Pinwheel Rail Fence

This one is on its way to West Texas to live in a Pastors' Retreat. It's a variation Donna Jordan of Jordan Fabrics came up with for a rail fence. I like it a lot, and it was easy to put together, which is also a plus!

If you click on this picture, it should enlarge and you can see a piece of the backing on the lower right. Also you might be able to see that I've used the inner border fabric for the binding, too.

It seems to me a happy quilt and I hope it will be a blessing. It's not always easy to get a good picture of the true colors, but maybe you can get at least an idea. 

I'm working on this one now, which will go to the USO Lounge at our local airport. I think I'm going to use that blue there on the right for the border. We don't make all the quilts for them red, white and blue, but a good many of them are those traditional patriotic colors. Men and women who volunteer to put themselves in harm's way to serve our country are undoubtedly patriotic and deserving of our thanks.

Still a lot of pretty things out in our own back yard, but I am watering somewhere out there every day. It has been HOT and dry here, but that's really not unusual. Just not very pleasant either!

I am so thankful for blooming African violets in the kitchen window and a pretty view of Ruthie's garden outside. Ruthie was not a gardener, but she loved flowers and all things pretty. It makes me smile to think of her when I look outside at this little patch of pretty flowers in memory of her.

And this big ole boy, Buddy, makes me smile all the time, if not laugh out loud. He has become my constant companion even if sometimes he is so tired he looks like a drunk!

Aren't there always just so many things for which to be thankful! I think so, and I am! I hope you are, too.

Hugs and kisses,

Two More from Sandy for the USO

Isn't this a pretty jelly roll race? I really like how it's come together.

My friend Sandy has been very busy, not only making quilts, but lots of other things, too, including an Alaskan cruise! I hear they all had a good time!

Sandy also made this rail fence. Love the minion fabric!

She used this red for backing on both quilts. These will both be going to the USO Lounge at our local airport. I hope our service members will enjoy the use of them! We like making the quilts for them. We want them to know they are appreciated!

I have no finish to show this time. I've been working on this one, which is Bonnie Hunter's Blue Ridge Beauty. Sometimes you just need sort of mindless sewing, and lots and lots of four patches and half square triangles just fit the need!

I've also been working on this variation of the rail fence block. Donna Jordan has a video showing how she worked out this pattern. It was a lot of fun to put together. Still working on borders.

My friend Phyllis gave me a cutting of her plumeria several years back. It is doing well this year and actually has a few flowers.

Aren't they pretty! You should smell them! Heavenly. These are one of the flowers commonly used in the Hawaiian lei necklaces used to welcome visitors. They are a very tender plant, but believe it or not, you can even just pull the plant out the soil, put it in a place that won't freeze over the winter and then just replant it in the Spring. I just put this whole pot in the garage for the parts of the Winter that were extremely cold.

The flowers that I'm enjoying the most right now, though, are these orchids in the office window. I don't have to go out in the heat to enjoy them!

I do hope there are lots of things in your world that give you joy, and that you remember to count those blessings!

Hugs and kisses,

A Ranch Style Disappearing Nine Patch

I'm calling it a ranch style, because it is going to a ranch, and she asked for colors suitable for that. 

It looks pretty happy here in the big city, too, though, doesn't it?

I like it. And I hope our friends will as well. They are starting a new venture - a boys camp, than will also be a pastors' retreat, and now I hear there will also be a church there. Exciting times! This one will be for the pastors' retreat. 

Mostly the top is batiks. The inner border and binding are regular black cotton, and the outer border is a Jenny Beyer print.

The backing is this swirling design, and don't you love that I was sewing the binding on with my American Beauty vintage machine which is absolutely color coordinated! I do amuse myself sometimes.

Lots of pretty things growing and blooming and living out in the back yard at Muddle Manor. Look at the lower right - don't the chickens look disappointed that their watermelon is all gone? I am letting them out for a couple of hours each evening to maraud in the back yard. It is so hot, I like to give them an opportunity to get out and run around a little once it gets closer to dark.

Mr. Muddling has been concocting these wonderful salad meals for us lots of days and they are perfect for a hot summer day!

I hope all is well in your world. Sorry I've been a bit slow with my posting. I just couldn't seem to make myself do it!

Hugs and kisses,