Friday, August 28, 2020

I Seem to be a Little Scattered

This is the design wall directly behind my sewing machine. This is what I see while I'm sewing. As you can see, I have jumped all over the place with my sewing lately.

This is how it looked a few days ago. I had seen that picture of the maple leaf on Pinterest. I know. Big mistake to linger there at all. Anyway, I figured out a pattern to make the block. So far I've made ten of them. They take forever. For me, anyway. My brilliant idea , which you can see on that design wall, was to make another block to put between the maple leaf blocks. 

So far, I've made twenty-one of these 49 patch blocks. They take forever, too. At least for me. Then I notice that these blocks are not the same size. Actually I noticed it several days ago, but I kept on making them. While I make up my mind what to do. There is a reason my blog is named "Muddling Through". That is what I do just a whole lot of the time. I muddle. Usually it turns out pretty well if I keep at it. We'll see what happens with this one. At any rate, it has kept me occupied here at home, and mostly out of trouble. Of course, there has been more fabric purchased online. Have I mentioned lately that I have the best husband in the world? He never complains about me buying fabric. I am truly blessed! 

In other news, it is HOT here, but that is nothing new either. Houston in the Summer is always hot, and it seems to be Summer here for at least three quarters of the year. 
The baby chicks are not babies any more, and they are getting along just fine with the big girls. And they are all hilarious! I love watching them. There is always something new to laugh about with them.
We've bought some really good peaches lately,, more than we could eat, so I've been drying some of the excess. I can see some fried pies in our future. After it cools off some, of course.

Today, I decided I would cut something new to play with, and I noticed the clamshell GO! die. I have no idea how many I've cut so far, but I've put these up on the other design wall, and I'm liking the look a lot! I did sew three of them together, just to see how hard it would be. It's not. So far, anyway.

With all the bad things going on these days, and there are plenty, there is still so much for which to be thankful. We are so blessed as a nation, and there is still so much that is right about our country, even though there are things that are not. Perhaps the very best thing we can do in these times is to talk to God about it instead of complaining. I am talking to myself here, I hope you know! And I am trying to do better.

I hope all is well with each and every one of you, that  your family is healthy and happy.  Because I love you!

Hugs and kisses,
Elaine

Friday, August 7, 2020

Where Have I been


Most of the time I've been right here. I have been doing most of the things I usually do, except for getting out and about much.
I spent a lot of time working on this quilt for our daughter Mary. As I mentioned before, this is the third of these quilts I've made from the Sew Many Strips sewalong, a Tara Baisden pattern from American Patchwork and Quilting. I made a queen size first for Mr. Muddling and me, then a king size for our son and daughter in law and now another king for our baby girl. 

This is the original size.

Lots of pretties outside and inside. Flowers just make the world a better place, don't they?

This is Mr. Muddling's birthday cake. We had a sweet celebration with family enjoying barbecue and cake. Delicious!

Next, the figs ripened and I canned enough fig preserves to send some to each of my siblings and still have plenty for myself. Mr. Muddling does not like them.

Next, back to Mary's quilt and another couple of borders added to bring it up to king size.

Here it is after quilting.  I do love that wavy line quilitng. On pieces this small (each strip one and a half inches wide before sewing!) I want a lot of quilting and this seems to do the job.


Here it is getting its binding. Now it has been boxed shipped and has safely arrived in upstate New York and is on the bed!  Hurrah!  And Glory to God!
Next I had a birthday. Our sweet Houston children came over bringing Mexican food and we enjoyed a feast and good company. Yes, I made my own birthday cake and I don't mind a bit.

Now I've cut a new project with my Studio Cutter. This will be the Hugs and Kisses quilt from The Quilt Factory. My friend Sandy is going to sew this one for the USO Lounge at our local airport. Hopefully they will soon be able to reopen.

Sorry I've been so long away. I just was not in the mood to post. And if you can't find much good to say, sometimes it's better to say nothing. But I'm back now, and God is still good  and we can still trust in Him!

I hope all is well in your world.

Hugs and kisses,
Elaine