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')

In which I tell you more about me than you ever wanted to know!

 The question came up with someone wondering why, when I stitch so much, I don't make clothes for myself.  It all stems back to a traumatic experience I had in home ec class in high school.  One of the 'projects' we were required to make was an outfit we were expected to model at a fashion show for the parents.  It made up 50% of our final mark.  The teacher (who was seemingly intimidated by my height...5'9" to her barely 5') assigned what we had to make and I was expected to make a tailored suit.  Everybody else got to make shorts, skirts, and simple tops.  My parents never had much money so it was a real budget stretch to purchase 'good' enough fabric to create a tailored suit.  I was very uncomfortable in mini skirts so I made the skirt below-the-knee (picture a person my height, weighing barely 100 lbs and how skinny and knobby-knee'ed I was).  Mom helped me a little with the jacket because it really was way beyond my sewing abilities.  

Come the dress rehearsal for the fashion show and the teacher took one look at my outfit and promptly took the scissors to the skirt and hacked it off to mini length.  I was mortified.  However, I needed to pass the class so I wore it to the show.  When I got home, my mother (who never threw ANYTHING out) told me to take it off and she mutely held open the garbage can lid and told me to throw it out.  All that money, that we could ill afford, lost.  I was completely traumatized by that experience and only have ever tried to sew a dress for myself once after that and it ended up looking homemade and I hated it.  

There, more about me than you ever
needed, or wanted, to know!

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

Jocelyn at Canadian Needle Nana shared a link to THIS and the design made me think that it would make fun cards.  I had need of a birthday card so I changed the format to using paper and this is what I came up with...

AND - huge excitement here at Chez Magpie
when I saw this...

My hoya plant is blooming!!!
I haven't seen one in bloom since I

was a kid and my aunt had one.

- THIS is such a cute wee hat (pattern is free on the blog, just scroll down).  And while you're there, click on the 'free patterns' category at the top and you'll find a number of other great designs.

- Have a look through the incredible galleries of THIS artist!  All I can say is wow (and thank you Linda for sharing about this one).

- Have a peek through the gallery HERE - amazing work!

- The whimsical creations of THIS artist are just plain fun.

Here's the quote..."At the end of the day, I'd rather be excluded for who I include, than be included for who I exclude"  (think about it!)

A hissing good time?

 The final fabric shipment arrived in the mail so now I can finish working on the advent calendars...

The white piece is another tone-on-tone that doesn't really show up in the photo.

And I have two finishes to show you today....firstly, the rose-themed birthday card...

Secondly, I finished knitting a snake.  Yet another thing destined for the Christmas box.  This guy measures about 60" long and made an admirable dent in my stash.  Pattern is the 'Striped Snake' by Sarah Ann Thompson and can be found HERE.

Today's quote is from William Barclay..."There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why"

A little catch up

Today I will share a few projects I have completed recently.  First up is a twin-sized quilt featuring Super Mario's outfit.  Can you see it?

Maybe now?

Our #2 grandson will be getting his room re-decorated for Christmas and they're using a Super Mario theme and a special request was made for Grandma to make him a twin-sized quilt.  Of course, what's a Grandma to do but oblige?  While I was at it, some of you might remember the pillowcase I made to go along with the quilt....

and, if all goes well, there might just be a throw pillow too.

I also just put the finishing stitches in another wee sweater for our expected grandbaby....

The colour here is definitely off (sorry, dull day...again)

but it's using the same yarn as the previous sweaters.

Pattern is the 'Room to Grow Baby Sweater' by Laura Marconi-Cox

and can be found HERE.

Over the past weekend things started ramping up in the kitchen of Resident Chef and one of the creations was a batch of 'Carrot Cake Jam'.  Oh boy....yummy stuff!  I haven't done the labels yet, but here's what's going to a few people for Christmas this year...

And here is one of the lace cards I made that will be heading off to live in Australia with my cousin who just happens to own a really cute Scottie dog named Maggie...

And, finally, these three fabric postcards were created...

Very simple, keeping in mind the fact that

they should have been in the mail two weeks ago!

Today's quote is a continuation of the series...."As I get older I realize my people skills are just fine.  It's my tolerance of idiots that needs work"

Just too darned cold!

Staying warm these days isn't the easiest thing to do!  Woke up to -27 degrees Celsius this morning and that was enough for me.  Did NOT want to add on the wind chill factor to get the true temperature!  DH felt that the car should have a wee run this morning to keep the battery charged - it started but you could tell it was under duress.  Drove like a tank for a little while!  It's in weather like this that we miss having a garage.  

Nothing of note has happened in the sewing room here at Chez Magpie - nor has anything been happening with either my knitting needles or crochet hooks.   I'm doing my usual thing at this time of year and snuggling in my easy chair with a good book (or seven).  A week or two of sloth, particularly with it this cold outside, is about all I feel like doing. 

So....I went back through my pictures and realized that I had neglected to share this wee project with you before Christmas... 

It's a card I created to send to my Australian cousin who recently got herself a little Scottie puppy.  Thought she'd get a kick out of the image I chose!

Today, rather than a quote, I have this...

Stay warm and safe those of you that live in the cold climates and for those of you currently enjoying the warmth.....pfffffft.  

Well, never let it be said!

Most of you know already that computer illiteracy reigns supreme at Chez Richardson and also that recently I had to start over with my computer.  Some of you may already know that I am also stubborn (I know, who...moi?).  I hate to say that some of the lack of pictures on this blog has been a result of my not being able to figure out how to get my camera and my computer to go off in the corner and play nicely.  They have been squabbling.  The discussion going on has been quite disturbing.  First the computer says nope, I don't wanna play on your swings.  And then the camera says well, if you don't want to play on my swings, then I don't want to play catch with YOU.  And so it's gone.  One side trying to best the other and poor little ol' me in the middle, trying to be a peacemaker.  

There has been infighting.  And swearing (not that I would EVER resort to such tactics!).  There has been removal of programs and installation of programs.  Finger crossing.  Muttering and (dare I say it) mumbling too!

End result of all that is to say that I think I have won.  

Maybe. 

 Perhaps.  

So...here goes nothing....

Well, will you lookit that!   It worked!!!!!  

Phew!  All this angst, just to show you something that I made over the past while.  This is a Christmas card that is currently winging its way to my cousin in Australia.  Hope she likes it!

Today the quote (and a fitting one, I might add) is from Steve Wozniak....  "Never trust a computer you can't throw out a window"