Rugs for Mugs and More

This is the fifth mug rug I've made from the designs being shown during the Mug Rug Madness.  There are 4 more designs I plan to make and few more to go until it finishes.  I'm loving it.

I followed the quilting method of the designer, Jeni http://www.incolororder.blogspot.com/ , and used two different colors of thread on the front. 

In use.

Step 5 of the Easter sal and not much more to go. 

God Bless You.

Still Mad About Mug Rugs

I had to skip one of the mug rug designs because it used those hezagon paper templates and I don't have any.  I'm going to try making some, but that's on hold for now.  I did make yesterday's design which is so sweet - kites.

There was one design I skipped that I will go back and make and today's design which is a star pattern.   And I am not tired of making them, yet.  It's a break from having projects that take weeks and months to complete.  Click on the Mug Rug Madness button on the right for the link to the Madness.

I have been working on things that are in process, like sandwiching the Regency quilt and beginning step 5 of the Easter sal.  I had to order red fabric to make the final border on the Erik Homemade Mystery Christmas qal.  I'm also still quilting the large quilt, but I am also ripping out stitches galore as I go, so very little progress there.  I'm thinking of just tying it.  I've not tied a quilt yet and that could be my first.

Next month in nearby Providence is the Machine Quilters Expo.  I plan to attend, and if so, it will be my first quilt show.  Have any of you ever volunteered at a quilt show? 

God Bless You.

I'm enjoying  Mug Rug Madness organized by Erin of Two More Seconds http://www.twomoreseconds.com/ .  I've made two of the patterns given; the Time For Tea and the Cottage Mug Rugs.  Here are my versions:

Time For Tea in fabric I love.

The cottage is cute.  I might add a little something to it.  It's so easy to get carried away.

There are no rules when making mug rugs except maybe for having fun with the design and fabric.  

I have completed step 4 of the Easter sal.

All of the designs have a certain charm to them.  I'm happy I joined in on this sal.

God Bless You.

  

Step 3 of the Easter Stitch Along

I finished step 3 of the Easter SAL with Carole of Novalee02.  Is that a cute Easter egg or what?  Step 4 is a purple iris, and I began it today with hopes of having it done by Tuesday.  This is a very sweet project.

I have been working on quilting the largest quilt I've made so far, it's 77 by 90, and it's a challenge.  Not because of the sewing/quilting, but because I had no idea how heavy it would be after the flannel backing and cotton batting were attached.  I actually get tired from moving it around.  Who knew quilting would be such good exercise;-)

If you notice I have a button for a Spring Giveaway by AMKreations.  http://amkreations.blogspot.com/   The giveaway is for a book and six Moda fat quarters in beautiful colors.  Join in welcoming Spring by visiting her blog and entering the giveaway. 

 Sunshower Quilts http://www.sunshowerquilts.blogspot.com/ is having a giveaway of an Accuquilt Baby Go!  which I want to win.  If you want a chance at winning MY Baby Go!, then visit Katrina's blog and enter.  At some point Karma has to kick in and my sharing of this good news has to be good for me.  Right?  Right!

Good luck to everyone in the giveaways in blogland.  I'll be happy with a wonderful week ahead and only problems I can handle.

God Bless You.

A Full Day of Sewing

Today was like going to work except I was in sewing heaven.  I began sewing around 10 a.m. and just stopped for good around 8:30 p.m.  I caught up on the Erik Homemade Ezine Christmas Mystery qal by putting on two borders.  I think these borders just add so much to this quilt top.   That was one accomplishment.

I made the two blocks for the Scatty Stars Christmas qal so I'm up to date on that. 

Last month's star pattern is still my favorite.  But there are plenty more to go.

I finished the Regency quilt top, with one obvious mistake.  I think that  that once this is sandwiched, quilted and had the binding sewn on it will be a treasure.  I love, love this fabric.

My three accomplishments for today.  I also have a flannel backing to put on a quilt top I put together last year.  I have had that project pending for a while but keep committing myself to other things so it isn't done yet.   Tomorrow I plan to get that backing sewn and the quilt sandwich made, and I plan to play with clay.  I bought some polymer clay with plans on making decorative pin heads or scissor charms.  That's probably something I didn't need to get myself into, but I want to try it. I also have to cross stitch this week's pattern for the Easter sal so I can get the next design. 

God Bless You.  Hope all of your projects are going well.



Christmas Quilt Along Saturday March 2011

http://www.quilttimes.blogspot.com/ Sue of Quilt Times is today's host of the Christmas Quilt Along. 

12:03 pm  I've cut the fabric and sewn two of the strips.  The applique needs to be done before I do any other sewing so I'm taking a break, having tea, and will be visiting the other blogs.  I'm a little intimidated by the applique so I'll procrastinate;-)


8:16 am  I'm ready.  Last night I ironed my fabric, and this is what I'll work on today.

It's a pattern and collection for David Textiles that I picked up at Walmart.  I love red.

I'll work on the star patterns when I need a change.  These are from the February qal.

I'm going to sign in and get started.  See you later.

New Scrappy Sample Quilts Blocks

Janet Wickell http://www.quilting.about.com/ gave us the basket block pattern for her Scrappy Sample Quilt Along.  I made two versions because I seem to be going in two different directions with my scraps.

The baskets were supposed to have a different color for the handle, but I used the same color as the basket part.  I guess the flower portion of the basket could be embroidered or appliqued with some flowers to dress it up, but I like the design.

This is step 1 and 2 of the cross stitch sal I'm doing with Carole of Novalee 02.  We get the next step tomorrow.

And speaking of Saturday, it's Christmas Quilt Along day, so I'm making my plans for what to sew.  See you then.

God Bless You.

New SAL

Carole of Novalee02 http://www.novalee02.over-blog.com/ has an Easter 2011 cross stitch sal that I have joined.  She had a deadline for joining, and I just made it.  In this sal the participant needs to make the first pattern and send in a picture of it before the next pattern is sent to them.  That keeps us honest and makes me keep up with the sal.  I worked on this until late last night in order to keep up.  It was pleasant to get back into cross stitch.  This is my step 1.

I also have my 48 basket blocks made.  Because I used the tan fabric for each basket I feel the blocks shouldn't be butted to each other en mass.  If I do that the baskets take over and the pastel fabric becomes secondary.  Well, I just last week received my first issue of Quilt magazine, a Christmas present from my sister, and this pattern is in it.

The quiltmaker is Laura Blanchard.  This is the design I'm going to adapt to my blocks. 

This issue of Quilt just happens to have many patterns that please me so I'll be going back to it for other ideas, like the cover quilt for one.

Today is gorgeous here, and I was outside with Moxie just to see what's up in the yard.  Before I knew it I was involved in the garden.  That's going to be happening alot soon, and I hope I can keep up with my various projects.

Have a gorgeous day, no matter what your weather.

God Bless You.

Not a Tree Afterall

My guess for the design of the Christmas Mystery Quilt along at Erik Homemade Ezine was wrong.  I guessed a tree, but it's a wreath.  That is a complete surprise but it's very cute.

There are still more instructions to come, but I know what I'm making now.  There's a red bow in the upper left that's very sweet, and the dark fabric is green.  I'm becoming one of those people who have Christmas going year round what with this mystery quilt still going and Sue and Cathi's Saturday sew alongs each month. 

I am up to 35 basket blocks.  Still more work to do on that.

In New England the calendar doesn't dictate the weather.  We've had blizzards and nor'easters in April, and a few snowy Easter Sundays that I can remember.  But the flowers are ready to pop.  The crocuses aren't afraid of a little snow, should it show up.

God Bless You.