swappin' mug rugs

Recently, I developed an interest in creating mug rugs. This is a smaller version of a miniature quilt or doll quilt. I made a lot of miniature quilts over the last two years and was in a doll quilt swap. I decided to op out, because because of my own commitment to our Pillow Swap Four Seasons. But I still have a need to "create with a theme." I love to be challenged and think!! When I discovered a mug rug swap that was upcoming and not already full, I jumped all over it! It is now full but check it out for an array of beautiful mug rug inspiration at Forth Worth Fabric Studio.

For me it is still unclear how big a mug rug is supposed to be, but I think between 4 x 6 and 6 x 8 inches. Sometimes I go a little overboard and make it a little larger. I just change the name to a mini-placemat or an XL mug rug. No matter what you call it, I think it would be used AND appreciated. Sometimes I wonder about the miniature doll quilts if anyone really does something with it. Oh, sorry, a tangent...back to my post.

My challenge, create a "spring" mug rug. That's pretty simple. I first worked on my swarm of bees! I love the paper pieced bee, but the colors of yellow, gray, black aren't very springy! I love the color palette, but not very springy, is it?

So I remembered I wanted to try out the Dresden plates featured throughout my lastest edition of the Quiltmaker. I have never made Dresdens and wanted to try out the technique. I also found a QAL featured by McCalls Quilting featuring something really good....mini Dresdens!! I love minis!! In the background you can see my freshly (sometimes) ironed and folded laundry. My sewing space doubles as the family laundry mart. ;-)

I cut enough scraps using the Dainty Dresden template from Lesson 8 (great for 1½ inch strips and scraps) and 12 plates of the larger Dresden template (Template C from Dancing Dresdens) from 2½ inch scraps. I had a lot of fun going through my scraps too. I de-stashed a lot of the darker colors and had a great mix of colorful fabrics to choose from. I tried to stay in a turquoise/yellow/pink/green colorway.

After you get the little cuties cut out, you sew them together on the longer side, RST. I chain pieced in a snap using a smaller stitch length, backstitching at the start and stop. It is worth the extra time. The pieces are really dainty, but I find it relaxing to take my time. 

Then you snip the bulk off the tips where you will turn them right side out and press. Just take your time and don't stress. They go together very easily.

Now the watch them shrink in size! Sew them all together! The little ones make three inch Dresdens! How cute! You know I am a sucker for anything mini! I think the larger ones make five inch Dresdens. I didn't measure.

I had the idea of making flowers with them. I wanted to use all of them, but there simply wasn't enough room on the 6 x 8 inch backing fabric. I would have to use the smaller ones or...let one jump right out of the mug rug!! That's a great idea, Karen! The challenge was the binding. I would have to construct it, so the flower would not be disturbed by the binding. I decided to make my binding as border strips and pull to the backside. It worked! I also hand sewed a backing fabric onto the petal the extruded over the mug rug.

I added one of my mini stickers with "easypatchwork" to the yellow petal. I thought about adding more text, but just a hint is also good. I am really pleased with it. It is bright and cheery! I am also looking forward to seeing what my swap partner comes up with. I love swappin'!

What did I learn this week? Don't short cut your binding. I prefer single fold or double-fold binding, not border strips. ;-) They were a headache for me and didn't really turn out the way I wanted them to.

Are you looking forward to spring? What are you making that is springy? I'd like to hear from you!

bumble bees and krapfen

Bienenstich, Erdeer-, Schokolade- und Eierlikörkrapfen

In the dead of winter, there is a very exciting holiday coming round in Germany  called Fasching. The rest of the world knows this as Fat Tuesday or Carnival. I first got to experience the liveliness of the day in New Orleans in the French Quarter back in 1995 or so. Wow, I will never forget that! I was only there once, but the memories will last a lifetime. I did manage to bring home a whole bag of beads. (You usually have to exchange a kiss for a strand.) And, I had one very special strand that hung down just about to the floor with huge two inch beads on it. I won't tell you what I did for that one. :)

And I experienced Fastnacht in Basel, Switzerland in 1999 in the very wee hours in the morning. Unforgettable! The costumes were so elaborate!! I still can't believe I took a bus at midnight to watch the parade at 2 am!

Here in Schwaben, schwäbisch-alemannische Fastnacht or Fasching is celebrated with parades of witches usually men and women belonging to an organized group who dress up like witches complete with wooden-carved masks - some that have been in the families for generations. It is definitely something to be seen. Parades of witches (Narren) will walk by and usually play some type of prank on you. Since the masks can be grüeslig, my kids prefer not to go to these types. And then there are those phrases - Hexe, Hexa, Hexa....more, more more...in dialect. A little bit of candy is "thrown" to the spectators, but not a lot.

Kinderfasching in Leipheim 2014

Then, there are the parades close to Frankfurt which are a little more entertaining with floats and funny characters not just something to scare you. These are much more entertaining for the kids. Here, lots and lots of candy is thrown from the floats just like a traditional American "parade." And of course, there is always plenty of alcohol involved! Little bottles of spirits, wine and beer are handed out to spectators. Don't forget, there is a large amount of consumption from the participants as well. I think the younger participants use it as an excuse to drink since they are allowed to drink alcohol openly starting 16. I am not a fan of the entire "Faschingsitzungen", but I do like a few things about it. It is nice to let your hair down and have some fun. =)

We celebrate Kinderfasching this week in our town. The kids will dress themselves in a costume of their choice, this year a soldier and a harem dancer. I will dress myself too; I have a few costumes stored away. There will be lots of music, food, candy and laughter.

Kinderfasching in Hüttisheim 2015

 What I especially think of at this time of year, are Krapfen. These are doughnuts filled with spiced eggnog, chocolate, Carmel, honey-creme, strawberry, etc. As an American, you can probably get this any time of the year. Living in Germany, you appreciate and savor this TREAT! The only time you can get them is between Jan. 1 and Fat Tuesday. I cannot resist these treats. I LOVE my Eierlikörkrapfen!! 

Eierlikörkrapfen und tanzende Bienchen

This delicacy is entering our home almost on a daily basis right now! I have to stop buying them, but I cannot resist. When we lived in Baden-Würrtemburg, you couldn't find them anywhere, the Eierlikör at least. You have to drive over the border to Bavaria!! Now, I live in Bavaria, so I can find them at the local bakery and patisserie. I swear, I ate my last one on Friday. I will not buy anymore!

And more appropriate to show you Krapfen as this beautiful bumble bee mug rug I am working on for a swap at fortworthfabricstudio - my swarm of bees. You can find the free template at Badskirt in the shape of a hexagon.

I like this one so much, I am not sure I am going to part with it. It doesn't really look "springy" though does it? When I think of spring, I think of fresh colors such as Easter eggs, not black, white and gray. I might redo the idea, I might not. I still have time to decide. =)

What did I learn last week? I like to embroider, I hate to hand quilt!

Thanks for dropping by.