Weekend Stitching

 I finally got some stitching done this weekend.  The Missouri TOGA (Treadle On Gathering & Academy) is having a mug & mug rug exchange.  I found several different mugs, then made some mug rugs to match.  One will be for the exchange, and the others will be for sale (funds to benefit the TOGA) in case someone comes that doesn't have a mug & mug rug, but still wants to participate in the exchange.

set for the exchange

front of mug

back of mug

two similar mug rugs

mug/teapot with mug rug

mug rug set

I used a pattern for the embroidery from Jennifer of Elefantz.  I shrank her pattern for the mug rug above, but I just finished another embroidery for another mug rug, that I stitched full size (and in different colors).  I'll show the other mug rug when the binding is stitched down.  That mug rug isn't for the exchange.

Full size on the left (before stitching), smaller one on the right (stitched)

During the TOGA, I'll also be doing a demo on Faux Piping Binding. I learned how to do this from Deonn's blog. I've taught this several times over the years.  I used the faux piping binding on the mug rugs above, but I needed some to show the process, so I have 2 more mug rugs.  

to teach faux piping binding

As a grandma, I've been bad.  I got the quilts finished for the 1st & 2nd grandkids done before they were born, but, with the 3rd grandbaby, I still haven't finished either quilt.  

Fractured Diamonds

I finished the quilt top the end of February, but never got around to basting it.  This cutie was born April 20th.

Well, the quilt is now quilted, and the binding is stitched on one side (the back since it has Minkee on the back).  I'll stitch the binding down while hubby drives me to the TOGA.  

ready to stitch the binding down

I'll get to the 2nd baby quilt (Harry Potter with a castle setting) after the TOGA.  

Final 2 Hobbit/LOTR blocks done

I've finished the last two Hobbit/LOTR blocks for the baby quilt(s).  The color in the photos doesn't show up well.

Legolas' bow

both of Legolas' bows

Grey Havens

both Grey Havens

Grey Havens is the ship that Bilbo, Frodo and the elves sail away on at the end of Lord of the Rings. 

I've decided on how to 'frame' the blocks and now I'm trying to figure out the setting.  I have 2 different settings below.  I'm trying to put the blocks 'in order' from The Hobbit thru Lord of the Rings.

Setting #1

Setting #2

I'm leaning towards setting #2.  Any suggestions???

On Monday night I taught faux piping binding to my little quilt guild.  I've taught this before (several years ago) but we have several new members that wanted me to teach it again.  Well, I realized on Sunday afternoon that I don't have anything that I've used faux piping binding on.  It's all be given away.  Oops!  Well, back in January I taught a class at church on mug rugs.  I still had some of the mug rug kits leftover, and 3 of them had faux piping binding in the kits.  I'd stitched up the mug rugs a few months ago, but hadn't put the binding on yet.  I quickly added the binding on all three mug rugs.

2 mug rugs with faux piping binding

My Oops! turned into 3 more finishes. 

Now to start cutting the sashing for the Hobbit/LOTR blocks.  My new grandson is due TODAY, so I'm behind.  Oh well, we expect him to be late, too. 

Misc. Sewing

This is my first 'complete' finish for 2019.  I actually finished it Jan 13th, but haven't had much time to blog.  This is winging it's way to it's new owner now.

table runner

showing fun floral backing

The hearts are paper pieced and can be found for free here.  I pieced this on my 1927 Singer 15 hand crank, and quilted it on my Janome.  Most of the fabric in the hearts are scraps leftover from my son's wedding signature quilt. 

Last week my large quilt guild had a schoolhouse as the program.  I was one of 4 people who taught different quilting techniques.  I taught several different ways to make Flying Geese.  I taught this to my little quilt guild last August and wrote a blog post about it then.

On Saturday, I taught a mug rug class at church.  Because of the weather (snowing all day), several of the ladies didn't attend, so I'll be teaching this again this coming Saturday.  Here are the ladies who attended, and the mug rugs that were completed.

ladies making mug rugs

Ruth's

Kelly's

Carla's

mine

I have kits prepared, but still need to cut out fabrics for a couple more kits.  These mug rugs come in sets of 7, that you quilt as you go.  You can get Spiritual, Uplifting or Quilty themes.  They also have a YouTube tutorial on how to make these.  They are fun and quick to make.  All the fabrics are from my stash.  Here are some of the kits I have leftover, that will be used for the next class.

My friend Marilyn just had a special birthday.  She had been wanting to have an ice cream party at Colonial Cafe on her birthday but her hubby planned a trip, so she was out of town.  Well, Colonial Cafe is known for their 'Kitchen Sink' ice cream sundae.

The 'Kitchen Sink' sundae gave me an idea, and several of her quilting friends helped out.  On Sunday we surprised Marilyn (at Colonial Cafe, of course) with her own 'Kitchen Sink' full of 'fabric' ice cream.

Marilyn & her kitchen sink full of fabric ice cream

I'm way behind on several baby quilts.  I made 2 quilt tops back in October, but didn't get them quilted until this month.  Today I finally finished the binding on the quilts.

1st Churn Dash baby quilt

faux piping binding

back of 1st baby quilt

The 2nd quilt I used some poly batting that I've had for a while.  My Janome wasn't happy trying to quilt thru it, with minkee on the back.  The walking foot didn't want to walk very well (the layers kept shifting), so I machine quilted much less than on the first quilt.  That left some spaces without enough quilting.  Well, the baby this quilt is for is named Zariah, so, I used her initial and hand quilted it in those spaces.

hand quilted 'Z'

Here is Zariah's finished quilt.

2nd Churn Dash baby quilt

pale yellow minkee backing

The yellow backing doesn't show it's true colors.  It is really a deep butter yellow.  I used faux piping binding on both of these quilts.

Last week I found a different way to join the ends of the binding on quilts.  I tried it first on my mug rug on Saturday.  It worked GREAT!  Now I don't have to remember what size I cut my binding.  This is the easiest way to join the ends.  I'll be using this method from now on.

Exchanges, Stitching, Etc.

Now that they have been received, I can show some of the exchanges I've participated in recently.  There are still a few that have not been received, or finished, so, there will be more to come, in the future.

First, I'm in a pin cushion exchange at Beaquilter.  It's one pin cushion each month, for 3 months.  This is the one I made for Bea, for August.  You can see it again, on her post here, along with about 97 other pin cushions that she has. 

front

back, using same fabric as I used for her spool of thread on the front

I haven't received my pin cushion for August, since it is coming from Norway.  Yes, I'll get 2 different pin cushions, from 2 different people in Norway, in this exchange.  How cool is that!?!?!

I was in a paired, mug rug exchange, with my Quilt Along group.  This is an 'offshoot' group from Treadle On.  We did NOT have to use our hand cranks or treadles for this exchange, but, I still did, at least on the mug rugs.  I had to cheat on the project bag, since I just don't have enough hands (or control) with the binding.  Sally was my partner in this exchange.  This is what I sent to Sally.

2 mug rugs (fronts)

backs of mug rugs

I also sent Sally a project bag.

Sally's new project bag (don't you love those treadles!)

Here are the great things that I received from Sally.  The teapots, at the top of the picture, are mine.  Isn't it great that they match what Sally sent!

mug rugs and napkins

I forgot to take pictures of the backs of the mug rugs.  One was in Christmas prints, and the other was a Valentine print.

Sally also sent me some other goodies. 

great matching apron

fun teapot fabric

Sorry for the blurry pictures. 


I was also in another paired mug rug exchange, with Treadle On.  These weren't due till Oct 1st, but, we both had them done, so, we exchanged early.  These were all made on either a treadle or hand crank machine (with cheating on the project bag).  This is what I made for Denise.

front of mug rug

thimble backing fabric

Denise's project bag

Can you tell that Denise loves RED?  It's also my favorite color! (check out all the great RED things in this post, that I received). 

Here is what I got from Denise.

2 great mug rugs

check out the great tea party fabric on the backs

Denise also included a spool pin doily.  I had a great machine, just waiting for a spool pin doily.

up close of the spool pin doily

the machine the spool pin doily belongs to now

I've been doing some stitching, but, not as much.  Now that hubby is back, safe and sound, I took a few days off.  I did go to Quilts of Valor on Tuesday, but, I didn't take any pictures.

I'm stitching on the 2nd Wendy block.  This one is applique. 

Pattern by Alida

I didn't want to do fusible applique, so, I tried using another method, with plain interfacing on the other side of the fabric, then turning it inside out.  It worked on the larger pieces, but, when I got to the arms and legs, it wasn't working well.  Not sure how I will do the shoes, sash, or hair bow.  I'll just draw the lips on, instead of attempting them.  See how tiny it all is, in the pictures below (with the ruler for size).

blues are shoes, hair bow and dress sash

the lips are the tiny orange dot, by the dress

I finished this much on Monday.  I've started on the hair, but, didn't take a picture. (poor, bald Wendy).

Wendy, waiting for her hair

Wendy will be another 10 inch block.


Bonnie Hunter showed a lady with chair wheelies, on her blog last month. The lady's chair wheelies came from Camp Lebanon, a church camp, but, according to their website, they don't ship these, you have to pick them up in Minnesota.  Well, that's not going to work for me.

I decided to see if I could make some myself.  I found the furniture casters at Menards.  They had the best price (almost half the cost of anywhere else).  I also got a set of dog tennis balls at Menards.  I had to wait till hubby got home from his trip, since I didn't have a clue what glue to use.  Hubby used epoxy, and, glued them for me.  Hubby also cut X's in the tennis balls (after gluing) so that the chair legs would go in.

from the top (uncut)

so you can see the wheels

on the chair legs

whole chair with wheelies

I'll be testing these out this month, and see if the glue holds or not.  Hubby thought we might add screws & washers, but, we aren't sure there is enough clearance or not.  I'll let you know how these work out.  I can't roll on carpet, but, at my demo's (where I'll use them) I'm on hard surfaces. 

I have 3 more sew-in's this week (2 overlap on Saturday), but, I don't know what I'll be working on yet.  I need to finish Wendy before I start on anything else.  I also have another exchange due by the end of this month, that I haven't started on.  Maybe I'll get started on that.  It's a Harry Potter Frog Card exchange.  Tiny, 3" pentagon's.  Hmmmm.......I'm getting tired of tiny.  I want something BIG!