Ready for the Post

Despite some setbacks...

My mug rug is ready to be put in the post come Monday.  For my first undertaking of applique I think it turned out pretty well. Fingers are crossed that my partner will like it as much as you all have said you would (thanks so much!).

I'm trying to get projects finished.  My problem is I've got homework that I should be doing, so I sit thinking that I want be working on a sewing project when I'm trying to do homework and when I try to work on a sewing project I sit feeling guilty and think that I should be working on my homework, so neither get done.  Schoolwork makes me grumpy, it keeps me away from my projects way too much.  Gah, someone remind me how worth it it's going to be once I get my degree. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my irregular postings.  It's so nice to know somebody is out there. 

-Anita

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?