Patriotic Rail Fence and Nine Patch

This one is complete and will also go to the local airport USO Lounge. I had some leftover nine patch and rail fence blocks in a project box and those "quilt seeds" as Wanda calls them inspired me to make this one. I had no idea until I looked just now that the original I made was in 2015!

Those of you who have been with me for a while know of our daughter, Miss Ru. Or Ruthie. She had a lot of online friends, one special one Dawn, who lives in London. Dawn has become a very good friend of Mr. Muddling and me, and for Ruthie's birthday this year she sent this stone for Ruthie's Garden. Oh,  how we love it!

I really loved seeing that bee in the pure white Althea, too! 

I finished quilting this queen size quilt last night. It will live here. I'll post more about it later. I am NOT happy that the block in the lower left inside the first inside border is turned the wrong way. Not changing it.

I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. Those I can, I have fixed, but there are some that cannot be fixed. This one could, but it's just not that important to me.

Isn't it good that we don't have to rectify every mistake we've made or to continually beat ourselves up about them? I am so thankful for Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend with lots of things to make you happy!

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

Four Patch Stars

This one is finished and will soon go to the local airport USO Lounge. The pattern is from the very generous Mary Johnson at MaryQuilts.com

She has LOTS of free patterns.

Doesn't it look so comfy on the porch swing?

And even better with all that cuddle showing! I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to be back making quilts again.

Of course it's not all work around here. There is also hot milky tea with a scone!  So good when I'm reading a new quilting magazine!

Here is the center portion of the American Patchwork and Quilting quiltalong designed by Tara Baisden . 

I got it up on the design walls last night and today all the vertical rows are sewn together and I've made a start on the horizontal rows. I really like how this one is coming together!

We had a windy night last week and woke up to a bird bath full of crepe myrtle blossoms.

This week is HOT, but this is Houston, so what can you expect?

I hope you're having a perfectly wonderful week full of only good things!

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

Stripes and Nine Patches

This one is quilted and done for the USO! It feels so good to get back to doing what I love.

And such a simple idea worked out well, I think. I had some men's shirting fabric leftovers I ran into while looking for something else. Those turned into the nine patches and I already had the blue and white stripe fabric for in between. Four borders and it is done!

Soft and crinkly and cuddly! I believe it will be a comfort to some service member on their way from here to there.

Speaking of soft and cuddly, look at this gorgeous afghan I received a couple of weeks ago from a dear friend. Of course it's a bit hot now to really enjoy it, but cold weather will be here again, and I am ready!

So many things making me happy out the back yard.

Mr. Muddling's dog, Lady, is absolutely sure of her place in the world. She is such a sweetie!

And because I can't leave you without a little smile - I saw this on Facebook recently and laughed right out loud!

I hope your world is supplying you with lots of good and happy things!

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

Busy busy!

Isn't Buddy's the most innocent face you've seen today? I do love this dog. He makes me laugh, and that is such a good thing!

All the rampantly growing things outside (except the weeds of course)  are making me happy, too! 

My sewing room is a mess, but that is because I am trying to do too many things at the same time. I had such a long spell of not being able to do much of anything that now I seem to want to do it all at once! There are literally three quilts in progress right now. And there might have been some stash enhancement! Crazy, I know.

This quilt top is finished. It looks a lot better in person. I ran across a lot of smaller leftovers of men's shirting fabrics and decided to make nine patches from them. I added that pale blue stripe fabric in between and ended up with a quilt top, after adding a few borders. I'm trying to get another top ready to quilt for the USO, and then I'll quilt both of them.

Mr. Muddling and I dropped off two quilts at the airport for the USO a couple of weeks ago. And they need more.

I am so thankful to be feeling so much better. I can walk quite well now, though I have no plans to run races! It's good to get back to life again.

I hope you are well and happy with plenty of good things happening where you are!

Hugs and kisses,

Red, White and Blue

I finished another rail fence quilt for the USO Lounge at the local airport.

Leftover blocks added to the backing fabric.

And a very crinkly, cuddly quilt ready to go!

So many pretty things outside right now. The rain has made them happy.

And, I have identified the mystery plant from my last post. When I went to visit my sweet neighbor she showed me a plant she had received for her birthday, and it was the same plant, just different colored flowers! Her plant still had the information. I was so happy to finally find out what it is:  a calibrachoa.  I put a link, if you click on that name you can find out about them. I had not encountered them before.

I am happy to report that I am getting stronger each day. It is a joy to feel that soon I will be able to do the things I am longing to do! God is good, and I am so thankful!

Hope all is well in your world, and that joy is a welcome visitor!

Hugs and kisses,

May

It has taken a while, but this one is finally finished! 

I used the same red print for the backing and the binding.

This one will be going to the USO. They have asked us for more quilts, so slowly but surely we'll get more made!

Out in the yard, lots of pretty things happening! Right in the middle of this collage you can see tomatoes on one of our tomato plants!

Mr. Muddling brought this hanging basket of pretty flowers home for me from the hardware store recently. I've looked, but I cannot seem to find what kind of flowers these are. Any ideas?

We had some bad storms roll through here during the night - lots of thunder and lightning and rain. Buddy was terrified, poor baby. I don't think any dog likes bad weather. I kind of do - as long as I'm inside!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend full of things you love!

Hugs and kisses,

Exciting Times

Isn't it exciting to see all new Spring growth! We had a very mild Winter here, so lots of plants survived. Very excited about that! We have new tomato plants growing in the garden and in some grow bags at the side of the house. And there are figs growing on the tree. On the lower right are some orchids that have rebloomed for me. Thank you. And amaryllis I picked from the yard.

I made some pimiento cheese the other day and Mr. Muddling and I had a sandwich for lunch. This is a reminder to me of childhood. Our mother made those same sandwiches for us, but with white bread.

And this is Buddy's attempt to hypnotize me into giving him at least some  of that sandwich! He makes me laugh all the time.

And....... believe it or not, I finished a quilt top! I talked about the beginnings of it here. I've altered the pattern a bit, both deliberately and accidentally, but I think it turned out pretty well. We'll see how long it takes me to get it quilted. No promises.

Another page from my Mary Engelbreit daily calendar, and so true. Friends ARE the icing on the cake of life! Thank you for being icing for me. Even if we never see each other in the flesh, I still count you friends and I appreciate you!

It is a beautiful, very warm day here in Houston, Texas. I hope you're having a wonderful day in your world!

Hugs and kisses,