Mumblings

I have some more done on my latest landscape, but it's not all that different from what you saw last time, so....instead of a picture of what looks like no change, I thought I'd share the zucchini muffin recipe....

ZUCCHINI MUFFINS

2 c. shortening

4 c. white sugar

8 eggs, beaten

4 tsp. vanilla

9 c. all purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

4 tsp. cinnamon

10 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. salt

1 c. sour milk 

8-10 c. grated zucchini

TOPPING:  1/2 c. brown sugar + 1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients and add to shortening mixture, along with sour milk and zucchini.  Place in greased muffin tins and top with topping.  Bake at 385 degrees F for 11 minutes or til test done.  Makes 48 large muffins.  NOTE:  milk can be soured with a little lemon juice or you can use buttermilk.

I'm toying with, and pondering over,  and trying to be sensible as I try to decide whether or not to tackle making this....

I've had the Piecemaker's calendar (with pattern) in my stash since, obviously, 2009.  Ten years I've been thinking about it.  But, then my sensible side comes out and I wonder what on earth I would DO with it if I did make it.  We only have one bed in this household and it's already covered.  My boys (and their wives) would turn up their noses at it and there is certainly, most definitely, decidedly, no wall space to hang it.  And then there's the question that IF (big if!) I were to make it would I stick to the black & white theme as shown or go off in a whole 'nother direction and make each block a colour study.  The latter would suite my stash much better because at this point I doubt I would have enough blacks to do it justice (at least not without a lot of repeats throughout).  And then there's the proverbial need/want to reduce my stash....but then.....what would I DO with it!!!  

waffle, waffle.....

And, instead of a quote today, I thought I'd show you this (which came as a revelation to me!!!)...

On the search, and improvements I hope

I'm sending this out there in hopes that someone might have some scraps of this fabric in their stash that they might be willing to part with.  I don't have a clue who the manufacturer or designer is/was - it's just something that has been lurking in my stash for a long time.  I love using the daisies in my landscapes and I'm down to a precious few and I'd love to have some more.  I could, technically, scan it and print some myself but that's not exactly the right thing to do!!

The bunnies measure approx. an inch and a half from nose to tail.  I have another scrap that has much larger bunnies but the scale isn't what I'm looking for.  Anyway....throwing it out there....

There has been some work done on the latest landscape....for better or worse.  The stitched 'bare' trees were bothering me so after much concentrated effort they were reverse stitched.  Then I didn't like the tree line (behind the barn) so it has been elongated and lightened up somewhat because it was just too dark.  Never let it be said that I'm afraid to go at something with paint...or....horrors....completely cover it up with something else!

and....look what appeared in Resident Chef's 

kitchen..

Zucchini muffins!

Today's quote..."Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles.  It takes away today's peace"

Having a little play time

I took some time off from my landscape (doing some pondering on it at the moment) and had a little play with my new embroidery templates that arrived in the mail the other day and came up with a couple of postcards....

You should be able to embiggen the photos

if you'd like to see more details.

The templates are most definitely a huge success and I highly recommend them to anyone wanting to ensure your stitches are evenly placed.  And they don't have to be used strictly for crazy quilting either!  If you want further information about these great tools, you can have a look at my post HERE.   Thank you again Janet for sending these for me to test out!

Today's quote..."Eat the cake.  It's someone's birthday somewhere"

Tramping about

Today there as absolutely nothing creative done in my studio.  Instead we spent the afternoon (along with Resident Chef's brother) tramping around in cemeteries searching out long lost relatives.  It was fun, but hot! 

This is one of the more interesting ones we happened across and it was enough to send me off trying to find out more about the Fish Creek battle.

Information courtesy of Wikipedia....

The Battle of Fish Creek (also known as the Battle of Tourond's Coulée ),^[4] fought April 24, 1885 at Fish Creek, Saskatchewan, was a major Métis victory over the Canadian forces attempting to quell Louis Riel's North-West Rebellion. Although the reversal was not decisive enough to alter the ultimate outcome of the conflict, it was convincing enough to persuade Major General Frederick Middleton to temporarily halt his advance on Batoche, where the Métis would later make their final stand. 

First we knew that there was  a relative in this battle.

Today's quote..."I'd give up chocolate, but I"m not a quitter"

Sometimes I *heart* my mailman!

The mailman brought me something really fun and I must say I'm anxious to start playing with them!  Janet from Creative Impressions very kindly sent me a set of the brand new 'Embroidery Stitch Templates' that were created to accompany Kathy Shaw's new book 'Stunning Stitches For Crazy Quilts'.    

I am so excited to have a chance to play with them and see how much easier getting my embroidery stitches even will be.  There are 5 sheets of very sturdy plastic templates (example below....)

These are great for any crazy quilter or embroider and do not have to be used along with Kathy's book (altho' it's fun if they are!).  

Thank you Janet!!!!💖💖

There has been some progress on the latest landscape, but this is going to change because I'm not happy with the trees in the skyline.  They look awkward so (I'm sure with much angst during the unpicking process) they're going.

Today's quote...."Be careful with your words.  They can only be forgiven, not forgotten"

Over the weekend the main thing accomplished was to make these....

Zucchini relish - a couple jars are

headed for the Christmas box.

And some progress on the latest landscape...

Today's quote..."10% of conflict is due to difference in opinion and 90% is due to delivery and tone of voice"

A new beginning, and a tip (of sorts)

I'll start with the tip...now, don't go getting all excited because it's really nothing all THAT special,  However, most of you know by now that PMS Albatross and I have 'issues' - many issues.  One of them is her infuriating habit of throwing the spool off the holder whenever the spirit moves her.  Maddening to say the least!  So I cast about for something that I could add to the spool spindle to help hold the thread in place.  I didn't want anything too heavy so I hit upon this...

I deconstructed a Gutermann thread spool and got that 'thingie' on the right in the picture.  No idea what it's called!  All you have to do is pry, twist it off the spool and you're left with that funky little piece.

Now you can see it in use.  First is the spool of thread, then the regular disc that's supposed to hold the spool in place, then my little 'thingie' solution.

So far, it seems to be working.  I'm sure PMS is having some sleepless nights trying to figure a way to circumnavigate my solution.  In the meantime I'll bask in finally getting one up on her!



And....you can also use that handy little 'thingie' if you're wanting to use a large cone of thread on your machine - sometimes that little 'thingie' fits perfectly in the end of the cone, making it much more secure on your machine.  

And, here is the beginning of another landscape...

Can't put my hands on the original photo (will

show you later) but it's one of my own and was

taken locally.

Today's quote..."We get so worried about being 'pretty'.  Let's be pretty kind, pretty funny, pretty smart, pretty strong"

More additions

Because I made a teddy pillow cover for our youngest grandson, I can't leave the oldest without one, so here is his (which will be going in the Christmas box)....

Made from scraps found in my stash and using a monster picture I found online to create a pattern.  What little boy doesn't like monsters - especially if they're friendly ones!

And, because I had some leftover Thomas the Tank Engine fabric (from making the little apron to go with the felt food) I thought I'd whip up a pillowcase - also going in the Christmas box....

These are SO (SEW?) easy to make!  All the seams are enclosed which makes it nice and sturdy as well.  

Today's quote..."I was being so good at the craft store, I really was....but then I got out of the car and went in"

Outside, but not looking in

As promised, here are the photos of the outside of the snippet roll needle case.  You can click  to embiggen them if you'd like.

and this photo gives a better idea of the length....

Now it remains to be seen if anyone likes it enough to 

want to learn how to make one for themselves!

Today, instead of a quote.....

A little more CQ

I finished working on my crazy quilt project - a snippet needle roll.  I've been asked to teach a workshop at our local quilt guild and needed to come up with a prototype so people can see what they will be working on.  I did a snippet roll needle case several years ago (and you can see pictures of it HERE  HERE  HERE and HERE).  This time I will show you a picture of the outside, rolled up, as well as the inside and next time I'll show you the outside.

Pictures are clickable to embiggen

You have to imagine the final three photos joined

together.  The final roll measures about 35" long by

5" wide.  The inside features felt to hold your

needles (that's the areas that are bordered with

blanket stitch).  

Today's quote...."Every day is a new beginning.  Take a deep breath and start again"

Crazy quilting again

Over the past few days I've been working on a new crazy quilt project.  It's not ready to show just yet, but here's a couple of glimpses of what's been done so far...

This quote made me smile..."I'm a repurposing, upcycling, vintage adoring, antiquing, dumpster diving, garage sale-ing, thrift store hunting, junk sifting, yard-n-tag sale shopping, glue gunning, stencil & spray painting, do it myself-ing, look what I made kind of girl!"

Two 'fer one special

Today I have a two 'fer one special going on (two projects 'fer one post...hah hah).  First of all, I made a couple produce bags....

Stash fabric, but I purchased the mesh which is the 'stuff' you use when lining bathing suits and such.  Don't know what it's called though!

And...another pair of the generic socks that will be going in the Christmas box....

Pair 5 of 9

Regia sock yarn

Diving and Busting

Yep, I went stash diving and ended up busting some outta bondage and into the light of day.  First up, I made a couple of tote bags.

Some of you may remember my trying to use up a pre-quilted whole cloth chunk of quilt I was given and that I added several of the doilies from my stash to it.  I finally used up the rest of it to make this....

I was stash diving and came across some brown upholstery sample squares I've had for ages and thought I should be able to make something out of them.  Also came across a piece of chocolate-themed fabric and decided another tote bag might be a good use for at least some of it......

Two more things going in the Christmas box!

And while I was putzing about with the upholstery fabric sample squares I realized I had just enough to make this cute little pillow cover for our grandson....

Measures about 16" square

Today's quote..."This is the beginning of a new day.  You have been given this day to use as you will.  You can waste it or use it for good.  What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.  When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever.  In its place is something that you have left behind.  Let it be something good" 

More recipes

I'm running behind today so this post is going to be a simple one.  Thought I'd share a couple more recipes we find quite tasty...

ONION SALAD DRESSING

1 small onion

2/3 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 c. white vinegar

1 c. salad oil

1 tsp. poppy seeds

Place onion in blender and chop.  Add sugar, mustard, salt and vinegar & blend.  Add oil a small amount at a time.  Add poppy seeds and refrigerate.  Use on salads, as a sandwich spread, or as a 'dip' for raw veggies.

POPPY SEED DRESSING

2/3 c. raspberry vinegar

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1/3 c. sugar

2 T. lemon juice

2 tsp. poppy seeds

1/4 tsp. Worcestershire

1 T. minced onion

1/4 tsp. paprika

Combine vinegar, sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire, onion & paprika in blender.  Slowly add veg oil.  Add poppy seeds & refrigerate.  Serve over romaine lettuce with sliced strawberries and pecans.

RANCH DRESSING

1 c. mayo (we use Miracle Whip)

1/2 c. sour cream

1/2 tsp. EACH dried chives, parsley & dill

1/4 tsp. EACH garlic power & onion powder

1/8 tsp. EACH salt & pepper

Combine in blender and refrigerate.  Use on salads, as a sandwich spread, or as a 'dip' for veggies.  

I don't have time today to search out any fun links for you (sorry), so I will leave you with today's anonymous quote...."When nothing goes right, go left"

Well, it's happened

Yep, it's official.  I'm an old farte.  And I don't feel any older despite the calendar saying I should.  The best part is the government is now going to see fit to pay me for the privilege of being old....bring it on!!!

The weekend was very hot here so not much was done on the creative side of things.  So....how about a nice summer recipe?  We've been eating this one the past couple of nights and I have to say it's pretty tasty and perfect for summer.

COTTAGE CHEESE JELLIED SALAD

2 small boxes Lemon Jello
1 cup boiling water

1 small can crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 c. salad dressing
1 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

16 oz. cottage cheese
1/2 c. whipping cream, whipped ***

*** NOTE:  Resident Chef didn't have any whipping cream on hand, so he made up a lemon instant pudding and used that instead....tastes great!  Left out the walnuts too (didn't have any in the cupboard).  

Dissolve Jello in boiling water and refrigerate until starting to jell.  Add remaining ingredients.  Chill and Enjoy!!

And....one thing I did over the weekend  .....

I didn't have snaps, so I opted to use

dome fasteners that I gussied up with buttons.

Had just a bit enough scrap of fabric leftover from

making my sock knitting bag, so a win/win.

Today your quote is from Lucy Levenson..."If I plan something I never enjoy it as much.  I like the journey of not knowing how it turns out"

And....the beginning of something else!

Over the next little while there just might be a few baby-ish things appearing here at Chez Magpie...and this is the start of one of them....

Why, you might ask?

Well...there's a wee little 'grand' bundle of joy

to love  making an appearance 

in our lives come the end of January.

So...what's a grandma to do but make things?

Another tah dah moment!

And......we have another finish!!  I loved making this one and I know I will be searching for more crusty rusty vehicles so I can do more (not that I'm giving up my love of buildings anytime soon!).  There are definitely NOT enough hours in the days to create all of these I would like to do.  (Please excuse the quality of the photo - of course it's raining here and the lighting is dismal!)

FOR SALE   

SOLD!!!!

The color in the close-up is a bit more 'true' ...

Inspired by this photo and kindly used with the permission of Dale Stewart (thank you!!!!)......

Today's quote...." I feel like a failure.  I've been shopping for craft supplies for 20 years and I still don't have what I need"

and....another one bites the dust....

....another pair of socks that is!

#4 of 9, using my favourite sock 'recipe'...

Yarn is, once again, 'Pairfect' by Regia.  

I think there will be a finished landscape to

show you on Wednesday, so stay tuned!

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

Throwing this out to you for help...

If, in your travels over the summer, 

you come across a great old rusty 

tractor or vehicle and are able to stop (safely!)

and get me some good clear photos I

would certainly appreciate it!

Fodder for such things is scarce in this area.

Thanks!

(of course I'm always interested in old houses,

churches and barns too!)

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

Today's quote..."Life is amazing.  And then it's awful.  And then it's amazing again.  And in between the amazing and the awful, it's ordinary and mundane and routine.  Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary.  That's just  living a heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life.  And it's breathtakingly beautiful"

Soapboxes, progress, and pretties

First, I'll start with the soapbox....this morning we had our first telemarketer call at 6:50 am.  Followed by two more within half an hour.  What is WRONG with these people?  Do they not know that your heart stops when the phone rings that early in the morning?  Do they not know that there are (hah) laws that state they are legally not allowed to call before 9 am and after 9 pm?  If we didn't live in an apartment and there were noise bylaws in place I would buy a whistle (or even better an air horn).  Maybe deafening the suckers might give them pause for thought - although I seriously doubt it.  Fortunately we have call display and never answer calls that are from a number we don't recognize and you'd think they would get tired of calling when they get no response.  

Climbing off soapbox now.

And just to get my ohmmmm back...how about these....

Resident Chef bought me flowers!

No special reason either....lucky me.💖

And here's a progress picture...

Today's quote, from Francine Ohiar..."Some people just don't get that I'd rather talk to a wall than them"

A bit more progress

Hopefully you can see a bit of what I've added to the landscape over the past few days.  Still more to go!

Today's quote..."One small crack does not mean that you are broken.  It means that you were put to the test and you didn't fall apart"

December in July

I did accomplish a little more on the landscape over the weekend but not enough that you can really see much of a difference.  So....instead of showing you that....here's another of my 'evening projects' I just finished.  Something else for the Christmas box!

The pattern is the 'Basic Knitted Socks' by

Kate Atherly, and can be found on

Ravelry HERE.

Yarn is 'Pairfect' by Regia.

This is my 'go-to' sock pattern - easy and lots of

stretch so they fit quite well.  The only thing I change is to

begin with 12 rows of knit 1, purl 1 for additional

stretch at the top.  

And yet more progress

As you can see, there has been a bit more progress on the old car part of the landscape.  

Sometimes there are mysteries that happen here at Chez Magpie and yesterday PMS Albatross decided in her wisdom that she should start sewing one of the decorative stitches completely backwards.  No reason.  At first I thought it was because I had pressed the reverse button but then I remembered that the decorative stitches don't HAVE a reverse option.  So why, oh why, did this particular hissy fit occur?  Yet another in the litany of idiosyncrasies of PMS Albatross!!  

Today's quote..."Warning!  This woman is a quilter.  She actually enjoys chopping up perfectly good fabric into little teeny tiny pieces and then sewing them all right back together again for fun!"

A bit of progress

There has been a bit done on the newest landscape as you can see from this photo...

  

Today's quote..."In the rhythm of the needles there is music for the soul"

Another finished project

Over the weekend I finished working on another gift that will be added to the Christmas box.  I really enjoyed working with the bright colours and of course the Lego theme was a winner in my eyes.  The pattern is the crocheted 'Building Blocks Throw' from Red Heart and can be found HERE.  I would recommend, if you were to do this, that you use a #3 yarn, rather than the # 4 the pattern calls for.  It's a tad heavy and I think a bit lighter weight yarn would suit it better.  

Another anonymous quote (and one that I think we can all identify with at times!)..."A perfect metaphor for my life would be 'someone trying to stand in a hammock'