Another Cupcake

Look at this. My friend Sondra, who knows of my obsession with cupcakes, gave this to me the other day. Believe it or not, it is hand soap. Since there are many rules here, this cutie will not be used as soap. The packaging is unique but this cupcake stands alone very well.

Sew, Flip, Press--Repeat

Ah yes.  Two more mug rugs.  My favorite way to use up small strips and leftover binding yet have a quilt without quilting it.  Sew and flip!  Easy as pie.  Cut back a bit bigger than the batting.  Start in the center with two strips right sides together.  Sew, flip (open) press and repeat.  Keep sewing additional strips until the base is covered.  Trim, bind and consider your project complete.  Some people call this method "self quilting" which is exactly what happens.  If you have made strip blocks it is pretty much the same process.

With a small fused applique, you have a cute little mug rug.  It won't burn up your stash but it will put those strips you've been saving to good use.

The Rest of the Cupcakes and More

Before January is over and the decorating is changed from cupcakes to Valentines, I am showing more cupcakes.

Chocolate!

Vanilla!

And, a group photo.

Aren't these sweet? They aren't as big as most mug rugs that leave room for a treat but they easily hold a mug or glass.

Somehow this pattern was addictive, but then most are. It was fun revisiting some fabric in the stash buckets and giving them new life. Christmas fabric does up well.

Couldn't resist this bargin at Michael's. It was marked down to less than a dollar. Next year I'll find something to put in it.

Cupcakes in Fabric

January is the month I decorate the kitchen with cupcakes.  These were made over the past four years as one inspired the other. 

This quilt is about 15" x 20" with fused cupcakes, buttonhole stitch and buttons. Sometimes it hangs longer than just in January.

Can you just see me dipping in my stash bins every month to do this quilt. January was the most difficult month to create.

My mistake. We live and learn. The buttonhole stitch should have been done in black so the cupcake would stand out more. Quilting is an unending lesson in learning. We profit from our mistakes.

It is always nice to keep some hand work in my purse to make good use of spare waiting room minutes. For a while I was just using a glue stick to hold the pieces in place. But then I read, on this wonderful WWW, to fuse the pieces in place. It worked like a charm. It was great when on a trip--no lost pieces. These sweet wool candle mats are so much fun and make nice gifts too.



There is only one of these cupcakes. It was a toughy. The sides kept separating and threads were too visible. I made about a dozen in another pattern I'll photo for another day.

Now how cute are these! This is not my handiwork but that of a friend. She does have a way with the needle.

Mug Rug Madness

Someone help me. I can't stop making these mug rugs. It's a fun afternoon project that helps to use up some of the scraps I hate to part with.

This one is fused with machine button hole stitch in red.

A little piecing, fusing and button hole stitch by machine.



A bit of paper piecing using up some one inch strips leftover from a flip and stitch project.

Total fabric used: less than a half-yard. Thread and time: free. Finished projects: priceless.

BOM Quilt from Early Days

This is my first queen-sized quilt made in 2003. With leftover fabric I was able to make two pillow shams that I hand quilted, because they were small projects. It hung at a quilt show in one of the best locations for a picture.

A finished project for next Christmas!  Even though this was part of a pattern for a larger quilt, three blocks is what I needed for this short and wide wall hanging.  It’ll hang between the kitchen counter and the upper cabinets.  I love to deck the walls with gingerbread men for the holidays.  It gives my kitchen a warm look during the cold season.

The quilt was made from my stash fabric and didn’t make a dent in it.  I was trying to make good use of my quilting time while waiting for a new quilting book.  No, I didn’t really need another book but it has so many neat ideas.  You’ll see some coming up—when I get to it.

Mug Rugs Anyone?

Are you into mug rugs?  What a great use for leftover pretty fabric and the challenge to create.  I can easily show off a new one when a friend stops by for coffee.

For this one, the button hole stitch is the only quilting.

The sewing group I am part of is doing a mug rug swap.  Since it has a Valentine’s Day theme, this should be little problem.  It will give me an opportunity to dive into my red fabric bin and find some old but faithful fabric.

It is time to put the rest of the holiday decorations away.  This one might stay on the counter a bit longer.  It really doesn’t say “Christmas” does it?  There are a few other gingerbread men lurking around. 

The pattern for this block was in one of the recent magazines.  Since a book I am patiently waiting for has not arrived, I put them together.  This helps with my stash busting as well as keeping me at piecing.  The rick rack has discolored from age which makes it match better.   The face has two pink cheeks but did not look right.  Perhaps eyes in beads or buttons will be better. 

January Kitchen Redo

Day two—I am on a roll. 

Last week I was beginning to think of January and my kitchen.  I like to change things around and surround myself in my handmade goodies. 

First in mind is my red metal cupcake holder and to fill it with many of the cupcake pincushions I’ve made in the past few years.   The wall space between upper and lower cabinets will be decked with small cupcake quilts.  Cupcake candles will fill in the empty spots.  A cupcake potholder is already hanging from a drawer knob.

Here’s my latest addition to my cupcake addiction.   There’s a great tutorial at Pin.Sew.Press blog.  She calls it the Stay Put Towel and they are quick and easy. 

Welcome 2013

To begin this blog, there will be no trivia or background.  That will be added later--when the writer becomes more adept at blogging.  This blog will not start at the beginning of my quilting adventures nor with a picture of my first quilt.  If it was posted, you would have reason to never return.

Red is a happy color as are any bright colors.  That’s why you will see so much of it in my projects. 

Quilting and sewing has captivated my life and the rewards are worthy. 

Here’s my one and only quilt show winner.