Okay....

...well, the votes are in and all three of you voted for a little seam treatment series, so that's what I'll do.  For those of you who don't care about seam treatments, serves you right for not voting...hee hee!

This one can be worked either using waste canvas or 'by eye', depending on which you're most comfortable doing.  I began by doing two rows of buttonhole stitch (red in the diagram)...then I 'whipped' the base line of the buttonhole stitch with some gold (green in the diagram).  For the center part I wove silver and gold through the buttonhole stitches (blue & yellow in the diagram).  It's an easy one to do, but looks like braid when it's finished.  

Hopefully this little diagram will help make it clearer for you.

Today your quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson (someone I would have loved to meet!)... "Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting"

And now - for something the same, but different...sort of.

Before I get to that though, I did promise I would show you the project I was working on the other day.  Now that it has been gifted to Irene for her birthday, I can show you....

This is a little cloth basket

that she can use for whatever

strikes her fancy.

And now, for the 

same, but different part of 

this post..

This is a seam treatment I used on the 'secret' project I'm working on.  I thought I would break it down for you so you can see how I did it.  

First I worked a row of cross stitches which I topped (and bottomed) with rows of back stitch - both worked in embroidery floss.  I finished that off with two rows of fly stitches worked in metallic thread.  

Hopefully this little diagram will help you to see what I did.

Now, the question arises - would you like me to continue with this and do a little series of seam treatments with the instructions to make them?  Or are you beyond bored with my embroidery?  Stand up and vote and we'll see what happens!

And, just for fun....

A bird-shaped ice cube in Jack's iced tea!

Finally, your quote for today is from Rumi... "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.  Today I am wise, so I am changing myself"

Sadly disappointed, I'm sure

Today I have the reveal of the 'mystery project' I was working on (and before you go and get all excited about it, I'd better warn you that it's not half as exciting as you might have been led to believe).  All I can say is into each life a little disappointment must fall!

And now, on to the reveal (and I seriously hope you're sitting down, because the sheer amazement of this should be too much to handle)...

Yep.  I told you.  I can hear you all now - "what in the world IS that?".   Well, as you know there's a new grandbaby appearing in our lives in the next little while and this is a form of soft 'high chair'.  Very portable and easy to tuck in a diaper bag for those occasions when you want to pop into a restaurant (or grandma's house) and there's no high chair available.  I know it's hard to tell from the photo how this works so perhaps this will help...

Photo from Amazon
(sorry, but can't get the link to work)

The pattern I used was a free download from 'Canadian Living' magazine, but it appears they have since removed it from their files.  

We had one of these when our boys were small and used it a lot, so hopefully it will come in handy once again.

Today your quote is from Winnie The Pooh - "Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in your heart"

A slight change of gears

Today I actually did some sewing and made something that I can't show you - yet.  Perhaps I will be able to next week sometime...hopefully.  Or maybe not hopefully - depending on your viewpoint when you actually see it!

However, I CAN show you this...

Now what do you suppose this might be

the pattern for?

I haven't had to create a pattern with the drawn-out grid method for a very long time.  I remember now why it's a complete and total pain - literally.  

Today your quote is from Ellen DeGeneres.... "We focus so much on our differences, and that is creating, I think, a lot of chaos and negativity and bullying in the world.  I think if everybody focused on what we all have in common -  which is - we all want to be happy"

Drumroll.....tah dah.....number nineteen!!!

Here's the last in the series of crazy quilt postcards - number nineteen.  That's not to say there won't be more at some point, but for the moment I'm postcarded out and need to switch gears and work on something else for awhile.

Sorry the colour is a bit 'off' on this one - it actually has a white background.

Today your quote is from Rachel Carson... "Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.  There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter"

Number 18

As promised, here's number 18 in the series...

As of this moment, they are all complete - stitched and sewn up ready for mailing.  I have one more to show you, but I'm going to make you wait until tomorrow for that.

My next crazy quilting project has to be a secret one because it's for the magazine and you'll just have to wait until the winter issue to see what I do - if, of course, it turns out!! 

Your quote for today is from Neil Gaiman....."Whatever it takes to finish things, finish.  You will learn more from a glorious failure than you ever will from something you never finished"

Some announcements (thinly disguised as mumblings?)

- Just a wee note to say that I have finished all nineteen postcards in my series and now it's on to the finishing touches.  Will post pictures later this week of the last two in the series.

Today your quote is from Napoleon Hill... "Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"

#17

Over the weekend I completed #17 of the postcard series.

Only two more to go!





It's turned hot here over the past couple of days and today is supposed to be a scorcher.  I really don't mind the heat, but I must admit that today might just be a little much.  If the humidity level would stay down it would be so much better!

Today your quote is from James Dent... "A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken"

Let's see - all fingers and toes are aligned....

....ah, yes.....this one is number sixteen....

Today your quote is from Bill Watterson.... "Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless"

Go do something pointless,

and be sure you love every minute of it!

The mail and some mumblings

My copy of Kathy Shaw's latest crazy quilting book arrived in the mail yesterday and I must say she's outdone herself with this one.  Of course I have had a sneak peek at it all prior to publication (being a proofreader does have its perks!!), but it's a thrill to see it all together and looking so grand.

This is volume II of what is planned to be a series of four.  (Volume I - Beyond The Basics;  Volume II - Ribbon Embellishments;  Volume III - Magnificent Motifs;  and Volume IV - Beyond the Expected).  You can purchase your copy via Amazon.

Today your quote is another one from an anonymous source... 
"Fabricologist Resource Centre" - that sounds more impressive than "fabric stash"

Ran out of fingers and toes....

Well, it's obvious I did that very thing!  Because the postcard I posted yesterday was really # 14 and it appears I can't count!!  Oops!  

So.....this one is number 14 then, or it can be 15....or whatever you want it to be, because obviously I haven't a clue!!  (All I know is that there are four more to go and I can count those on one hand...phew).

Today your quote is from Arundhati Roy... "To love.  To be loved.  To never forget your own insignificance.  To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you.  To seek joy in the saddest places.  To pursue beauty to its lair.  To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple.  To respect strength, never power.  Above all, to watch.  To try and understand.  To never look away.  And never, never to forget"

# 15

Over the weekend I finished postcard #15 in the series I'm working on...

You will remember, no doubt, that I made a pirate costume for our grandson to wear at his second birthday party on the weekend...

Despite taking a ton of pictures, this is the only one that shows the costume - I either got a picture of the costume and a blur that was our grandson, or I got him and the costume was a blur.  My picture taking abilities obviously are sadly lacking.  Mind you - having a whirling dervish grandson certainly doesn't help matters!  Two year olds are busy!!!  


Lastly, my heart and prayers go out to the people in Orlando - a tragedy beyond compare.  

We Remember Them…

In the rising of the sun and in its going down,

We remember them;

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,

We remember them;

In the opening of buds and in the warmth of summer,

We remember them;

In the rustling of leaves and the beauty of autumn,

We remember them;

In the beginning of the year and when it ends,

We remember them;

When we are weary and in need of strength,

We remember them;

When we are lost and sick at heart,

We remember them;

When we have joys we yearn to share,

We remember them;

So long as we live, they too shall live

For they are now a part of us as

We remember them.

Postcard # 13

I finished postcard # 13 this afternoon so thought I'd share a picture...

There have been a couple of queries about what I plan to do with these pieces so here's the scoop - they will be stiffened with some heavy interfacing and backed with fabric that has been rubber stamped with the words 'Post Card'.  Once done, they will be sent through the mail (inside an envelope for protection) as little gifts.  Hope that clarifies my plans!

Today your quote is from the infamous anonymous.... "A careless word may kindle strife.  A cruel word may wreck a life.  A timely word may level stress.  But a loving word may heal and bless"

You all know.....

...that the regularly scheduled programming on this blog just HAS to involve some mumblings.  Right?  Alas, there hasn't been enough stitching of any significance to post any pictures, so instead I shall mumble once again.  I know - poor you!

And now - back to the regularly scheduled doses of mumblings

Today there was some stitching - a big difference from the past couple of days which were spent doing things that weren't the least bit productive (but my shelves are looking a whole lot neater). 

This afternoon I finished stitching on postcard # 12

Today I came across this quote about gratitude and thought it was very fitting right now.  The author is unknown.  "Gratitude is the music of the heart, when its chords are swept by the breeze of kindness"

Believe me my friends - our family has felt your breeze and can't thank you enough.  Bless you all.

an update and thanks

I know this blog has gone off the normal mumblings, but today I want to extend my personal thanks, as well as those of Winnie and Shawn, to all of you that have us in your thoughts and prayers.  They mean more than you can ever know.  When we come together to hope and pray for a common good, we bloggers are a powerful force.

The latest update is this:  Last night Winnie was taken by ambulance to another hospital which has a very up-to-date neo-natal unit and a team of specialists.  The decision by those doctors was to operate to insert a drainage tube into her gallbladder which will need to remain in place until the baby is born.  The surgery was successful but the trauma started contractions.  The doctors were hopeful that they would stop on their own and at about 2 am they did.  

Winnie has been in pain since Friday and Shawn has had virtually no sleep in all that time.  As of a few minutes ago he was heading home to grab a few hours sleep before heading back to the hospital.  The next step is for her to try to eat something (she hasn't had anything since Friday, other than fluids through the IV) and if that doesn't trigger any undue pain, she might be able to go home tomorrow.  

Once again, thank you all for your concern and for caring about my kids.  Bless you all!!

This blog will return to the regularly scheduled mumblings tomorrow...

Prayers, please

Most of you know that our #2 son and daughter-in-love are expecting a baby in September and that the wee one is definitely a miracle after they tried to have a baby for so long.  

Right now our daughter-in-love is facing imminent surgery to remove extremely painful gallstones which the doctors have decided have to come out.  She's been on morphine for the pain, which is also risky for the baby.

I know not all of you are believers and I normally don't say too much about my beliefs, but in this case I am.  If you pray, please consider adding Winnie and Shawn to your prayers and if you don't, please hope for the best.

Thank you so much.

A story

Now, boys and girls, it's storytime.  Please sit in your seats and be quiet while Magpie tells a story...

Once upon a time, in a Magpie's world, there lived a silly lady.  She was of a 'certain age' and on occasion (rarely, very rarely) she might be just a little bit forgetful.  It's a condition that is found in ladies who also often find themselves going on a number of unexpected tropical vacations, if you get my drift.

Anyway, the Magpie spent a very long time typing three very large books all about her family and their history, and she even had them published.  Even more time passed, and the Magpie managed to sell a number of copies of her books which made her very happy.

More time passed, and one day the Magpie had a special request from a museum that wanted to add a copy of all three of her books to their collection.  Well, the Magpie would be honoured to do that very thing, but alas - when the Magpie went to the shelf to get the books there were none left of the second book.

Oh no!!

What to do?  What to do?

Well, it so happened that a very nice man had printed the books for the Magpie and perhaps he could be convinced to print just a tiny few more?  The Magpie hurried to the computer and sent off a pleading email and waited for an answer.

Oh happy day!  The very nice man could do that very thing, but it would cost a bit more because he would have to get another very nice man to hand bind them.  The Magpie sent him a happy email and asked that she be given a quote before proceeding (because, after all, this book publication business is not cheap).

Fast forward a week and a half and kiddos we find The Magpie and Mr. Magpie in the bedroom.  (now, now - no tittering you lot at the back - I can hear you!!).  We see the vacuum in the corner and the mattress standing at attention at the foot of the bed.  Mr. Magpie flexes his muscles, lifts the box spring, and what to their wondering eyes did appear?

Out of the cloud of dust that arose...

Ten copies of the wanted book!

Yes, TEN copies!!

'My goodness' exclaimed The Magpie!   '- - - - - -' exclaimed Mr. Magpie!!

'Never mind' said The Magpie.  'Nice book printing man hasn't sent a quote yet, so it will be okay'.

The Magpie hurried to the computer and wrote a very apologetic email to the nice man, explaining that she suffered from that horrible disease called 'mental-pause' and therefore could not be held accountable for her actions and begging his forgiveness.

CHAPTER TWO

The very next day the Magpie received an email.  Written by the very nice man.  It was a very nice email too.

But, guess what?  The very nice man was forgetful too!  He forgot all about the quote.  He printed five copies.  He bound five copies (by hand).  He had them ready to ship.  Oh dear!!

The Magpie remembers the days of
using the catalog for toilet paper.

Anybody want some?

THE END.  

Instead of a quote, I leave you with this....

Alas, no stitching...but....the reveal!

Not one single stitch today.  It was one of THOSE days where commitments, jobs and mundane things like (dare I say it) housework and balancing the cheque book take precedence over the fun things like stitching.  Tomorrow I'll be away all day, so it will be another sad day - I will be suffering from withdrawals I know!


Oh, and you're all so curious about what that mysterious 'thing' was I posted about on Friday?  Well, I hate to tell you that you are likely going to be sadly disappointed when you find out, but hopefully there will be a little grandson who is turning two in a few days who might be happy!  

That 'thing' you saw turned into this!

Which will go along with this, to make a happy little pirate!  Or at least I hope it will!








Today the quote is from Lauryn Hill...."Let me be patient, let me be kind.  Make me unselfish, without being blind.  I may have faith to make mountains fall, but if I lack love then I am nothing at all"

And now - for something a little different

To relieve a little of the boredom over seeing yet another postcard (and, more to the point, my not having any to show you today!), I thought I'd post a picture of a mystery project I'm working on.  

Now, what do you suppose this might be when it's done?

Today your quote is from Neil Armstrong.... "Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand"