mug rug swap potential

During our February meeting of the Houston Modern Quilt Guild, we held a Mug Rug swap.  Here are the two mug rugs that I entered into this fun trade.

This is the first mug rug that I've ever made.  The background is pieced from strips and squares in my scrap bag, then I appliqued two hearts on top for extra pizzazz.  This was finished with a stitch-and-flip version -- no binding was used (or harmed) during the making of this little quilt (tee-hee).

This mug rug uses hand-dyed sparkle charms that I cut a heart out of before applique'ing on top.  I explored some of the many funky stitch options that my machine is capable of (and rarely used) - such great fun!  By the way, I intended the funky shape of the mug rug too.  Next time I will exaggerate the off-kilter-y wonky shape.

I love the simplicity of this mug rug, from the clear graphic layout and colors to the hand-stitched quilting lines.  I do not know the maker (yet) but I do know that Sally, our fearless leader of the HMQG this year, received it in the swap.

These two spools make the perfect mug rug for one's sewing area (be it in a studio or the corner of one's living room).  This mug rug and the kitty mug rug below both ended up with Amy, another of our HMQG officers.  I do not know who made either of these sweet mug rugs. 

This cute kitty looks to be one of the patterns from the CatVent quilt along hosted by Elizabeth Hartman in December 2013 on her Oh Fransson blog.

Here's a view of Elizabeth's kitties on her finished Cat-Along quilt... or rather one of her finished cat-along quilts.

 

I must add this cute kitty quilt to my own personal Quilts-I-Wanna(gotta?)-Make Bucket List.

meow, meow, meow!

Kindness Multiplies

Small acts of kindness (both intentional ones and random ones) beget more acts of kindness, and the friendliness of these actions continues to multiply the positive energy in a delightful way.

detail of Kindness Multiplies

This little quilt is called "Kindness Multiplies" as its little hearts are expanding and growing on their own - much like little acts of kindness that multiply into more similar kind acts, slowly spreading good feelings steadily across the world.

Kindness Multiplies

This quilt is an original design that I created.  I started with the simple checkerboard background and added hearts in a variety of sizes, overlapping and stacked ontop of larger hearts.
It is pieced, appliquéd and free-motion quilted.

Size:  approximately 15" x 15"

  

A view of the quilt back

This quilt is entered into ALQS8, Another Little Quilt Swap hosted by Kate North.  Soon I will find out to whom I am sending "Kindness Multiplies" while at the same time waiting to see which quilt in  I will be receiving!   It is a fun way to meet other quilters as well as to collect their work.

The latest quick little project...

I'm having fun with my latest project - making mug rugs to trade, swap, and give-away.  For those that may not know, a mug rug is a small quilt that is larger than a coaster and smaller than a placemat, room for a coffee cup and a treat (cookie, muffin, croissant - that's your choice!).   Click here to see more mug rugs.

Here are four that are currently in the growing stage ...  It's easy to figure out the inspiration here (an upcoming holiday!)

Making these small mug rugs are a great way to try out new things.  In the one above, I explored some of the fancier stitches my machine is capable of doing, but which I rarely ever try.  In the one below, I played with arranging, specifically the scattered blue triangles under the hearts.

The two below are inspired by the Hawaiian appliqué pattern, similar to cutting a paper snowflake.  

All of my mug rugs are made from the scraps and discards from previous projects.  I'm recycling!  or up-cycling! 

One or more of these may be swapped in my upcoming Modern Quilt Guild meeting.  Stay tuned for the final versions.

Lawndale Mural

What's this I see?

 ... on Main Street in the Museum District ...

... on the north exterior wall of the Lawndale Art Center ...

I heard it was there so I drove past and took these photos to share. 

This mural is a collaboration between artists Daniel Anguilu and Aaron Parazette.

I learned (via Fresh Arts/Spacetaker) that:  This project is the third phase of the rotating mural at Lawndale. Both painters employ forms of abstract patterns in their work, though their individual approach differs greatly. Anguilu’s intuitive approach to painting outdoor spaces results in gestural forms that take shape on the wall, while the clean lines and mathematical forms of Parazette’s work  result from a more calculated approach to painting.

... and (via Facebook) that the mural is already being painted over and prepped for the next artistic creation.  

Apparently I happened by the mural during its final days!  I'm glad I did and I will share photos of the next mural soon ....

Can it be ...

On another chilly morning look what I found on my back step.

Can you see it?  

If you look very closely (hurry as they are already melting), you may spy ... evidence of SNOW in Houston (or is it just a bit of frozen morning dew?)

Wait a minute ...  Look over here, on the chair ....

It's more snow, right?

Meanwhile, just a few miles north of here ...

the icicles keep growing ...

and the snow keeps falling.

I think I will have another hot cuppa coffee ....

Red swap

My goal this month is to sew several sets of red/white blocks for my traditional quilt bee (the Block Builders)'s block swap in March.

As of today, I have only two blocks sewn together.  I have fabric cut for a set of eight more blocks - which gives me a total of ten blocks.  Ten blocks will not make a very big quilt and ideally I want to make at least a lap size quilt, or even a larger size....sigh... I haven't even pulled enough fabrics from my stash to cut the number of blocks that I want to end up with.  I have my work cut out for me - yes, pun intended!

To help me get going, I am linking this goal up to "The Lovely Year of Finishes" challenge hosted by

Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts

and

Melissa of Sew BitterSweet Designs

To play along, I need to post my goal in a linky party (I am # 148) and then post my finished success in a second linky party .... here I go ... and if you're interested, feel free to join the fun!

Aloha friend

I am trying out the Blogger ap on my cell -- and I want to upload a w.i.p. of my 'Aloha friend' quilt...How do I add a photo here? .....hmmm.... Oh - I did it!

Here it is!  'Aloha friend' is shown being quilted in the photo above. This little quilt will be offered up as a swap in Kate North's ALQS8, which is short for 'Another Little Quilt Swap 8'

This is indeed the eighth round of hosting this fun swap.  I do wish that I had swapped in all eight swaps, but this is only the fourth time (I think) that I've made the deadline. ALQS is a fun way to meet fellow quilters scattered around the world while also collecting their little quilts!

Soon I will learn to whom I will be sending 'Aloha friend'...... Maybe it will be you?

Or should I say that I have a few more Hawaiian blocks very similar to this one -- perhaps I will finish one of them for you (be sure to leave a comment here so I know that you'd love one!).