's a little 'did you know' tip (that I, obviously, didn't know until now!)...to find the right side of a fabric, look at the selvedge edge...the small pinholes are raised on the wrong side.

- Have a peek through the portfolios of THIS artist.

- For some reason THIS project caught my eye.

- If you have some seeds to share, perhaps making THIS to hold them might be fun.

This is your quote of the day...

I thought you needed a smile!