Saturday, February 16, 2013

Purple Mug Rugs


Last week while the wind was blowing like crazy, my dear, sweet husband bought me another piece of foam insulation board to make into a second design wall. He was also bringing it home in an open pickup truck! It was a miracle that it got here fairly intact. One corner got bent back rather badly, but since I was trimming it, it really didn't matter.

While I was covering the board with flannel, Laura was "helping" me. I usually keep some pins stuck in the very top edge of my design wall, so I guess she thought I liked having pins stuck in it. I don't know if you can really see them, but she emptied a whole pincushion full of pins into the board! Fortunately, she was just as cheerful removing them as she had been at adding them!

I decided it was time I used some of my purple scraps (for Scrap Happy Saturday) and I also thought I should try making some mug rugs--especially since I'll be participating in the "April Showers" Mug Rug Hop. I really didn't want to spend a lot of time on this project, since I SHOULD be working on Mom's Egg Money quilt. So I just did a strippy quilt-as-you-go and this is what I ended up with. I thought it was pretty, but kind of blah. What it needed was...

A flower! Daffodils are one of my favorite flowers and they've been known to bloom as early as January around here. In fact, they're probably starting to bloom now.

Then I thought I really ought to make another mug rug, since Laura and I usually eat together and it was only right that we should each have one. I made hers using lighter, more fun purples. But again, kind of blah.


So for hers, the natural choice was to add hearts, especially since Laura is all about love and hugs. And now we both have cute little purple mug rugs!

I've been doing lots of hand sewing (embroidery, applique) lately and noticing me, Laura decided she wanted to "sew" too. I hoop up muslin scraps with a bit of batting and she sews away. She spent all day with me in the quilt studio, patiently stitching.

She doesn't follow any pattern (we've tried, doesn't work), she just "sews. Which goes to show that the pleasure is often in the process, not necessarily in the finished project!

And now it's time to go make breakfast and then back to sewing so I can Get More Done...Today!




16 comments:

  1. Love, love your purples, especially the mug rug with the daffodil. How wonderful that you and Laura can stitch together!

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  2. That daffodil is just SO cute! It makes the mug rug so happy. We don't grow any bulbs in Florida but while visiting Georgia this weekend we saw daffodils and winter crocuses both blooming like mad.

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  3. So many people ask me why I have so many UFOs, and I tried to explain that the finish is not necessarily my goal. It's the process that I enjoy. I couldn't have said it better than you about Laura....the pleasure is in the process.

    Loved your post.

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  4. Lovely! And you are so blessed to have a cheerful sewing partner!

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  5. Your mug rugs are absolutely gorgeous and I really love Laura's stitching!

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  6. What fun mug rugs. I like them both, but that bit of yellow on the purple screams spring to me. We've got so much dirty black snow, spring will be welcome! Laura does remind us that the process is the fun!

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  7. Sounds like you have a great helper in your studio to keep you company! Love your mug rugs and that daffodil reminds me of spring.

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  8. I love your purple mug rugs! Laura has a sweet smile.

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  9. I really enjoy the way you embellished the mug rugs. Makes them really pop.

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  10. What beautiful mug rugs and congrats on another design wall. Laura looks like she is enjoying herself! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  11. Your purple mug rugs are so pretty and cheerful! They will inspire me to make some with the embellished flowers! I love that your daughter enjoys the journey of sewing with you!! :)

    Susie

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  12. Have you been saving your daughter's sewing? I'd sew them together to make her a quilt. Put some pretty sashing around them and make it her own quilt. Love your mug rugs. From northern Iowa . . . .

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  13. I agree with Robert-either a quilt, or if she gets tired of it, a wall hanging. The joy in her "work of heart" stitching beats the heck out of most of our "works of art" I would give her a blue ribbon every time!

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  14. Such beautiful mug rugs you both have :) The purple piecing is a great foil for both the yellow daffy and the red hearts.

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