Modern Mug Mats on Monday

 I was a little focused on mug mats this weekend! The Rhode Island Modern Quilt Guild met on Saturday afternoon, and there was a Christmas/Winter mug mat swap. I had a pile of hexies already cut out, so I pieced some together on Friday night, quilted it up on Saturday morning, and it was ready to swap at the meeting!

I love the striped binding. I used up the very last bit of that fabric. So sad! The polar bears on the back were left over from the tote bags I made for my grand nieces last Christmas.

Ryco ric rac.  Oh yeah!

 It was random drawing and I totally scored by picking this lovely mat made by Kathy.

Since the meeting was held at Ryco, we just had to shop! This pile will become a laptop sleeve for Julia.

And this pile will become throw pillows for her dorm room. We can't leave Ryco without buying more ric rac!

 On Sunday, I started working on a mug mat for the Summer Scrappy Swap. My partner had a couple of spool quilts in her mosaic, so I looked around and found a Carol Doak pattern that appealed to the mini paper-piecer in me. 

I quilted it up in hot pink thread and hated it!  It was supposed to look like the thread was coming off the pink spool and looped around the piece.  Yuck!  I tore it all out!

I'll try again with lighter colors.  First, I need to do something about all the needle holes.  I sprayed it with sizing and it's a little better, but I might need to really saturate the hole thing.  You can see a bit of the backing that I pieced from selveges, another favorite of my partner. 

Sew Modern Monday is on summer break, so visit the Flickr group instead...

Monday Modern Mug Mats

 Happy Monday!  I just spent that last four hours making these super cute mug mats with a little help from my mother.  Julia graduated* from high school on Friday, and she wants to give gifts to a few teachers and her guidance counselor.  The underclassmen have a couple more days of final exams, so she's hoping to deliver these tomorrow.

When I was in Christmas Tree Shop a few weeks ago, I picked up a few mugs for $1 each with the thought that I could make matching mats for last minute gifts.  Now I need to buy more!

I dug through my scrap bin of modern prints and pulled all the blues for this one.  Pretty!

 

I'm not crazy about this green one, but it'll do.

 

I really like this bright one!  I think it will go to the Environmental Biology teacher.

 

I'm excited to be linking up to Sew Modern Monday again!  It's been a while.  I hope to see you all again soon.

* I'll need to do a graduation post tomorrow.

Lots o' Dots

Here's a fun new project that I'm calling Lots o' Dots!

I participated in Wendy's polka dot swap, and my batch of dots arrived on Saturday. Almost immediately, I started sorting, stacking, and playing. I decided to match up two prints and sew them into HSTs. I started sewing on Sunday, and just after I started trimming, the power went out, and didn't come back on until 6 hours later! (We were pathetic, with no sewing machines and computers!)


After trimming, I paired up the pairs to create a 4-patch block. It's a little busy with the blocks all up next to each other, so I might border each block with some solid sashing. Or maybe set them on point with solid setting triangles to make the whole thing much bigger. But that will have to wait a while. I have another priority this week.


Here are some of my favorites...

I'm linking to Sew Modern Monday. Polka dots are modern, right?

Happy 4th!

I seem to be addicted to swaps and quilt alongs. I'm learning to just say no!

But the Teeny Weeny Paper Piecing Bee was made for me! Here are the blocks I made for my first month in the bee. Each swapper selects a block, size and colors. These were general block ideas, stars and a teacup. They finish at 6". I think my favorite is the white star on the modern scrappy background.


Since I'm saying no to quilt alongs, I convinced Julia to say yes to Rockin' Robin! Does she have time for a new quilt project this summer? Heck no! Is that stopping us? Of course not!
Anyway, here are her fabric selections for the QA that starts tomorrow.

Since there are some great modern prints in this post, I'll be linking to Sew Modern Monday. Click the button and visit the other modern goodies!

P.S. Pete may have played his last baseball game. Ever. His team played for the Babe Ruth championship, but lost. Pete spent most of the season as catcher, so here he is in action (#10). This shot made me laugh. Julia had the camera, and the batter is smiling at her! (She was a freshman mentor and he was one of her kids.)

Sew Modern Monday

I could have shown you this table runner a couple of weeks ago, but you know...
Cookies!


My quilt guild used to meet at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. They recently had a fundraising event and asked for items for a basket raffle. Our guild donated a basket full of table runners and table toppers for each month of the year. One member is an expert basket maker, and she donated a gorgeous basket. Other members made and donated the runners and toppers.

This is the runner I made from leftovers of Meadowsweet. It is a knockoff of the Lil' Twister pattern. I don't own the acrylic template (yet) so I made do and cut out the squares with scissors.

I wish there was more contrast between the different prints, but I used what I had and this is what I got. It's fun and springy and I hope our basket earned lots of money for the PNC.

Please click on the button to visit more modern quilty goodness!

Gathered Clutches!

Oh my goodness! I love these so much! I wish I could keep them all, but they have always been destined to be bridesmaid's gifts.

You all have seen the Noodlehead tutorial for the gathered clutch. You haven't? GO NOW! (Then, please come back. I'll wait... See? Awesome, right?) I finally bought the pattern last week and love the added instructions. Thank you, Anna!

It was so much fun choosing the fabric combinations and matching zippers. I bought the hardware from SewingSupplies on Etsy, who I would recommend for her speedy service and great prices. I bought the 5/8" wristlet hardware set with lobster claw swivel hooks and D-rings.

Jamie (the bride!) likes the linen mixed with modern prints, so I chose three different shades of linen blend. It's not the cool new quilter's linen. I found this at Joann's and it works just fine for this project.

Jamie had seen one on Flickr with hexies and asked if I would make one for her maid of honor, to make hers different and special (the one in front above).

With a fresh dusting of snow, it was fun to take them outside for a photo session!

Inside pockets:

I recommend following the suggestion to take a bigger seam allowance on the lining. If you don't, it doesn't lie flat inside and puckers a bit up near the zipper. Like this:

This one is better:

(Zipper swoon!)

I know someone will ask me about the zippers. I bought them at my local quilt shop. They were displayed on a cool carousel, but I can't remember who the manufacturer is. I can find out, if you need to know!
With all the switching between the zipper foot and 1/4" foot, breaking a couple of needles was inevitable! I had never seen this happen before last week while blog surfing. Apparently, the Superior topstitch needles BEND instead of snapping and flying in your face. One more reason I am totally in love with these needles!

(Yes, it is time to clean my machine!)

Now Jamie needs to decide which bridesmaid will receive which clutch!

Now, please visit my friends who host these crafty linky parties!