I got nuttin. I got nada. Nothing, not a thing. So.....

Now my latest barn is done, it's time to switch gears and come up with something that will be hopefully useable for the winter issue of the Crazy Quilt Quarterly magazine.  Unfortunately, that particular project isn't one I can share on here until after the magazine comes out.  So....casting my mind about for something....anything...I can possibly mumble about, I came up with doing a little retrospective of my blogging years (I know...b-o-r-i-n-g to those that have stuck with me all those years) and perhaps re-share some of my favourite things I've created.  I apologize in advance for the dismal picture quality of much that you will see - my camera wasn't the best back then.

My first post was March 20, 2006 and I must admit even I'm surprised that I've found enough to bother mumbling about for all that time!  If you're interested, you can see that very first post HERE.  

One of the posts I did that year was all about fear (part of a Studio Friday challenge).  Upon re-reading what I wrote I realize that nothing much has changed from then until now.

Back then I was a member of our local quilt guilt and, along with a couple of friends, I was attempting to encourage an interest in crazy quilting.  Perhaps it's no wonder it didn't take off with the members, particularly when three of us decided to create these....and model them....

This was my version of a crazy quilted

art bra - entitled "Two Cats in A Bag
Yowling to Get out'

Above, the outside, and below, the inside

There was some fear that we would be drummed out of the guild but fortunately everyone saw the humour in it.  Our bra creations then went on to be auctioned off for a breast cancer fundraiser.

2006 was also the year that I attempted my first (and, come to think of it, appears to be the ONLY) project done using reverse applique.  This was the result...

This is what I said about it....For those who are wondering it's a pattern from 'Seams Like Glass Designs' by Lise Merchant (who happens to come from Whitehorse, Yukon) called 'Chickadee Dee...Dee...' (obviously). Reverse Applique and machine quilted. Size is approximately 27" square.

AND - today we checked out a thrift store and I lucked out and came home with this...

Did you notice the price tag?  All that beautiful pearl cotton for the princely sum of $2.99 minus 30% because it was senior's day!  Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!

Another anonymous quote..."You aren't wealthy until you have something money can't buy"

Tah Dah!!!!

Over the weekend I finished the latest barn project.  This one isn't finished as a wall hanging because my customer would like to frame it.  

I think you can click on the picture to embiggen it

SOLD!

Another anonymous quote today.."Never make someone a priority who only makes you an option"

Necessity...and mothers...

Yes, they say that necessity is the mother of invention.  So....out of necessity.....I invented....

I think if you click on the picture it will embiggen enough for you to see the barnyard gate I finally created.  Took me a lot of navel contemplation to finally decide on what to do.  Took  some bubble, bubble, toil and trouble in the cauldron in the kitchen to brew up the proper colour of paint to then immerse two different weights of cord into.  Once that dried it was stitched into place and then highlighted with more paint to make it (hopefully?) look rusty and aged.  There's also been some more paint applied here and there to create more shadows and highlights.  Now....to quilt!!  I won't be finishing it into a wall hanging this time because my customer wants to get it framed.  

Today I have another quote from Winnie The Pooh... 'A hug,' said Pooh 'is always the right size!' 

Flub.....or Fix???

A flub or a fix, that is the question.  What do you think?

the area in question is/was the grass on the right behind the embroidery

You can also see some other changes have happened since I last shared a picture.  There has been some stitching, highlighting and shadowing done on the barn (and those pesky boards!) and the base for a tree limb has been added.  Now to add some of those fussy cut leaves to finish that area.

Today I have a definition for you..."Stashcovery:  That moment when you rediscover an item in your stash that you forgot you had"

One step forward - and one back

It was much cooler over the weekend so I was able to get the iron out and 'weave' the boards on the latest barn.  I was also able to do some embroidered flora which, upon further contemplation, I need to fix.  I don't like the background fabric and it's too late to replace it (unless I seriously want to undo two days of embroidery and then re-do it).  So...stay tuned....there's a fix in mind, but it might be a flub, who knows.  

In the meantime, this is where it's at...

Today there's another anonymous quote:  "Mess?  What mess?  That's creativity scattered around the room!"

Paintin' and Fussy!!

The past couple of days were very hot here (cooler today, thankfully) so there wasn't much happening in my sewing room.  I did manage to convert this fabric...

by painting it...

and then giving myself semi-permanent pleats in

my fingers from the scissors while fussy cutting 

all the leaves...

The final step was adding the veins and now I have

a pile of maple leaves for adding to my barn project....

Today your quote is from Winnie The Pooh & Piglet..."Piglet:  "How to you spell love?"  Pooh:  "You don't spell it, you feel it"

A hodge podge?

There's not much happening on the creative side of things here at Chez Magpie.  It's hot.  Hot.  Hot.  My little sewing room doesn't have air conditioning so I have to rely on a ceiling fan and a portable fan which is okay most of the time but when it gets this hot even they don't stand a chance.  Fortunately we have a portable a/c unit in the living room so there's one room that's relatively cool.  

So.....instead of progress on my latest barn, I'll show you what part I'll be working on next.  This will require a ton of ironing (and there's no way I'm standing over a hot iron in a hot room at the moment).

All those different strips of different colours represent boards that are in the barn....each one will be cut from fabric and then pressed into place....with (hopefully) careful attention as to how they're woven together.  It's the most intricate depiction I've tried to do so far so it could either work....or not....

Today your quote is from Winston Churchill..."Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak.  Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen"

A little bit of progress

There's been a tiny bit of progress on the latest barn...there would have been more if it wasn't so hot here right now.  My sewing room is like an oven so it's hard to spend much time in here.  It's currently 27C with 73% humidity level outside and it's only 8:30 in the morning.  Going to be another scorcher it appears!

Another anonymous quote..."You'll have good days, bad days, overwhelming days, too tired days, I'm awesome days, I can't go on days...and every day you'll still show up"

Righter?

Last time I showed you the beginning of my next barn landscape and told you that the colours weren't quite right (at least in my mind anyway!).  I've now 'adjusted' them and this is what I am working with...

I'm still not sure about a couple of the areas, but within the confines of my stash I think I'm going to have to be satisfied.  

Another anonymous quote..."You can't let people scare you.  You can't go your whole life trying to please everyone else.  You can't go your whole life worried about what everyone else is going to think.  Whether it's your hair, clothes, what you have to say, how you feel, what you believe in or what you have...you can't let the judgement of others stop you from being you.  Because if you do, you are no longer you.  You are just someone everyone else wants you to be"

Sometimes it's just not quite right

Sometimes what you think will work, just doesn't.  Over the weekend I worked at laying down the background for my next barn and it seems that some reversing needs to be done.  I'm simply not happy with the sky area.  It's too bright and it's too dark, both at the same time.  I wanted to have some indication of a sunrise but the oranges and yellows are just too 'much' and the upper part of the sky is just too dark for what I'm planning to add later on.  So.....it will be changing.  Watch this space!

Another anonymous quote..."I'm too busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener"

Decisions, decisions

Don't forget to check back here for my

responses to your comments!

A new barn landscape is percolating in my brain and the selection process for fabrics has begun, as you can see from this photo...

Some of these greens will make the cut and be used to (hopefully!) create something based on this photo...

Today your quote is another anonymous one..."The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts while the stupid ones are full of confidence"

All laid out....

Don't forget, check back here for responses to your comments!

All laid out on our living room floor (for lack of anywhere else that there might be space!)...

This is a project I've been working on sporadically over the past few months and I've finally managed to get a finished flimsy.  It takes awhile to collect up enough action figure t-shirts to make a quilt!!  Our oldest grandson has graduated to a 'big boy bed' so I thought he'd like a 'made-by grandma' quilt.  I'm definitely NOT a sane quilter so there are lots of things I could have done better, but it's made with love and that's what counts I think.  Still have the back to complete and then it's off to the longarm quilter so it will be done in time for Christmas.  

And talking about things made-with-love, how about this...

 Our #2 daughter-in-love created some business cards for me!  They arrived in the mail yesterday and I'm so thrilled!!  Can you see the tiny little magpie she included?  Thank you Winnie! 💖

Another anonymous quote for you..."Never organize what you can discard"  

A little project

Don't forget to check back here for my responses to your

comments - at least for now (until Blog-grrr gets itself

sorted out!). 

I'm back!  DH's medical tests are done for now and we can actually spend some time at home, which means I can return to stitching and blogging!  

Today I have a little project I can show you that I recently completed.  My friend Pam Kellogg sent me the piece of fabric I used for the front cover of this needle book and rather than storing it away in my stash I thought I'd use it right away.  This is the original piece of fabric...

and this is what I came up with....

I removed the gold trim around the edges and then used some of it on the

spine of the needle book.

Another thing that will be added to the gift box!

Another of the anonymous quotes for you..."A strong person is not the one who doesn't cry.  A strong person is the one who cries and sheds tears for a moment, then gets up and fights again"

Something a little different - sorta - kinda - maybe

Just a reminder that, for the present, I will be responding to your comments directly here on the blog.  Word has it that Google/Blog-grrr is working on it and should have it fixed soon.  

There seems to have been precious little happening on the stitching front here at Chez Magpie, but I am working on a needlebook project as time permits.  So far this is pretty much all I've managed to accomplish...

Yeah, I know - pretty boring huh!!

And, to make matters worse, I might not find time to do any posts next week.  DH is having a bunch of medical tests (don't worry - nothing drastic) and it means we'll be gone for three days next week for those - plus we have to take my friend for HER medical test and that will take up another day.  So....if you don't hear from me, don't worry - I'll post if I can.

I can already feel a case of serious stitching withdrawal coming on!!

Today's quote is from Oprah Winfrey..."Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do"

Tote bag

******

I just finished working on a new tote bag.  Nothing, in itself, is the least bit exciting about that....but I DID have to come up with something to post about!  This one is made using recycled denim and lace from my stash.  The denim is some that I discharge dyed many moons ago and  had been lurking in my stash.

Front

Back (large pocket)

Another anonymous quote for you...."My wish for you is simple.  Have the best life imaginable, live like you will never grow old, laugh, giggle, cry if you must.  Play as hard as you work, make time for people and things you adore.  When you sleep I hope you have the best dreams that will make you wake up with a smile on your face.  And that you always know that you are loved.  That's my wish for you"

A wee little book

I did a bit of a studio clean up (I know - what IS this world coming to!!) and came across something I have been meaning to share for awhile.  Several months ago our honorary member of our little CQTeers crafting group (Liz) sent us each one of her little artist books with the challenge to fill it with something.  It took me awhile to decide what I could do.  I have an inherent fear of defacing books which my mother instilled in me when I was little so it took some mental talking to before I could manage to touch it.  Here's the beautiful handpainted cover that Liz created for my book...

The book measures approx. 5" tall x 4" wide

About the time the book arrived I was in the throes of a somewhat more thorough cleanup of my sewing room and came across what I created in an online ledger class taught by Karen Ruane.  I sat down to look through it and was aghast to discover that the double sided tape that I had used was turning everything brown and was letting go (despite having been assured in the store that it wouldn't do such a thing....false advertising!!).  So...I ended up taking the ledger apart, salvaging what I could and putting them into this new little book (MINUS the double-sided tape I might add!!).  This is the result...

Another anonymous quote..."The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts while the stupid ones are full of confidence"  

And.....phew.....

......a return to the regular mumblings that you have grown accustomed to here at Chez Magpie!

I dunno about you, but I'm glad!!!   I've had quite enough grappling over privacy policies, the European Union and computer gobbledy-gook that means nothing to anyone but the geeks that wrote it (and obviously felt a need to justify having their jobs).  So....deep breath....and onward....

(although - I'm still waiting to get the ability to reply to comments sorted out and hopefully when all the dust settles things will return to normal).

EDITED TO ADD:  I am doing a VERY happy dance right now!!  Becki made a comment on my privacy policy post telling me what to do to be able to reply directly to your comments on my blog and it worked!  Happy happy!!!.

For the foreseeable future, please check back to your comment on my posts and I will respond to you there.  If things change, I'll let you know.  Thank you Becki!!  

My week has pretty much been shot playing about with privacy issues and also doing a lot of social things so precious little has been accomplished in my sewing room.  So...I thought I'd show you another one of my little treasures....

This little bag, measuring approximately 5x9") was crocheted by my maternal grandmother.  It's lined with a pink linen fabric and is made using crochet cotton.  I have no idea what she might have used it for, although the size suggests that it might perhaps have seen use as a purse at one time.  

The quote of the day is from Dr. Seuss..."Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory"

PRIVACY POLICY re the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Your privacy is important to me and so the statements below outline how your personal information can be collected.  First of all, thank you for visiting my blog, following my blog,  and for leaving comments on my blog posts....all of which I so much appreciate.  According to the new laws in effect regarding the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), there must be a disclaimer available on this blog.  So here goes....

ABOUT THIS BLOG....

"Magpie's Mumblings' is an independently operated blog run by me (Mary Anne Richardson) and within I share my creative work (various crafts, quilting, embroidery, crazy quilting) along with the occasional tutorial, recipe and photos of said work.  I am the owner, creator and only administrator of this blog.  I do not sell items through this blog.

This blog is written by me and if I share a link to any other person's work/pictures/articles I clearly state the proper link to said work.  Through your use of those links I am not responsible for the privacy policies of other websites or the applications they use. 

My computer has a running up-to-date anti-virus program in place at all times.  It is definitely family friendly and there is never any questionable content shared here.  If I notice any such activity attempting to be shared through the comments, it will immediately be deleted and, hopefully, through having my comments set to require  moderation prior to publication, any such efforts will be thwarted.  

HOW INFORMATION IS COLLECTED....

- if you leave a comment on the blog your email address could possibly be shared with me (and with me only) in order that I am able to respond to your comments.  

- it is possible that Google Analytics collects data, but those circumstances are beyond my control. Please visit THIS link to learn more about Google Analytics.

- Your email and name are never sold by me or in any way shared with any third parties.  Never.  

BLOG COMMENTS...

Anyone within the blogging community knows how much we love comments and feedback.  Please be aware that, should you leave a comment, it will subsequently be visible to anyone who reads the comment section.  Your name and comment will be visible to others and by the very act of leaving a comment you are consenting to the use of your information for that purpose.  Your email and other pertinent information will NOT be visible at any time.  For that reason, please do not share any detailed personal information in your comments.  I do reserve the right to remove comments I deem to be inappropriate at any time.  It is also worth noting that you can remove any comments you have written.  All those that leave a comment are also covered by the Google Privacy Policy (see HERE for further information regarding their policy).  

COOKIES....

- Blogger uses cookies to allow you to access websites and blogs without re-entering your user name and password. More information regarding cookies may be found HERE.  You can also disable their usage by searching that term on your browser and following the steps provided.  Please know that the use of cookies does NOT give me access to any personal information about you.

PARENTAL CONSENT.....

- As stated above, this blog is family friendly.  By law, if you are under 16 years of age, you must have parental permission before using this blog site.

FINALLY....

You have the right to know how your personal data is being processed.  Hopefully the policy I have outlined above will adequately explain how your data can be used.  

DATED:  May 31, 2018

An update on the interruption

OK, folks - as promised I would let you know what I found out regarding the new privacy laws that seem to be upsetting the blogging world.  I still don't understand it, despite doing a lot of extensive reading on the subject, but as near as I can gather it appears we are supposed to post a form of disclaimer on our blogs stating that we are not maliciously gathering private information from people.  As if the majority of us are the least bit interested in such things, but the powers-that-be seem to think we should be.

So....it pretty much boils down to having to post something on your blog stating that fact and assuring people (who you KNOW aren't going to bother reading the information anyway....ahem) that we aren't out to stalk them.  

If you check out the following link you will find a template that can guide you through what needs to be said (of course it has to be tweeked to suit your particular circumstances).  Thank you Kim for finding this!!!!  

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Vf3e-Fh_kHg6mGW4BgldP6HbFG9xglsjxXzOeLpqfs/edit

PLEASE NOTE:  I am unable to make this link 'live', so you will need to cut and paste it in order to view it.  

I hope to have time this afternoon to tweek the template to suit my blog and will post it when I do.  

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

As a further note, it appears upon checking the help forums on Blog-grrrr, that they are working on any further issues that have come up.  

***********

And, might I appeal to those of you who have your blog set to give you the ability to reply directly to comments ON your blog (without having to post a completely new comment), to give me some idea of what settings I need to use on my dashboard in order to allow that function?   For the life of me I can't find it!!

Stay tuned!!!

We interrupt this blog.....

Okay folks - it seems that the Powers That Be (those that like to complicate our lives beyond all reasonable expectations) are monkeying about with our blogs and how they work.  It appears that something is happening with the European Union called the GDPR.    I don't know about you, but I haven't a clue what they're blathering on about.  I've read a number of things about it, but unless you're fluent in computer-eeze it's all as clear as mud.  If you understand it and know how to deal with it using Blogger I'd sure appreciate a tutorial in language that makes sense.  If you would/could email me that and give me permission I'd love to share it on my blog so others could make sense of it too!  (marmic1954 AT hotmail DOT com).

In the meantime, the thing that seems to be affecting me most at the moment is that your comments are not showing up in my email box, which is where I am able to answer you easily.  I haven't yet figured out how/if I can answer directly on my blog (I know some bloggers do) and although I don't like having to do it that way because it means an extra step for you, it appears it might be my only option.  So.....if you don't receive responses to your much appreciated (and very anticipated!) comments in the manner to which you're accustomed, please forgive me....and blame those idiotic Powers That Be!!!!

H - E - L - P ?????

EDITED TO ADD:  I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to respond individually to your comments directly on my blog without having to post a whole new comment that then doesn't link directly to YOUR comment.  I hate this!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Until I get this figured out, please know that I AM getting your comments, I AM reading them, and I AM appreciating them.  I have my blog set so that I have to moderate comments in order to avoid all the spam I keep getting, so if it takes a bit for your comment to show up, that will be why.  

Anybody know how to fix the commenting issue???

Another one finished!

Over the weekend I finished the latest of my barn series...

FOR SALE

This quilt measures approx. 28"x20" and is for sale.  If you're interested, please contact me!

Another anonymous quote..."Be thankful for all the troubles that you don't have"

Another bit of precious

Yes, I AM stitching but nothing quite ready to show at the moment, so how about showing you another piece of my special china.  This also belonged to my grandmother; it's obviously hand-painted and is very fine china.  

There are no markings on the bottom of the cream pitcher, but the sugar bowl is labeled 'Austria'. Beyond that, I know nothing about it.  

Your quote for today..."Sometimes when you're in a dark place, you think you've been buries, but you've actually been planted"

Little pitchers

I have been stitching on my latest barn but taking a photo at this point wouldn't show you much more than you saw the last time.  The stitching involves mainly highlighting, so difficult to see on its own.

So....instead of seeing that, how about I show you a couple of my little milk pitchers?  I don't have many of those either, but these two are my favourites...

They both measure about 4" tall.  The brown one is from Pier 1 Imports so is quite modern (reminds me of those brown Betty teapots) and the other is labeled 'Churchhill England'.  No idea of the age of it because I think I picked it up at a yard sale.  

Your quote for today:  "Four things you cannot recover:  the stone after the throw; the word after it is said; the occasion after it is missed, and the time after it's gone"

The last two

This is the final post in the cup and saucer 'series' I've been doing.  As I mentioned before, my collection is small!!

This one has a quite nondescript outside

and it's only as you drink your tea that

you realize the pattern is on the inside.

It only has the words 'Fine China' on the

bottom - no other identifying marks.

This one is from my mother's collection.

She never had 'good' dishes and when

company would come she would set

the table with her normal mismatched pieces

that she used every day.  When I got my first job

I decided that for every occasion such as birthday and 

Christmas, I would buy her a place setting for her

favourite pattern.  She ended up with enough

for twelve settings, as well as some completer pieces

which I have now inherited.

The pattern is 'Trillium' by Royal Albert

and has since been discontinued.

And, just to prove that I HAVE been doing something in the stitch part of my life, here's an update on the latest barn I'm working on...

 

Another anonymous quote..."A strong person is not the one who doesn't cry.  A strong person is the one who cries and sheds tears for a moment, then gets up and fights again"

Two more

Here are two more from my cup and saucer collection (I promise...there is only one more post to come!).  

This one is another that is labeled 'Castle...

Hand Painted Japan'

It is also highlighted with

mother of pearl.

This cup was one that I received 

in a gift exchange when I was in public school.

It's the ONLY one in my pitifully small

collection that actually belongs to me and

wasn't inherited.  
It is labeled 'Royal Standard - Fine Bone
China - England'

Another anonymous quote for you today..."If you don't like something, just take away its only power:  your attention"

More precious-nesssssssss?

First of all, I have to share a picture of the beautiful flowers I that were delivered for Mother's Day from our #2 son and daughter-in-love who live all the way across the country in British Columbia.  Aren't they beautiful?  We also got to Skype with them yesterday and had a lovely visit.  Great fun watching our sweet little grandson as he's testing out lots of new words!  Thank you Shawn and Winnie 💕

Because precious little has been happening on the stitching front, I thought I'd do as someone asked and post a few more pictures of my small cup & saucer collection.  I don't ever use them, preferring to have my tea and coffee in a mug, but I like to see them sitting in my china cabinet anyway!

This one belonged to my maternal grandmother 

and is labeled on the back with

'Castle - Hand Painted - Japan'.

The inside of the cup is mother-of-pearl.

This one also belonged to my grandmother.

She had a set of dishes in this pattern and

all that remains (that I'm aware of) is this

cup and saucer and one small

tea plate. 

The pattern is called 'Bridal Rose'

and was made in Western Germany

This one, also from my grandmother, 

is also lined with mother-of-pearl

and is labeled 'Castle - Hand Painted - Japan'

Another quote from 'Anonymous'..."Make a list of things that make you happy.  Make a list of things you do every day.  Compare the lists.  Adjust accordingly"