Teatime mug rug

As a little break from bigger projects, I whipped up this mug rug.

I paper-pieced the teacup from this free pattern at Piece by Number.  The pattern includes 4 variations; this one is Teacup #2.  I had originally made the block back in October when I did a paper-piecing demo at the Columbus Modern Quilt Guild.  I had planned to use 4 blocks and make a table runner or wall quilt, but the idea of a mug on a mug rug just seemed too perfect. Plus, this block was already done!

 

The quilting is a fun combination of Pebbling and Swirling Water.

And I added some steam coming from the cup.

 

I'm linking up to Free-Motion Friday.  Check it out!

 

Learn to Free Motion Quilt

Come join me for a fun start in Free Motion Quilting.  I will be teaching Intro to FMQ at Sew to Speak in Columbus, Ohio, on August 7 from 6-9 pm. 

 

Here's the class description:

In this fun and relaxed introduction to freemotion quilting, we will de-mystify stippling, a great design to finish any project.  Learn about supplies, including batting, threads, and needles.  Try using some specialty products that make freemotion quilting easier.  Gain confidence in adjusting the tension on your machine and solve common beginner’s problems.  We will have lots of hands-on practice time.  This is a technique class, so you will make practice stitch samples, rather than a completed project.  Free-motion quilting definitely improves with practice.  Let us help you get off on the right foot and make machine quilting fun.   Sewing machine with free-motion foot required (also called darning foot or hopping foot).

If you'd like to join us, contact Sew to Speak to sign up.

Now I'm on Bloglovin'

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So, I've been using Bloglovin' for awhile without realizing my own blog wasn't on there!  Okay, now it is, so you can follow me if you'd like.

Teaching a FMQ class

On Sunday I taught beginning Free-Motion Quilting to 5 great friends.  I met this awesome group of ladies through the Columbus Modern Quilt Guild. Since I've been wanting to start teaching, I asked them to join me as my "guinea pigs" to test out the class.  I know it sounds like a cliche, but I think I learned just as much as the students!
Here's Barb quilting away happily.  Check out her blog at Black Squirrel Threads- she is a great writer!  (And a great quilter!)

Look at Abbe's work.  Nice letter-E shapes, Abbe!

And here's Polly and Kathy.  We set out to prove the Free Motion quilting is really all about FUN!


I didn't think to take enough pictures- we were too busy!  So I didn't get a picture of Sheila or her work, but she was very productive! 
Thanks to a super group of quilters for a fun afternoon of stitching.  For anyone interested in teaching quilting, I highly recommend doing a trial-run of your class with some friends. I got great feedback about what areas need more information and what to cut.  I had planned to cover way too much!
And thanks to Kathy for hosting us in her office!

NQA Show

I had a great time at the NQA show last Friday.  If you have a chance to make it to Columbus for next year's show, I highly recommend it!  I met up with my friend Stacey.  Here she is with her quilt "My Quilting Scrapbook" hanging in the show.

Here's a closeup so you can see the great long-arm quilting on it, done by Michele Mayton.

Last year after NQA, I said to myself, "I need to learn to machine applique!"  This year, I said the same thing.  So I'm really going to do it this time!  I might need to update those quilting goals!

WIP Wednesday

I've been working on the FMQ on Tree #2, the wall quilt I'm making for my mother-in-law.
(You can read about the construction here and here). So far, so good!

 I'm applying few lessons learned from quilting Tree #1.  In that project, it was hard to see the quilting because of the busy fabrics, so I used more solids and hand-dyeds with fewer prints this time around. I'm really liking the look of quilting over solids.  Also, I'm trying to match the colors of the threads with the fabrics, to highlight the piecing rather than blurring it together.

 My friend Janet gave me this cute little box of threads- she had gotten it some time ago when she was sewing with her sons' Boy Scout badges, and wanted threads to match.  Not only is the box cute, the blues, greens, and yellows blend beautifully with these fabrics. (The white feathers on the purple fabric have nothing to do with my current project, it just looks better under the threads than my wooden sewing table!)

Check out WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced for more inspiration!