check, check AND check

 ✔ - Christmas wrapping is done

✔ - Christmas cards are done

✔ - Christmas letters are done

✔ - Online greetings are done

✔ - Baking is done (except for some butter tarts happening on Friday)

✔ - Preserves are done

✔ - Parcels on track for mailing on Monday

And, here's your final recipe we did...

CHOCOLATE SWIRLED PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Peanut butter dough:
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1/2 c. EACH softened butter, white sugar & brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. EACH baking powder & baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Chocolate dough:
1/2 c. EACH softened butter; white sugar & brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp EACH baking powder & baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Cream peanut butter, butter & sugars until light & fluffy.  Beat in egg.  Combine dry ingredients and gradually add to creamed mixture.

For chocolate dough:  cream butter & sugars til light & fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients and gradually add to creamed mixture.

Divide each portion in half.  Knead 1 peanut butter and 1 chocolate portion together 5-10 times or til it begins to swirl.  Shape into 10" log.  Wrap in waxed paper.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Refrigerate 3-4 hours or until firm.  

Cut dough into 1/4" slices.  Place 2" apart on lightly greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 6-8 mins or until bottoms are lightly browned.  Cool 2 mins before removing from pans to wire racks.

(original recipe found HERE)

And, before I go any further, I hope all my American friends had a happy Thanksgiving yesterday.  

- THESE are really pretty!

- If you have a dog in your life, perhaps they would like some of THESE for Christmas.

- THESE would have lots of uses this time of year.

- THIS would make a cute little gift, particularly if it were accompanied with a little cash.

- Sometimes it's the simplest things that are the most fun to create as THIS will attest.

Today's quote is from Bob Marley...."You will never find justice in a world where criminals make the rules"

And here's another recipe

We have been slaving away in the kitchen and made these for Christmas giving (and a few taste-tests for quality control too)...

CLASSIC ENGLISH TOFFEE

1 c. pecan pieces
1 1/2 c. unsalted butter
2 c. sugar
2 T. corn syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Dry roast the pecans in a medium skillet over medium high heat until they start to brown and smell nutty.  Let cool.
Line a 9x13" pan with foil.  Sprinkle with half the pecans.  
Combine butter, sugar, corn syrup and salt and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture has turned golden and reaches 295 to 305 degrees (hard crack stage) on the candy thermometer.  Pour over pecans in pan and spread evenly.  Let cool for a few minutes, then top with chocolate.  Once softened, spread with spatula and sprinkle with remaining pecan pieces.  Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate overnight.  Remove foil and break into chunks.  

Original recipe came from HERE.  Modifications by us.

- HERE is something that would be a welcome gift, particularly for those who are in nursing homes.

- If you need to create table favours over the holidays (or for any occasion) perhaps THESE would be perfect.

- Sometimes making something relatively simple like THIS would be the perfect gift (I suspect men would love it).

- THESE would make a lovely gift too.

Today's quote is from Albert Einstein..."The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything"

From the kitchen at Chez Magpie...

 Over the weekend the kitchen here at Chez Magpie was a hive of industry and resulted in the creation of Christmas Jam, Cranberry and Apple Mustard, Rhubarb Jelly and even a batch of shaving cream.  There may, or may not, have been a batch or two of toffee too.

In case you want to make your own, here's three of the recipes we used...

RHUBARB JELLY

2 lbs. rhubarb, chopped into 1" pieces
4 1/4 c. water
To make the jelly:
4 c. rhubarb juice
6 c. sugar
6 T. powdered pectin

Bring the rhubarb and water to a hard boil and then simmer for about 20 mins. or until the rhubarb has fallen apart.  Pour mixture into a cheesecloth lined strainer and allow the juice to drain for about 2 hours or until you've collected 4 c. of juice.
Bring juice to a boil, add the pectin and bring to a boil for one minute.  Add the sugar and return to a boil for 1 minute.  Pour into hot jars and process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Makes approx. 7  half-pint jars.
           Original recipe was found HERE.  Some changes by us.

CHRISTMAS JAM

4 c. fresh or frozen cranberries
4 c. chopped strawberries
4 c. sugar
1/4 c. lemon juice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves (we didn't use)
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg (we increased to 1/2 tsp)
1/4 c. water

Combine in a large pot and bring to a boil over med-high heat, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 mins or until jam has thickened.  Ladle into hot sterilized jars, seal and process in a boiling water bath for 10 mins.

Original recipe was found HERE.  

CRANBERRY AND APPLE MUSTARD

3 c. cranberries
2/3 c. cider vinegar
2 cooking apples, fine chopped
1/2 c. white sugar
1/3 c. honey
6 T. mustard powder
2 T. minced garlic
2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. turmeric

Combine cranberries and vinegar, cover the pot,  and bring to a boil and boil gently 5 minutes (you will need to keep stirring).  Add remaining ingredients and bring back to a boil, then lower to a good simmer for 5 more minutes.  Ladle into hot sterilized 4 oz.  jars and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

Original recipe was found HERE.

- THIS is an intriguing idea.

- THIS would be a nice gift for someone.

- I'd like to give THIS a try.

- I thought THIS was intriguing too.

I really don't suppose....

 Another couple of 'social' days so nothing much got accomplished in my sewing room, other than addressing the Christmas cards - and I'm sure you are ever so anxious to see a picture of those?  I thought not.  So you know what I'm going to do, don't you....

- You simply have to go and see THIS stunning quilt!!!  

- We haven't tried THIS (yet) but wouldn't they be pretty on a cookie tray?

- THESE are really cute!  And so is THIS.

- Sometimes the simplest things are the best, as THIS will attest.

- THESE are awwwww-worthy.

- THIS might be fun to make - and would make a great gift too!

Today's quote is from George Bernard Shaw..."Now that we have learned to fly in the air like birds and dive in the sea like fish, only one thing remains...to learn to live on earth like humans"

Knitting too

 Earlier I made several of these hats and, upon perusing the Christmas box, I decided I needed to knit one more...

The original pattern is THIS one which I changed by using the ribbed pattern for a brim from THIS hat that I know our family likes.

- I think THIS is a wonderful idea to create in memory of someone special.

- If you crochet, be prepared to fall down a rabbit hole found HERE.

- I think THESE would be a welcome gift and would be fairly simple to make several at once.

-  THIS is so pretty and would make a lovely gift for someone on your list.

Today's quote...

One down....

 ....three more to go!

Pattern is Simplicity 1043

- THIS is a really pretty design that would make great gifts or nice on your own table.

- Making some of THESE would be fun and there's a multitude of uses as well.

- Sometimes the simplest things are the best as THIS will attest.  Now I wish I'd kept all the plaid 'bits' I got rid of!!

- If you're looking to expand your crocheting skills, perhaps you might like to look through all the possibilities HERE.

- There are several really cute little cross stitched designs HERE (thanks to Canadian Needle Nana for the head's up on this one).

Today's quote....

Squirrel!!!!

 

Yes, a squirrel scampered through my sewing room and for some reason this happened...

This, being a little quilt for a doll bed.  Our little granddaughter will be getting a doll bed for her birthday in January (along with the rag doll I made her several months ago) and what self-respecting grandma could have a 'nekkid' bed with no bedding?  I *should* have been working on PJ's but that pesky squirrel had other plans.  

- THESE are awwww-worthy ( I know they're earmarked for Easter, but I don't see why they wouldn't be fun in the winter)

- Perhaps you might have a use for THESE in your Christmas crafting.

- HERE is another great little gift.

- I've seen a lot of THESE around the internet but thought it would be fun to share an article about them in case you're interested in doing one in 2026.  I think it would be an amazing gift for a newborn or commemorating the first year of a marriage.

Today's quote...

Nada

 Nothing much is happening in the studio here at Chez Magpie this week, at least not so far.  It's a busy week socially so the sewing machine is feeling rather left out.  Today I'm teaching a crazy quilting workshop so I'll be gone all day and tomorrow is a family lunch 'date'.  Hopefully I'll be able to get back to making things on Friday if all goes well. 

So...in the meantime.....you know what that means, don't you...

- Perhaps THESE would make a good gift for someone?

- Anyone with a sweet tooth would appreciate one of THESE.

- THESE would make a nice gift too.

- HERE is something that would be a welcome gift.

- THESE would be fun to give too, particularly if you accompanied the gift with something else that is kitchen-y.

- Several years ago I made a number of THESE and they were well-received.

Today's quote..."We don't always have to agree with each other, but it's important that we learn to respect each other.  Disagreement is natural, disrespect is a choice.  Respect costs nothing but it builds everything"

 

Still chipping away

 Four pairs of adult-sized lounge pants - ✔  (well, all but the drawstrings that are on the way).  I used McCall's # 4244 for three of them and McCall's 4979 for the green pair.  

Four pillowcases for the grandies - ✔  I use the burrito-method and the tutorial can be found HERE

Our local food bank's November food drive is rather a fun one so I thought I'd post it here in case you'd like to go shopping for YOUR local area.  We don't (obviously) buy and deliver one thing each day but we put it all together into one larger donation.  We also buy multiples of many of the items.  When we drop it all off we give them our grocery receipt and they send us a tax deduction.  Win/win!

- THIS, along with a bottle of nice apple juice, would be a nice little gift at Christmas.

- THESE are really cute and would make a wonderful gift for a little someone in your life.

- THIS might be a nice gift for a family.

- Some of you might be interested in THIS sew-along.  

Today's quote is from Dr. Jane Goodall..."Let us move forward with faith in ourselves, in our intelligence, in our indomitable spirit.  Let us develop respect for all living things.  Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion and love"

Whittling

 I'm whittling down the pile of fabrics and have three adult-sized pairs of lounge pants sewn up.  My stash dive let me down and now I'm awaiting delivery of some drawstring cording before I can truly finish them.

- HERE is a cute idea you might like to use for Christmas giving.

- And THIS is another one.

- THIS is a technique you might like to try.

- If you are a crocheter and need a gift, perhaps THIS might be a good one.

Today's quote is from George Orwell..."The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it"

Nothing but piles

 Yes, I have nothing done at the moment but am gearing up to deal with these piles of fabrics.  Somewhere in there are four pairs of pj's for the grandies and four pillowcases and four pairs of adult lounge pants, all destined for the Christmas box.  Should keep my sewing machine humming for a few days!

Sorry about the poor picture quality - it's yet another dull day here and I didn't take into account the 'busy' quilt that's in the background.  You can get the general idea anyway I think!

- THIS leads to all sorts of free crochet patterns, some of which are very cute.

- I'm going to have to remember THIS!

- Making THIS (or more than one!) would be fun for Christmas.

- If you have scraps of plaid fabric perhaps you'd like to try making some of THESE.  

Today's quote..."Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you're living"

Ta Dah!!!!!

 The largest of the fusion quilts is done!!  This one will be residing on the back of our living room couch ready for use when we feel chilly.  Now on to finishing the two smaller ones that will go on the headrests on our comfie chairs.  

and this shows the main fabric which I used on the back...

The fabric I used is the Nantucket Summer line from Moda fabrics and the yarn is Mary Maxim Mellowspun DK.  I initially bought a pack of 10" squares of the fabric and realized that 10" would make the blocks too large so I cut them into 5" squares.  If I had to do it over again I would prefer to have purchased fat quarters and cut them a bit larger - 7"  or 8" would be ideal I think.  

- I know some of you aren't ready to see Christmas ideas, but when I come across something I want to share before I forget about it.  So THIS would make amazing teacher gifts, next door neighbour gifts and all sorts of other 'little' gift giving occasions.  Doesn't have to be Christmas-themed either.

- If you have leftover Halloween candy, perhaps you could make one of THESE.

- There are several fun patterns available HERE for coffee/tea themed projects, both paper pieced and done with wool.

- THIS is a cute little project that would have lots of uses.

Today's quote..."Turn off the news.  Go outside.  Breathe.  We were not meant to carry the burden of the entire world"