Saturday, February 3, 2024

February Rain

Some of our girls in the back yard. As you can see, we have a muddy mess. The rains have moved off for now and we are supposed to have a very breezy day tomorrow, so we should be dried out soon!  
I am not even thinking about complaining. We had such a hot dry Summer, a surplus of rain now will be all right!

I finished this edition of Jellystone, which is the second one I've made. I thought I would keep this one for myself, but no, it is going to someone who needs it more. You know how it is. I do like it. And the variety of pretty fabrics in it.

Here are some progress shots of it. It is truly a lot of fun to make. I used a mottled tan color flannel for the backing and solid black for the binding.

In other news at Muddle Manor (You have no idea how very much I muddle, but I seem to still get a fair amount done, so I guess it's all right.) I gave myself a good metal loom for those pot holders in the upper left. I think they are the best always, and I have had too much trouble trying to use those plastic looms. This one was perfect and the loops were actually the right size and worked perfectly. I had a lot of fun making myself a good supply and a few gifts, too. I got it on Amazon
My Buddy has been having some health issues. Not happy about that.
Lots of fabric cutting going on.
I think there may have actually been a total of four blooms on my Christmas cacti this year. So disappointing, but our Summer was brutal. We lost some pretties.
Doing a little decorating for Valentine's Day, because I have the best Valentine in Mr. Muddling. I am so thankful for him.
 
I hope all is well in your world. God is so good to us all, whether we realize it or not.
 
Hugs and kisses,
Elaine


 

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Quilts 2023

I do like to record the quilts I make each year. As you can see, it was not a particularly prolific year for quilt making at Casa Muddling! But. I am happy with the ones that I completed. The first five I made for the USO Lounge at the local airport. The next four were for friends and family, and the last three are minis - a Christmas panel and two from Sheryl Johnson of Temecula Quilt Company, and those three stay here!

Another thing staying here is this cute little pincushion I made for my handwork basket. I had been struggling with one that pins and needles did NOT want to go into. Why I put up with it so long I do not know, but finally I put together some bits and pieces left from other projects, stuffed it and we have have lived happily ever after! 

We had LOTS of rain here last night, but that's all right, we needed it. Today is a pretty day, but chilly. Mr. Muddling and I did a little shopping and errands earlier today and now we are peacefully at home, the best place in the world for us!
 
I was saddened to learn that one of my blog friends, Susie Swanson of Country Side Poet passed away two years ago. I had once again sent her a Christmas card and her husband sent me the sweetest note letting me know that she had left us.
Susie had struggled with serious health issues for several years before she left, but she always posted such positive and hopeful posts, and some really good poetry. Her memories of her childhood and simple life were so touching to me. I am glad I took the opportunity to purchase a book of her poetry from her.

I hope you are in the best place for you!
 
Hugs and kisses,
Elaine

 

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Little 2023 Update

I forgot to mention this little cutie, one of Sheryl Johnson of Temecula Quilt Company's 2023 Mini a Month collection. This is December.


I made a lot of these for Christmas gifts this year. Sorry, I was so focused on getting them done and delivered.....I forgot to take photos. These are some that are going to live here. I have never had kitchen towels with crochet edging. Never even thought of it, but I read a blog post by Jenny of Elefantz (reading blog posts has ALWAYS led me into new and sometimes really wonderful ideas. This was one for sure). She has blessed me with so many of her posts.


I hope to get a post up with quilts completed in 2023 next.

Until then, Hugs and kisses,
Elaine



 

Monday, January 1, 2024

Happy New Year

Hello, Strangers! I've been absent for so long, you've probably forgotten me, but here I am at last with a little keeping in touch post.
 
Lots happening, just like with all of you, and very poor documenting of the things! The cookies on the bottom row went to New York State for our two girls there. We had a lot of fun decorating our little nest, Mr. Muddling and me. I did hang the Christmas banner I made earlier. I like it! Christmas decorating makes me happy and still having flowers blooming outside at the very end of the year makes me happy, too!

I made this little quilt to go to the USO Lounge at the local airport. I need to get more made to join it. 


You may recall that I made this quilt before, Jellystone is the name from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. It's from her book, Miss Rosie's Spice of Life Quilts. I love it so much. I gave the first one to our cousin, so I'm making another one for myself.
 
Here we are with a brand new year! I'm going to try to make it better one. How about you?
 
Thank God, He helps us!
 
Hugs and kisses,
 Elaine
 
 

 

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Autumn at Last!

I have been absent for far too long. Frankly, I just didn't have it in me to blog. This has been the most brutal summer I can remember, or maybe I'm just getting older! At any rate it WAS a tough one. 
Thankfully it is over now and we are enjoying (SO MUCH!) cooler temperatures and a rain shower now and then. 
I've got autumnal decor out, and we have some new baby chicks! That always makes me happy. Mr. Muddling has succumbed to their charms as well. LOL! They are just so cute!
We have a lot of mustard greens in the garden both for the older chickens and the littles. They love them!
The feed store gave Mr. Muddling that Wizard of Eggs sign the last time he bought chick starter feed. They eat a LOT! 
 

In my last post, I told about a quilt I had made for the USO. Well, they are not getting it. My friend Sandy's son wondered if we might have one to give to an employee of his who was being deployed to Israel. Of course! We gave him that one and promised to pray for him. Sandy and I were both so glad to have one to send with him.
 
I finished this one, called Leftovers, a strip club pattern from Cozy Quilt. It was quite easy once I got my brain synced with the instructions!  Honestly, sometimes it takes a while. Plus, my quilting machine decided to misbehave resulting in my having to unstitch a large row of quilting and redo it. Always interesting, isn't it?
Anyway, I got it boxed up and Mr. Muddling took it to the post office. It is on its way to Wisconsin to a pastor there. I hope she likes it!
 
I had a surprise package recently. A blog friend send me a lot of fabric she will not be able to use. I will have to live a long time, but I'm surely going to try to use it all up!

I hope you're having a wonderful day and that things you are working on do NOT misbehave! In the midst of all our challenges, God is still and always faithful. Thank God, we can count on HIM!

Hugs and kisses,
Elaine

 




 

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Still

We are still here and it is still very hot. Nevertheless. You know, nothing is forever. These days with both their good parts and their bad will pass. In the meantime, we will continue to do the same things we always do - our best!
The garden has been such a blessing this year. Although we have not had a huge harvest of vegetables, we have had a massive amount of zinnias, and they have been so pretty out in the garden and in here in vases. We have enjoyed them tremendously.
Right now the cleaning crew is taking care of clearing the area. And in the process, they are getting rid of whatever insects may be lurking in there!
 
And this is just part of our crew! They look like they mean business, don't they!

I have completed another quilt for the USO Lounge. This one will go in the next batch. I had some parts to this one left over from a similar one I made earlier which you can see here.

The border, backing and binding are all the same blue and white print. 
 
I finished this little Christmas panel, too. I had a lot of fun playing with small designs in the quilting of it. This one will be displayed here for Christmas.

There have been many of these units made recently. I started this quilt, I believe in 2018. It is Bonnie Hunter's "Blue Ridge Beauty" from her book Adventures with Leaders and Enders. This is the only place I can find I mentioned it here.  If you look at that blog post you can see that I had already made a good many of the blocks. There are still a lot to make, but they are easy blocks!

I hope you are not having too difficult a time with your weather. I've been praying for the people who have been impacted by the terrible fires all over the place lately. My heart aches for them.
We ARE living in perilous times right now. But our Heavenly Father knows all we're going through and He is always watching over us. He is a very present help in time of trouble! 

My thoughts and prayers are with you, too!
Hugs and kisses,
Elaine

 

 

Monday, August 14, 2023

Five for the USO

 
This is the first of three that my friend Sandy made for the USO. Isn't it pretty!

Here is the second. I love how she set this one and the smaller tumblers really shine here.

This is her third one. You just can't go wrong with a patriotic color combo for these service members.  We really appreciate all they do and sacrifice to serve our great country. 

This one I made I already showed.

This is the other one I made, also already shown. 
These five new quilts should make the volunteers at the USO Lounge at our local airport happy. Sandy and her sweet husband will be delivering these.

I've been working on this Christmas panel. I'll show the completed project soon.
 
I've had a little personal drama. I thought I had a tooth needing a root canal and had that scheduled. But the Saturday before it was to happen I awoke to a rash on the left side of my face and in my left eye. I went to Urgent Care right away and discovered I have a case of shingles. Mr. Muddling and I both had the immunization several years ago. Nevertheless. 
Things we had scheduled have been cancelled and I'm thankful for plenty to keep me busy inside. 
It's too hot to be outside for any length of time anyway!
 
I hope you are having a wonderful beginning to your week and more happy days to follow. God is still on the throne and all is well!
 
Hugs and kisses,
Elaine