How to be a Witch for Halloween

Happy Halloween! Amazing, isn’t it? How quickly October flew by… This month saw cold, windy days and hot, dry days and even a little bit of rainy, cold, foggy days! (It’s rare to have a cold October in this part of California- normally it’s blisteringly hot and dry and extremely incendiary this time of year around here…)

How to be a Witch for Halloween- hmmm. I’ve dressed up for Halloween as either a Black Witch, a Black Pirate, or a Black Vampire for many, many years, so this year I wanted something a little more…lighthearted:

I like it so much, I may just wear this outfit around for the rest of the year! Mustard tights from Target, Black old-timey heels and burgundy sweater from Khol’s, green long sleeve perfect tee and stripey skirt from Old Navy. The Tree Skirt is my own creation from years back (which I love and wear several times a week this time of year!)

Here’s Tasha’s costume:

She’s going as “a kitty napping in the sunlight”. Which is what she dresses up as every year, but hey- it works, so why change it momma?

Now, I don’t want to freak anyone out- but there has been an actual Faerie sighting recently…

Want to see? I think I captured her on film:

She has just flown in for the Yule season (which, I’m told, is twice as long in Faerie-Land as it is here in the mundane world. Hmm…) and is expecting her luggage any day now.

Luggage?!

And here I thought that creepy feeling on the back of my neck was from watching too much Ghost Hunters…I’ve got a bad feeling about this! Just how much Luggage can one Faerie have?

Photography Lessons

After seeing the phone picture on the blog earlier this week, I decided to spend some quality time with my Good Camera- I need some practice anyway. Here’s what happened:

Tasha is not impressed…severely. I did a photo study of her for a few minutes- just sat in the chair in the hallway and snapped pics of her as she tried to settle down for her daily morning nap. A few more weeks and she’ll be able to move to that puddle of sunlight you can almost see on the floor in front of her- it’s still too hot right now for sleeping in the sun, even early in the morning.

Yes, I should be working on the Camp Shirt, or my new knitting project (I picked up Knitting from the Center Out by Daniel Yuhas from the library yesterday, read 5 pages and whipped out my stash and started knitting furiously at 9 o’clock last night, much to the amusement and dismay of everyone else in the house- mama’s not turning those lights out anytime soon!), but I wanted to capture the progression from total alertness (what are you doing mama?!) to sleepy-contentedness that is a cat seduced by the warmth of Fall Sunshine…

I love that her foot hasn’t moved an iota as those eyes slowly succumb to the warmth and stillness of the morning around her…

It’s been too long since I’ve made her the focus of the day. My little sunshine girl.

Then I left her to get some much needed sleep (ha-ha, her second nap of the morning!) and turned my “eye” to the garden:

Um…oh, my. Goodness Gracious, that’s a dirty, lifeless, tired and worn-out little garden, isn’t it? Summer out here on the edge of East County really takes a toll on these little green souls. The camera is helping me really see the individual plants, rather than the overall greeness I usually see…

Not too mention all the fallen leaves, dirt, and spider webs…

There is one bright spot however- this little corner of lovelyness! The Aloe has definitely survived my hack-job of a repotting from last year, and that lovely fernyish plant, too! It’s a volunteer that I think came with the Aloe when it was but a teeny-tiny-itty-bitty 4 inch starter plant. It has been growing quite contentedly in this pot through transplants, moving locations, drought conditions (ahem) and over fertilization. (and under fertilization as well…found a chore for tonight!) and I love it’s delicate, leafy fronds and cool-green colour. Perfect for a Woodland Fall, too!

Now, as long as the Faeries don’t decide to chop it down for a Woodland Campfire, we’re golden…

Tasha’s Adventures in sewing…

September was an exciting month, wasn’t it? Full of back-to-school, Hobbit Day, the Autumnal Equinox, Mabon Feasts, the yearly Fall closet cleaning (ahem), and oh! so much more! But the most interesting thing that happened was all the sewing Tasha got done:

These new grocery bags are the perfect size for me momma!

 

I want one of these pretty skirts for me, momma…

I’m going back to work with daddy- he needs my help there, too!

It was a busy month indeed- and October is looking to be just as busy as well! Back soon with and update on all that has found it’s way across my sewing table- hey, you Faeries get outta that scissors drawer!

May Day Musings

May Day is a favorite of mine- the sun is out, the flowers are in bloom, the days are that much longer… it’s Spring! Winter is officially past, something to dream and plan about for the future. Summer is coming and now is the time to air out the musty corners of the house and begin laying in supplies for the hot months to come. Perfect weather for long weekend hikes, tramping about the countryside before it gets too hot, trips to the garden shop for herbs and flowers, and rambling visits to the thrift stores for new old stuff for the secret garden.

- Last month was a good one for getting things finished, and setting up new routines. It felt so good to get the Watercolour Quilt done!

- The next quilt is still in the set up phase- it will take a little longer to cut the pieces for this one, there is so many!  It wouldn’t do to get hurt again.

- There is a lot more of this kind of prep work going on- yummy veggies are even  yummier cooked swiftly:

Lots more of this going on, too!

(she likes having her picture taken- it means momma is paying her extra special attention!)

- There have been lots of trips to the libraries- too many books, quite frankly, are being brought home! My favorites this week are: Weelicious by Catherine McCord; Sunday Morning Quilts by Amanda Jean Nyberg and Cheryl Arkison; Glamping with MaryJane byMaryJane Butters; and Sew What You Love by Tanya Whelan.

- There was some early season thrifting done last month as well- finally found that potting bench for the secret garden:

Nothing a little elbow grease can’t handle!

Fits perfectly! The Faeries are a little miffed (that’s where their swimming pool slide was located) but it needed to be back away from the ledge so somebody doesn’t get any smart ideas…

Lot’s more to do this month- Happy Beltane!

Wherein I learn more about Diabetes, and Make a Bag…

April 30th. The last day of a very crazy, busy, complicated, hectic month. I uploaded pictures this morning and came across all the things I did this month that I had forgotten about- I’ll get to those later in the week, but first a bit of an update:

I love Brown Rice! I don’t love Spinach anymore. Vegetarian cooking isn’t all that hard- and it’s yummy. But, I’m not a vegetarian. Mainly because… I love Asian Turkey Burgers! But not as a burger- just as a patty next to Pineapple Fried Rice (made with brown rice, of course!)

If you read my last post, you probably know what I’m going on about- if not, I just got diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. It’s made life a bit tricky- but a whole lot more fun! Exercise has  to happen now, it’s not an option. (hint- I love going outside). And although I’ve read vegetarian cookbooks for years, now I get to actually cook from them, too! (turns out vegetables really are good for you! Who knew?) The whole testing thing is…um, painful, messy and potentially illegal (it is illegal to throw your used sharps away, but I made a cute little container for them (I know, right? She’ll make anything!)). But, I’m getting it all under control with the help of routines, schedules, charts and a whole lot of research.

So…I needed a little break from all that jazz yesterday, and after my morning walk I pulled out some fabric and made… a bag for my new water bottle! (‘cause I’m supposed to drink waay more water).

First, I ironed a piece wide enough to go around it (plus seam allowance) and tall enough to cover it top to bottom, set in a double turn hem (which is the top) and sewed it in:

 

Next, I folded it in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and sewed one seam, bottom-to-top: oops! No picture of this step. But, it looks almost identical to this one, which is sewing that same seam, but turned wrong side out:

which is how you make a French Seam. Last step is turning it inside out and pressing it well:

and sewing a handle on to it:

Then you stick a water bottle into it and go outside!

 

 

 

 

 

And just so you know, this is what supervising looks like when it’s nice outside:

The Faeries are out there, too- you can’t see it, but they’ve got a swimming pool and striped cabana with a bar off to the side there…

Poof! Like magic…

Et voila- instant quilt!

Well…not quite. It’s taken two years, almost to the day. I got the idea for this quilt when we found this apartment in the Spring of 2011 (time certainly has flown!). May 7th, 2011 we were driving down the road, taking pictures of our prospective new neighborhood and dreaming of our “new” life. The walls and trim of this place inspired me to create a yellow, blue and white quilt- something pretty and light for the coming summer. Well, I gathered a few blue fabrics that summer, but time got away from me as I put together our new house, and next thing I knew it was Summer 2012. A double rotator-cuff injury was making it impossible to finish cutting out the rest of my fabric, much less finish sewing it all together.

  The first cut!

 

 

 

 

Big mistake sending them all through the washing machine- they just snarled all up, causing hours of cutting them apart!

 

 

 

 

This is the first round of piecing- turned out I needed way more fabric than this!

 

 

 

The first block- it’s a nine patch block quilt.

 

 

 

 

The top sewn together- it was at this point that I realized I would have to put a border around it to make it big enough for our bed…

 

 

 

Oh the difference a year makes- from April 2012 (above) to March 2013---->

 

 

 

I was able to gradually piece the top together over the last year, surprisingly. I don’t remember a moment when it became a quilt, per say- but I’m glad I found the time and perseverance to keep working on it. Tasha certainly has helped- whether forcing me to keep it out in the open because no one dared move her from its warm folds, or finding time to work on it in spare moments so she could “visit” with it (my life is spent in providing for the care and comfort of my kitty- isn’t everyone’s?). She just loves it whenever I make a new quilt- she considers them all her private property, running to claim them when they come out of the linen closets in the winter!

I’ve already picked out the pattern and colorway for my next quilt- making these is a bit addictive! This one is going much faster- maybe because I actually know what I'm doing this time around? I’ve done lots more research into quilting, since I started the Watercolour in general, but also just in the last few months. It’s funny how much more enjoyable and easy things are, once you get a few under your belt…

It’s a beautiful Spring morning here in the land of Magick. Let’s get started enjoying it, shall we?

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Well! That was just a wild and crazy ride, wasn’t it? Here it is, New Year’s Eve already- where did the year go? I’m glad I got to spend some of it here with all of you, sharing my makes and do’s. This last month just flew by:

The Pixie Workshop in full swing! Well, there is another wing you didn’t get to see, all my papercrafting spread out over the dining table, but you get the idea don’t you? Paper, paint, glue, glitter…it was all there for a few weeks going full steam! This is one tired little elf, I can tell you…

Here’s some of what I collected through the season, and got done in the workshop: Glass ornaments- Tigers and Polar Bears, and a lot of glittery Owls. Paper Sleighs and prancing ponies to match. One trip to Disneyland (decorated for the holidays- it’s our favorite time to go!), a bit of Birch paper that never made it to the finals (not every idea makes it to completion- I wouldn’t have any time to visit here if it did!), some mini cupcake papers in the seasons colours, and some mini gnomey gnomes for the Christmas tree…

And finally, some of the Christmas knitting- a new frilly scarf, a pretty blue Pixie Pouch, and the raw materials for a few other scarves and bags that got made in the wee small hours of the days and nights leading up to the big day!

This has been an incredible year for us here at Magickwyrds, and we look forward to a brand-spanking-bright-New-Year with all of you in the coming year! From all of us elves, kitties, Faeries and Pixies, we wish you a very Happy New Year!

Faeries in the garden!

Didn’t I tell you there would be Faeries in this space soon? Well, it’s not quite what I had planned, but look:

Do you see it? It’s right there, in the back a bit:

What is it mama? What?

Not here, Tasha- over there!

We have a Faerie Mushroom in the garden! Interestingly enough, it’s even growing in the same pot as the plant that I brought home from the Fairy Festival this summer! Coincidence? I think not…

On frustrations, and new ideas…

Oh, I’m being brutal with Pandora today folks! Even if it’s just the first two bars, if I don’t groove- off with it’s head! I need some new music this Fall…

So, I’m in the Workshop this week, trying out brand new ideas, different techniques, and a few new materials. Ugh. New is hard. My head knows what it wants to see, can see, is seeing, in that busy space, but my fingers don’t know how to get there! They’ve never been down that route, and the instructions are kinda vague, you know?

Lots of new around here this year. It’s good for the soul, and good for the artist, but it’s hard on the girl, who likes things a certain way…

Don’t feel too sorry for me yet, though- it’s Fall! And you know what that means:

Cool, crisp mornings, which is wonderful whilst watering and puttering in the garden! It’s time to begin weeding out the poor dearly departed, and almost time to get out some graph paper and plan out a new spring flower garden…

Time to dig out all the yummy fall/winter-time pillows/throws/scarves/hats/ tablecloths and dishes from their summer hiding places, and time to polish up the silver and glass ware in preparation for Fall entertaining…

Kitty sitting & Knitting time has rolled around again! Oh, how we’ve both missed this quiet time in the late evenings, where it’s just me, her, and a nice ball of yarn…

So! Lots of new things around here this week- new crafting ideas (some that just aren’t working…sometimes the best thing is just to let ‘em go…), new knitting projects (loving these little pixie bags!), new table scarves and napkins, and one of my absolute favs, new cleaning potions (Tea Tree this time around, for the smell, and its antiseptic properties. Yummy!)  It’s a wonderful start to our new year!

What’s new around you?

Autumn’s Herald

Would you believe I have no pictures of my knitting? None? I’ll have to give you a picture of a kitty to look at while we chat:

 

 

She is getting ready to play hostess for tomorrows Second Breakfast party…

 

 

It is officially knitting weather around these parts- at least in the early morning, when it’s nice and cool. There is a Pixie Pouch that’s been on the needles all summer that I’m finally finishing up, and a new one in black that’s going lickety-split fast since last night. Funny how that works- try a new pattern for the first time and it takes for ever to get done, but do one in straight stitch and it goes together almost faster than I can see!

I made my first table runner yesterday, the easy way- split a length in two and seamed it together to make a really long piece, then just hemmed the edges. This fabric already has a cute little fringe edge along the selvedge, so I just left that to make a ready-made fringe! And the best thing is it’s the perfect width for a little Fall shawl, too!

And lastly- this year has been a hectic one, mostly due to my inability to listen to my own heart. Forcing myself to slow down and get back to my basics has been really hard to implement, but I’m glad I did- this Fall has been a lot more comfortable once I slowed my pace down a bit. Some things I had wanted to do this year just aren’t going to happen- no matter how much I want them to, or how much effort I put into it. Working myself into the ground, and becoming a grumbly bear to my loved ones, isn’t worth it in the end. I’m very grateful for what I have in this life, and I’m a lucky girl for having them. Sometimes its better to say Thank You, and leave the rest to find it’s own way to your door.

I made this!

I should make this a regular series- things I made this week! It seems this was a very productive week. Getting the shopping done on Thursdays has been working out great- there’s food in the house for the weekend, I can get all my food prep done on Friday (and not waste the weekend with kitchen chores!) and I have lots of yummy things to eat for lunch all week long (so I have more time to sew, since it’s all made and ready to heat up!)

So, things I made this week- first up is a new Fall shower curtain!

It’s made up of a few different Morris inspired fabrics (love them! See the blue border? It’s my favorite), a little leftover green linen (that has been finding its way into everything lately! I keep thinking it’s the end of the piece, only to find still more in my scrap basket!) and a lovely green print I’ve had for a while. Great big 10'” squares pieced together, no backing- lots of ironing and hemming tho. And just a nice straightforward turned cuff hem at the top with the curtain rod threaded through. It’s shorter than I had planned because of that, but it works fine  so I am happy with it.  I am turning the scraps into a new fall pillow/blanky/bed for Tasha, because she asked for one:

Please mama, can I have this?

 

 

 

 

So of course, I had to whip something up for her that very instant! It’s done and just waiting for a pillow insert. I am very pleased with how it came out, too. I pieced the scraps together and put some fusible interfacing on them to make them even more poofy (technical term there, poofy) them sewed them up into a pillow case form. Insert pillow, finish the seam and voila! Instant kitty bed! Or couch pillow, which is what it will turn into when she gets bored of it in three weeks, which is the usual around here. But hey- I made two things this week! Yaay me!

Now if I can just find a pillow form to fit this…

It’s a September thing…

September! How I do love it’s familiar scents, sounds, colours and routines. I’ve been working hard these last couple of weeks:

I tried a new idea this time around, and cut out enough fabric for 6 bags at once. It took way too long! I spent three days alone just washing, ironing and cutting it all out.

This is the inside of the bags I make right now. See all those pockets? Lovely! And I am loving the colours on these. So perfect for Fall right now!

I’ve made two so far- I know! Weeks of work and only two bags! But I learned a lot while making them: I tried a new process; practiced a whole new schedule; worked with an entirely new colour palette; and even gave myself a deadline! It was an eye-opening experience. And the good news is I have a whole new design worked out for something new, which I can’t wait to get started on!

And yes, that is a very patient kitty-girl waitin’ on her momma to come play up in that first picture up there. She’s been my personal assistant these last few weeks- she makes sure I don’t get sidetracked by the computer, gets me to take lunch breaks, and she even gets me up on time in the mornings! Must be all the Tuna and Kitty-Salad she’s been getting lately…

Prep work

I wanted to make my crafting easier to do, to come up with a more streamlined process. A process? The idea struck me that I had never thought of my crafting as a process before. I let it percolate in my mind as I finished my math calculations and drew up a project sheet on the computer. Then I went over to my work area and fiddled around with the layout a bit, and thought some more about what I was planning on doing. Took a break and made some punch to take out onto the balcony to sit with my husband and kitty, who were enjoying the hot sweltering sun in the late afternoon. (Ugh it’s hot this summer! Droughts and fires and heat and mugginess everywhere!)

Can you see her? Same pose even! Too cute.

Anyway- back to the topic. I realized I was starting to think of my crafting as “my work”. It’s what I do to pass the time, to take my mind off the pain, to make my life make more sense. but can I do my crafts on a more professional capacity? I am afraid it will take the magick out of it if I try to up the volume of my output. Christmas crafting – my busiest time of year, and the craziest!- gets pretty wild, could I do that on a regular basis throughout the year?

So this week I am paying more attention to what I do, and how I do it. Writing down my process, coming up with a basic plan. I have no idea where this latest scheme will take me- or if indeed it will go anywhere realistic. But sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith…

Doing the math

While working out the yardage calculations of my bag pattern I noticed something right away- the bag lining and inside pockets were taking up a lot of fabric- too much for the amount I had just bought to do them! I thought there would be enough to do 6 bags- maybe more, if I counted the fabric already in my stash. But no- I hadn’t counted on the bag lining fabric being such a large piece. It was then that I realized I hadn’t really looked at my pattern before, and I really had no idea the amount of fabric the pattern used. It will work out, because there is enough fabric in my stash to come up with the difference, as long as I don’t mind the pockets not being all matchy-matchy with the lining. But I wanted to figure out a way to make sewing bags more effortless, easier and less time consuming. I wanted to make a more streamlined process for myself.

I set the problem aside for my brain to work on while I went about some other “chores” around the house. Am I the only person who loves to rearrange cabinets? I found myself at 8 o’clock sorting through the medicine cabinet, tossing old shampoo bottles and setting up a first aid box, happy as a clam! Tasha had to come in to see what I was up too. She’s very bossy around bedtime- lights out Mama!

Unless it’s hot. Then this is all you get:

Too bad kitties don’t like cold showers!

Horses, Roses, Kitties and Pie

This year for our anniversary we spent the weekend in a little mountain town called Julian- some of you might be familiar with the place. Well known for its Gold panning, Western shootouts, Apple Pie (for breakfast! Oh yes we did…) and roses. Tons and tons of roses:



Everywhere we went there was a rose bush, just bursting out all over with blooms! There were also lots of kitties- this one in particular was awful cute:



Did I mention the Tea shop?



Scrumptious! Curried chicken salad on toasted croissants, Pineapple Habanero cream cheese sandwiches, and the lightest scones with the most delectably crunchy tops! Yummy. I’m getting hungry just thinking about that tea. We had a Tea Party, just for two!

The town is also known for it’s horse drawn carriage rides. No ride for us, just lots of schmoozing with the locals:



This couple in particular was so sweet! Lots of horse talk, tail swishing and even a couple of steps our way! I love horses.

And last, but not least, is the hotel we stayed in:



This place was so adorable! A little bit Country, a lot of bit Victorian, with a dash of Mission/Craftsman thrown in here and there. Such a funny old building, with lots of little rooms chopped up into room-and-a-bath suites- tiny though! But beautifully decorated, with white wainscoting everywhere, pottery washing-up-pitcher-and-basins, and the loveliest white Battenburg Lace curtains! The curtains were what got me the most- I’ve always wanted “cottage” style curtains, two tiers, in white with lace sheers. Hmm…

It’s been a hoot, writing here on the ol’ Blog these past three years…THREE YEARS? Yup. This Saturday is the three year mark for Magickwyrds, and I have a mind to keep on writing for three more! Stay tuned for more crafting fun, sightseeing, gardening chores and who knows what else I’ll come up with next? Thanks to everyone who reads my little blogetty blog, and Happy Summer everyone!