Studio Update

Seven days ago I shared my studio dilemma with you here. The need to organize and rearrange my creative space was a top priority for me, and I'm pleased to report that I've made some progress.

The first thing I did was move the counter-height table to the center of the wall, and organize all the random stuff scattered on the floor into temporary boxes and bags which I then stowed away under the table. 

I'm waiting for  the 10 plastic stackable containers I ordered online. These will replace all the boxes and bags, make better use of the under table space, and I'll be able to see what's inside.

• 12.2"H x 13.5"W x 16.1"D

We live in a remote area of Oregon with no big box stores, so many times internet purchasing is the only way to easily get what I need. Shipping was free with my order. Definitely a plus.

Next, I made a skirt for the table.

The skirt material is a sheet that I purchased for rug making. I think I paid 25 cents for it at my favorite thrift store. It's in great condition, very soft and just the right weight to hang beautifully from the tension rods. The stars add whimsy to my studio and remind me to keep dreaming.

Two sides of the table are covered with the skirt; I left the side next to my sewing machine open since no one except me sees that area. Later I may use a small part of that under table space for easily accessed sewing supplies.

I moved the shelf unit to the corner where the table previously stood.

This, too, is temporary. I have plans to replace the shelves and the bookcase to the right of it with one piece of furniture that will hold all my fabric and supplies.

So far I've gone from this. . .

to this. . .

and I'm very happy.

So happy that I've been motivated to create some things.

Like these heart coasters for the women in my Bible study.

We've been studying Experiencing the Heart of Jesus by Max Lucado, which gave me the idea to use a heart theme for the gifts.

I also made a mug rug for a friend whose husband passed away recently. 

He was my Sunday School teacher when I was a little girl and I remember him as a man filled with the joy of the Lord. I never saw him when he wasn't happy and laughing. A great role model for how a Christian should live. His wife is a wonderful woman, and I hope my simple gift will lift her up and remind her that she is loved.

I used a tutorial I found here on the Fashioned by Meg blog, altering a few things to make it more to my liking. Mug rugs are bigger than a coaster, which is nice if my friends needs room for a cookie or other treat with her cuppa.

Photo of our cottage walk this morning.

"Sing across the winter snow,
Pierce the cloud;
Sing when mists are drooping low
Clear and loud;
But sing sweetest in the dark;
He who slumbers not will hark."
~ Lettie Burd Cowman, Streams in the Desert

Crazy Easy Mug Rug Tutorial

Greetings Cottage Friends.

Last week I showed you the snow globe AnnMarie sent me and the little patchwork rug I whipped up here.

Little Patchwork Rug

Rebecca asked me to explain how I made it. There are so many great mug rug tutorials on the web from professional quilters and sewists that I'm almost embarrassed to share my own ridiculous method. However, it's really easy and quick if you just want to make some basic no-frills mug rugs. Once you get rolling you can whip out a bunch of these in no time. And they're inexpensive to make. So, if you're interested, read on. 

I made a couple of different rug mugs (or coasters if you want to call them that) just for this tutorial. As I mentioned, these are very basic. You could certainly add some interfacing or a little batting for added thickness, bind and quilt them, add ric-rac, buttons or other decoration. Make them shabby chic. Whatever your mind can dream up.

As do most quilters, I have lots of scraps. Mug rugs are great scrap busters.

Here we go:

1. I start with a 5" square. (I cut this one from a larger piece of fabric.)

2. Choose a fabric scrap and lay it over the first square. This scrap needs to be 5" wide so I had to trim it a bit. (I don't worry about the length. My scrap just happens to be about 3-1/2" long, but any length will do. You'll see why in a minute.)

3. Choose a second 5" wide scrap and lay it next to the first scrap. Together the total length of the two scraps is more than 5". That's okay. I'll take care of that soon. 

4. Place the two scraps together, right sides facing.
    Join with a 1/4" seam.
    Open, and press seam down with my fingernail.

5. Turn the joined piece over and lay the 5" square on top. You can see that the two pieces I joined are now longer than the 5" green square by about 1-1/2"

6. I'm trimming off that excess.

7. Now I have a 5" square. If I wanted to I could just call this newly made square good. But it's pretty boring. . .it needs another patch.

8. I choose a white scrap (this happens to be about 2-1/2" wide) and place it on top of the joined piece.

9. Now I trim the length of that white piece down to 5".

10. Line up the white strip even with the top of the joined piece, right sides together.
Sew the white strip to the pieced square with a 1/4" seam.
I end up with a larger than 5" square.

11. Using my grid I decide how I want my patchwork to line up and trim off the excess.

12. Now I've got two 5" squares. 

13. I place them right sides together and sew 1/4" seam around all sides, making sure to leave  a 2" opening on one side (for turning the inside out). 
Clip the corners.
Turn the inside out.











14. Gently push out the corners with a pointed tool. 
Turn under the salvage of the 2" opening  and press.

15. Top stitch 1/4" from the edge on all sides.

And that's it.

A pretty mug rug.

Now here's another mug rug that's super fun to make and a good way to use up really small strips of leftover fabric.

Choose whatever scrap strips you like and sew them together with 1/4" seams. Here I'm using 5" long strips in various widths.

Just keep adding and sewing until you have the look and size you want.

Trim as needed. In this case I'm trimming to a 5" square. 

Remember this scrap leftover from the first mug rug tutorial above?

I'm going to use it for the reverse side.

Adding another, larger scrap.

Sew the two pieces right sides together with a 1/4" seam.

Trim to 5" width.

Here are my two completed squares. Follow steps #13-15 above to finish.

Here's the second finished mug rug -- front and back.

So now I've showed you how to easily make two different mug rugs. 

Aren't my dollar store mugs cute?

Have you made mug rugs? 
If not, is this something you might try?
If you make one using my tutorial, I'd love to see it. And please let me know if you have questions.

Hey, if you haven't entered my Christmas Giveaway, there's still time.  Here's what you can win.

To enter go here.

Blessings,

Emma's Quilt

Welcome Cottage Friends,

I'm  happy to tell you I finished the quilt I last showed you in my a bit of vintage quilt post.  

This quilt is the first bed size quilt I've made since I took my beginning quilting class last October, and is a gift for my granddaughter Emma's 13th birthday.

Memories flooded my mind as I worked on Emma's quilt.

My late husband and I traveled across the country to meet Emma and help her mommy and daddy take her home from the hospital.  Oh, the joy Jim and I felt gazing at our first grandchild. 

She was a beautiful baby, and had her Papa Jim wrapped around her sweet baby finger from the moment he laid eyes on her.  

We finally got our girl -- a happy, funny, bright little "Sweetpea".

Three years later she welcomed her baby brother into the family and took on her role as big sister with pride. 

When Emma was nine Oliver cut his finger and she nursed him back to health with ointment and a bandage. He didn't want to relinquish his finger to her, but she patiently, gently admonished him, "Now, Ollie, if you want your finger to get better you need to let me do this."  

I smile just thinking about it.

We were so proud of her when she started school.

She's always been a good student.

She plays clarinet in band, and in sixth grade was hand picked to play in a special jazz group.

Emma's a girly girl who likes to polish her toenails, yet she's not afraid to get her hands dirty and help around the house.

Quilt back

She likes the color blue, so I'm glad her quilt has some blue in it.  To finish Emma's quilt I did a stitch in the ditch around the quilt blocks. With each block I said a prayer for her.

Quilt Back

I prayed that God will guide her through the rocky teen years and that she will cross over from girl to young woman with grace and poise.

With every free motion machine stippling stitch I sewed on the borders I asked God to keep her safe and fill her with the knowledge of His love.  And I prayed that she will follow Him with all her heart.

I made a label and hand sewed it to the quilt back. (Oh, Lord, don't let my girl ever forget how much You and I love her.)

Emma's quilt will be packed up and shipped tomorrow.  I hope it arrives in time for her birthday, and that she'll enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it for her.

Happy 13th birthday, Emma.  
From Nana, with love.

I'm sharing Emma's Quilt at these lovely blog parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Inspire Me Monday at Create with Joy
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
The Art of Homemaking Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

You're Gonna Love it Tuesday at Kathe with an E
Do Tell Tuesday at Mabey She Made It

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thursday Favorite Things
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage