Muddling Through

Little Tumblers

2012-02-01T17:50:00.000-06:00

I've been playing with these little tumbler blocks. I don't have the die for this one and I don't know that I'll get it. I ran across a seller offering packages of 100 of these on ebay. I bought two packages. These are quite a bit smaller than the tumblers I've cut and used in several quilts. I think these finish at about three inches. I've got thirteen of the horizontal rows sewn together, and I will probably try to use the rest of the blocks I have before pressing and sewing those rows together.

I finished this baby quilt top and did not like the final border I put on it. I ordered some more of the blue that I used throughout. It came today and I plan to use it for the final border instead.

I miss seeing Claude out there, but he seems to be well and truly gone. On the plus side though, the birds are coming back to eat seeds outside my window again. I do love seeing them and they feel safe there again.

Chloe does not know why they should feel safe. She's sure she could catch one or two if I'd only release her from this prison. LOL

Speaking of prison......don't believe a word they tell you. They've already been out running free today.

The camellias are in full, glorious bloom,

and we have a fair number of paperwhite narcissus blooming in different spots around the yard, too. I love their fragrance!

Here's a peek at some of the peach blooms that haven't melted away yet.

It's been warm here and rainy. Springlike in fact.

I hope there's something pretty to see and smell where you are!

Hugs and kisses,

Fourteen

2012-01-28T11:45:00.000-06:00

Do you know anyone who has fourteen children? I do.

This is the quilt I made for her. Pink and red are her favorite colors, and you can see they are well represented here.

She is a truly amazing woman. She and her husband have taken foster children into their home for a very long time. They have adopted nine of those foster children. That's a lot of love and commitment. To my way of thinking anyone with that much love surely deserves a quilt, and that quilt should surely have each and every one of those children's names stitched into that quilt. So they are.

It's a beautiful day here in Houston, Texas! I can hear the birds singing outside my window, and as you can see there is still lots of green out there. One of my sweet neighbors gave me a peach tree she had grown from her tree. It's been blooming like crazy. We'll have to wait and see if a freeze will get it.

This little pot of prettiness is on the inside windowsill. I do so love flowers!

We are having special meetings this weekend at our church, so lots to do. Hope your weekend is filled with only good things to do and see.

Hugs and kisses,

Mail Goodness!

2012-01-18T23:07:00.000-06:00

Would you just take a look at what I got in the mail today from DowntownHousewife! I had a little email conversation with the lovely Megan (the downtown housewife) a while back and she so very kindly sent me this brand new pattern of hers. I think this pattern is due to show up at Moda Bakeshop tomorrow.

I have so many quilts to get made, several of them baby quilts, so this came at a really good time. Thank you so much, Megan! I wish you great success at your pattern writing and fabric design. Hope to see you at Quilt Market.

In other quilting news, the Christmas quilt for my sister is still hanging around. Unfinished. Mocking me.

The little baby quilt is also hanging around. Not mocking, just waiting. I got more of it sewn together last night.

And no, having two unfinished quilts hanging right there in the sewing room did not hinder me in the least from putting up the beginnings of another one.

Nor did it stop me from getting the first few rows of this one sewn together. What can I say? I just have so many quilts in my head trying to get out all at once. It's hard to control them sometimes. LOL

Maybe, just maybe, the trouble is that I am too fond of muddling. Could it be, do you think?

Oh, well, I'm having fun anyway. And I am getting a fair amount done, just not always in the sequence I'd like.

Hope you're getting all that you want to do done, too!

Hugs and kisses,

Evolution

2012-01-17T02:40:00.000-06:00

I'm making a baby quilt for a baby due in April. I started off with the blocks on the right. But then, I thought maybe I should add in some baby blue. I thought I might turn those squares into snowball blocks.

Then I thought I might turn them all into square-in-a-square on point. But I did not have quite enough of the blue fabric. Bummer.

This is where I am now, alternating the square-in-a-square blocks with 6-inch squares. I have all the vertical rows sewn. Maybe tomorrow I can get the horizontal rows sewn together and add some borders. We'll see.

I've been a bit remiss in my posting. (And I've heard about it. LOL) I guess I've just been a little sad. My wild friend Claude (the feral cat who took up residence in the back yard) has gone missing. I haven't seen him in a week. I'm concerned.

Hope all is going well with you.

Hugs and kisses,

Strings and Horses

2012-01-11T22:41:00.000-06:00

Mr. Muddling's string quilt is finished. He is a great fan of the old cowboy television programs and movies, so I was sure he'd like the horses on the back, and he does. Matter of fact, he and Miss Ru have been fighting over it pretty much ever since he got home from work today and got his hands on it. (She had shown admirable restraint and left it alone until he got his first look at it.)

I really like it myself. It is so bright and colorful, and the fleece backing makes it a really comfy cover-up.

I let the chickens out for a little while this afternoon. They do so love to run and explore in a wider venue.

Not much else going on around here. I've got to get out tomorrow and get some errands run. And would you believe it - I have two rotary cutters and they are both acting up on me? I guess I'd better get another one while I'm out and about.

Have fun with your day!

Hugs and kisses,

A Wonderful Gift and a Public Service Announcement

2012-01-08T17:21:00.000-06:00

A while back I gave a friend from church a quilt. Today she gave me a wonderful box of notecards. She took photos of the quilt I made for her, added this saying to the front and had them printed for me.

I am just SO touched by her thoughtfulness and the sweetness of her gift!

And now, just because I love you, I have to share with you what I chanced upon at Sam's Club on Friday. You know how hard it is to transport cupcakes and keeping them looking as pretty as you made them. Well, look at this. A dozen fit nicely on this little tray with handles to lift them out easily.

And you can flip the handles over and it will transport a sheet cake.

And, it will transport three dozen cupcakes (or three sheet cakes) at once!

And all for around fifteen dollars! Just kind of makes you smile, doesn't it? I thought you'd like it. It's manufactured by a company here in the United States, World Kitchen. I had to pick up an extra set for a friend who is in the cupcake making business.

Don't you just love it when you find something that will work!

Hugs and kisses,

Meet Hetty

2012-01-07T18:18:00.000-06:00

Hetty is one of our little flock of hens. I am ashamed to say that it took me a while to notice that she is blind. Our granddaughter was the first to figure out that something was not quite right back when they were all just a few days old. I did mention at the time that I should probably not leave her in the world to suffer. And I didn't. She's not suffering.

Hetty has developed a system of bobbing and weaving her head to navigate. Obviously she can't carry a white cane, so she uses what she has - her head - to feel her way around. And she does well. The other chickens don't bother her and they don't mistreat her. And she does lay an egg most days. The challenge is just in finding it before I step on it, because she does not find her way into a nest. She's had no problem finding the food and water though and appears to be perfectly healthy and happy.

Mr. Muddling and I had a few errands to run this afternoon and I couldn't resist bringing home a few flowers. After putting them in a pot I put them outside the sewing room on the window ledge. Aren't they pretty?

And of course Chloe had to check and be sure I had done it right. That cat! LOL

No sewing today, but that's okay. It's good just to spend time with my Honey!

Hope you're having a good time, too.

Hugs and kisses,

First Finish of the Year

2012-01-06T17:40:00.000-06:00

I have finished the Boxed Squares quilt and I am so pleased with it. It's for a man (and his wife) at our church. He's fighting a battle in his health, so this will be a tangible reminder to him of all the people who are praying for him.

And a reminder that no matter what it might look like - he IS blessed.

This is such a snuggly quilt. I hope they'll like it. I just need to get the label sewn on and it's done.

I got six blocks done last night for Mr. Muddling's string quilt. I think I need about six more, then I'll start putting it together. This one will have a fleece backing. Yes, it will be another one for him and Miss Ru to fight over. They're already plotting.

It has been an absolutely gorgeous day here today. Warm and sunny. Unfortunately I have not been out in it that much, just the in-between of running errands. Maybe tomorrow.

I "read" (listened to) The Help over several days. My childhood, up until I was nineteen years old, was spent in or near Jackson, Mississippi, so a lot of the locations were very familiar to me. Our family did not have "help". Too poor. But I was there in that time frame. Let's just say that it brought back a lot of memories and not all them were good. Having said that, it is a very moving book. I find myself still thinking about it. I've never understood the concept of thinking that you are better than another person just because of the color of their skin. I've never understood the concept of being mean to someone just because you can. I hope I never do

Have a great weekend!

Hugs and kisses,

Here We Go Again

2012-01-03T02:42:00.000-06:00

I've started the year as I mean to continue. I've started another quilt. I know. What a shock!

I wanted to make another tumbler quilt, and I will, but then I saw this one over on Mary Johnson's wonderful instruction pages. I want to have a quilt done quickly and this one is going together pretty fast. I chose the fabrics last night and then got it cut out and this much of it up on the design wall tonight. I want to put together two more vertical rows of squares, then I'll start sewing them together. I'm hoping to have it ready by the weekend.

Other than that, I've had a really lazy day. I've barely even been outside, which is a shame because it was a beautiful day. It's cold tonight, though - almost freezing right now.

I'm going to head to bed now, so I'll say good night. Are you doing anything interesting?

Hugs and kisses,

New Year

2012-01-01T16:49:00.000-06:00

I was really surprised last night when I started putting together this collage of quilts I made in 2011. I thought I had made 25. Turns out I completed 28! Of those, 4 live here in this house and one of them belongs to Ruthie, so it will be leaving when she does in June. You know I love to make quilts and then give them away. It's a struggle sometimes, because I've never made a quilt yet that I didn't want to keep.

There was a lot of this going on in our neighborhood last night/early this morning. We are in an unincorporated part of Houston, not in the city limits. There are no bans on fireworks when we live. So lots of people have lots of fun blowing up lots of fireworks. Mr. Muddling and I went outside and just enjoyed the free show from the comfort of our own driveway.

It's a beautiful day today, cooler but with lots of sunshine. We're supposed to get much colder weather tonight. For now though the flowers outside are still smiling and pretty.

Claude is just glad all the noise is over.

At church this morning one of my friends who is a faithful reader of my blog told me that I have not put pictures of the chickens on in far too long. While I was out there this afternoon I let the chickens out to roam and frolic and took lots of pictures. Now, Betty, is that better? Seriously, Betty is very good to encourage me to blog more often.

I think we could all do a better job of encouraging each other. I do so enjoy seeing what each of you has been doing and creating. I'm sorry I don't always comment when I visit your blog, but I'm going to try to do better. You are a blessing to me!

From one chick to another,

Hugs and kisses,

Last Quilt of the Year

2011-12-31T17:30:00.000-06:00

I finished the batik tumbler quilt last night. Here it is before washing.

And here it is in all its glory after a trip through the washer and dryer. It is SO soft and touchable. I want to keep it. But no, it is going to go to Mr. Muddling's sister, the last sibling of his who has not received a quilt from me. Can't have that, can we?

It really did turn out well, and I'm so pleased with it. I hope she'll like it. We'll have to wait until next week to get it off in the mail since we didn't get that done today.

We did, however, get all the rest of the Christmas decorations taken down and put back up into the attic. (He says I'm a slave driver. But I was right there working, too. When I pointed that out, he said that was because I was his slave. Oh, brother! How can you be a slave driver and a slave at the same time?)

Outside the front door, the wax leaf begonias are still blooming their brightest.

So far we haven't had to bring them inside, but it's just a matter of time. I'm going to enjoy them out there while I can.

Outside the sewing room window Claude is having a bite to eat. It's good to see him back out there.

We're almost done with 2011. It has been a really good year and a really terrible year. I just have to try to learn from the bad and rejoice in the good. And pray that 2012 is a good one for all of us.

I hope you have a wonderful year, full of joy and gladness.

Hugs and kisses,

It's Over

2011-12-27T17:56:00.000-06:00

Christmas, that is. Making the Christmas quilt for my Texas sister? Nope, not yet.

Of course it made perfect sense to me to start a new one - a tumbler from some of the batiks I've been collecting. After all, the Go cutter does such a good and fast job of cutting. Right? I've got the first six rows of this one sewn together now. You can see there were only two at the time this was taken.

And then the leftover strings from all the cutting I've been doing lately kept talking to me. (Yes, I know, but I kept thinking about all of those scraps piling up in the closet.) So last night I started on a string quilt I've been promising Mr. Mudding for some time now. And no, he does not need another quilt, but he wants one and since he pays for all this.......

Seriously, do you think I need an intervention?

Nah! We're pretty much all that way, aren't we? There is always something new and different or even tried and true that we want to make. And it's fun. If it ever stops being fun for me, I'll probably stop doing it.

And this mess? This is the scrap bin (all right, one of the scrap bins). Honestly, it looks like there's more in here now than there was when I started last night. And I made twelve 12 inch blocks!

I've been a little concerned about Claude. I hadn't seen him at all yesterday or today. He got spooked pretty badly by tree trimmers hired by the electricity company last week. They had chain saws and they were all over our back fence trimming the trees in the yard behind us. Then there were all the people shooting off fireworks all around us the past few days. I can only imagine how traumatic it would have been for a cat who lives by his wits as Claude does. But late this afternoon I was sitting here reading blogs and looked out the sewing room window and there he was! What a relief. I went out to feed him, but he was a lot more interested in being petted and told what a good boy he is and how much I've missed seeing him. He's gone again now. Apparently he's found a good place to lay low till all the noise is over.

My Sweetie, Mr. Muddling took the Christmas tree down yesterday, so that is done. Yippee. Now we just have to get the rest down and put away. It would be really nice to get the garage cleared out enough to get my van back in there.

We're almost done with 2011. It seems to have flown by, though there were definitely some less that fun times in there. I'm believing that 2012 will be a much better year for all of us!

Hugs and kisses,

I Know I Said I Wouldn't, But....

2011-12-24T20:48:00.000-06:00

What can I say? I've got pictures and I like to share them!

We had Christmas early at our son and daughter in law's house. What a beautiful tree!

And isn't that fireplace pretty? It was a good day to have a fire - rainy and cold (well, cold for us anyway).

I finished their quilt very early this morning (though I did manage to sew through my finger in the process - no major damage, thank God!). They liked the fleece on the back. This one gave me a bit more trouble. My friend Wanda says that's because fleece is a knit. Makes sense.

Yes, he is a silly one, but we love him! (There was a bit of fighting over whose the quilt was.)

We all had lots of fun and lots of good food, too. Sorry, no pictures of that.

I was pleased to see Larry and Ruthie acting like a normal brother and sister,

but that didn't last long!

Nikki was very pleased with her Fat Kitty, especially knowing that G'ma had made it just for her.

Going back in the den now to open our "at home" presents and have a little late supper.

Hope your Christmas is everything you want it to be. We have church in the morning and will be there celebrating the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Hugs and kisses,

Merry, Happy, Busy

2011-12-22T22:34:00.000-06:00

I saw this cute fat kitty somewhere last month. Sorry I really don't remember where. Anyway I bought the pattern and thought I would make some for our girls. This one is the only one I got made. And if you look, you'll see why I don't do a lot of embroidery. I'm not good at it. At all.

But, it's still cute, and on Saturday, it will go to live with our granddaughter. We're celebrating Christmas early at our son's house (Yay! I don't have to cook!) Nikki just had her twenty-first birthday this week. Totally unbelievable. She was like another daughter when she was younger. Her mom (the best daughter in law in the world) works and Nikki stayed with us until she went to school, and then after school for many years. There are not that many years between her and Ru and Mary, so they were more like sisters than aunts and niece.

Beneath Mr. Kitty are some blocks I'm working on for a new quilt.

Hopefully I (and you) will get all our doings done in time for Christmas.

You can see that Bruno really feels the pressure. LOL!

I don't think I'll post again till after Christmas, so for now I wish you the very best Christmas EVER! You are precious to me and to the Lord.

Hugs and kisses and love,

What A Glorious Day!

2011-12-17T15:34:00.000-06:00

Today is a gloriously beautiful day, like one of the best of Autumn, even though it is past the middle of December. I'm just enjoying it, no matter the date!

See that lonely black fig up there? There are a number of them still holding on the fig tree by the chicken yard. The birds are happy and when the figs fall and a chicken finds it, the chickens are happy, too. Because one chicken never gets to keep it. There is always at least one run, tackle, fumble, run before the gobble.

I moved one of the plastic garden chairs over to Claude's side of the yard and sat out there with him for a little while.

It's such a pretty and peaceful bit of solitude, and I like to be in it when I can. We have some much colder weather due in next week, so I don't know how long it will look like this out there. Have to enjoy it while it's still here.

We had a lovely surprise earlier today when Mr. Muddling answered the doorbell. My sister and her husband sent us this beautiful Christmas arrangement. As you can see, Joseph (Chloe, of course, but we call her Joseph because like him - anything that is done, she has the doing of it.) had to inspect it. I couldn't get a very good picture of it inside.

So I took it out in the back yard where the light is so much better. Isn't it a gorgeous thing!

And just look at that gerbera. I don't know why it's so hard to get a true picture of things that are red, but these are a brilliant red. There is no pink or orange to them, even though it looks like there is in the photos.

There are a couple of pretty little dogwood flowers in the flower bed behind them. I don't think they are supposed to bloom until Spring. Everything is a bit confused in the weather right now.

I had a complaint from Bruno. He's pretty tired of me going on and on about cats. What about me? So here he is, my almost constant companion and friend.
(He's actually looking out the back door here, itching to get out there and chase Claude!!)

We're getting close, people! I mailed off all the Christmas cookies last night. Glory to God! So glad that is done. Hope your doings are getting done.

Hugs and kisses,

How Tacky Can You Be?

2011-12-15T17:24:00.001-06:00

Apparently, if you are me - pretty tacky. Here is my feral friend Claude. I really like Claude. We've had to take our time getting to know each other because Claude has been hurt in previous relationships. I know this because the end of his tail is gone and what is left has been broken in several spots.

Anyway, as I said, I really like Claude, and even though there is no way he would consent to come into the house (even if Chloe and Jack would let him), I don't want him to suffer in the cold.

So behind those shutters in front of my sewing room window I have contrived a snug little spot for him. The front has to be open. Confinement issues. But it is dry and sheltered and he seems to be content with it.

I know this because I can see him down there.

See that nice indentation? That is Claude's spot. I see him there often when it is cold and wet out there. It makes me happy. And if I am tacky (which we all know I am) it is my back yard and no one else needs to see it. Mr. Muddling is fine with it and he's the only one who could tell me no. I love that about him!

On the other side of the back yard, the fig tree has lost a lot of its leaves. Miss Ru told me today that it looks and feels more like fall here today than winter. Technically, it is not winter yet. Not until December 22. But this is Houston. Houston weather plays by its own rules.

The Angel's Trumpet was hit pretty hard by the last cold snap. I thought the top of it had died, but some of the flowers surprised me and came back to life in another bout of glorious bloom. Now that's a happy surprise!

I have the little snowman on the counter in the kitchen encouraging us to drink more water.

So many things to do and so little time left in which to get them done. Guess I'd better get cracking! Hope your preparations are all going well.

Hugs and kisses,

Edited to add: Is anyone else having trouble with blogger? Half the time I'm having to reload pages to see the pictures and commenting is really a challenge. I've tried. Honestly.

It's a Gray and Gloomy Day Out There

2011-12-13T11:56:00.000-06:00

So, naturally I figured that the best remedy for that is to turn the inside Christmas lights on again.

These little bits of light and cheer just make me happy. And I have Christmas cookies to make. So happy is a good thing.

These are also "Happy-Makers". Mary and Cass bought these for me while they were here over the weekend and they are still beautiful. This lily has opened fully and smells divine!

I got the apple core pieces for my Texas sister's Christmas quilt up on the wall last night and the first two rows sewn together. (Excuse the quality of the photo, please - gray and gloomy day.) This time I hung the fleece up first and I'm working from there so I know exactly the size I want the front to be without having to stop and measure. I don't like to measure. (Could be the reason I have surprises in my work. LOL!) The pink-y/red paisley you can see in spots is the backing.

I thought I'd mention, too, that I made up a big batch of the rosella cordial and served it in this cute snowman beverage jar I found this year. It was a hit! The rosella bush is a goner from the last freeze, but I have seeds. I will definitely be planting this again in the Spring. It's just exciting to me to grow something in my own back yard that I can use to replace something that is purchased and full of preservatives.

Off to start baking now! Hope your preparations are moving along well!

Hugs and kisses,

Home Christmas

2011-12-12T12:04:00.000-06:00

I've had this Mary Engelbreit music box for a while now and it sums up how I feel about it. My heart is where my family is, and that's home.

Don't you just love that we still have potted plants out front along with our Christmas decorations. We've had some freezing weather already, but nothing severe enough to damage these plants. I like to leave them outside as long as I possibly can. I feel sorry for them when they're exiled to the garage.

We had such a good time on Saturday. Way too much food, and not everyone was able to come. Some had to work, and some were getting over winter virus-y things, but there was still a pretty good crowd and lots of fun and food and stories. Mr. Muddling and his two brothers tell the best stories. We love to get them started and then just sit back and enjoy.

This is the Strip Twist quilt I made for our younger daughter for Christmas. I backed it with fleece, even after all the trouble I had with the fleece backing the first time I used it. This time I loaded the quilt with the fleece side up and quilted from the back of the quilt instead of the front. I had absolutely no problems this time! Thank God!

And this is the one I made for her roommate. It, too, was backed with fleece, and again I had no problems quilting from the back of the quilt instead of the front. The fleece is so nice and cuddly in cold weather, which they have plenty of up in New York State. Since there is no batting it is a lightweight quilt, but still warm.

Yesterday we opened up the futon in the den and both girls settled in on it as we indulged in a Lord of the Rings marathon. Cass had never seen any of those. Unbelievable, I know! I tried so many times to get a decent picture of those two, but they were just too silly to be still. They do like their quilts though!

Miss Ru and I took Mary and Cass to the airport very early this morning to catch a flight back home. (I did threaten to keep them both here, but you know how it is - you have to let them go.) We had such a good time. It was a joy to get to know Cass a little, and of course to see our baby girl again.

I've had a little nap now and it's almost time to prepare lunch. I hope all is moving according to schedule at your place and that you have lots of exciting things on tap for your Christmas celebrations!

Hugs and kisses,

Hi There

2011-12-02T18:36:00.000-06:00

That's what I see a lot of the time when I look out the bathroom window. The picture is not too clear because I have the zoom on and it's through the screen, but you get the idea. Claude is well and truly at home out there.

Are you ready for the weekend? I am. I've almost caught up on the rest I lost during the Thanksgiving period, and now I'm ready to start in on the Christmas one. LOL Our baby girl will be home in ONE WEEK!!! She and her roommate will be here next Friday night and I can hardly wait. But they're only here for the weekend, so we'll have to cram a lot of catching up into a short space of time.

And no, that picture of cherry pie has absolutely nothing to do with it. LOL As you can see half of it is gone. That's because it's really good. It was in the nature of an experiment. I had some dried cherries that I bought a while back. I just like eating them out of the bag, but today I thought I'd try using some of them to make a pie. It was a success! I'd give you the recipe, but I just sort of made it up as I went along and didn't keep accurate measurements. I soaked the cherries for about thirty minutes (while I was preparing the pie crust and cooking lunch) in boiling water I poured over them. I added about a half cup of sugar, then ladled the cherries into the pie crust. I zapped the juice, sugar and a couple tablespoons I think of cornstarch in the microwave until it thickened, a couple of minutes. Poured that over the cherries, added the top crust, cut vent holes, sprinkled a little sugar on top and baked at 400F degrees until bubbly. Pretty simple.

Doesn't that just make you want to get a nice big slice for yourself? If you were here, you could sure have one! I had mine with ice cream.

Hope your weekend is simply grand! I'm going to be busy sewing.

Hugs and kisses,

Reward

2011-11-30T00:21:00.000-06:00

I've wanted a French press coffee maker for a while now. No good reason, I just wanted one. Today while waiting for the pharmacy to re-open at Sam's I was doing a little shopping and I spotted this pretty little French Press with four matching cups.

Yep, I did it. I consider it my reward for surviving Thanksgiving. Now for Christmas. LOL

Seriously, I have lots of projects in the works, but none that I can show right now.

And.....our baby girl will be here along with her roommate in a week and a half!!!! I can't wait. We're going to have our big family Christmas party early while they are here, so lots to do before then.

I know you're busy with secret stuff, too. Have fun!

Hugs and kisses,

Getting Ready

2011-11-23T23:08:00.000-06:00

My sister and her husband are visiting from Colorado. Sue has been very busy today helping me get a start on the Thanksgiving feast. We've baked pies and made fruit salads.

And Sue made Mr. Muddling's favorite cake - German Chocolate. Oh my! I can hardly wait.

Lots to do tomorrow, so I'm heading to bed. Early for me, I know.

Best of blessings to each and every one of you. I hope you have a truly wonderful day with those you love!

Hugs and kisses,

Melbourne Apron

2011-11-22T19:59:00.000-06:00

I was thinking about all the cooking my sister and I are going to be doing tomorrow and I decided that I needed a new apron. And then I remembered that pretty tea towel Margaret sent me.

And then I remembered some fabric I had bought recently.

And now I have a new apron! Thanks again, Margaret! I'll think of you while I'm cooking.

I wanted to give you a little peek into the quilt I'm working on now (between cooking and cleaning, of course). First you sew four strips together, then you pair them with another set.

Right sides together.

Make a diagonal cut through
both strip sets. Then sew together
along each diagonal side.

Press seams open and look - two totally different looking blocks from those two strip sets.

It is such a fun quilt to make. Which is a good thing, because I have several more to make.

I do hope you will each and every one have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day on Thursday. I know that all countries do not celebrate, but wherever you are it's still a good time to stop and thank God for all your blessings.

You know I love you and I am thankful for you!

Hugs and kisses,

I Seldom Do

2011-11-17T18:05:00.000-06:00

Knowing where I am going means I am already there...kinda boring.
Kathy Doughty , Material Obsession

I'm so glad she said that. It makes me feel much better. LOL Seriously, most of the time I just have an idea of how I think a quilt will look when I start one. Most of the time, oddly enough, they turn out not to look much that way at all.

The finished quilt above is the Strip Twist I made for Mr. Muddling's brother. He just wanted blue, no other consideration at all.

Here's the back of it.

This is the finish of the Slashed Squares, along with its backing. I wish I had made it a little bigger, but it's done now.

Moving on.

I'm working now on another Strip Twist using some of the these strips I cut last week. As you can see, Chloe has her own ideas of which ones I should be using.

From Bruno's face you would really think he had been hard at work, wouldn't you? I was ironing some seams and happened to look up and see this expression. Priceless.

A look out the back door at the Angel Trumpets at night. They make me so happy. They're pretty and they smell good. Win. Win.

Hope you're winning at your place!

Hugs and kisses,

One More

2011-11-13T15:34:00.000-06:00

I hope you haven't tired of seeing the quilts from Quilt Festival, because I have one more to show you. This one was just so sweet, I can't resist showing it, too.

These, and more, little dresses
are the centers for the blocks
in the quilt made by a group
of ladies in the Greater San
Antonio Quilt Guild.

As a by the way, I saw a booth (sorry,
can't remember which one) that had
these little dresses for sale. The
intricacy of these little beauties is
just wonderful!

I finished the blue strip twist quilt, and it is in the dryer right now. I'll get pictures of it up a little later in the week.

My sister and her husband will be here from Colorado for Thanksgiving and I have a pretty dirty house I need to get cleaned before the family gathers here for the feast. I love these times we get to reconnect. We're planning a big Christmas one here, too, with local family. Lots to do.

Hope you're having a great day!

Hugs and kisses,

Progress?

2011-11-09T14:14:00.000-06:00

The borders have been sewn on this one. I just need to give it a final pressing, along with its backing and it will be ready to load and quilt.

Here is the start for the layout of this one.

Last night (early this morning LOL) I got lots of strips cut from fat quarters I've been collecting for a while. These will go into several projects brewing in my mind.

And just because I love you, here are a couple of pictures from Quilt Festival.

This is titled "Artist Village", a cooperative where Kathy York invited artists who have inspired her to create 3-D houses to symbolize the support each gives to the other in the creation of their art.

And along those line, may I just say that you ALL inspire me. Each and every time you post what you are creating on your blog, it inspires and engergizes me. That is one of many lovely things about blogging. Thank you for being part of my world!

Hugs and kisses,

Lots of Things

2011-11-07T18:50:00.000-06:00

I have to share this one from the Quilt Festival with you. Just below the center on the right side is a chicken with a corn dog. The text balloon above her says, "I love corny dogs!" How funny!

I love the color of this one. Reminds me of some of yours, Wanda!

These 1950's type Santas are real smile-makers, aren't they?

I wish you could see this one in person. It just glowed! It's titled "Via Appia My Way" by Maxine L. Oliver of Yorktown, NY.

Isn't this a stunning Drunkard's Path? It's titled, "Total Eclipse" by Sharon Dixon of Katy, Texas. Her nephew, aged 22, had recently died in an automobile accident. She said the yellow represented to her the sunshine starting to shine through her family's grief.

I have a few more to show, if you're not tired of my not-so-great photography yet. I'll post those another day.

My sister and her husband are going to be visiting with us during Thanksgiving. She sent this last week as a "Pre" hostess gift. Wasn't that a sweet idea? I know I liked it. It arrived at a time last week when my reserves were running low, so - perfect timing! Thanks, Sis!!!

I treated myself to these two pretties while I was out running errands last week. There's just something about pretty flowers that makes me feel better!

I harvested more lemons today. They are so good! Miss Ru is campaigning for a lemon meringue pie. LOL

The only thing I purchased at Quilt Festival was a yard of this pretty blue batik. I've cut it to use for borders on this strip twist top. I just have to sew those borders on and it will be ready to load and quilt. This one will be going to Mr. Muddling's brother.

This is the one I just started the other night. I got all the blocks sewn together and pressed last night, then started cutting them for a Slashed Squares quilt. I've had a layer cake of Nostalgia by April Cornell for a long time, just couldn't settle on a project for it. I think it will be pretty in this one, and I added in a few fabrics leftover from a Mary Engelbreit layer cake just for fun (the cable knit prints).

I'm enjoying Claude, the feral cat who seems to live mostly in our back yard. He now prefers petting above cat food handouts and will leave his food bowl to come rub against my legs and get petted. Truly everyone needs love, even the wildest and worst tempered among us. I know. I'm one of those sometimes. LOL

Hope you're being well behaved kitties and finding lots that makes you happy!

Hugs and kisses,

Houston Quilt Festival

2011-11-05T21:07:00.000-05:00

Texas IS a big state, and this was a big quilt.

Here's a little closer look so you can see some of the detail in this beautiful quilt, one of many on display today at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, for the International Quilt Festival.

Mr. Muddling and I spent the afternoon today enjoying the beautiful creativity on display here.

I had not seen log cabin blocks used to make butterflies before. Aren't they pretty!

And how about these bright colors? Aren't they gorgeous!

This one I found very touching, "God's Greatest Gift to Me Was Dad" by Cindy Garcia of Racine, Wisconsin. It won third place in Art - People, Portraits and Figures.

This one was titled simply, "Red and White Album" by an unknown quilter, completed in 1852. It was so beautiful and appeared to be still in very good condition. There were some sort of signings in some of the center white spaces, but they were very faded.

Here's a closer look at one of them. I can't make out what it says. Perhaps you can.

I, once again, did not pay attention and took a couple of photos where I should have taken them. I was once again reprimanded. I didn't mean to do it, really I didn't, and I will not post those photos.

It was so much fun to spend a carefree day with my Sweetie. We enjoyed it a lot. Miss Ru is free from all her IV medications now and doing very well indeed. I am so thankful for God's mercy and grace and for so many other things, you included!

Hope you're finding lots to do that you enjoy this weekend!

Hugs and kisses,

I Don't Know

2011-10-30T00:39:00.001-05:00

I don't know exactly how I became so fortunate as to have a friend like Margaret, but I am so thankful that I do. Margaret left a comment for me on my blog yesterday saying that she had sent me a package and that she hoped it would arrive the same day Miss Ru (our daughter Ruthie) got home from the hospital.

I have been the recipient of several of Margaret's beautiful stitcheries, and I treasure each one. She suggested that I might put this one into one of my quilts. Selfishly, I don't know if I could bear to part with it, and we all know my quilts tend to leave home.

Miss Ru claimed the blue bag right away which leaves me very happily with the floral one. Both of them are perfect.

We had to try the Australian biscuits right away. The top package. Oh my, talk about good! I don't think we have anything exactly like that here.

Hand knit (by Margaret) elf socks! I try so hard not to be envious, but I have been - just the least little bit - of all those of you talented knitters out there. I've tried, but have not so far been able to wrap my head around the whole process. And I have SO wanted some hand knitted socks and now I have some! I love them.

So many pretty things in this package,

and each one a reminder of a dear lady who has touched my heart. Again and again.

You know, Margaret got her wish, too, because the package arrived today shortly after Mr. Muddling brought Miss Ru home from the hospital. Excellent timing. We all enjoyed seeing the treasures from a dear friend far away.

Miss Ru is doing very well. Glory to God! We'll have about a week of at-home IV antibiotic medications and then she can get back to her life.

I am so thankful for so many things. God is so incredibly good to us in so many ways. So many of the dear, dear friends I've discovered here in blogland are definitely one of those ways. Thanks to all who have prayed for Miss Ru. I know a very wise woman who always says, "Prayer moves the hands that move the world."

You know I love you, and I pray for you, too. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Hugs and kisses,

2011-10-27T22:47:00.000-05:00

As we were leaving the hospital today after our visit with our daughter Ruthie, we were pleasantly surprised to see (and hear) that a concert was taking place in the lobby. Houston Symphony Orchestra in costume, playing beautifully for anyone who cared to stop and listen. What a nice break from the everyday that was! There were lots of people enjoying the beauty of it.

Miss Ru is improving and getting stronger every day. We are just so thankful and humbled at the goodness of the Lord. It did not start out well, but this visit has been a good one. The plan is that she will be coming home next week sometime.

Lemons from our very own front yard. Aren't they gorgeous! You should taste them.

I've taken the exterior shutters away from the sewing room window, the better to enjoy the view now that the extreme heat of summer is gone. Doesn't Claude look contented? Mr. Muddling has been surprised to see the change in him. Claude has gone from being so wary he would not let me near him, to greeting me when I go out to feed him, rubbing against my legs and mewing to be stroked. He is such a loving cat. I don't know what happened to him before he decided to live in our back yard, but I can tell that the tip of his tail has been cut off and that the tail seems to have been broken in at least one place. As you may be able to tell, he's also moved right into my heart. I'd like to get him to the vet to be checked out, but I don't know when or if that will happen. We're taking it slowly. I don't want to scare him.

Don't you love this fabric? I saw it online and had to order some. Miss Ru has a friend coming to the wedding from Great Brittain next year and I'm going to make a quilt for him. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet, but the cowboy boots may just figure in it.

I have a date with these strips tonight. We have plans.

I saw on Wanda's blog that she uses a closet accessory to organize her strips and I liked that idea. Mr. Mudding and I picked up this little folding laundry rack when we were out and about yesterday. I think it might just work.

I'm off now for some therapeutic sewing. Hope you're finding something to do that makes you happy!

Hugs and kisses,

I Don't Want to Frighten You

2011-10-21T22:38:00.000-05:00

but Christmas IS coming! These guys just crack me up, and a merry heart does me good!

And these guys are funnier still. I can't seem to get a very good picture of them, but trust me - there is just something about a Santa sock monkey that is hilarious. Or maybe it's just me.

Last night, or rather early this morning, I finished the crosses quilt. I added another border, this one with teapots, to make it wide enough. What's not to love - cupcakes, teapots and lots of purple. This was for a friend of ours.

Here's the backing and a closer look at the binding.

These beauties were made by the Sweetie who got the crosses quilt today. The cupcakes are going to the CF Walk tomorrow, even though Miss Ru won't be going. Perry is going to walk for her and himself as well, which is only right. The two shall be as one, the Bible says. Again, I did not capture the color correctly. The roses are a gorgeous purple. Miss Ru does love her some purple!

Miss Ru is still in the hospital, and the doctors are still working on getting her back where she belongs. We really appreciate all the prayers and well wishes from you, my dear friends!

Also last night, because I was really on a roll - I finished the apple core Christmas quilt. Mr. Muddling loves this quilt, but it is not staying here. It will be going on a little trip out of state.

The backing on this one is a green, not gray, flannel.

And yes, I am so bad that I sneaked a photo of Mr. Muddling "resting" while we were in Miss Ru's room the other day. Spending time in the hospital is not fun for the patients or for those who love them, but thank God for them and for all the help we can get to get well!

As one of my blog friends told me not long ago, sewing happy fabrics into quilts helps you to cope with the things going on in your life that are not so happy. That is certainly the case for me. It's therapeutic.

Hope you're finding ways to stay happy and busy!

Hugs and kisses,

Run, Run, As Fast As You Can

2011-10-17T16:39:00.000-05:00

That's the way I feel, just a lot of the time. Run, run, run. I know you do, too. Guess it's just the pace of the world today. It's nice once in a while though to be be able to sit down and just do nothing. Doesn't happen too often though.

I have some baby quilts I need to get made, so I was glad to see these in my mailbox today.

I got these from an ebay seller I've been really happy with, Ilona. She's had some lovely fabrics, good deals, and has been a sweetheart as well - all very good reasons to continue to buy from her.

Also these beautiful Kaffe's are from her. I'm getting all of them washed now so they're be ready for me to use.

My Christmas Apple Core is on the quilt frame. I got it started last night and hopefully will finish it tonight.

In other, not so nice news, Miss Ru is back in the hospital. Pneumonia, and they say there's a hole in her lung, too. Not great, but we're believing God for a speedy recovery for her.

Hope all is going well in your corner of the world!

Hugs and kisses,

Still

2011-10-13T22:11:00.000-05:00

Ray is still alive. Mainly because in spite of everything, I still like him.

Claude is still looking at me narrowly, even though I feed him at least twice a day.

Bruno is still smiling as he accompanies me everywhere he possibly can.

The chickens are still overwhelmingly happy to get out into the back yard and scatch in the dirt, eat anything that looks edible (and spitting it back out if it's not), and running and playing and having a good time every chance they get.

The Angel's Trumpets are still dripping off the bush at the back door. (I'm happy to say!) The fragrance in the evenings is just absolutely wonderful! Wish I could somehow add it to this post, but we do not have that option yet. LOL

The Crosses quilt is still on the design wall, though I did get the first three vertical rows totally sewn together earlier today.

And I found this delicious looking cupcake fabric at one of my favorite ebay seller's store. Since this quilt is going to a maker and seller of cupcakes, it seems fitting.

I hope the things that are good for you are STILL good, and that the things that are not good for you are gone!

Hugs and kisses,

So, I Started Another Quilt

2011-10-12T01:44:00.000-05:00

I know. Big surprise, huh? LOL! I have been so inspired by Wanda's Crosses Quilts that I wanted to try my hand at it as well. I'm trading a quilt for some cupcakes later this month, and this will be it. This is the way I started laying it out on Saturday.

By Sunday I had made a few changes.

By Monday night (really early Tuesday) I the first seven vertical rows sewn together.

Tonight, I've got eleven vertical rows sewn. I think I've hit the wall for tonight.

Today I took Miss Ru to the dentist for a follow up on some oral surgery she had last week. All is well there. But it was Sunday night that the exciting thing happened. She and her boyfriend have been dating for a long time. I don't even remember how many years. Sunday night they went to a Houston Aeros (our hockey team) game. Perry had arranged to surprise her with the proposal there at the game. It was a total surprise to her, and he won MAJOR romantic points. It was on camera and on the big screen. He even went down on one knee. Priceless!

There has been more fabric shopping going on here. These came from Connecting Threads. I had read on CrazyMomQuilts about her using some of the lightly dotted fabric as a background instead of white. I like that idea. And I have a quilt in mind that I'd like to try with one of these.

And these I got (you knew I would, didn't you?) when Quilt Taffy had that little sale. I have no idea what I'll use these for, but I know I will. They just sort of sing, don't they!

This is our baby daughter. She's the adventurous one. After a stint in the Army and trying lots of other things, including very responsible and well-paying positions, she's ended up on a horse farm in New York State, working with horses every day and loving it! I laugh often at the irony of a Texas girl going to New York to work with horses, but 'tis true! It's just a long way from home, and we miss her.

I hope you're finding lots of things to keep you busy and happy. And that you'll tell me about them!!!

Hugs and kisses,

Strip Twist

2011-10-07T23:16:00.000-05:00

Yes, indeed, finished! And I think it turned out really well. I like it! It is a free pattern from Bonnie Hunter, if you are interested in making one.

Here's a little closer look and you can see I did use the two batiks I bought last weekend.

This one is for a guy who's a guitar player, so of course I had to put a few in there for him.

And here's the back , mostly covered up by that huge rosella bush in the garden.

I harvested a nice big bowl of them and will get more tomorrow. I'm thinking I might try making jelly this time.

I also harvested this nice little bunch of mustard greens. They were delicious for lunch today. There is just nothing like fresh from the garden produce!

I'm thinking on another quilt. Haven't quite decided on a plan yet though.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and lots of fun!

Hugs and kisses,

Fabric Therapy

2011-10-03T22:30:00.000-05:00

On Saturday Mr. Muddling and I went to pick up my new glasses. I'm not too crazy about the effects of aging on my eyes. That's got to stop!

Anyway, after picking up my glasses, we took a little drive and I spied a quilt shop I'd never visited before. So after having my Sweetie turn around and go back......I found some very pretty fabrics. I have plans to make more kids quilts, so I picked up these two that were on sale. Not the greatest picture.

I had every intention of taking my camera with me, but I forgot it. Bummer!

At least I could take pictures of the fabric after we got home. LOL. These two were the reason I wanted to go in and look. I was on the hunt for some border fabric for the Strip Twist below. I think I will use both of these. Maybe.

Should I tell you? Yes, I should. Quilt Taffy is having a little sale on ebay. I did. Yes, I did. More therapy.

I got so mad at my small design wall that I made it grow a little longer. Unfortunately it cannot get any wider. No wall space available. At least I can see a little more with the added length. I have these four long rows sewn together. Two more to go and then I'll put it all together and decide about the borders. Moving right along.

By the way, I think Bill really liked his quilt. He gave me a mighty sweet smile.

Another by the way is that Ray the rooster apparently has a serious death wish. He flew at me again today. Mercy!

Hope everything is behaving itself where you are!

Hugs and kisses,

Cordial

2011-09-30T18:29:00.000-05:00

Remember, I said a few days ago that I wanted to make rosella cordial from the bush growing out in our garden. I did it. It's actually pretty good, sort of like a fruit punch.

The color of course is what I really like - RED!!! I had a pretty big colander full of the rosella pods or whatever. I followed Rhonda's directions and peeled off the red leaf thingies (calyx) to make the cordial syrup. You use a small amount (to taste) of this syrup to make the cordial. A squeeze of lemon improves the taste, I think. This site is talking about making jam, but you get a little more information about the plant and more pictures. I only got one lone bottle out of that bunch, but I may make more later. It's just interesting to try things, to see if you can actually do them, don't you think?

This morning was so nice that I worked out in the back yard for a while. I trimmed bushes and vines and then cleaned out the chicken house and put fresh hay in the nest boxes. (Yes, the chickens were happy.) Bruno watched everything with great interest and kept everyone in line. Later he got a bath, and now he is resting on "his" bed in the sewing room as I type this. What a life!

This afternoon our son dropped by for a quick visit. Here he's showing Mr. Muddling his latest fishing trip pictures. Those two surely do love to go out in the boat fishing!

And this is what's on my little design wall right now. Bonnie Hunter is another who is so generous with her patterns and expertise. This one is called Strip Twist.

I've got most of the squares made, I think I just need two more, then I'll start sewing them all together. If I can stop playing around with them and moving them here and there.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with lots of fun things to do and see!

Hugs and kisses,

Texas Quilt

2011-09-26T18:18:00.000-05:00

I finished the ~~little~~ big boy's quilt early this morning. His name is Bill, so I marked it for him real good!

I don't know that it's altogether fair to call it a Texas quilt, but it makes me think of some of what people think of when they think of Texas, especially young people - horses and cowboys.

This was such a fun quilt to make. The tumblers just went together so easily! And the bright, cheery colors and fabrics and designs just made it that much better.

It's been through the washer and dryer now and is soft and crinkly and totally huggable.

I had thought I would put a red and white binding on the quilt, but when I tried it, I just didn't like it. The green seems to work pretty well, don't you think? Our church congregation will pray over this quilt on Sunday morning and then give it to young Bill. He will have a tangible piece of comfort to take with him when he goes to his new home. I really pray that he will be blessed there and that he will be a blessing. He is so incredibly sweet. I wish you could see him.

I have one lonely zinnia that just grew of its own volition out in the garden. It's the only one I have this year anywhere on our property, and I think it is doing its best to have a good showing. It has bloomed like this for months, even in drought situations. Got to love it!

And this little rose is the most electric orange I've ever seen! The little rain we had last week has encouraged it to bloom some more.

I know we're supposed to be moving into Autumn here, but you'd never know it. We're in the upper nineties all week according to the weather forecasters. But as long as I'm in here in the air conditioning, it sure does look pretty outside.

Hope everything in your world is behaving itself!

Hugs and kisses,

Where Shall We Start?

2011-09-22T23:17:00.000-05:00

Well, for one thing, Ray is a lot more amenable after Bruno and I had a little talk with him. It could have something to do with those several missing tail feathers, but you'd have to ask Bruno about that.

Claude is still sure the world (that would be me) owes him food in his bowl several times a day. Even though he hisses at me and will not let me near him.

I've started another quilt. I'll tell you more about this one later, but I'm really liking it so far.

I've cut out lots of tumblers for a quilt for a little, excuse me - big boy. He is the foster child of a family at our church and he will be leaving for another state next month by judicial order to live with a family member there. He's been through a lot, but he has such a wonderful personality and no bitterness at all. I thought he might like a quilt that would remind him a bit of Texas. (You may have figured out that I got the tumbler die for my Go! cutter. It is so fast, and look at those cute little trimmed corners. I have a feeling this one is going to go together easily. Yippee!)

Four rows of the Christmas apple cores are sewn together. I really like this one. It goes together so fast and so well. And then when I have enough of the curvy lines I can move over to another project.

The lemons are beginning to ripen.

I'm really glad I covered the lemon tree up so well during the cold weather earlier this. It's hard to even remember how cold it got, it's been so hot this summer. It's been a year of extremes.

I planted some rosellas this year. I had read about them on Rhonda's blog, Down to Earth a while back and decided I'd try them. Obviously they grow well here. Which figures, since it is part of the hibiscus family. The red things you see there along the stem are what is left after it flowers. The flowers do not even last one day and they are not the big showy flowers of the hibiscus we are used to seeing here. Anyway, it seems that you can make jam and jelly and a cordial from them. It's on my list of things to do. We'll see.

And finally, here's a little peek at what is still blooming out there. That rain we had helped everything breathe again, I think, but we need more. The mornings and evenings are a little cooler. I can almost feel the promise of Fall in the air.

Hope you're finding plenty of interesting things to do and see where you are!

Hugs and kisses,

A Public Service Reminder

2011-09-19T19:43:00.000-05:00

Driving toward beautiful downtown Houston this morning I was reminded

That it's only a little over six weeks until

International Quilt Festival

George R. Brown Convention Center

Houston, Texas
November 3-6, 2011

And of course, Quilt Market is October 29 - 31, but I am neither a vendor nor a buyer (try telling Mr. Muddling that!), so I can not go to that one.

And then once again I sat outside the lab and waited for Miss Ru to finish getting yet more of her blood drawn for tests. (I don't know why I called this a potholder last time I showed it. It is a dishrag in the making, and though it looks blue, it is quite purple. Waiting at doctor's offices is the only time I work on crochet in the warmer weather usually, so it has grown slowly. And that's a good thing.)

The view outside. We had another little shower this morning. Glory to God! The rain is just so welcome here right now! It had stopped raining by the time we headed to the Medical Center and you can see by the first pictures on this post - it was already clearing up quite nicely. Ru has a couple of weeks of IV antibiotics ordered by her doctor and the nurse is here right now getting her set up for that.

Ruthie had to fast for the blood work this morning, so she was starving by the time we finished at the doctor's. We decided to treat ourselves to lunch at Luby's. Sorry, I didn't think to take a picture until I had started. (I was a little bit hungry, too.) That chocolate pie you can just get a glimpse of in the upper left is Ru's.

This cherry pie was mine. I did save half for Mr. Muddling though. It was so good!

In other news, Bruno and I had to have a little talk with Ray this afternoon. When I went into the chicken pen this morning to be sure they had food and water, Ray decided I had no business there and proceeded to fly at me as I left. I was not hurt. At all. But. No one that I feed is going to attack me! I hope he understands now. We'll see.

Hope all is restrained and contained in your world. LOL

Hugs and kisses,

Oh, It's A Happy Day!

2011-09-17T16:27:00.000-05:00

Because look at all that wet stuff out there! Hallelujah! We finally got some rain this afternoon. Oh, when it has been so dry for so long, the rain is just glorious. It feels like the whole of nature is just rejoicing in the refreshing. I know I am. I went out in the rain and got all my buckets lined up to catch rainwater. My plants will thank me later.

And look at this pile of apple core Christmas beauties! I have been having so much fun with my Go! cutter. My Sweetie Pie gave me a GOOD birthday present! I have wanted to make an apple core quilt since I saw the one that Anna had on her blog a while back. I just did NOT want to cut all those curvy pieces. And I didn't! Yay! Seriously, I cranked all these out on the Go in no time! It helps, too, that there is a little notch on each curved part to match to anther core's curved part.

Here are three of the pieces sewn together but not pressed. Really easy to sew together. I like that. Easy is good.

And here are a bunch of strips sewn together. It's shaping up nicely, huh? There's just something about Christmas fabrics that make me happy. Anticipation maybe? Anyway, I'm having fun with them.

And here's another shot of that rain, because it really made me happy! It's stopped now, but I can almost imagine the grass starting to turn back to green from the dried up brown it's become. I'm going out now to let the chickens out to explore all the newly watered back yard. They will love it!

I hope you're having happiness where you are, too. There is so much that is good in this old world. Better to think on those things.

Hugs and kisses,

The Drunkard's Path

2011-09-13T20:51:00.000-05:00

Looks like there would be a better name for that pattern, especially since this one is a gift for a church administrator. LOL I don't know if that's really her title, but if it isn't, it should be. She's a wonderful woman of faith and a great blessing to our church. To me, she's still a young woman, but she has a great love for quilts and for the older patterns and fabrics. So I hope she likes this one. (Shhhh.....it's a surprise!)

I've used this seed packet fabric before. I like it a lot. And it seems to be pretty happy with the front fabric as well.

I've mentioned before that I machine sew the bindings onto my quilts. I thought tonight I would give you a little mini tutorial on how I do that. First of all, I use 2 1/2" strips of fabric, cut selvedge to selvedge, and then sewn together. Press seams open, fold in half along the length of the fabric and press. Now, sew the raw edge to the back side of the quilt sandwich.

As you can see from the previous picture, I leave a little extra fabric when I am sewing around the corners, and I don't sew it quite all the way to the edge of the corner. After sewing the rest of the binding to the quilt back, go back and pick up each of the corners. Fold it in half with the corner of the quilt right in the middle. Starting at the quilt side, sew a "V".

See?

Then all you have to do is clip those corners off,

and turn it toward the front of the quilt. I really like this little pointy thing. I got it for free when I bought something, probably a book, years ago. It does a great job of making those corners look good.

Now all you have to do is machine sew to the front, trying to keep your stitching pretty well in the same orientation on the front and back of the quilt. (And no, I do not succeed at that a lot of the time. LOL)

I really heart how this one turned out, and I hope she does, too.

I also hope I've made some kind of sense with my tutorial.

Hugs and kisses,

Busy Week

2011-09-10T13:12:00.000-05:00

So, here I am earlier in the week, all settled in outside the lab to work on a potholder while I waited for Miss Ru to finish getting her blood drawn,

when there she came, already done.

I'm so proud of her. It was such a short time ago that she was in the hospital in dire condition after a spontaneous lung collapse and look how vibrantly healthy she looks! Glory to God!

We went right down the hall from here to her doctor visit for a check up. All is well. Again, Glory to God! I am so thankful.

I got this nice little stack of
fabric in the mail yesterday
from Glorious Color. I read
about them on Wanda's blog
and after ~~resisting temptation~~
~~for a while~~ careful consideration
I ordered some of the Liberty
prints. They are really pretty.
I've washed and folded them,
but I don't press until I'm ready
to cut.

And this one, too, which has been
my favorite for a while. I've bought
this particular fabric more than
once and I've used it in several projects,
including a huge bunch of
it for the backing for a quilt for
a very dear friend. So, you see,
I HAD to get some more......

Isn't it funny how some fabrics will
just sort of speak to you?

Last night we had a New Members' Coffee fellowship at our church. Here's one of my adopted (not legally, just of the heart) daughters setting up a display of her baked treats and other goodies. If you're in Houston, or nearby you should check out Sweetie's Treats. (By the way, these disappeared SO fast!) The cake she's putting on the table was a red velvet layer on the bottom and a DARK chocolate layer on top. Miss Ru gave me a bite of the dark chocolate. Oh. My. Goodness. So good!

Speaking of Miss Ru, here she is putting empanadas out on trays. Too bad I didn't get any pictures of the serving area. There was so much delicious food. We met a lot of new people and had fun visiting with those we already know well. Fun. It's a good thing!

I'm still working on the drunkard's path quilt, but I don't have any progress to show you. Soon.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs and kisses,

Decisions, Decisions

2011-09-07T01:19:00.000-05:00

I've been absent from my 1930's Reproduction quilt. Instead I've been playing with my birthday present, my GO! cutter. I've been sewing drunkard's path blocks and trying different layouts. Still haven't decided. Except that I'm pretty sure I'm not going to do the one with the small drunkard's path blocks mixed in with the larger ones. (Pay no attention to that strip of 1930's trying to make me feel guilty.) I really need a bigger design wall. If I only had a place to put one!

I have five rows completed on the 1930's repro, but I figure I'll need fourteen rows total, so I have a long way to go.

I've been cutting the leftovers from the drunkard's path blocks into more of the 2" X 3 1/2" blocks and also into strips for another string quilt. As you can see, Chloe has been carefully supervising my work. She doesn't look very impressed, does she?

We are really enjoying slightly cooler weather here. It is quite refreshing after the extreme heat we've had for the past month. Still no rain. We really need it. There are a lot of wildfires in Texas right now. People have lost their homes, and the firefighters, too, could really use prayer. We haven't had weather this dry since the 1950's.

Hope all is well in your world, and that you are finding lots that makes you happy.

Hugs and kisses,

I Can't Seem to Help Myself

2011-09-01T21:40:00.000-05:00

I did get all my re-sewed blocks pressed, but the man in the brown uniform brought me a toy today that I absolutely HAD to play with. Mr. Muddling bought me a GO! cutter for my birthday. I had played a little with the die that came with it, but today I got the small drunkard's path die. Can you see all those stacks? I cut them in NO time. Seriously.

And of course them I had to sew them together.

These are not even pressed yet and they look so sweet. Oh my. I hope I get some sleep tonight......

Hugs and kisses,

Moving On

2011-09-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

I was moving along nicely with my 1930's repro quilt when I, for some odd reason, (could it be I was tired?? in the early morning hours?) decided that I had been sewing the blocks together wrong. So I unsewed (ripped) them all apart and re-sewed them the way I thought they should be. Did I look at the pattern? No. Did I stop and think? No. I just re-did all those blocks and continued making new ones the same way.

After pressing and putting them on the design wall I saw that I had made a big mistake. Bummer. So, rip again.

"I tried to tell you, Mom"

Now they are re-sewn AGAIN, and I will press and square them up. Oh, brother!

Learn from me, my friends. Don't get in too big a hurry! LOL

On a really positive note, it is actually a degree or two cooler and rain is forecast for the weekend! Glory to God!

Hope all is going well with what you're doing.

Hugs and kisses,

Saturday

2011-08-29T23:14:00.000-05:00

This is what we saw a lot of on Saturday. My sister and her daughter drove down for a visit with us. Our niece has three children under four years of age. This is the two oldest, Savannah and Ethan. I could NOT get a picture of them that was not blurred. They are perpetual motion.

And this is Miranda, being fed by Mr. Muddling. Note the arm action she has going.

I think our neighbor probably saved our lives. After I told her about the young guests we were expecting, she suggested I borrow some of the toys she keeps on hand to entertain her young visitors.

Oh, yeah. That helped!

We did have a very nice visit and lunch together before they had to head back home. I am forever in awe of people who manage to deal with small children on a daily basis and make it look easy!

And today I am back to making more four-patches.

They, along with some friends, are slowly and steadily growing on the design wall. You know, I do so love these 1930's reproduction prints. They just make me happy.

Hope you're finding plenty to make you happy, too.

Hugs and kisses,

Texas

2011-08-23T19:37:00.000-05:00

I love Texas. I wasn't born here, but I've been here for a long time, and there is still so much to this state I haven't seen. The picture above is from a book by Wyman Meinzer entitled "Texas Hill Country".

Wyman Meinzer's West Texas from Wyman Meinzer on Vimeo.

Wyman Meinzer has been named Texas State Photographer by the Texas Legislature. Looking at his photographs, you can tell that he loves Texas, too. Everyone has their own idea of what Texas is, and we're all wrong and we're all right. It's a big place, and it's a lot of things to a lot of people. I truly hope that those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure someday soon get to visit. There's a lot to see.

Speaking of things I like to see - I got a lovely package in the mail today from Connecting Threads. They have some really nice fabrics (these were all on sale!!), and I love their thread.

As one of my no-blog friends recently discovered, a stash is a wonderful thing. Especially when it means that you don't have to go out shopping in this heat!

I have one row sewn together on this quilt.

And lots more strip pieced units that need to be cut apart and pressed and then sewn again. You know the drill.

I'll leave you with another photograph from the book. The Texas bluebonnets really do look like a blue sea in places in the Spring. Just beautiful!

I do so hope you are finding lots where you are that makes you happy!

Hugs and kisses,

Fragmented

2011-08-17T16:15:00.000-05:00

I've been cutting 2 1/2 inch strips

and sewing them to strips of the reproduction 1930's fabric.

I've been playing with some of the half square triangles sewn from the flannel squares. The one at the top left is already trying to leave the design wall. LOL! Lots more of them need to be sewn before there will be enough for a quilt for our bed, which is where they are headed. But before I can do that, I will have to trim more of the squares I have to a uniform size and sew them together in pairs. Funny, flannel is so much thicker than regular quilting cotton that a pile of finished squares looks like a lot more than it really is. That's what I get for not planning more. I am so bad about just starting something and then figuring it out as I go. (Muddling, you know?)

I've cut a nice stack of muslin squares that will eventually become another string quilt.

I've been drinking a LOT of the "nectar of the South", iced tea.

I don't really even want to talk about this. Yep, another project begun and not yet finished. Oh dear.

And Chloe, my mentor and constant overseer says that I should just lighten up and take a nap. And to please stop disturbing her! Oh brother.

I guess really and truly it is just that it is SO hot here and I am so tired of being cooped up inside. I'm ready to get out and play in the dirt, but it's too hot and too dry. I am ready for fall. Seriously. Now.

Hope you're having more success with your doing right now!

Hugs and kisses,

A String Quilt with Geishas

2011-08-13T22:13:00.000-05:00

Almost two years ago I made a start at a string quilt. I only got four blocks made and then I quit. But this week I have started over and actually finished! Yippee!

Isn't it pretty? I had some serious issues with it, but that was mainly due to my own ~~laziness~~ uh, failure to press as well as I should have before beginning to quilt it. I have already cut more foundation squares, so yes - I will be making more of these. Millie told me way back then that I would love it when I finally made one and she was right!

Also, I decided to try using fleece as a backing. Isn't this geisha fleece unusual? Truthfully, I did not like the fleece for the backing. It was hard to quilt. I don't know if it was me, the machine or the fact that I did not use a batting and it was thinner than usual. I don't think I'll repeat that experiment. But. It did made a very nice quilt. There are way too many not-right-at-all places in this one for me to give it away, so it will just have to live here. Mr. Muddling is already envisioning the fights he and Miss Ru will have over it when the cold weather shows up here. (I am waiting patiently for cooler weather myself. I live in hope!)

This is me and my first born. Larry was born four days after my twenty-first birthday, and he's still the nicest birthday present I've ever received. We celebrated our joint birthdays last Sunday. Even though we live right here in the same (really big) town, we don't see each other nearly enough.

There are still some pretty things blooming out there in our yard. We really do need rain though.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Hugs and kisses,

Pressing and Cutting and Cutting and Cutting and a Little Sewing

2011-08-09T16:33:00.000-05:00

I've been cutting lots and lots of little 2 inch by 3 and a half inch pieces from my multitudinous scrap piles.

I want to make a quilt from this pattern on the cover. I somehow don't think this will be a quick one to make. LOL I first saw it at Sunburnt Quilts when I was trolling through one of Amy's online Quilt Festivals. There is always so much inspiration there, it keeps me going for quite a while. Anyway, Karen did such an excellent job on her quilt that I just really wanted to make one, too. Yesterday I started cutting leftovers into those little bitty rectangles. Maybe one of these fine old days I'll actually get it made into a quilt!

Yes, I really do just cram them into a box after making a quilt. I figure I'll get around to using them sooner or later and I can't bear to just pitch them out.

Of course they have to be ironed first before I can begin to do anything with them.

Frankly, it's just toooooo hot to do anything outside. I do what absolutely has to be done and then I get myself back inside. Air conditioning is my friend!

Seriously, it's 98 degrees out there right now at a little after four p.m. The heat index is 106.

So, I sew. This little pile is on the bed in my sewing room.

It has grown into this so far. There is some talk that I might need a quilt intervention, but really, what else can I do? Oh, yeah, clean the house. Maybe later! LOL

Hope you're finding lots to do and having fun!

Hugs and kisses,

Two Tips and A Finish

2011-08-06T20:38:00.000-05:00

Probably you already know about using your ironing board to help you hold a quilt when you are sewing the binding on, but just in case you didn't, that's tip number one.

Tip number two is the great usefulness of an ice cream bucket (or any other similarly sized container). I've found that I can just put my binding in the bucket and it doesn't wander all around the floor while I'm trying to attach it to my quilt. You know, helps it to behave. LOL

And yes, I'm one of those. I always sew my bindings on with the sewing machine. I really plan for these to be used and washed and loved, so I want them to be sturdy. (Plus, I'm just not there for all that sewing by hand.)

And here is the finished project, "Burnt Orange". It's a lot prettier in person. I couldn't somehow get the colors to look the same in a photo.

Here, up close and personal you can get a little better idea of the true colors.

And the back. I made this one for a long-time friend of ours. He and a partner own a mechanic shop that takes care of our vehicles. He is that rare breed - one that you can trust to tell you the truth and be fair with you. He has had a lot of health problems over the past few years and has beaten a fair number of them. Right now he's going through dialysis. Mr. Sweetie's and my hope is that he will feel our love and the love of the Lord when he's covered with this gift.

Out in the back yard, we still have a lot that's pretty to see, even in the midst of this drought. (By the way, I'm so happy that our Governor Perry called today as a day of prayer and fasting for our country. According to reports, there was a huge crowd gathered at Reliant Stadium here in Houston to pray. I watched a lot of it streamed live. And I prayed a lot, too.)

This view is from inside the chicken yard looking toward my sewing room. If you look very closely, you can see Claude right in the center.

And this is the area Mr. Muddling and I fixed up for our nesting chickens. We set it all up the other day. My sweet husband got out in the heat and put up another fence small enough that a chick could not escape through it. Then we moved the eggs and the two hens who had been sitting on them. They would have nothing to do with the eggs, the little house we made for them or anything else. Matter of fact, they kicked up such a fuss that I finally let them out and let them go back into the chicken yard with the other chickens. I'm think I'm through with efforts to raise baby chicks. I like the idea of it, but the cold, hard facts have proven to be something else entirely!

I do hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and that you are having success in your endeavors. It's always such a good feeling when things go right, isn't it!

Hugs and kisses,

Let's Talk About the Perfect Ones

2011-08-04T16:52:00.000-05:00

I'd like to pretend that all my junctions are practically perfect like this one. I'd really love to be able to tell you how I accomplished this phenomenon

Or even close to perfect, like this one. That would be acceptable. Quite.

But the sad fact is that there are always a few that are terribly off like this one. Hard as I try, I am just not perfect. Wish I was, but I'm not.

I am so impressed and humbled by those of you who can sew a multitude of little pieces together perfectly. But for now I'll just have to admire your expertise and keep on doing the best I can. (And live in hope that I will continue to improve!)

I have this quilt on the frame now, and I'm hoping to get it finished tonight. We'll see.

It is VERY hot here, but this IS Houston, and it IS August, so that's just what you get here usually. Some of us cope by taking it easy.

Some of us do our best to ignore it.

And some of us opt for cool treats.

Me? I'm just laying low, hoping it will be cooler soon.

Hope you're having good weather where you are, and lots of fun, too!

Hugs and kisses,

Totally Finished!

2011-07-30T13:30:00.000-05:00

The quilt for my Sweetie's co-worker who retires in August is finished at last.

As I said before, the pattern (Lake Cabin) is from Kim Brackett's book, Scrap-Basket Sensations. The only real change I made in the pattern was to add more stars in the sashing and to make their direction alternate in each row. (I love that book, by the way. Well worth the price, and I WON it!)

I made a disappearing nine patch for the backing with piano key borders. So he gets two quilts in one.

He is such a good man, and has been such a good work partner for Mr. Muddling for so many years. I can hardly wait to give it to him!

This is what I'm working on now. The color choice I received when I asked the intended recipient was "burnt orange". I think this will grow into a representation of that. It will be interesting to see!

Out my window, Claude is surveying the chickens who are out running free.

And out in the chicken house, we have a "blonde" setting more eggs. Mr. Mudding and I are discussing a totally separate area for her and her hatchlings, if there are any. We don't want any more of those bad things to happen.

Look at that soil. Dry and pitiful looking, isn't it? But take a look at those zinnias. Aren't they gorgeous? They are one flower that can take the heat and dry better than the rainy.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Hugs and kisses,

I Really NEED to Stop!

2011-07-26T16:22:00.000-05:00

But somehow, once I get started, I just have to keep going. I finished quilting this one for my Sweetie's co-worker at 4:12 a.m. this morning. What can I say? I was on a roll. I have now trimmed it. I'm about to get the binding ready to sew on it and who knows - maybe tonight I'll finish it. No promises though!

I was listening to Night by Elie Wiesel as I sewed last night/this morning. I think that's one thing that kept me awake. It is a very intense tale - he was fourteen years old when he and his family went into a concentration camp (actually several of them) during World War II. He and his father were able to stay together, though they were separated from his mother and other siblings immediately, but his father died in the camp. To hear of the inhumanity of humans is not easy. I cannot even imagine how terrible it would have been to live through it.

Yesterday Mr. Fed-Ex brought me this purchase. Ebay. My friend. Don't you love it? It's RED!!!

And today was definitely a day when a good cup of coffee came in handy.

I have another bunch of goodies all picked out for my next project. I know. I haven't even finished this one yet and already I have another elbowing its way into the line up! One good thing though - I'm never bored.

Neither is Chloe. She's keeping an eye on a gecko outside the window here. Our little supervisor kitty believes in keeping an eye on everthing that goes on around here.

Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Hugs and kisses,

Getting There

2011-07-20T15:08:00.000-05:00

I finished the top last night and got the first little border sewn on. I'm beginning to feel that I might actually finish it in time. There's still lots to do on the backing, but I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

I saw something new today. Two robins were in the fig tree eating ripe figs. By the time I went inside and got the camera they had flown, but this mocking bird was there for his turn.

Miss Birdy's rose is doing so well in the planter. I'm just thankful those chickens did not decide to tear these plants out!

On my way back inside I saw this little fellow. I do so love my little corner of the world. There is always something to see and enjoy.

Hope you're seeing lots of fun stuff where you are.

Hugs and kisses,

What Am I Doing?

2011-07-18T20:32:00.000-05:00

Not what I should be doing, that's for sure. I should be sewing. I promised myself that I would be sewing. But I am not. I'm sort of out of kilter. Mr. Muddling and Miss Ru went to Arizona for his sister's funeral, and I'm just not used to being here alone. Chloe thought she would guard Mr. M's carry-on bag and not let him leave. LOL She is so funny. And it didn't work.

They are having a very good trip and visiting with all the relatives they haven't seen in a while, so it's good. And I don't begrudge them the trip. I just keep thinking one of them will come in and say something to me, like always. Odd. Could it be that I'm a bit spoiled? Oh, definitely!

Here are a couple of shots of Claude, our feral addition to the family. He's a very handsome boy, even if he is stand-offish.

As I said earlier, I've been letting the chickens roam around quite a bit, mostly to help them bear the heat, BUT this is the sight that greeted me when I went out the back door this afternoon.

Oh, yeah, they definitely crossed the line.

"Unfair! We've been unjustly imprisoned! Help!" Oh, brother.

On the plus side, the four o'clocks are blooming and perfuming the evening air.

Hope you're safe from marauding poultry.

Hugs and kisses,

Progress

2011-07-15T18:15:00.000-05:00

Moving right along. I've got this much sewn together. Lots more to do, but getting there.

These are the blocks for the backing. The blocks are all sewn into rows. I just have to press and then sew the rows into a complete backing. (And then see how far off I am when I finally finish the top and add borders to the front and probably the back, too.

I've also done a little trimming the flannel squares I showed you earlier and sewing them into half square triangles. We'll just have to wait and see where they go from here.

I got a new camera today and I've been playing with it a bit. It's nothing fancy - a point and shoot, but it is a little bit of an upgrade, so hopefully the pictures will be better.

This is the view from my swing looking toward the street in the front of the house.

And this is Ray, peeking around the corner at me.

I've been letting the chickens maraud out in the back yard quite a bit. Most everything is having a hard time staying alive in all the heat and dryness, so I figured they might as well enjoy it while they can't do a lot of harm.

This is outside my sewing room window. And where I'm pointing out the food bowl is the feeding station for a new addition to our back yard crew. His name is Claude and he has apparently decided that he wants to live here. He wants nothing to do with anyone (hmmmm.....who does that sound like?) but he does demand food. Several times a day. So, being the obedient human I am, I put some cat food out for him. He is really a pretty cat. Yellow and with the most amazing yellow/green eyes. I've not been able to get a picture of him yet, but I'll keep trying. I'm pretty sure that he is from the same house where we got Chloe, so probably a cousin. Same attitude. Exactly.

Hope you have a really good weekend. We have the promise of a good chance at rain, so fingers crossed here.

Hugs and kisses,