The Pick A Pumpkin blog hop is here!
Carla from Creatin’ in the Sticks has organised you yet another fantastic blog hop. This time around the theme is pumpkins…. big pumpkins, small pumpkins, friendly pumpkins, mean ones….. Ok, so she didn’t really give explicit permission to quilt nasty pumpkins, but she did say any quilt, any size – so long as it has a pumpkin on it somewhere.
I really like pumpkins for decorative purposes – so many colours, shapes and textures! Like many Northern Hemisphere seasonal traditions, this is not really a thing we do well in Australia. But I did develop a greater appreciation of the scope of pumpkins available when we lived in Europe a few autumns past. How to bring some of that art home without breaking any quarantine laws? Quilts, of course!
But……
When I first heard about the Pick A Pumpkin blog hop, I hummed and hawed a while – I wanted to do it, but I eventually committed to skipping this hop due to time pressures. Yup, that is the corny version of me up there, getting a little too worked up about too many deadlines…… and tossing out the pumpkins!
A Really Great Reason
But then Joan of Moosestash Quilting said she was going to make my Have a Great Fall wall hanging quilt for this hop….. Well, that changed things! Was I ever going to get a better reason to make those matching mug rugs I’d been planning? I think not. I was in the hop after all!
This was the project I made for Joan’s Fabulous Freebies blog hop. You can still get the free pattern here.
Reuse, reduce, recycle
I reused the templates of the Have A Really Great Fall pattern to cut eight pumpkins and 20 autumn leaves. To get a better fit on the mug rugs, I did slightly reduce the size of a couple of the largest pumpkins. I used the same fabrics as before to match my wall hanging (Island Batik leftovers from fabrics given to me to make Ambassador projects), but I didn’t cut faces into my pumpkins this time. You could do all this too with the original pattern without too much bother.
I chose two pumpkins per mug rug, and a variety of leaves in a range of colours and sizes. I arranged them on 7″ squares of purple branch fabric and appliquéd them down over scrap cotton batting.
Setting these out for the photo, I thought “Wouldn’t it be fun one day to repeat this exercise with four similar panels and some sashing to make a pillow cover……”
However, resisting the urge to chase squirrels (restraint brought on by lack of time, not self-control, I might add), I trimmed these appliqués.
Added backing using a simple facing method. Wouldn’t it be fun to embroider this design onto the front of a project? Hmmmm. Anyway, I digress.
And turned the projects out the right way, pressed out the corners and hand stitched the openings closed. I didn’t even add any further quilting.
Pumpkin Mug Rugs, all finished
If you head over to Moosestash Quilting, you can also see Joan’s version of my Have A Great Fall wall hanging. She showed it yesterday. Always an absolute honour to have someone take the time to make one of my projects and show it online. Also, it’s no secret I am a long-time fan of Joan’s often hilarious and always clever blog.
This second shot of corn gone bad is for you Joan, and for all the people who share our (slightly off-kilter) sense of humour. Simply because I think you might like it! 🙂
Now, let’s look at what everyone else has been working on recently!
Well, I reckon that the weather must be cooling off in a few places and causing more quilting, because there was a great lineup this week. And lots of colourful palettes for the Chameleon to cop an eye-full of. He was especially super happy to find a few link ups showing the inspiration or fabric pulls for quilts. Brenda of Songbird Designs linked up her maple leaf quilt post. Beautiful and timely. Not only did she show the fabrics she started with but she also thoughtfully arranged them in a nice arc so that they were just the right shape for the Chameleon to wear. The Chameleon is especially happy with his new autumn colour scheme today! Check out Brenda’s post for a thorough tutorial on how to make the maple leaf quilt block and set it into a table runner.
The Chameleon had to feature Nancy of Grace and Peace Quilting again this week because she shared a priceless snippet in the comments on her latest post. She let slip that one of her daughters helped pick out the fabrics for her latest set of charity quilts. And that said daughter has a master plan: Her basic recipe is: focus fabric + solid + light print + dark print, with some wiggle room. I love it! We can all do this – simple, works like a charm.
And finally, don’t miss Cherie’s progress on her version of Denise’s Nostalgia Twist quilt. Nearly finished! I’ve loved following this project.
There were plenty of other worthy projects to explore last week that didn’t make this list, so if you’re looking for more inspiration, check out the linky submissions at the end of last week’s post.
My sincerest thanks to everyone who linked up last week. If you were featured you can find a badge of honour here.
Link up to the Chameleon’s Linky Party this week and show us your projects
What are you working on, or have recently finished in your sewing room? Link up a blog post, a Flicker pic, an IG post or simply a photo from your computer. See if you can get the Chameleon to turn quilted with happiness. We’d love to see your quilting colours.
Guidelines (more detail here):
- Link up your latest or recent quilt excitement. All construction stages welcome – even fabric pulls! Or inspiration sources!
- You have 100 characters in the link description…. tell us who you are and what your fantastic project is.
- URLs are not necessary to link up…. non-bloggers 100% welcome! If you don’t have a URL, simply link up with just a photo.
- Do it now……. before you forget!
[inlinkz_linkup id=805126 mode=1]
P.S Here’s the rest of the pumpkins scheduled this week. Have Fun!
I like your matching pieces! That looks so cute, and that carrot batik? I want that! LOL I will link my posts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
It does seem odd mentioning autumn when we are starting to melt here, but I think I could use your mug rugs at any time – they are extra lovely. And Joan’s make of your pattern is gorgeous 🙂
Great job with the mug rugs!
Fun pictures of the angry corn cob, LOL!! Great projects. Thank you for hosting this linky!
The mug rugs with leaf appliques are singing. I wonder if you used a scan and cut. They look so perfect. I was thinking what a great tote front this arrangement would make. Might need to enlarge the pieces some. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could match up time and energy with ideas we get.
Thank you for that sweet pumpkin Fall hanging pattern. I have saved the pattern. What a super idea to make mug rugs to match. So cute. I see that you have some of my same problems…I want to sew so many things…the ideas are there…they are great ideas, too…but, I need to FINISH stuff first!! You do a much better job of that than I.
You have had too much fun with autumn pumpkins! Very creative and a great way to decorate for the season!
These are very cute mug rugs! And thanks for the photos of throwing or carefully dropping pumpkins out of windows.
I really love mug rugs … instant gratification (or at least faster gratification) projects! I tend to quilt small, anyway, so mug rugs are a fave and your pumpkins are *precious*! Fun post — enjoyed the pumpkin displays!!! 🙂
Fun picture featuring pumpkins and love your purple background for the pumpkin mug rugs.
The purple background on the mug rugs makes these even cuter…love them! The corncob art is so cool and totally would fit in at my house. Thanks for sharing!
Loved seeing what Joan did with your pattern and this spin off is wonderful. I think its great when a pattern can be used on a smaller scale as time permits.
Oh no…I stole you pumpkin post??? Bad me!!! It was just so darn cute. I love the little mug rugs to match too. Guess I’ll be working on them soon too! LOL!! I do love that corn gone mad photo. Mostly cause I really don’t like corn! hahahahaha That photo is proof that corn is bad and I’m making sure my family sees it! (tee hee hee) Thanks for sharing your fabulous pattern with us.
I love your pumpkin mug rugs!! Thanks for sharing your pattern – and yes – they would look great embroidered!! The corn gone made pics are awesome!! LOL And, thanks for the feature of my maple leaf table runner!
I love the mug rugs but that cob of corn cracks me up.
Love those mug rugs based on your wall-hanging pumpkins. I enjoyed the photos of all those other pumpkins and items too. Thanks for sharing!
Such pretty pumpkins, especially on the purple background! And yes, they would make a lovely embroidery design.
I love seeing the pumpkin pictures! How creative!
Your mug rugs are so cute! I need to do some too.
Wonderful pumpkin mug rugs! Thanks again for the fabulous free fall pattern. Linking up today. I love visiting all the pumpkin patches … 🙂 Pat
I was charmed by your wall hanging when Joan of Moosestash showed it yesterday and now love the mug rugs too! How cute your Chameleon can go with the fabric flow of the day. The perfect quilt studio mascot!
Hi Dione! I am just giggling over those two pictures. Yes, I think I am matching that first picture throwing the pumpkins and the stress level. Although I’m keeping my sense of humor about it though even though I would love to throw a pumpkin like that. Or drop it from a cable with someone specific standing below it. Moving on – I love that you stayed in the hop!! Love your coasters, and you always inspire me (us) to make something new outside our usual box. Happy Tuesday! ~smile~ Roseanne
Great mug rugs! This looks like a really fun project to make. Perfect colors for Fall.
What fabric did you use for the background on the mug rugs? I really like that. Thank you for the linky party and the link to my site.
Very colorful mug rugs, nice! Thanks for deciding to share!
Cute mug rugs. I really shouldn’t scan comments. Carrots? What carrots? I had to go back and look. Love the angry corn they are a wee bit intimidating.
I love how bright and colorful your pumpkin mug rugs are. They sure will brighten things up now that the cooler and often gloomier days of fall have arrived.
Just love all the bright, eye catching Halloween projects. Thanks for sharing with us.
Love those mug rugs. The corn tossing the pumpkin is priceless.
Your mug rugs are wonderful. Those colors are fabulous.
Adorable mug rugs!! They will be great all autumn long and yours, ready in the spring, are all ready for use next year!! Such a smart girl!!
I really loved your original pattern when you posted it, but ooh those matching mug rugs! Love them!
Thank you, Dione, for the super fun post and those fun corny and pumpkin pictures. Your matching mug rugs are the perfect complement to your fun fall wall hanging. I was thrilled to see Joan’s version of your pattern too. Thank you for joining the Pick a Pumpkin Blog Hop!
I really like your mug rugs! The colors are great!
That corn picture is hysterical. What fun that you morphed the wall hanging into mug rugs. They look fab in front of the tree! I always called your technique “pillowcasing”. Now I am wondering if I have been wrong all these years!
I love your wall hanging and mug rugs. I also enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing.
Very very nice hun so loved all your pictures. ..tytyty for sharing your talents.
Sooo loving those corncobs! Do like the wallhanging and mug rugs. I really should get your pattern and do something for next fall. Too much on my plate to do now. Thanks so much for sharing. Here in my part of the country we skipped fall and went straight to winter. Snowed yesterday and now again today. Sigh.
I just had to link up today as we both showed impressive pumpkin displays from Europe. What city or where did you see yours? Your mug rugs turned out very cute.
Hi Dione, those are really lovely projects.