Hexagon Mug Rug

Hexagon Mug Rug

Hexagon Mug Rug Back

Hexagons have lately become another minor digression from my task of finishing up my pile of UFO's.  But, this is not an excuse mind you for the diversion, but I'm using up my stash..those little bits and pieces that have no where to go.  The purpose of this journey I began a few years ago was to use what I had already accumulated in fabric.  

These bits and pieces to make the mug rug are very old and they were all in a jumble in a storage bag.  Which led me to another diversion..straightening my collection of bits and pieces into a usable (translation - findable) collection.  I find myself taking more time straightening up my quilt room than doing the actual sewing!  I'm looking for a solution to this conundrum.  

Back to the Mug Rug...it is hand pieced and then the flowers were hand appliqued to the background.  I hand quilted it.  

These little mug rugs I've been doing have been a great way to hone my skills.  I've never been able to put on a decent binding ...but now I think I can.  Not the best, mind you, but it's coming along.  I'm improving my hand quilting too.  Again, not the best, but I'm coming along.  And because the project is small, I'm not getting easily bored.  ...which is why I have so many UFO's in the first place.  

Getting more in the way of my Quilt Finishes,  I've again become distracted and decided to put together a sampler based on the Shipshewana Amish Quilt.  It's a sew along on Flickr with the permission of Sentimental Stitches
I am using my stash.  That's a good thing.  I've made more Mug Rugs.

Front of Butterfly Mug Rug

Back of Butterfly Mug Rug

  Hand Appliqued and hand quilted.  I used Sulky Blendable No. 12 to quilt it.  I like the way the stitches show up. I'm now working on another Mug Rug and just need to bind it.  My hand quilted 2000 Round Robin is almost all hand quilted.  Hopefully that should be posted sometime next month.  In the mean time I've really gotten into liking hexagons.  Really, what else will distract me. 

Mug Rugs

Mug Rug Digression

 

You might think that I've made no progress in my UFO's since November because I have not posted any pictures of progress since then, but I am progressing.  I just have little tangents that I go on, like MUG RUGS.  

 

First Mug Rug.  I made this from Dear Jane Orphan Blocks.

   

 

 

This first one is from Dear Jane Orphan blocks.  So really it is a UFO.  I started Dear Jane over 10 years ago.  These blocks are hand pieced.  I put two together and hand quilted it and put the binding on.  I had so much fun doing this.  I made another for my husband for Valentines Day.

Valentine Mug Rug For Hubby

Hubby wanted his in burgundy,  but burgundy is not my favorite color.  This is a close as I could come.  Remember, I am not purchasing new fabric...right.

 

OK,  so digging through my years of red and beige collections,  I came up with this.  I quilted this as it was pieced.    I did the log cabin first and then attached the strips of beige.  The heart was then appliqued on...carefully,  I didn't want to go through the back.  Last I put the binding on.  By the way,  making mug rugs is a great way to practice binding.

 

He loves it.  I took it from him just for a bit to wash it and he had a fit and wanted to know where it was.  Nice to be appreciated. 

EARTH AND STARS

Earth and Stars

I began this quilt at the turn of our current century.  Just recently found it in my UFO pile and put on the border.  The pattern is my own.   The flowers are dimensional and beaded.  The stars, dove, and leaves are hand appliqued.  Stems are hand embroidered.  It is hand quilted.  I made this quilt to remind myself that space (the background of stars) and earth (the flowers and the dove) are one.  The dove (a symbol of peace) is a reminder that to survive we must all live in peace.