Wednesday, January 9, 2013

"In My Words" and A Giveaway

Today is my day to post what I have made for "In Your Words".  First off, a big 'thank you" to Linda and to Madame Samm for making this blog happen and for introducing me to so many great quilters.

 I almost didn't join this hop since it was so close to the holidays, and I had a houseful of guests.  But, I made a spiral table runner for my daughter-in-law, Susan, that incorporated words and thought I could always use that if I ran out of time.  The words were very appropriate for me as well.



Fortunately, I did find time to make a new project.  How do you choose words that describe yourself?  I started with nouns that describe me:  mother, grandmother, quilter, piebaker, etc. but decided to focus on words that bring me joy.  I chose to embroider these words in a "word search" format to give me some much-needed practice.  I used graph paper to set up the words.  Then, a light box came in handy to trace the words to my fabric.  I also embroidered some leaves, a flower, and a butterfly to make it more interesting.



Next, I needed to decide what project to make, and I decided on a mug rug.  I have never made one before.    I have been wanting to try free-motion quilting--I've practiced--but I never felt confident enough to really use it on a project.  I got a new (used) machine this week that I thought would make free-motion quilting easier, so I decided to take the plunge.  It isn't perfect, but I think it is acceptable.  Here is my first FMQ project!





I decided to make one for my husband, also, using nouns to describe him.  I don't want to sit down to a cup of tea and a snack alone!


                Oops, something happened to one of the cookies on the plate!  (One of my favorites.)



                   
Since you took the time to read or skim over my post, and I know you have read lots of posts today, I'm having a give-away.  I'm giving away 2  fat quarters.  They are by Moda.  You may choose either the lavender or the blue.




 Just become a follower and leave a post.  I think it would be fun to see what machine everyone is using, so also tell me what machine you use for quilting.  I will do my drawing  on January 16th.  Please be sure I have your e-mail address.

If you are here, you have probably visited the other blogs for today, but just to be sure, here is today's schedule:


Thursday, January 10
Just Sew Sue (Sue B.)
Scrappy 'n Happy (Jess R.)
Little Mushroom Cap (Amira A.)
Sowing Stitches (Beulah aka. Carol)
Just Quilt It  (Kathy G.)  That's me!


There are so many words to describe so many wonderful people on this hop.  I hope you are enjoying this blog hop as much as I am!  Happy Quilting!



93 comments:

  1. what a great spiral runner. Those words are lovely. Your mug rugs are too cute.

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  2. Love your spiral runner, but also your mug rug. I myself love creating different mug rugs. I use my Brother 1250D for my piecing of my quilts. I always have someone else quilt them for me until I can get my own quilting machine.

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  3. Love the spiral runner. Nice job. The lavender is a lovely colour.

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  4. Such cute mugrugs! Love those teacup sets!

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  5. Love your project for the hop - your stitching is perfect!!!

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  6. Love the sweet projects! Nice job!

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  7. Fabulous mug rug - love the stitching!
    I have a Husqvarna Lily sewing machine!

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  8. So glad you changed your mind and joined us...your projects and cookies...a sweet treat this morning

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  9. I bet she LOVES her spiral table runner!
    I hand quilt all of my projects...I use an old Singer to piece my projects. sowingstitches[at]gmail[dot]com

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  10. Your mug rug is so cute with all the words. I love it. I use a Janome Horizon 7700 when quilting

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  11. I love your mug rug! I enjoy making them, they are quick and give me an added boost. Thanks for sharing with us. I have two Singers that I do my small quilting on.

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  12. Great job on the FMQ, my mom bought me my machine and it is a basic Singer.

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  13. I love your mug rugs! They are so sweet...
    The spiral runner is fabulous! Thank you for sharing :)

    cindy at quiltdoodledesigns dot com

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  14. Looks like you had a great time making these mug rugs - such a lot of work went into them. My sewing machine is a Viking 500. It's about 17 years old now, and a workhorse.

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  15. I love this crossword idea and am totally stealing it for my dad's 70th birthday quilt. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. I am a new follower....very nice work. I use a Baby Lock machine.

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  17. Nice mug rugs - thanks for sharing.

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  18. Love the mug rugs, they are one of my favourite projects to do. I am a new follower. Thanks for sharing and the Giveaway. I sew on a Janome DC3050. This is relatively new as DH knocked my old one off the desk and smashed it, which I had had for years! But it is great. Susie x

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  19. Wonderful mug rugs and beautiful work. Judy C

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  20. What a great idea for mug rugs! Individualized! I love it! Your FMQ is beautiful too!
    I would love to win the blue fabric. It looks so vintage.

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    1. Oh, and I swap between a Bernina and a Janome for my quilting.

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  21. I think your wordy creations and FMQ are beautiful (and I'm jealous because I can't FMQ yet.) Since I have never made a mug rug (egad!) I feel inspired to try one...maybe soon. :O) I sew on a Bernina.

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  22. I hand sew. Thanks for the giveaway. vickise at gmail dot com

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  23. Your stitching is lovely. I do all my sewing on my Brother:)
    Thank you for the chance.

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  24. Hi!!! Wonderful cute idea!!! I use a Brother!!! Thanks for the fun!!!

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  25. Good Morning,

    I love your projects. The bargello table runner pattern is on my very long "to do" list. Yours is beautiful. I also love your mug rug. Sew adorable!

    Thanks for visiting my blog, too and leaving lovely comments,

    have a happy quilty day ... :) Pat

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  26. Happy Quilting you did. Its cute and funny. I use an ole singer machine, but dont tell anyone. and its borrowed.

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  27. I began sewing last year and hav eonly done small quilts so far. I have a very basic machine which my mother in law bought me which seriously needs upgrading, it is a supermarket brand. The actual quilting part I have done by hand as I love hand sewing. I would love the blue set please, thank you for sharing.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  28. I have a Brother I bought a few years ago and I like it. Not enough room to quilt bigger quilts on it though. Your FMQ turned out much better than mine did! I'll take either color.

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  29. Wonderful runner and mug rugs. What a fun way to get up and share a cuppa in the morning. I have a Bernina 220 that I do my FMQ on the most. I seldom use my longarm, now that I have gotten more comfortable with free motion. The small size doesn't really interfear too much I am learning.

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  30. What a beautiful runner! I love the mug rug. Your FMQ is really nice. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. Love that spiral quilt and mug rug! I have Janome.

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  32. That runner is gorgeous. ANd the mug rugs came out great. I have a viking machine that I love.

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  33. I really like the spiral tablerunner. Wonderful. I sew with an Elna

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  34. I use the Janome3160QDC and my Baby Lock Ellure Plus

    your projects are beautiful

    DachsiesWithMoxieMama@gmail.com

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  35. your projects are beautiful indeed.

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  36. Sweet projects! Love the idea of your puzzle! Fantastic! I am a new follower and enjoyed your post today! I have several machines. two older than me. I mostly sew on my PFAFF. My WDH bought me a commercial Singer years ago. Featherweight for chain piecing and take w/me on trips w/WDH. Janome, two singer machines. On my wish list a Bernina. One day. Thanks for sharing...Judith, Texas

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  37. I love your mug rugs, the puzzles are prefect. You did a great job. I have 2 machines, but my favorite is my Pfaff. I just had it cleaned and serviced on Tuesday. I get it done every year and it works like new. My other is a Brother, don't compair to my Pfaff.

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  38. Loved the spiral runner, neat idea. I have a Husqvarna Viking Designer SE, if I can sell it, I'm hoping to get a Ruby Deluxe! Also have an HQ16 ProStitcher.

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  39. Wonderful personalized mug rugs...perfect for tea drinkers and puzzle lovers!

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  40. I got a Janine for Christmas and I follow

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  41. Love your mug rugs! I use a 20+ year old Pfaff. It does have several sets of letters, but I rarely use them. Thank you for sharing and the giveaway. jbechosend at sbcglobal dot net

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  42. I am following via email. I sew on my babylock Espire and embroider on my Babylock Ellisimo, I hem jeans on my old ancient Kenmore as I have messed up my Espire 2 times since I have owned it for about 6 or 7 years now by trying to hem or sew through too much heavy denim, Kenmore serger and a couple other old singers and a old sew more machine.... Now I love your mug rug. I have never made one ever but I have a pinterest board full of them to inspre me. Thank you for shareing your projec twith us today and thank you for the chance to enter your giveaway. Gorgeous fat quarters by the way.
    conn_and_vvans_mom(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  43. Nice mug rugs. They are fun to make and addicting too. Plus it's a great way to practice your quilting and other pieced or applique pieces too as it's essentially a mini quilt.

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  44. love the mug rug. I am a new follower. I use some old machine that i was given...can't think of the name right now.

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  45. Very creative mug rugs. I love that they describe you both so well. I haven't "quilted" anything, but I do a lot of sewing(clothes and craft) and use my Featherweight(It was Moms) and a Singer 403 slant-o-matic I got off freecycle.
    I really like the Cinderella header you have.

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  46. I use the Pfaff creative performance and a Brother Simplicity Love your mug tugs for two!

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  47. I love your mug rugs and may have to add them to my very long list of things do. I use a Husqvarna #1 and I use it for everything. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  48. That spiral table runner is awesome! You did a great job on the FMQ on your sweet mug rugs too :) I only have one machine that is used for all sewing,it is a Janome 8077.

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  49. I follow you by google reader adn I love my Bernina 440 machine. That's my go to machine for FMQ too. I like tha lavendar colorway if my number is selected, thanks for the chance and sharing your unique project. Jane

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  50. I love your table runner and the mug rugs, such a fun idea and your FMQ is lovely. I've been practising my FMQ today. I use and Elna 6600 which I use for all my sewing.

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  51. Love your table runner! I've been wanting to make this, it's still on my list. How clever your mug rugs are! They are the perfect size to try different things on. Wonderful to make one for your hubby, you're right, who wants to snack alone, hehe. Your FMQ turned out super! Great job and thanks for sharing all your projects with us. Oh, my machine is a Vicking, the Lily. Love it!

    Thank you for a great giveaway and a chance to win. I'd love the lavender fabric if I'm the lucky one.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  52. Very nice mug rug. :) I use 2 Singers, one is a 2210 from about 20 years ago (I bought it new then) and the other is a 401, made in the 50's or 60's. I love it! Her name is Stella.

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  53. Love your projects. I have no idea how to FMQ, but yours is wonderful

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  54. Your projects are lovely, such a nice matching pair. I use a Husq. Topaz model 20 though none of the newer machines have as pretty a straight stitch as the old Singer that I used as a kid.
    If I'm lucky enough in the drawing, then blue is my color.

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  55. I love your mug rugs! How nice of you to include hubby! I use a Husqavarna Designer II to piece my quilts. A friend and I co-own a long arm. I've only actually quilted two quilts on it. It lives 60 miles away in her appliance store. So, it's a journey to go use it. I have two quilts that need to be quilted. I just finished hand quilting a baby quilt and have the mate to it to quilt for a great niece and great nephew - my brother's twin grandchildren born in September. Lots of issues around the longarm, now! Have no idea what is going to happen about it.

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  56. Fun project. I've not made a mug rug yet but have see so many cute ones on the internet. Thanks for sharing and being in the hop.

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  57. How cool -- nice work! I use a simple old brother, and I've only quilted one small throw, and it didn't go very well. I think my next pieces will be sent out instead.

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  58. I'm a new follower and I love the lavendar fabric!
    Your mug rugs are so cute! I use a Jonome to sew with but haven't used it to quilt yet. That is on my list to learn to free motion!
    hulseybg at gmail dot com

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  59. I really like your idea for the mug rugs with the words - perfect for a gift! Thanks for sharing. My sewing machine is a Pfaff Quilt Expression 3.0 - it is fairly new and I love it! I am a new follower too. Love your fabric giveaway and blue would be my choice!

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  60. I love mug rugs and these are so cute!

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  61. I loved all the mug rugs, I use a Pfaff CV Thanks for being part of the hop. I am a new follower.

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  62. What a great idea...and I love that you made one for your husband too. :) blessings, marlene

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  63. Love your mug rugs , thanks for sharing and I am a new follower .

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  64. Your spiral table runner is beautiful. Also love your mug rug.

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  65. Both of your projects are beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing them with us. You are doing a great job on the FMQ!!!

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  66. I don't machine quilt much. My sewing machine was my mothers from ~1950's.

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  67. Oh such a FuN post with all your "words". Wonderful little mug rugs too! Well done... :)

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  68. What a nice mug rug! Thanks for sharing! I have two machines that I use depending on how I feel...one is a singer and the other is a brother, but I'd love a bernina or janome!

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  69. I love you spiral runner! The mug rug is also too cute! I wonder what happened to that cookie? ;)

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  70. Rosemary B here: this is really really beautiful. I love the swirly runner and the mugrug very very much! thank you for sharing your creativity!!
    I am following because your blog is great!

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  71. Lucky, Susan, the table topper is wonderful. I think I recognize that free-motion pattern as one from the FMQ Challenge; great work! I'm kinda of a Viking Gal so I use my Viking machine - I also have an older model - much, much older - that comes in handy in a pinch.

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  72. I love your word search mug rug. I can identify with those words. Your stitching is lovely,and your FMQ is just fine.

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  73. love your little cross word puzzle mug mat and your runner is great I have not tried that ruler yet. Looks like fun though.
    in stitches

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  74. I love your mug rug - I'm a scrabble addict...love the crossword on it - I just wish I could embroider as well as that! lol.

    I'm quilting on a Singer 9960; just got it in July last year. Before that I was quilting on "The Tank"...a 1975 Brother Pacesetter (which, I can't bring myself to get rid of, but at the same time, can't bring myself to go back to, lol)

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  75. I love your mug rug...how clever!

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  76. Your quilting looks great. I have a Janome 6600 and have started playing with free motion quilting. The only real project I've completed was a panel quilt I made for my grandson. He doesn't mind some of the oops. It was great practice and more challenging than a practice fabric sandwich.

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  77. Thank you for sharing with us.

    I sew with my ever-trusty Singer 403a from the 50's but quilt with my Bernina Artista. Can't seem to make a project without both of them. :)

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  78. I have became a follower, the gift for the daughter in law is beautiful and when I clean out some of my UFO i would love to attempt one. When piecing I love to use one of my vintage machines, a featherweight or 301. Free Motion Quilting I love my Viking 855.

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  79. Beautiful spiral runner and congrats on doing your first great free motion project! You'll love FMQ, I do all mine on a vintage Singer.

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  80. Love the idea of "matching" mug rugs. Thanks for sharing.

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  81. Cute idea! I love crossword puzzles.

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  82. Cute projects! I have a basic Singer that does 30 different stitches. That's it. Thanks for the chance to win ;)

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  83. Adorable!! my MIL loves crossword puzzles! I hope you'll check out my daily blog.. my day is the last day

    Pat Sloan
    Radio show Host... The Voice of Quilting
    http://blog.patsloan.com

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  84. I love the crossword puzzle look. What a great idea!

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  85. that spiral topper is amazing! I love your mug rugs too, well done for pushing yourself out of your comfort zone!

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  86. I love your spiral table topper! I have this pattern on my to-do list. I like the word search design of your mug rugs. Thanks for a chance in your giveaway. I have a Brother machine.

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  87. I have an older Bernina that is very reliable. Your spiral table runner is outstanding!
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  88. Love the runner you made for your daughter. Beautiful shape. Would love to do that one sometime. I also like your mug rugs. Nice embroidery on them with beautiful words! I use Janomes to sew on, have an older one, a newer one that does embroidery and a serger, all from Janome. Thanks for sharing your words.

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