Mugs Before Blocks

There are so many things that we wish we had done yesterday, so few that we feel like doing today.

~Mignon McLaughlin

I think that is part of my lack of motivation.  There are so many projects that I would like to do and only so much time to do them in.  I'm constantly seeing a cute quilt, a clever idea, or a block that I've never seen before.  I want to do it all!!  But, the morning comes, and I don't know where to begin.  Stating my daily goal has definitely helped overcome part of my indecision.  But I still want to do it all.  I love the BOM projects because they let me change what I'm working on regularly and that way I don't get bored.  Maybe I should go back to the days when I was just learning to quilt - start a project and finish it before starting something new.  But that's no fun and can get boring too.  How many of you are the one project at a time kind of person?

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

My favorite pair of scissors

There have been many developments in the design of scissors. For example, there are now scissors for left-handed use, in which the blades are reversed so that a left-hander can see the line of the cut as it is being made, and the handles are molded so as to be comfortable to the left hand. There are specialist tools for surgeons, "pinking shears" for dressmakers and tailors (to produce a zigzag cut in cloth that will not fray easily), safety scissors for children, and even bolt-cutter shears for heavy-duty use, in which the pivot point is placed as close to the blades as possible, to provide greater leverage.
In an age of technology when so many of our tools are power-driven and computer-controlled, it is interesting to note that the humble scissors still have a role to play, in a form that has changed little over thousands of years.

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MUG RUG - ONE OF TWO

Yesterday I finished the first of two mug rugs for the Mug Rug Swap being hosted by the Quilting Gallery (today is the last day to join this swap!).  We are to make two for the swap but I won't make the second one until I find out who my partner will be.

This wasn't the original design I had in my head but this is what I ended up with.  I used fabric from Connecting Threads Cheep Talk that featured a bird theme.  I matched the floss to this fabric for the little owl.  I forgot to take a picture of the back but it is done in the lime green fabric.  I straight line stitched the right hand side in a variegated blue/green thread and then echo stitched the owl in white.  The total measurement is 6" X 9".  I don't even know who my partner is yet but I hope she/he will like it.  Finishing the mug rug was my goal for yesterday.  Done!

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A NEW PROJECT

Yes, another one!

Yesterday I cut some fabric for some place mats.  And, yes, they are all tagged with sticky notes to make my work a little easier when I go to assembling the pieces.  I was looking at a magazine. Quilter's World, over the weekend and found one of the first place mat patterns that I really liked.  The pattern is called White Flare.

Their example showed red and white place mats (for Valentine's day, I'm sure).  But since I'm not really a red and white kind of gal, I decided to go with blue and yellow.  This fabric line, Morning Mist by Hoffman California International, will go well with my dishes that are cobalt and light blue.  And a big plus was that it came straight out of my stash!  No telling how long I've had these 1/2 yard pieces around.  Hopefully I will have at least one of them made to share with you tomorrow. 

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BLOCKS RECEIVED

Saturday's mail brought me two new blocks.  The first one is for my Let's Bee Together group.

This wonderful block was made by Jorie who lives in Texas.  This is a pattern that I had not seen before.  I think it does a wonderful job of highlighting each print of fabric.  Thanks Jorie!!

The second block is from my swap partner, Nellie from Canada, in the IFQ Mosaic Color Play swap.

I sent Nellie the center square and then she created the rest of the block from fabric in her stash.  I think Nellie did a wonderful job of picking up the colors in the center square.  Thanks, Nellie!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I am going to work on the place mats that I cut out yesterday.  I know I won't get them totally done but I hope to have at least two of the tops completed.

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GIVEAWAYS

Heather over at Ala Mode is having a giveaway to celebrate her interview on Pat Sloan's show.  She has created a a couple Flea Market Fancy Patchwork Packages.  You must enter her giveaway before Wednesday at 9:00pm PST.

And then you can jump over the Pat Sloan's Blog and enter for some more Flea Market Fancy Patchwork.  She will draw her winner at noon on Friday!

Jaybird Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway with Green Fairy Quilts.  They are giving away a fat quarter bundle of Dilly Dally by Me & My Sister!!  You have till 10pm EST on Wednesday the 19th to enter.

Karen over at Sew Many Ways is celebrating her 2nd year of blogging anniversary.  She is having a red giveaway with 5 different red items.  Karen will picking a winner on Sunday, January 23rd.

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FINAL THOUGHT
Have you ever wondered why we are here?  I do.  I sometimes think that maybe we are just someones dream and the time that we sleep is when they are awake.  Other times I think that maybe we are just somebody's SIM game - you know, like the game on the computer.  OK, so much for that thought.  And then I wonder if there are other planets like ours in the universe or other universes.  I'm pretty sure there are but we just haven't found them yet.  I know, weird stuff.  But sometimes my mind is just weird.  Do you ever have thoughts like these?

It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.
 ~James Thurber 

Today is totally Tuesday - make sure you use it wisely!!