Actually, A Finish!

Here is the sweet baby boy quilt on the frame,

And here it is outside, finished and ready for delivery!

The backing is some of the softest flannel I've encountered.  Do you think a little boy might like these frogs when he gets old enough to know what they are?

A close-up of the upper left corner.  I used this dotty black for an inner border and the binding as well.  I just like it.  There are so many interesting fabrics in this one, I think if will provide plenty to explore for a long time.

As always, it feels good to finish one.  I passed it on to a young aunt tonight and the sweet baby boy should be getting it soon.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world!

Hugs and kisses,

A Very Nice Surprise

Today when Mr. Muddling and I got home from visiting Miss Ru in the hospital, there was a package waiting for me.  I had won a giveaway from the wonderful Millie of Millie's Quilting on Monday, and it is here!  I have been wanting to make a Christmas quilt and Millie has also given me a craving to make a Chinese Coin quilt.  Now she has given me the materials to make this a two-in-one satisfaction to both of those. Thank you so much, Millie!  It is generous, talented people like you who make blogging so much fun.

Dinah is not happy about Miss Ru's absence and is very vocal about letting us know that.  You would not believe what a voice that tiny little kitten has!

Lady thinks that every dog toy here belongs to her.  Someone has spoiled her badly and his name is Mr. Muddling.  It was inevitable though, she was so tiny and so sick when she arrived - we just are thankful she is alive and well and she really is a sweet little girl.

Bruno of course is the best dog in the world.  For me.  I am always thankful for him.

Here are a few more pictures of the 2 inch strips in Millie's package.

These, along with the 1 inch and 1 1/2 inch strips are going to make putting together one of those coin quilts very easy.

Isn't it funny to think how very close Christmas is getting?  I love Christmas.  It will soon be time to decorate, and that's one of my favorite things.

Blog friends are truly some of the best in the world.  We may never meet in person, but I love you just the same.  I'm thankful for this world of blogging that we share.

Hugs and kisses,

Houston International Quilt Festival 2013

Since I have no finished quilt of my own to show you, I thought I'd share with you a few highlights of my visit to the Quilt Festival today.  My sister in law was kind enough to go with me.  

 Rounding the corner near the middle of the convention center we came upon this woman sitting calmly hand quilting.

Looking closer we noticed that she was part of the exhibit!  Isn't she amazing.

There was a big display of art dolls, or as the sign proclaimed - All Dolls Are Art.

Aren't they gorgeous?  

Or how about a Moo-dern quilt?  Made me laugh.

This was one of the Hoffman Challenge quilts.  There were a lot of really impressive ones on display, but this one caught my eye.

And this, as you can see from the signboard below is the original quite old quilt on the bottom which is the inspiration for the new model above it.

I don't have information for this one, but it looked so architectural to me.

And this one just made me think of all the jigsaw puzzles I've helped put together over the years, and of the paint-by-number kits!  Isn't it pretty!

Miss Ru had to go back in the hospital yesterday.  Not a fun time, but necessary just the same.  Her biggest concern?  That her kitten would get so much bigger while she is gone!  Funny girl.  How I love her.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend and seeing lots to inspire you!

Hugs and kisses,

Getting There

I did get the baby boy quilt made with the signature die quilted last night.  Or actually very early this morning.  What can I say?  I like to work at night.  It's usually quiet and peaceful then.  I am really pleased at how this one completed.  I plan to get the binding done tonight.

We have had a LOT of rain.  I am NOT complaining.  We have been short on rainfall for a long time.  Outside everything is pretty waterlogged, but most things still look mighty happy.

The little lemon tree in front is full of lemons.  Matter of fact, we've been enjoying these lemons for a little while now.  It just makes me so happy that we can grow these right here in our very own yard!

Hope your week is going well and that you have a good time with the trick-or-treaters tonight.

Hugs and kisses,

Happy Weekend!!!

This is the other set of signature die blocks.  You should be able to enlarge the picture by clicking on it.  I have some fun fabrics in here.

And lots more cut and partially completed.  This one will go to a new baby boy.

Can I just say that we are all LOVING our new screened patio!  Autumn is finally here, at least in the early and late hours of the days.  Middles are still pretty hot, but oh, what a relief it is to be cooling down finally.  Dinah the kitten is continually exploring out there so close to "the wild", and we had Ruthie's bird Pete out yesterday enjoying the fresh air and visiting with other birds. 

There is still lots pretty out in the back yard.  I am continually thankful for the beauty all around us.  Yes, there are ugly things, too, but why not focus on the good instead?

Lady just wants ice cream. LOL

 

Enjoy this beautiful weekend and try your best to have lots of fun!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Trying to Get It All Back Together Again

Have you ever just had a time of things not seeming quite right?  I've been there for a few days now.

You may remember our blind chicken Hetty.  I wrote about her here.  She was truly one of the gentlest souls I've known.  I don't think she realized she was blind.  It was just the way things were and she got on with her life.  She was one of my best egg layers, there was frequently an egg somewhere on the ground in the chicken yard.  It was up to me to find it before it got covered up with something the chickens had scratched over it.  A treasure hunt, if you will.  I still catch myself looking for her egg when I go out there each day.  But there will be no more Hetty eggs on the ground.  One day last week I was shocked to discover when I went to the chicken yard that something had gotten in to the chicken yard overnight and had killed Hetty.  She always slept on the ground, because of course she couldn't see to fly up on to the perch with the rest of the chickens.  I still don't know what did it.  Maybe a really wild cat.  I just wish I could forget finding her like that.  And I'm not at all ashamed to tell you that I cried.  Over a blind chicken.

In other news, the screened patio is coming along nicely.  Chloe of course is sure it is there solely for her comfort and enjoyment.  Bringing her home with us that Sunday was one of our smartest moves.  She is endlessly entertaining and cute enough to make us forgive some of her not-so-cute behaviors.

Edited :  That , of course, is NOT Chloe, but Dinah.  I blame late-at-night-itis!

There has actually been a lot of cutting and sewing going on over here, but this is the only picture I have to show for it.  I discovered a bunch of fabrics I had bought years ago and never washed.  So, I washed and ironed and cut those all up - some with the Go! cutter and some with the rotary cutter.  I am working on this little layout and another with the signature die (the white strip in this picture) in different colors.  I've cut a lot more of the red and beige strips, too.

I really wish I could give you some magic formula to make everything happen just as we would like it to happen.  I totally believe in the goodness of God.  I totally believe He wants us to live good lives.  Jeremiah 29:11, in the NIV says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to give you hope and a future."  I'm just doing my best to try to fit into God's plans for me and trusting Him to bring it all right.  He is well able!

I do hope things are going well with you and that you are finding lots to make you happy.  Because I love you, you know.

Hugs and kisses,

Absolutely Nothing Finished

But there are lots of things in progress.  On my design wall right now is this experiment in reds and neutrals.  I had seen a quilt using this pattern on a blog a while back and saved the picture, wanting to try it for myself.  I have  had a lot of fun putting as many different fabrics as I could manage into these blocks.

I have three trays of strips cut and they are being incorporated into the blocks.  I think (hope, hope, hope) it will turn into a pretty quilt.

And as I'm sewing those blocks together, I'm also making these little blocks as leader/enders.  It really is an easy way to keep from having all those long thread "tails" and to get more than one project made at a time.  I'm all about efficiency, you know. Well, not always, but at least some of the time.

Mr. Muddling has been working and working on our screened patio.  I am just beyond excited about it.  It is coming together so nicely, and the weather is getting close to us being able to actually sit out there and enjoy once it is finished.  And without mosquitoes trying to suck the life out of us!

Lady, of course, has been helping.  Poor little pup, she works SO hard!

I've had these African violets in my kitchen window for years.  I always love it when they bloom - just a spot of something nicer than dirty dishes to see.

And this little guy has absolutely nothing to do with this post, just thought I'd share him.  I used to see him and a few of his pals when I was a child visiting my grandparents' house.  When my grandmother downsized before moving into a retirement apartment years ago she gave them to me.  Those things would not mean that much to anyone else, but she and my grandfather have been gone for many years now.  They were such a bright spot in my life when I was a child and these little things make me smile when I see them.

You know what else makes me smile?  I know that I'll see them - and so many more who have left this earth - again some day.  This is the blessed hope we who believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ share.  I hope to see you there, too!

Hugs and kisses,