Mug Rug - Opinions Needed

I joined my first ever sewing swap.  Mug Rug Swap II.  My partner is much more inclined to the modern side of quilting than I so I was rather at a loss as to how to proceed with her mug rug, but as I was going through her Flickr account I came across this.  She likes teal and burnt orange, I hope she actually likes the picture and not just the colors.  I feel pretty confident that she doesn't read my blog so I'm soliciting some help here.

Kingfisher # 21 on Explore

I need honest opinions (cutting me a teensy bit of slack based on the fact that I've never done any kind of applique before)  but I just couldn't think of anything else that would make my partner happy and I would enjoy making.  Of course, after actually doing this, I use the term enjoy rather loosely. Applique is a LOT of work.  If I'd half an ounce of sense I would have started with something a lot easier.

 I used primarily batiks for the kingfisher himself, as well as the outside border, and the background is from my favorite fabric line called Rock Candy that has a lovely, subtle of shimmer to it. 

 I used white thread in my bobbin and an invisible thread in the needle.  I tried to get my tensions right but it kept reverting so I kept getting the white pulling up.  *grumble*  I didn't have it in me to re-cut/fuze/align every thing though.

Is a squarish mug rug ok?  At the moment it's 9.5" tall by 10.5" wide.  I'm afraid that if I add a panel to make it a rectangle it's going to turn into a place mat rather than a mug rug. 

So tell me what you think.  If you got said mug rug in the mail would you be pleased or disappointed?