Mug Rug Madness

I LOVE my mug rug! Janora pegged me perfectly.

This side is technically the 'reverse', but it coordinates with my coffee mug.

This the correct side. A pinwheel, stacked rectangles. It is perfect. The blue looks like denim and the stitching is in the goldy type of thread that you see on jeans. It really is very me.

Janora and I ended up swapping. This is what I made for her. Just to be clear- It is supposed to be wonky. It isn't bad stitching. She was very gracious in her acceptance. I hope she gets to use it.

Here are more pictures from the swap. This has been a great experience for my first time swap and I think I may do another one. If anybody is in the central Iowa area, please come to the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild. It is very fun and the group is super creative.

Block 2 on its way

I had to think about 'its' in the title. I mix 'its' and 'it's' up all the time.

Yellow this time.

Love it!

I used the spun silk left over from my sisters's table linens. The silk was a bit squirmy so I used a light weight stabilizer. There are 3 more pitchers in Anne Marie's line and right now she has a giveaway. Now, do I wait to see if I won the giveaway or do I just go ahead and order the next one in the series? Me thinks order.

Updates with pictures

Here is the promised picture of the Giant Granny Block. I think it turned out well. It calls for a sashing border, but I think I am going to leave it as is. I think I may quilt it myself.

I finished my mug rug for the quilt guild swap. I am really nervous. I am a beginner quilter and so I veered off on a couple occasions. I also hope I interpreted my partner's likes appropriately.

Yesterday Emily and I hung out and did some cross stitching again. She has made progress on her project. I never knew I was filled with wisdom, but my tip about stitching the borders of a solid section and then stitching in the 'filling'. The last picture I have is from September 2011. It is fun to see the progress that has been made and more importantly, to be made.

I have tomorrow off again so I may have more pictures at the end of the day. I need to try the paper piecing again.

No pictures, but randomness

I hadn't blogged, but I have been keeping up with sewing hobbies. Emily has come over one evening for the last two weeks to work on her cross stitch. We both work crazy hard during the summer so we are milking the cooler, less busy fall. I worked on my Last Supper cross stitch. Last weekend was the AQS show and I went to that with a fellow quilter. That made for a fun (EXHAUSTING) day. I picked up some dupioni silk and Fassett fabrics. The tide is starting to turn in the main stream quilting community in my opinion. I noticed a few more modern fabric vendors and a couple more negative space/minimalist quilts.

I took today off and had a 'Karen Day'. Lounged and did some sewing. I finished up the Giant Granny Square Quilt Along top. I ordered the kit using Flea Market Fancy. I wasn't sold on the line when it was re-released and when my kit arrived I wasn't sure. It grows on you and I like the way the top turned out. I will take pictures tomorrow and post.

This evening I worked on some paper piecing. I took a class last fall, but had never worked on anything. It took some trial and error, but my block was coming along nicely until I had to tear away the paper. I hadn't shortened my stitch length so the stitching came apart. Oops. Tomorrow I will try again.

I was catching up on my blog reading and caught this. Robert Kaufman is coming out with precut hexies. Last month at the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild meeting, Emily V presented about English Paper Piecing. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

One more thing- Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery is having a winter themed calendar of sorts. I haven't decided if I am going to or not. It may be too cutesy for my liking.

Road trip

I went to Indiana this weekend and hit up two quilt shops along the way. Quilt shops should really advertise on the interstate. I found one just by seeing a sign on I-80. I stopped at Expressions in Thread in Le Claire, IA. It is a really nice store. While browsing the shelves I saw this tshirt. I laughed and laughed. I am sure they thought I was crazy.

I picked up a Cotton Way pattern because I will beat flying geese. I'd go back. It is nicely located too- not too far from the interstate and a nice view of the river.

I then hit up Always in Stitches in Noblesville, IN. This store was huge! They had yarn and cross stitch supplies in addition to fabrics. They had the new Moda Candy so I picked up one in Tapestry. If you're in the area of either shops, I would recommend a visit.

Here are a couple pictures of the quilt I sent Becky. I didn't take any before I mailed it out, so I took some this weekend.

Cross stitch taking over the world

First needlepoint shows up on the runway and now cross stitch has shown up on a royal. I am a HUGE fan of the Royal family. Emily came over to watch the Will and Kate's wedding at one in the morning. I even baked scones and we had a champagne toast. I've been following the Royal Tour of Southeast Asia, especially to see what Kate has been wearing. That lead me to the perfect side called, What Kate Wore! This is a really wonderful site. There is brand information and cost, as well as substitution ideas.

I am a cross stitcher at heart and I love this idea of cross stitch in fashion.