Green Hexie Mug Rug

This is (yet another) one of my projects that didn't end up anywhere close to how it started out, but I think it's better than my first (47) ideas.  I wanted to make a mug rug for my sister-in-law for Mother's Day and added it to my May Small Project Sew Along project list.

I started with a plain green mug and these fabrics... 2 solids and 1 ladybug print.  (Ladybugs are kinda important in our family.)

Here's where I've decided to leave out a whole bunch of details on my thought process that would either bore you to death or confirm that I'm a loon.... but I do need to ask if you've seen Ida's Wizard of Ox hexies?  I *soooo* love them.  (here are some links -- you have to check them out!  --- Wicked Witch, Cowardly Lion, Yellow Brick Road, Ruby Slippers... and that's not all of them!)  Go check them out... seriously... you'll want some, too!

Anyway... skipping more insanity about how I got from those scraps to this little set of hexies:

Special thanks to my daughter, Rachel, for arranging these greens for me.  She decided where to put them and I stitched them together, no questions asked.

I had a difficult time trying to figure out how to finish these.  Did a lot of Googling and tutorial reading, but ended up with this:

1) Attached all the hexies together and ironed them well.

2) Carefully removed the basting strings and the cardstock shapes from the back.

3) Used basting spray to attach the batting to the backing and the front hexie piece.  

4) Quilted the hexies, including edges I knew I would be cutting off.

5) Drew a line around the outside of the hexies but didn't cut it yet.

6) Machine stitched the binding onto the front of the quilt, following the line I had drawn.  

7) Used my rotary cutter to (gasp!) cut off the hexagons that extended past the edge of the binding strip.

8) Hand stitched the binding to the back of the mug rug.

9) Washed and dried the rug to make sure it wouldn't fall apart!

10) Of course, after all that, upgraded the mug!

If you know any other methods for finishing hexies (these are 1", so pretty small), please let me know.  I'm hoping to do another hexie project this summer and could use some ideas.  (They'll still be 1" hexies, just put together into a bigger finished product.)  I've found several methods / YouTube videos / tutorials online, but I'd love to know first-hand what has worked for other people.

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Here's my updated list for the May Small Project Sew Along:

Completed items:
1. Complete H2H quilt - link here
2. Complete Laura's quilt - link here

3. Make pillow to match Laura's quilt - link here
5. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) wall hangings (1 done, 2 not started) - link here
6. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) Mickey pillows - link here

7. Make a green mug rug in time for Mother's Day  - DONE!

12. Make a portable sewing kit / bag / holder / something-or-other - link here

Not started or in progress:

4. Finish quilt for Sujay (flimsy is complete)

8. Make a pink mug rug just because I want to
9. Finish April Seasonal Skinny (flimsy is complete)
10. Complete 2 ladybug Seasonal Skinnies for May
11. Cut fabric for summer hexie project
13. Start (and finish) embroidery for "The Forever Project"
14. Complete "Om" block for "The Forever Project"
15. Make or find a simple pattern for a tote / beach bag
16. Make a year-end gift for my kindergartener's teacher
17. Make a year-end gift for my 3rd grader's teacher
18. Make a birthday gift for kindergartener's BFF
19. Make a "surprise" for my 11 running partners + myself
20. Make an Unruly letters pillow for Kim
21. Update my running scrapbook (no sewing involved!)
22. Figure out a plan of attack for the "Unless" quilt

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Linking up with: 

Confessions of a Fabric Addict for "Whoop Whoop Friday"

Sew Many Ways for "Find a Friend Friday"

AmyLouWho for "Sew and Tell"

Pieceful Life for "Show Off Friday" 

I'm looking forward to seeing what you've worked on this week!

~*~ May your day be full of Love and Ladybug Hugs ~*~

In Memory of Ryan

Ryan was only 8 years old when he passed away last June.  I did not know him or his family.  I was "introduced" to them last fall, when a childhood friend of mine asked if I would be be willing to make a quilt for Ryan's family using some of his favorite clothes.

My friend, Joan, lost her own beautiful daughter a few years back.  Since that time, she and her husband have founded the Gabby Rocco Let It Shine Foundation, a "Christ-centered not-for-profit organization that is committed to supporting the physical and spiritual needs of families grieving the loss of a child."

(Not necessarily the best pictures... but I was in a hurry to get them in the mail and I wasn't thinking "blog worthy photos" back then.)

I was so honored to work on this quilt for Ryan.  His mom sent me Disney-themed t-shirts and jackets and sweatshirts and PJs, and I learned the story behind many of them.  I grew to love Ryan and his family with every stitch.  This was the hardest quilt I've ever made (for many reasons), but it is far and away one of my favorites. I added some appliques (made from his clothes) and some hand-stitched words, requested by his mother:

Ryan loved to ride horses on the weekends.

Butterflies were released at his funeral.

"Loved with a love beyond all feeling.  Missed with a grief beyond all tears."

Ryan was a shooting star.

We also included a shirt with his hand prints and a photo of Ryan with his dog.

Using some of the leftover clothing (and a few more items his mom sent), I also made pillow cases for his older sister and brother.

16 inch square pillow case with zipper closure in the bottom.

The reverse of the square pillow case.

This is a standard size pillow case.  The opening is on the right side.

This is the reverse side of the standard pillow case.

All this brings me to my recent finishes, which were on my May Small Project Sew Along list.  Using more of Ryan's fabric, I made (at the request of his mom) four small wall hangings that can be given to some supportive family friends.  These finish at 4" square and are made of his t-shirts and PJs.

I also made 3 stuffed "Mickey heads" for his mom, brother and sister.  His name is embroidered onto the front of each one.

None of these items would win any beauty contest or sewing awards, but I know they all mean the world to his mom.  I pray every day that their family will find peace and comfort and strength in warm memories these small reminders of the beautiful life Ryan lived.

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Here's my updated list for the May Small Project Sew Along:


1. Complete H2H quilt - link here
2. Complete Laura's quilt - link here

3. Make pillow to match Laura's quilt - link here
4. Finish quilt for Sujay (flimsy is complete)
5. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) wall hangings (1 done, 2 not started) - DONE!
6. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) Mickey pillows - DONE!

7. Make a green mug rug in time for Mother's Day  

8. Make a pink mug rug just because I want to
9. Finish April Seasonal Skinny (flimsy is complete)
10. Complete 2 ladybug Seasonal Skinnies for May
11. Cut fabric for summer hexie project
12. Make a portable sewing kit / bag / holder / something-or-other - link here
13. Start (and finish) embroidery for "The Forever Project"
14. Complete "Om" block for "The Forever Project"
15. Make or find a simple pattern for a tote / beach bag
16. Make a year-end gift for my kindergartener's teacher
17. Make a year-end gift for my 3rd grader's teacher
18. Make a birthday gift for kindergartener's BFF
19. Make a "surprise" for my 11 running partners + myself
20. Make an Unruly letters pillow for Kim
21. Update my running scrapbook (no sewing involved!)
22. Figure out a plan of attack for the "Unless" quilt

~*~ May your day be full of Love and Ladybug Hugs ~*~

Laura's Birthday Blanket & Pillow

Few things make me happier than crossing something off my to-do list.  Today, I get to cross off two things!

I originally posted about this quilt here, and it is on my May Small Project Sew Along List.  This quilt will be a birthday gift for a friend of the family.  She turns five in August so I am way ahead of schedule on this one!  

The flimsy for this quilt has been complete and hanging over my banister for at least two (probably three) years.  I don't remember why I chose this pattern and it seemed so simplistic to me that I had little desire to finish it... until my daughters asked if they could use it to make a fort.  That motivated me to get it sandwiched and pin basted... then there it hung again for at least another 6 months. 

I've recently begun experimenting with FMQ so I thought this would make a great practice quilt.  Turns out, the FMQ adds just the missing touch.  It went from an "OK" quilt to a "really super cute quilt."

I have a lot of work to do on my FMQ designs, but this quilt made me much more comfortable with the basic technique.  I tried some loopies in the purple borders and some hearts in the center squares, but my pink areas still look like tentacles to me.

I had some fabric left so I made a pillow to go with this.  It has an envelope closure in the back so the cover can be removed for washing.  (Forgot to take a picture of the back, but it's not really all that exciting anyway.)

This last photo makes the pillow look way too big for the quilt... but my (almost) 6 year old tested them out and I think they'll be the perfect size for our little 5-year-old friend.

Here's my updated list for the May Small Project Sew Along:

1. Complete H2H quilt - link here
2. Complete Laura's quilt - Done

3. Make pillow to match Laura's quilt - Done
4. Finish quilt for Sujay (flimsy is complete)
5. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) wall hangings (1 done, 2 not started)
6. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) Mickey pillows

7. Make a green mug rug in time for Mother's Day  

8. Make a pink mug rug just because I want to
9. Finish April Seasonal Skinny (flimsy is complete)
10. Complete 2 ladybug Seasonal Skinnies for May
11. Cut fabric for summer hexie project
12. Make a portable sewing kit / bag / holder / something-or-other - link here
13. Start (and finish) embroidery for "The Forever Project"
14. Complete "Om" block for "The Forever Project"
15. Make or find a simple pattern for a tote / beach bag
16. Make a year-end gift for my kindergartener's teacher
17. Make a year-end gift for my 3rd grader's teacher
18. Make a birthday gift for kindergartener's BFF
19. Make a "surprise" for my 11 running partners + myself
20. Make an Unruly letters pillow for Kim
21. Update my running scrapbook (no sewing involved!)
22. Figure out a plan of attack for the "Unless" quilt

~*~ May your day be full of Love and Ladybug Hugs ~*~

If you give a mom a project list....

Have you ever read If You Give a Mom a Muffin by Kathy Fictorie?

If you give a mom a muffin, she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.  She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the  washer, she'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. 

It wasn't a muffin I was after, it was a finish for my Small Project Sew Along list.  One of the projects on my list is "cut fabric for summer hexie project."  I was looking for something semi-mindless to do one night last week, so I thought cutting fabric might be just the thing.  Of course, I have *no* idea what I want to do with these hexies, I just know I need a hand sewing project (I'll be away from my sewing machine for 3 weeks this summer).  I had never made a hexie, either, so I thought maybe I should try a few to make sure I liked it before I cut up too much fabric.

 

Let's just say, I like hexies!

Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.) The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. 

In making these hexies, I realized it would be really handy if I expedited project #12, which is "Make a portable sewing kit / bag / holder / something-or-other."  This way, I could more easily make my new hexie addiction portable.

I was inspired by Amanda Jean's vinyl front pouch (great tutorial here) but I wanted a bag with a squared bottom, so I used her vinyl idea then made up my own measurements.

Funny... I have a gluttonous amount of fabric in my stash, yet when I went to pick a piece to make my sewing pouch, I didn't like any of it.  I've bought so much fabric because {insert someone else's name here} would love it, but none just because *I* love it.  Then, I came across some denim from my most favorite pair of jeans ever - my first pair of Levi's.  I was wearing these jeans during my first "I'm pregnant!" doctor's appointment.  I aspired to fit into them again after my first daughter was born.  (And I did!!  Yay!!)  But there came a point when there were too many holes and they were retired to my craft closet.

Anyway.... the jeans make me SO happy that I decided to use them for my pouch.  Though not beautiful (and certainly not something I'd ever give as a gift to someone else), I LOVE. THIS. POUCH.  LOVE!

I kept going and made a little sewing kit / needle holder to go with it.  I saw something similar (tutorial and all) on someone else's blog a few months back, but I lost my hard drive (with all my files and links) last month and though I searched, I couldn't find the same one again.  I did the best I could from memory.  I used more of the denim (which made the corners bulky, but whatever) and some fun ribbon and fabric I had in my stash.

Front cover

Inside of the front cover, with pocket

Inside middle, with felt for pins and needles.  I got to try out my scalloped edge rotary cutter blade.

Inside back cover, with pocket (perfect for hexies)

Back cover

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the two-year-old. While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. She'll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee. 

What started out as cutting fabric for hexies ended up crossing a different project off my list, and got me started on another one... but I'll save that one for later.

Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. She will pour herself some. And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Now I'm hungry.

Updated list for the May Small Project Sew Along:

1. Complete H2H quilt - Done!
2. Complete Laura's quilt (just needs binding) 

3. Make pillow to match Laura's quilt 
4. Finish quilt for Sujay (flimsy is complete)
5. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) wall hangings (1 done, 2 not started)
6. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) Mickey pillows

7. Make a green mug rug in time for Mother's Day  

8. Make a pink mug rug just because I want to
9. Finish April Seasonal Skinny (flimsy is complete)
10. Complete 2 ladybug Seasonal Skinnies for May
11. Cut fabric for summer hexie project
12. Make a portable sewing kit / bag / holder / something-or-other - Done!
13. Start (and finish) embroidery for "The Forever Project"
14. Complete "Om" block for "The Forever Project"
15. Make or find a simple pattern for a tote / beach bag
16. Make a year-end gift for my kindergartener's teacher
17. Make a year-end gift for my 3rd grader's teacher
18. Make a birthday gift for kindergartener's BFF
19. Make a "surprise" for my 11 running partners + myself
20. Make an Unruly letters pillow for Kim
21. Update my running scrapbook (no sewing involved!)
22. Figure out a plan of attack for the "Unless" quilt

~*~ May your day be full of Love and Ladybug Hugs ~*~

H2H 2012 Quilt Complete! (and a SPSA list upate)

Last night I finished my quilt for the Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge 2012.  I am so happy with how it turned out!  If I had to name this quilt, I'd call it "Comedy of Errors" because nothing about this quilt went the way I had planned... but both my daughters begged to keep it, so I'm thinking some other little girl will love it, too.

The binding was originally supposed to be teal, but the quilt wasn't quite wide enough, so I used that as a border.  On Wednesday I thought I might use yellow for the binding, but I wasn't convinced.  I found a purple solid in my stash with just enough left, so voila!  Purple binding it is! 

Not only is this a great finish for the H2H Challenge, but it is the first thing I can officially cross of my Small Project Sew Along (SPSA) list.  Woo Hoo!!  My full list for May is below.  If you are participating, please leave me a comment so I can take a look at your list and cheer you on.

Here is my current list for May:

1. Complete H2H quilt - Done!
2. Complete Laura's quilt (just needs binding) - Binding is sew to the front, just need to stitch it around the back.

3. Make pillow to match Laura's quilt - Definitely on my list for this weekend.
4. Finish quilt for Sujay (flimsy is complete)
5. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) wall hangings (1 done, 2 not started)
6. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) Mickey pillows

7. Make a green mug rug in time for Mother's Day - I started working on this one and changed the approach from what I talked about last time.  I think it's going to be awesome!  Hoping to get this one done this weekend, too! 

8.   Make a pink mug rug just because I want to
9.   Finish April Seasonal Skinny (flimsy is complete)
10. Complete 2 ladybug Seasonal Skinnies for May
11. Cut fabric for summer hexie project
12. Make a portable sewing kit / bag / holder / something-or-other - progress made here!
13. Start (and finish) embroidery for "The Forever Project"
14. Complete "Om" block for "The Forever Project"
15. Make or find a simple pattern for a tote / beach bag
16. Make a year-end gift for my kindergartener's teacher
17. Make a year-end gift for my 3rd grader's teacher
18. Make a birthday gift for kindergartener's BFF
19. Make a "surprise" for my 11 running partners + myself
20. Make an Unruly letters pillow for Kim
21. Update my running scrapbook (no sewing involved!)
22. Figure out a plan of attack for the "Unless" quilt

Are you participating in the Small Project Sew Along?  If so, please leave me a comment so I can take a peek at your list, too!

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Linking up with: 

Confessions of a Fabric Addict for "Whoop Whoop Friday"

Sew Many Ways for "Find a Friend Friday"

AmyLouWho for "Sew and Tell"

Edit: Also linking up with Pieceful Life for "Show Off Friday"

I'm looking forward to seeing what you've worked on this week!

~*~ May your day be full of Love and Ladybug Hugs ~*~

The Blue Post-it Note

The good news is that I found the missing blue post-it note.  You know, the one with the rest of my project wish list on it.


The bad news is that I found the missing blue post-it note.  You know, the one with the rest of my project wish list on it.


Are you joining in to Amanda Jean's (low key) Small Project Sew Along?  I posted about it yesterday, or you can read the details on her blog here.


I'm adding the 3 projects from my blue post-it note to my list, even though I know that at least one of them has ZERO chance of happening this month.  Oh well.... I like to have my list all in one place.  Gets me motivated to start crossing things off!


I haven't actually sewn anything yet, but I did make a teeny bit of progress toward a few of these.


1. Complete H2H quilt (just needs binding) -- Selected the fabric for the binding.  I think.  On second thought, maybe not.  I'm Fabric Fasting this year so I'm relying on stash.  For some reason, I have 3 yards of a yellow solid in my stash (must have been on sale?), but it matches well to the small yellow blocks in this quilt.  I'm not sold, though.  Thoughts?  Would you use this yellow or look for something else?  I'm thinking pink would be nice, but the back is mostly pink.... so not sure.

2. Complete Laura's quilt (just needs binding) -- Found stash fabric for this binding, too.  It's not an exact match to the purple in the quilt, but it's pretty darn close.  Pretty sure no one but me will notice.

3. Make pillow to match Laura's quilt 
4. Finish quilt for Sujay (flimsy is complete)
5. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) wall hangings (1 done, 2 not started)
6. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) Mickey pillows

7. Make a green mug rug in time for Mother's Day -- I adore green (and purple, and pink, and...) but it is such a tough color to match.  I purchased a green coffee mug (Walmart, $1.50, can't beat it!) with the intent of using it in a small gift basket with a mug rug, some home made scones and some gourmet tea or coffee.  When I started to choose fabrics, though, I found that not much looked good with this shade of green.  I did find these 2 solid greens, plus a ladybug print, which I used (with pinks and purples) in a baby quilt.  I think they'll do the trick!  Now to decide how I'll put these together.  This is for a grown-up so I don't want it to SCREAM "ladybugs," so I'll have to give that some thought. 

8.   Make a pink mug rug just because I want to
9.   Finish April Seasonal Skinny (flimsy is complete)
10. Complete 2 ladybug Seasonal Skinnies for May
11. Cut fabric for summer hexie project
12. Make a portable sewing kit / bag / holder / something-or-other 
13. Start (and finish) embroidery for "The Forever Project"
14. Complete "Om" block for "The Forever Project"
15. Make or find a simple pattern for a tote / beach bag
16. Make a year-end gift for my kindergartener's teacher
17. Make a year-end gift for my 3rd grader's teacher
18. Make a birthday gift for kindergartener's BFF
19. Make a "surprise" for my 11 running partners + myself
20. NEW (via the blue post-it note): Make an Unruly letters pillow for Kim
21. NEW (via the blue post-it note): Update my running scrapbook (no sewing involved!)
22. NEW (via the blue post-it note): Figure out a plan of attack for the "Unless" quilt

Are you participating in the Small Project Sew Along?  If so, please leave me a comment so I can take a peek at your list, too!




~*~ May your day be full of Love and Ladybug Hugs ~*~

Small Project Sew Along

So of course you know Amanda Jean from Crazy Mom Quilts.  She's started a (low key) "Small Project Sew Along" for the month of May and I've decided to join.  I've never done a Sew Along before (deadlines = pressure and I get enough of that in my day job to commit to

any more!).  However, this one looks totally do-able and it's right up my alley.

You can read her original post about it here, but here's how it works:

1. Compile your list of small projects you would like to complete. 
2. Write it down in a blog post.
3. Throughout the month, work on your projects, as time allows. 
4. As you complete a project, blog about it, cross it off your list and do a little cheer. :)
5. Share your photos in the quilting with crazy mom flickr group. Make sure to link to the source of your pattern/tutorial/inspiration if you used one. 

I've already got #1 done via multiple post-it notes stuck all over my sewing space and my home office.  I'm a little afraid to put them all in one spot because I know it will be intimidatingly long, but it is step #2, so here goes:

1. Complete H2H quilt (just needs binding)
2. Complete Laura's quilt (just needs binding)
3. Make pillow to match Laura's quilt 
4. Finish quilt for Sujay (flimsy is complete)
5. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) wall hangings (1 done, 2 not started)
6. Make 3 small memory (t-shirt) Mickey pillows
7. Make a green mug rug in time for Mother's Day
8. Make a pink mug rug just because I want to
9. Finish April Seasonal Skinny (flimsy is complete)
10. Complete 2 ladybug Seasonal Skinnies for May
11. Cut fabric for summer hexie project
12. Make a portable sewing kit / bag / holder / something-or-other 
13. Start (and finish) embroidery for "The Forever Project"
14. Complete "Om" block for "The Forever Project"
15. Make or find a simple pattern for a tote / beach bag
16. Make a year-end gift for my kindergartener's teacher
17. Make a year-end gift for my 3rd grader's teacher
18. Make a birthday gift for kindergartener's BFF
19. Make a "surprise" for my 11 running partners + myself

There's more, I know there's more.... I'm missing a blue post-it note.... 


I'm anxious to get started on #3 (working on projects - as time allows, of course), so I'll add my blue post-it note list if I find it.  Because, ya know, 19 small projects isn't enough for one month when you have two small kids and a 50 hour/week job outside the home.  ;-)


Are you planning to join?  I'd love to see what you're working on!  (And hopefully, not add *too* many more things to my list as I become inspired by your list!)

~*~ May your day be full of Love and Ladybug Hugs ~*~