Finished Mug Mats

So, I finally got all my mug mats finished. I ended up with a total of 16, but only 13 are going to my guild's auction. (This is an annual fundraiser, and apparently a pretty big one.)


I just love this chicken fabric with the red. And I love the effect that having a different the pocket fabric gives.

Here's a different set. I don't know, but I'm sure there's at least one grandma in my guild with a grandson who will like Bob the Builder.

And here are the ones I made using the envelope technique put forth by Gail. (Thank you.) The biggest problem was that it wasn't so easy to attach the pocket that way. I like the technique though. By the way.... there's a pocket on this pattern, for those of you who didn't catch that in the first post.

Oh, and here's a UFO that I finished after I did all 16 mug mats. :) That red paisley has always been a favorite fabric of mine.

Now, I thought I'd respond to a few of the comments left on the last post. You'll have to forgive me for doing it this way, but I've been super busy lately.


Judy, yes, the satin stitch does seem to help it sit a bit flatter.


AllyJo, the directions for making postcards are here, but I'm going to try to send you one, too. And I'm glad you liked your package. :D Have fun.



Howdy, yes it is a lot of thread. But I have a different opinion on fabrics and thread then most people do. I am at the point where I absolutely can not buy anymore fabric or thread. I have no where to store it for one, and it's not in my budget for two. The only option left is to use what I have, and to enjoy the process instead of hoarding it. (But it's not much more work than a regular binding for me.)



Barb, thank you for the reminder. I know that. I think one day, I'm going to write it on my machine "can you see it from a galloping horse?" Maybe then I'll remember that the quilt police are banned. LOL



I think that's all I have to say today. I'm really getting into the swing of sewing again. It's becoming theraputic. :D



Hugs,
Melinda

Question...

So, I'm working on this project. It's called a mug mat. I'm making these for my guild's auction coming up in February. I have made three this morning.
But I'm thinking that I don't like the traditional binding. I can't seem to get the size right. What do you think of the satin stitch on the right? I use this when I make postcards.
I don't know. I know the traditional side of quilters will like the traditional bindings. Is it okay to break the "rules" when you just can't seem to get it right?

Hugs,
Melinda

This top is finished

The 4 patch quilt top for Little Bit is finished. I finally got the last borders on.

This picture is of the top hanging on our patio blinds. It's mid afternoon, so the sun is coming through. You can see every seam. LOL
This is a close up of the corner. I sort of like it. :)
It's sort of frustrating though. I thought this quilt was going to be a bit smaller. Instead, it's almost big enough for my queen size bed. As a result, I don't have ANYWHERE in my apartment to lay it out to baste it.

I also need to make the backing for it. I'm going to use the leftover pieces from the quilt piecing to make the backing. It should be fun.

Hugs,
Melinda

Are you sick?

Then maybe you need to visit Drs. Little Bit and Sweet Pea.
They take the best care of their patients, with band aids and mouth checks for all.
Be forewarned, you might need a shot. But they give you such care, you won't hardly notice.

Besides, who can resist the cuteness? One smile surely cures all. :DJust make sure you let Dr. Little Bit listen to your heart. :D

Hugs,
Melinda

4 Patch in progress

I'm working on a 4 patch quilt for Little Bit. This is the first quilt I've made for her. I hope that she will love it for years to come.

Here's the top without borders. I've been working on sewing it together all weekend.

Here's a closeup of the sashings and cornerstones. This is the first quilt I've made like this.And a closeup of some of the fabrics.
And I hope to have the borders on later this week. But I'm fighting a cold, so who knows when it will be done.

Oh yeah, one more thing.... this quilt is all from my fabric stash. :)

Hugs,
Melinda

Rob Pete

Well, it's finished. The infamous wallhanging that started it all. This is the project that when my SIL called me and said, "Hey, do you want to sew when we get together at Christmas?" got me started on cleaning my sewing area so I could use it. This is the project that got me started quilting again (hopefully more regularly) after a year and a half of sitting around and moping that I'd lost my quilting buddy. This is the project that got me going again.

It's called "Rob Pete" by Quiltsmart. It's a fusible....... thing....... technique. I had never done it before. It's really interesting.

I used a lot of buttons. :D They sort of serve two purposes. 1) They are my quilting and 2) they cover my mistake where the petals don't meet. Shh...
So there it is. It may not ever win an award, but it's mine, and it's finished. :D

Hugs,
Melinda

Test video

If this works, there should be a video of Little Bit on her favorite present at Christmas.

Hugs,
Melinda

UFOs

No, I'm not talking about the "Unidentified Flying Object" kind that you would find at Area 51. I'm talking about the "Un Finished Object" kind that you have when you start a quilting project and then start a different project and so your first project lays around and around and around......... I'm in a sort of contest to finish as many as can in 2008.

I finished two yesterday.

This first one is one my mom had started. I believe it's her own design. I've named it "Garden Window."

Here's a close up view of some of the quilting. She wanted it to feel like you were looking out of a paned window.
This one is all my design. I had some lonely little blocks that needed a home. I designed this wallhanging. It has no name yet. If you click on the picture, it should enlarge, and you can get a good look at the fabric with the quilt blocks and the sewing notions on it.
And the back side of it, if anyone is interested. I think that if we ever move into a house with a sewing room, this will probably hang in there. :DOkay, I'm off to find more UFOs to finish.

Hugs,
Melinda

Christmas

So, I've been promising an update, and I'm going to try to get a somewhat short update.

Christmas started early for us this year. My MIL gave Dale tickets for Mannheim Steamroller on Dec 19. While nosebleed has a good overall view, it's way too steep for me. But we had a good time together, and that's what counts. ..... Right?
That weekend, we left for Mount Magazine State Park, close to Paris, AR. It was pretty, despite the fog. We got there rather late, and hit a brick wall of fog.
This was our Christmas with the Hollis side of the family. MIL of course insisted on matching shirts (for everyone but her sons) and we needed a new family picture.

We got to meet the new members of the family. Here's a good one of the baby sitting on Uncle Bert's lap. I think they were watching tennis.This is Sweet Pea's favorite part of the weekend. She loves playing with her cousins, and misses them so much when we're not together.
So then, we got home for Christmas Eve. It was so much fun this year. Little Bit really seemed to understand about "Santa" and just made everything seem more interesting.

Oh, and Great Grandma sent the girls these teddy bears. Thank you. They love them and enjoy them alot.

I'm actually missing a picture or two here. My dad and his new wife got to come for a visit the next weekend. We had Christmas pt 3 while they were here. I had finished a wallhanging for them, and I forgot to snap a picture of the finished project. I also forgot to get a picture of all of us together.

New Year's Eve and Day were spent at home. One of the things I got to do while at Mt. Magazine was sew. My SILs and I put together a wallhanging called "Rob Pete" by Quiltsmart. I spent New Year's Eve working on the machine applique part of it. Then I spent New Year's Day working on a possible addition to it. These flowers from Stitch and Split.They don't look so cute on my Rob Pete wallhanging, so now I need to find something else for them.

Then, last week, Little Bit got a double ear infection. Sweet Pea never had them, so I always get a bit worried. But in addition, I've been fighting a bad cold, too.

Last night, we had friends over. And that's it. That's my update. I know it's kinda long, but we've been busy.

Hugs,
Melinda

Quick sewing projects

I did a couple of quick sewing projects today. This first picture is an orphan block that I turned into a wall hanging for the girls' bathroom. It's not perfect, but it was quick and it filled an empty spot.
This one is also some orphaned blocks I had. I think it will work, except there's 1/2" on each side of the top strips (1" total) that's ... missing? short? I don't know. I find myself wondering if it would just look horrible if I trimmed the middle block on each side. Any other suggestions?This block was made from scraps from my mom's stash. I had enough for a 9 patch and then 2 extra strips. I am VERY tempted to add the extra strips and make a placemat, with the exception that I don't have any more of this fabric and I wouldn't have enough placemats for everyone. Otherwise, it's cute, isn't it?


Okay, that's all I have for today. Well, right now anyway. Maybe I'll update on Christmas tomorrow, but I'm aiming for next week.

Hugs,
Melinda

Updates coming soon

I promise I will be updating this thing pretty soon. I'm still recovering from a pretty nasty cold, but we had a good Christmas. Pictures will follow.

Hugs,
Melinda