Nicely Framed On Point Sixteen Patches

This is another one that will be going to the USO Lounge at our local airport.

I backed it with the same fabric I used for framing the sixteen patches on the front, with the added bonus of a spare block I somehow made.

This quilt makes me so happy for so many reasons.

Here at Muddle Manor, if it's not Mr. Muddling trying to claim every quilt I make, it's Buddy! 

I know I'm weird, I've gotten used to it by now. But it makes me happy to use up little bits and pieces left over from other projects. I had these little half square triangles from long ago that I had kept and now they are in this quilt! The half square triangles are an inch and a half and the finished pinwheel in the quilt is two inches. This is just a little progress as the quilt grew.

And probably no one but me would so enjoy these little squares that found their way into the sixteen patches. I know the quilt is intended for rough, tough soldiers to cover themselves as they wait for the next leg of their journey, but I hope some of the little happies sewn into this quilt may give them a tender thought of home and family.

We have had glorious rain here lately and I am thankful for every bit of it! The result has been lots of new growth. Dinah is still trying to take over the world and the chickens find their way into most places. Still, I wouldn't trade a bit of it. I am so thankful for this life and for our home.

As we celebrate Memorial Day here in the States, please take a moment to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives that we might enjoy the life we have here. We are a blessed people!

Hugs and kisses,

A Quilt for our Neighbor

My friend Sandy and I recently learned that our neighbor had lost her mother. Like most daughters, Angela loved her mom a lot and the loss hit her pretty hard. Naturally Sandy and I thought a quilty hug would be a good thing for her.

I used my Go!Cutter again to cut more of the half hexagon blocks and Sandy sewed them together with design advice from her husband. He did well, didn't he!

I quilted it. This is a shot of the back.

And with the binding.

It's a pretty one, I think, and it blessed her, which is the main thing. I love it that we can do things together to let a friend and neighbor know we love her and are thinking of her and praying for her and her family.

And now in the never ending saga of life at Muddle Manor, I am pressing and trimming leftover half square triangles trimmed from another project. These are being trimmed to an inch and a half then four of them sewn together into pinwheels. They will be cornerstones for an idea I had. 

This year we are trying some of the grow bags out in the back yard. There are pimiento peppers in the bag in the foreground and they are growing splendidly!  Not too excited about that corn back there though.  We'll see. 

I hope your week is going well and that there are lots of things to make you smile!

Hugs and kisses,

A Friend Rediscovered

Mr. Muddling and I recently started attending a new church and were delighted to discover there a couple we had known years ago. We were not delighted to discover that Karen was fighting a return bout of cancer. 

I made this little quilt for her as a reminder that she is loved by so many people, and also as a quilty hug. Somehow there is just something so comforting about a quilt, isn't there!

This one went together really quickly and easily, always a good thing! Here's a look at the backing and binding. It seems a happy quilt to me, and I pray that it blesses her.

Lots of pretty things out there in the back yard of Muddle Land. It is already Summer here, but there are still times of day when it is so pleasant to be outside. I'm enjoying each and every one!

One of the Silver Laced Wyandottes longing to get into that garden!

This picture is a bit blurry, but I just had to share. Isn't it hilarious to see these two marching along in lock step!

Happy Friday! I do hope there is lots in your world to make you happy and maybe give you a laugh or two. 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

At Last

Mr. Muddling's quilt, Hot Houston Reds (aka Narragansett Blues by Bonnie Hunter) is finally finished!  Hurrah!  It's a pretty good sized quilt and I had to have him stand on a little stool to keep it off the ground while he held it up so I could take pictures.

Pretty nice quilt holder-upper, huh? Got to love him. He puts up with a lot from me!

And here it is in its intended place, being a chair cover. It is working really well. Mr. Muddling says it's the first one that has not tried to slip and slide. Yay!

I mostly just quilted it in wavy lines, at least until I hit the middle and then I got bored for a few minutes and did some meandering. What can I say?

I think Summer may already be here. It has been hot, but I know it's just the start. Good thing is, we got our first tomato from the garden to enjoy today! Lots going on out there and lots to enjoy. The chickens certainly do when I let them out. I've had to curtail their outside the pen time or there would be no green grass in the back yard. They are more than a little destructive, but I love them anyway.

Yes, I've started another half hexie quilt. I do love how simple the Go! cutter makes it to put them together! And I needed an easy one after the Reds.

While I sew, Mr. Muddling has been keeping himself busy and productive painting. He's finished the dining room and it is mostly back together again. It looks so fresh and clean! Love it!

I am so thankful for so many things. God is good to us all whether it always seems like it or not. I'm so glad to know that I can trust Him to know what's best for me.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Hugs and kisses,