Mug Rug for Me

What is a Mug Rug? It is larger than a coaster, smaller than a placemat. Just a little "rug" that you can put a drink and a small snack on. They are typically about 6" x 10" or anywhere in that range.

I have been looking at mug rugs for awhile, but just wasn't inspired to make them. Until now. Lately, I have been enjoying making small projects, pincushions, sachets, pouches, needle cases, etc. and mug rugs fit right in. They are kind of like small quilts.

So I told myself, okay...let's do this. But what to do? Took me a few days, but then I knew that I had to make one for me, to have on my sewing table. I wanted pink...pretty...bling. So I grabbed some scraps from a recent quilt project and here's what happened...

Here is the back:

I love it!! It is just me.

 It was FUN to make and so quick. I am going to make many more of these. Oh! just realized I want one for my office desk...hmmm, what design? Train maybe? (Our business is model train related.) Or another feminine pretty one? 

I'll show you what I end up making when I get it done.

Wedding Quilt Fabrics

Now that I purchased the AccuQuilt GO! Fabric cutter and the DWR die I figured I better get some fabrics for this wedding quilt.

I asked the happy couple what their top three color choices would be for the quilt because I really don't know the bride-to-be very well. Only met her once so far because I live in another state. The happy couple said they like these three colors:

Black, White, Champagne

Champagne? Hmmm, exactly what do they have in mind for this color? Not tan, or ivory, or off-white, but champagne! Should there be a hint of yellow to it? I don't drink champagne, maybe I better get a bottle so I can see the color...or have a drink.

Maybe I'll need a drink by then end of this quilt. Or during. Or before.

After my new tool purchase I was looking at fabrics on Ebay and found some Black/White fabrics so I purchased some fat quarters and 2-1/2" strips. It's a start. A girl's gotta have options.

I searched for "champagne, fabrics" and it came up with several items in satin and brocade, but I'm not sure I want to put those materials in the quilt. Then I saw some "champagne" 2-1/2 inch cotton strips. Yes, the color is actually called champagne, it is from R. Kaufman. So, I purchased them.

When the happy couple told me the color choices and having thought about it, I have a vision in my head of the tone of the quilt. After seeing the colors here, it doesn't look like my vision. How am I going to make this work?

Where's that drink?

New Quilting Tool

As I mentioned, I plan to make a quilt for a wedding gift for Kory & Whitney. I have an idea for the double wedding ring (DWR) because it is traditional, but I want to put a modern feel to it. I've heard that the DWR can be a challenge to do and I have been a little nervous about it, especially since I don't have a lot of time.

I was reading a post on the Quilting Board forum (www.quiltingboard.com) about the AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter. I never thought I would need to purchase a cutting system, I'm comfortable with my rotary cutter and ruler. After reading the post, I started looking into the GO! Fabric Cutter, just checking it out and seeing why other quilters were so happy with it. It looked like a nifty tool, but did I really need it?

As I was browsing around I realized that this could be a useful tool for cutting out applique patterns. I was seriously considering the little one, the Go! Baby, for putting cute little touches on projects.

Then I stumbled onto this....

...a die for the DWR blocks!

That looks like something I need, right? Yeah, I thought so too! A great tool that will cut out the pieces - exact. Must be fate. So I have just purchased the GO! Fabric Cutter and the DWR die. Had to get the larger system, because this die is too large to fit the smaller, but that's okay. I'm sure I will find many things to use this for. Check it out!!  www.accuquilt.com

Now I am really looking forward to getting to work on this wedding quilt!

They are Engaged!

This is my oldest son and his fiance. Aren't they beautiful? They just got engaged and will be getting married in May 2013. I am very excited!!!

I plan to make them a quilt. I'll have five months to get it done by the wedding date. Hmmm, not sure that it will be done before the wedding, but we'll see. Black, white, and champagne are the colors they want. I am considering the double wedding ring (DWR) or cathedral ceiling pattern.

Nah, not cathedral ceiling. I think that is too busy and I'm not sure about the weight with all that folding.

I like the idea of the DWR because it is traditional, but I want to put a modern feel to it. I have a layout in mind with partial DWR in the center and a flying geese border and maybe a black/white toile fabric border.

Did I mention I have five months? But isn't there a rule that you can give a gift within the first year of marriage? Might have to take advantage of that.

Mystery Quilt

I am following a Mystery Quilt a-long through the Quilting Board forum, www.quiltingboard.com.

Directions are posted for selecting fabric, then each block weekly. When starting, it is not known what the finished quilt will be, it's a mystery!!

Here are my blocks...

This is where I left off when I decided to go to Seattle to be with mom. The quilt-a-long has continued without me, so I do know what the finished quilt will look like. 

You can see a picture here of Judy's quilt here: 

http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachments/blocks-month-week-f9/378234d1353770057-8-c-twelve-blocks-together.jpg

This has been SEW FUN!! First time I've ever done this and looking forward to more. If you are a quilter and haven't visted the Quilting Board, I suggest you do. It is a great place for inspiration and fellowship.

Oh! And I am very pleased that my blocks have been approved by Inspector Samir. Hooray! Isn't he just the prettiest kitty!?! 

Summer 2012 Garden

During summer 2012 we continued to improve our garden area. This years focus for me was the pathways. I really wanted to decrease the amount of weeding to be done.  I tried recycling ideas for the paths, newspaper, then cardboard, but wasn't happy with the way it ended up looking. I ended up putting black plastic down, then covered with wood chips. I am very pleased with the results.

Here's the row with beans and carrots. See how much cleaner the rows look? Much better. Was easier to focus on the weeds just in the planted areas - believe me, there were plenty there!

This is the berry section. We have strawberries, blackberries, gooseberries, raspberries. Look closely...see the chicken? We have five hens and they like to make dust baths there in the strawberry patch. We have bird feeders just to the left and they like to hang around there cleaning up what the finches spill.

Here is the rhubarb I replanted from another area in the yard. We thought it was dead, but after daily TLC it came back to life. It is very happy in the new spot. I love rhubarb pie!!

The herbs. The sage, to the right, came back full-force. What a hearty herb that is!! I have thoughts to expand my herb garden in the summer 2013. We'll see what comes of it. 

Notice the bridge? I LOVE that bridge. 

Yes, I yelled.... LOVE it. 

Holly's Hub E. made that bridge for me. He is so talented in everything he does. Thanks E!

  My lavender. I love my lavender. 

Here are the tomatoes and corn. We got some corn, but most of the stalks didn't produce early enough and the weather turned before we could harvest. 

 Again, I had lots of green tomatoes! I did manage to get some red tomatoes this year. Need to figure out how to get them to all turn red.

Watermelon!!

I planted flowers this year at the end of the vegetable rows. 

They were so pretty.

Un

2011 Garden Recap

I am combining two blogs into one. This is the last post on my Sapphire Gardening blog from 2011.

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The garden is doing great. I'm so excited. There are zucchini coming, beans, broccoli just about ready to be picked. The tomatoes are starting to get blossoms. The peppers, I'm not sure about, they are still pretty small. Only time will tell what will happen with them.

I love watering the garden every day. I hand water so I can see how much water the plants are getting and I don't waste the water on the pathways and other areas. Weeds are here and there. Weeding is not my favorite part, but I'm keeping up with it okay. 

One challenge for me has been the pathways. I would like to put down landscape fabric, then mulch. I've run out of steam at this point to tackle this though. I remind myself that this is year one and we've come a LONG way. :)

Lars' cantaloupe is growing big, but I don't see evidence of fruit or anything that will be fruit. It is a mystery...hope something edible happens.

 

Broccoli...

Beans...

Spinach, onion, lettuce...

Tomatoes (and peppers in front)...

Corn...

Next will be harvesting and canning or freezing.