Mug Rug Exchange - Do it yourself style!

[Maureen A.]

Loved everyone’s mug rugs, they were all beautiful. What lovely thoughtful gifts. The thought of everyone who received one from Wendy with all the feathers falling out around them made me laugh. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Susan B.]

I'm loving seeing everyone's mug rugs, even though I'm trying, really trying, to stay off the Forum and get some work done. The rugs are all beautiful. I promise the Lizards on my List that I will not forget them. I'm trying to get an entry for this year's Quilt Alliance contest completed. I've never designed anything before, let alone entered a competition. I'm in awe of David Taylor as I try to bury every "fekking" thread start and stop. The spiral needles are saving me, but my project has LoTs of starts and stops. The deadline was extended a month, thank goodness, and between this, and the BOM, I'll need that extra month.

The feathers are sooooooooo funny.

[Hannelore N.]

Susan, it's a shame you are not this side of the 'Big Pond'. I actually hand stitch down bindings on my friends' quilts and also have been known to take a large quilt and sew in all the threads. I find it very relaxing after a busy day in school.

I'm sure you'll manage to finish your projects on time. And what is it about David Taylor?? He is human - just like you and me, even if it sometimes feels as is he is on a different planet.

The Quilt Alliance contest is a real favourite of mine. Some years ago a friend in the US entered that contest, and at the time only people who lived in the US or Canada could bid for the quilts. I very, very badly wanted my friend's quilt, so I got another friend in the US to bid for it (non-quilter who couldn't understand why I wanted this so much). . She got the quilt. I paid her, and she sent it to me. If I would have to move to a desert island and could only take one textile piece with me, that's the one I'd take. Since I have had this quilt ('Casa del Sol' by Maude Haeger) I have been through a lot in my private life, but no matter what happens in my life, one look at this quilt and my spirite lift. No need for tablets or a shrink, just Maude's quilt.

I've been rambling a bit, and it got personal. I guess what I'm trying to say is: Support the fund-raising efforts of the Quilt Alliance. You may end up with something that money just can't buy.

[Susan B.]

Lorchen, thanks for the encouragement. What a great quilt! Thanks for reminding me of the true purpose of this project.

[Jane R.]

Oh, Lorchen, I can see exactly why you had to have that little quilt--it's wonderful, and is certainly something that would cheer you during down times.

[Jane R.]

Lorchen--that is a great quilt--very happy!

[Lotti D.]

Such a happy bright quilt... Reminds us that the sun will shine again, no matter what!

[wendy w.]

Lorchen it's because she used you as a model! See that lovely smile, you're looking in a mirror

[Maureen A.]

Lorchen, the quilt is wonderful and so full of happiness. No wonder it make you feel great. I can see why you would bid for it. It is full of sunshine and laughter, something we in the UK have not seen for a while.

[Hannelore N.]

Well, Maureen, I was very lucky. Brilliant weather during my 'wee' trip to Oban. Experienced Mull and Iona in the sunshine, and went to town every day on the excellent seafood. As my train was leaving at the end of my little holiday, it started to rain.

[Hannelore N.]

That surely is a very cheering quilt to look at.

[Maureen A.]

Lorcan, nobody believes me when I say where I live in the West Coast of Scotland we get hardly any snow, and have better weather than most of the East Coast. We also had more sunshine through the winter than the South of England. Mind you in the summer it is much warmer down South We live in the Gulf Stream here and Helensburgh gets more of less the same as Oban except for the snow

I am glad you had a good time on holiday. Did you wave to me as the train went by Helensburgh :?: :?: I waved to you :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Rita C.]

Lorchen your quilt made me smile the minute I saw it so I can see why you bought it. How nice for you to have a lovely holiday in Scotland - it really is spectacularly beautiful isn't it? Susan I hope all those feckin' threads are buried by now! :lol:

[Hannelore N.]

Well, Maureen, I got some really funny looks ("What a weird woman!") when the train stopped at Helensburgh and I waved enthusiastically. I wasn't quite sure which direction to wave, so I did it on the way back again, but in the other direction.

The view of the mountains around Loch Lomond from the train was spectacular, especially because of the contrast between the snowy tops and the bottom that's starting to get green. I love Scotland at this time of the year, and was delighted to see that the yellow gorse was in full bloom in some places. Such an amazing colour seen against greens, greys and browns.

I even spotted some daffodils, struggling against a very fierce and cold wind.

[Deborah W.]

Glad you had a good holiday Lorchen. What an amazing happy quilt.