Jack o Lantern Mug Rugs

 

Mug rugs for my friends

     At our quilt retreats my friends have been making or buying small gifts for each other.   This year I decided to make a mug rug for everyone.  I got the pattern from Designs by JuJu.

Pieced pumpkin mug rug

     I had a lot of fun going thru my orange scraps for the background of the mug rug.  In my brown and orange scraps I found enough for the back and frame.  The black was last over from making one on my grandkids' Halloween costumes.

Detail of the frame

     The batting was pieces left from having quilts quilted.  The cost was minimal but there was a bit of time involved.  After getting the pieces cut, the construction with the embroidery machine went pretty quick, just a bit of time trimming around the black pieces.  

Backs of the mug rugs

     I had a lot of fun making these and plan on making more mug rugs in the future.

Quilt Retreat October 2023

 

Beautiful fall colors

     After getting home from CWC headed for Hillpoint WI for my quilt retreat with friends.  After unpacking the car I headed out for a walk to stretch my legs.  The views are just so pretty up there.

First quilt top

     I started by working on an easy quilt top to start.  This is a Three Yard quilt.  It went together quickly, I will add the borders at home.

Mornings

     In the mornings, I would wrap myself up in a warm blanket and go sit on the deck to do my Catechism  in a Year and pray my rosary while enjoying a hot cup of tea.

Nine patch block

     Next up was the most difficult quilt top I brought up.  It involved making 175 of these small nine patch blocks that then went into making 35 larger nine patch blocks that formed the quilt top.  It took part of Thursday, all Friday and Saturday and into Sunday afternoon to get that top pieced.  I still need to add the borders.

Second quilt top

     In between I took some very short walks just to stretch and get some fresh air.  I had a lot of fun talking, eating and catching up on some sleep.

Fall colors right outside the front door

Custom Workroom Conference 2023

 

Enjoying the conference

     Last week was CWC in Sharonville Ohio, near Cincinnati.  I drove there Sunday night and met my roommate.  I picked up my conference packet and then a group of us went to dinner.  Monday morning the classes started bright and early.

     My first class was with Jonathan Bennett, Trapezoid and T-Cushions: Get the Real Angle.  I learned about how to make a pattern for a T-cushion and also some tips for cutting the foam.  He also showed us how he pieces fabric for larger cushions.

     

Open frame cornice

     Next up was Cornices "Light"-The Open Frame Method with Robin Matthews.  She showed us her technique for making lighter weight cornices and the steps needed to cover the frame to prep for the fabric.  She also talked about hinging cornices with for function or for transportation.

Cornice with quilted fabric

     After lunch I had Ann Johnson's class, Turn Perfect Corners with Mitered Banding.  We learned three different ways to create mitered banding and the uses for each of the techniques.  We played with paper strips to create our patterns and she also showed us how to sew them in place.

     My last class for the day was A New Method for Blackout Roman Shades with Susan Woodcock.  It involves making rib sleeves out of blackout fabric.  A very cool method to prevent those 'pinholes of light'.

      Monday evening was a cocktail reception where we had lots of good conversations.  The next day was the vendor floor.  There were lots of vendors demoing their products and also some selling their products.  I bought a new pillow pattern plus feet for my new walking foot machine and other stuff.  That evening I went to dinner with several of the attendees.

     Wednesday was just a half day.  I had another class with Jonathan Bennet, Worry-Free Welting.  he showed us different ways to cut the well fabric depending on the application.  He showed us his method for applying the welt cord to a cushion.

Rodger and Susan saying goodbye

     Then a final wrap up speech by Susan and her husband Rodger who do the conference.  Then the long drive home.  I can't wait to try some of the new stuff I learned.