Cracks in my decking?

 Yes, there's nearly six hours of stitching on the deck boards in this landscape - and they're still not done.  I took a photo and I'd be willing to bet you can barely SEE the stitching

For context, the single board tucked up beneath the chair hasn't been stitched yet.  Yes, your Magpie is obsessed and some would say quite looney.  Methinks they might not be far wrong!

- If you live in the US, perhaps you might like to take part in THIS project.

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS incredible artist!

- If you're planning to do any preserving over the next while and thinking about giving some of it as gifts, perhaps you'd like to add THESE.

- THIS looks like it would be such fun to try!

Today's quote is by William Wilson (sorry, but I might have shared this one before?)..."We are living in a day where people are proud of what they should be ashamed of"

Of course

 Yes, of course you know what's happening here in the Chez Magpie studio - there's a beginning on a new landscape.  This one, I think, will be aptly named 'The Red Chair' (for obvious reasons).

Sorry about the basting threads!  I forgot to take the picture before I put them in.

- Many of you know I like recycled denim projects so I had to share THIS.

- Have a look through the galleries of THIS artist!

- THIS would be handy for so many different things.

- THIS is certainly intriguing but I don't think I'd have the patience to try it myself.

Today's quote is from Paul Avellino...."Nature doesn't just accept diversity - it survives because of it.  Strip that away, and ecosystems collapse.  Maybe it's time some people stop pretending humanity works any differently"

Mountain majesty

 I had too much fun making this one too!  The embroidery took awhile and I know it's hard for you to see the dimension that most of it has, or that I added glitter to the snow-topped mountains. 

  And here's a closeup of the embroidery so hopefully you can see more detail...

"MOUNTAIN MAJESTY"
measures approx. 18x23"

FOR SALE!

- There are lots of links HERE for making pincushions in pretty much any shape you can imagine.

- HERE is something you might like to try doing.

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

Today's quote..."Sewing is a continual scavenger hunt for the supplies that were just in your hand"

Sort of blah

 It's been hot again and not much is being accomplished it seems.  Spent all of yesterday reading a book that I thought was good until I got to the end and it left me totally hanging.  Oh, but it's going to be continued in the next book expected in late 2025.  Hah, by that time I will have forgotten the entire plot line.  

- If you are creating a fairy garden or simply want to add something charming to your garden decor, check THESE out.

- There are some fun ideas HERE for using twigs.  No directions, but most are easy enough to figure out on your own.

- There are links HERE for making yourself some palazzo pants.

- Have a peek through the creations of THIS artist.

- THIS is a rather cute little project.

Today's quote is from Erasmus..."The less talent they have, the more pride, vanity and arrogance they have.  All these fools, however, find other fools who applaud them"

Four? Check!!

 Yes, there are four!

(pairs of socks, that is)

This is the final pair of the set:

All are made with Paton's Kroy yarn using my usual generic pattern.

Today is Independence Day in the US.  I would be remiss if I didn't wish my blogging friends from there a happy day.  With all that's going on in that country right now, I'm sure not everybody feels like celebrating.  I saw a quote attributed to John Collins which said "It feels weird to celebrate our independence, when it's pretty clear we're losing it".  There's a lot of truth in that.

- There are links HERE to some really cute doll designs.

- And HERE is something else you might like to try if you're into doll making.

- For those of you who like to paint with watercolours, perhaps some of the tips found HERE might be of interest.

- If you're interested in junk journals (or just want to have a peek through an amazing example) go HERE.

Today's quote is from Booker T. Washington.... "Great men cultivate love, only little men cherish a spirit of hatred"

A little different view?

 I'm in the process of adding embroidery to the landscape and I doubt that a 'straight-on' photo will show the detail....so....I thought I'd try to be artistic with the camera and try to show you an angle shot.  Successfully I hope!

I think you can click on the picture to embiggen it further.

- THIS might be an interesting process to try out.

- Have a scroll through the works by THIS artist!

- If you like slow stitching and yo-yo's, perhaps one of the ideas HERE might be of interest.

- I came across THIS article and found it quite interesting so thought I'd share.

Today the quote is from Thomas Paine..."A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody"

Happy Canada Day!

 One hundred and fifty eight years ago on July 1st Canada became a nation.  I am proud to be a Canadian and wish our nation a very happy birth day.

- THIS is something you might like to make.

- If you have a little one in your life, perhaps making THIS would encourage them to learn how to cook.

- THESE are rather cute (and would make great gifts too)

- If you visit HERE, you can click on various artists and see their work.  Better pour yourself a cuppa first though because there's lots to see!

Today's quote is from George Orwell..."If you want to know who rules over you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize"

Too much fun!

 I don't know if it's possible to have too much fun, but I can say I did while I was working on that previous landscape....so....I started another one (of course I did, would you expect anything else?).  Here's the beginning....

- THIS is a fun project that is no-calorie!!

- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS artist.

- Some of you might find THIS of interest.

- If you like crazy quilting and embroidery, perhaps THIS interview might interest you.

Today's quote is from Aristotle..."It is also in the interests of the tyrant to make his subjects poor - the people are so occupied with their daily tasks that they have no time for plotting"

A finish!

 Yesterday I put the finishing stitches into the latest landscape which is, as yet, untitled.  Now it can be set aside until I see the oral surgeon in December whereupon I will gift it to him for his retirement and in thanks for looking after me for the past five years.  This one measures 18x22".

- THIS might be fun to try.

- Because it's hot, hot, hot at the moment, perhaps playing with something like THIS might be just what you need to amuse yourself.

- And because mindlessness is a good thing when it's hot, how about printing one (or more) of THESE and having fun.

- And you know you always wanted to know how to do THIS...right?

- I've often wondered about attempting THIS but then I'm leery on what it might do to my sewing machine.  Have you tried it?

Today's quote is from Albert Einstein..."Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth"

Before and after!

Reading Boud's latest post about giving her living room a summer look, I felt inspired to take a page out of her book and 'flip the quilt' that covers the pull-out couch in my sewing room.  It went from this...

...to this....

I know, SUCH exciting happenings here at Chez Magpie!  We're having an extreme heat wave right now and it's just too hot to bother doing much else.  

- I really enjoyed scrolling through THESE.  I happen to have an old Singer machine in one of these and would love to transform it, however the machine still works (or would, if I could muster the courage to give it a new belt).  

- THESE are pretty to look through even if you don't want to use them.

- THIS would be a fun project and would make lovely gifts too.

- You might find THIS article (and the accompanying links) of interest.

Today's quote is from CS Lewis..."The greatest evils in the world will not be carried out by men with guns, but by men in suits sitting behind desks"

For lack of something better

 I don't have anything new to show you today, but will share another picture of the latest landscape.  There has been a lot of work done, but it's hard to tell.  I've quilted the grass areas as well as the rocks.  Can you see the squirrel, the bunny and the cardinal I've added?  Working on quilting the water and the sky areas....

- THESE made me smile.

- I really like THIS.

- Perhaps you might like to give THIS a try!

- If you're like me you've accumulated an over-abundance of shopping bags so maybe it would be fun to turn some of them into THESE.

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

3 of 4

 The landscape, although having been worked on, doesn't look much different than it did on Monday...so...how about I show you a boring pair of socks that just exited off my needles instead?  My usual generic pattern and Paton's Kroy sock yarn.  

- THIS is a cute little bag that would be useful.

- If you have some fat quarters in your stash perhaps one of THESE ideas would come in handy. And there are lots more ideas HERE.

- THESE are really fun!

Today's quote...

Another start

 Some of you might remember my having had a pre-cancerous growth removed from my tongue (would you believe it's been five years?!).  I have been in a study group since then and have twice-yearly check-ins with the oral surgeon.  I learned he will be retiring in December and I really wanted to do something nice for him.  I know he and his wife have a cottage so I thought a landscape that looks like the Canadian north might be something they would like.  So....here is the beginning of it...

- THIS is interesting!!

- and THIS looks like a fun project.

- THIS takes you to a short video showing a fun technique which would be a wonderful gift.

- THIS caught my eye and I thought it would make a lovely curtain.

- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS amazing artist.

Today's quote is from Martin Luther King, Jr...."We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice.  Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity"

Another addition

 For a change of pace while I contemplate the next landscape, I made this...

She will be heading for the Christmas box for our little granddaughter.  She'll be just about four then and the perfect age for a dolly that comes with a couple changes of clothes...a nightie, and a pair of jeans with a top.  The doll pattern is one I have cobbled together from several different ones.

- THIS looks like it would be a fun thing to try.

- Have  a peek at the gallery of THIS artist!  And THIS one as well.

- The raw materials for THIS are certainly readily available.

- HERE is another technique to try.

Today's quote is from Adam Smith..."Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent"

The reveal

 Some of you might remember my having shown you a pile of fabrics a week or so ago (you are forgiven if you don't).  The pile of two different fabrics has now been turned into six sets of aprons and hot pads - all destined for the Christmas box.

- I've noticed a definite resurgence of granny squares and thought I'd share THIS great pillow design.  If the pictures don't show when you go there, just click on the small thumbnails and they will embiggen for you.  And, while you're there, click on her 'Free Patterns' and explore the other wonderful designs she has on offer.

- HERE is a fun little project.

- And so is THIS.

- Of course THIS caught my eye.

- THIS looks like a pretty easy thing to create and I think it would look good with brown bags too.

Today's quote is from Confucius..."An evil man will burn his own nation to the ground to rule over the ashes"