September 2016 Mug Rug Swap --HOBBIES!
 

SEPTEMBER 2016 MUG RUG SWAP — HOBBIES




Welcome to the September 2016 Mug Rug Swap. This month’s theme is: HOBBIES!


Sounds like fun, huh? Well, September 10 is National Sewing Day. But let’s broaden our goal here to include any & all hobbies. Just pick one of your favorites — & run with it! (But not with scissors in your hand, please!) We may be quilters, but most quilters have at least one other favorite hobby — or three!


What is a mug rug? A mug rug is an item you use to place a cup of coffee, tea or soda on, along with a small snack plate/napkin beside it. It’s approximately 9”x8” or larger so both items will fit. Please do not make it smaller than 9”x 8” (unless your partner tells you specifically that she wants a smaller size), as that is quite small for both items as it is!




1. You will be assigned a partner. This is not a secret pal swap. Each partner will contact the other partner for addresses. You are encouraged to talk to each other and find out little things about them so you can make a special gift just for them. Then think about this month’s theme — HOBBIES. How can you turn that theme into a special mug rug? Will you appliqué or paper-piece or just go with regular piecing? Will you make your mug rug rectangular, circular, square, hexagonal? How you choose to make your mug rug is up to you, but make it with love & pride!




2. The mug rug must be made with 100% quilter’s cotton, with a nice cotton batting in between to protect furniture from possible damage due to heat/cold. Use a binding method you are comfortable with, or practice & learn a new binding technique! Also, the mug rug must be quilted. Remember, this is a gift you are making for someone. Be proud of your work & do your best. And be kind about what you receive. If you have any issues, please work it out with your partner first, before contacting me; communication is key. This board is for all of us to make friends & have fun.




3. You must send your name, address, e-mail address and phone number to me, ctyankee, by August 30th. Deadline to send out swaps is September 20th & don’t forget to send me notice, with tracking number, that you have sent to your partner. Any delays in mailing must be shared with me prior to the deadline of September 20th. I want everyone to receive a partner’s trade. We should not have to request angels. Again, communication is important. You can be forgiven if something comes up & you notify your partner & me prior to the deadline. But if you don’t communicate & don’t send out a mug rug to your partner, you will be locked out of swapping with this group and negative feedback will insure other swap groups know you didn't send. Also, if your partner has not sent to you by the deadline & you have not heard from her, please let me know. I’m pretty easy-going about things, but there is rarely a good reason for non-communication. If your partner has not communicated with you at all, let me know ‘way before the deadline so we can possibly avoid a problem later.




4. Also, please let me know if you can mail internationally!




5. You are free to include little gifties with your mug rug, handmade or store-bought; it’s up to you. But you are only obligated to send a mug rug. Nothing else is required in this swap.




6. Any questions? Contact me immediately and I will help get you started.




7. Please take a photo before you ship your package to your partner, just in case she cannot post a photo. We all love to see photos! But don’t post it until you know your partner has received your package & that she is unable to post a photo herself.




8. And most of all — just have fun!








SIGN UP TODAY! Send me a PM with your name, address, e-mail address & phone number for emergency use only. If you have a preference of what you receive, just communicate that with your partner. Names will be given out on September 1st, the latest. You are required by the board to send things you sign up for, or risk not having the ability to swap again in other swaps. Again, per board rules, anything about your partner or the item they send to you that does not please you is not to be posted on the board but sent in a PM to me, ctyankee, or to your partner to sort out. It’s polite and it’s the right thing to do.

Will have to check on dates for this one but hopefully they will work out. Will let you know ctyankee, I missed being able to exchange last month!!

Okay, Jan. We missed you, & hope you can join us this month!

WOHOO .... I am in for this one.... My favorite is to hand embroider!!!!

I can do this one. I know my schedule is very tight, but I have a few things in my stash that will definitely make this one fun.

put me down for this month. thanks for hosting.

Just to let everyone know ... my American Eskimo dog, Jack, at age 15-1/2 years, passed away tonight. Someone told me he is crossing the rainbow bridge, which I thought was very sweet. The house feels so empty without him.

RIP Jack. You are one wonderful boy who brought a lot of joy to others. You are missed.

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aww, so sorry for your loss.

ctyankee, I am so sorry. I've been through that and it is so hard ...guess that's why I have been done, it just broke my heart. In time, it's funny sort of, how you remember different times that you spent with that little doggie pal. Nice memories though and you will have them.

ctyankee so sorry I know how you feel. Our fur babies are everything to us. He was a beautiful little guy,very sweet picture of him.

I am so sorry for your loss. It's so hard when we lose a four legged family member. Jack was obviously very happy and very loved.

Pamela, ((((((HUGS))))). Like everyone before me has said, it's so hard to lose a fur baby. I received a poem when my last fur baby died, it was about crossing that rainbow bridge. It brings tears to your eye's even when you haven't lost a pet, it's written very well.

Jan

The link to the poem is http://rainbowswbridge.com/Poem.htm


Ok, when I clicked on the link I provided it didn't work and got the white screen...grrr. But I think you get the idea, just google it and it will come up.

Pamela, so sorry about Jack. I know what you are going through since I lost 2 fur babies in the last year. I still tear up when I think of them. Hugs to you. :hug:

Thank you everyone for the hugs & well wishes. Jack certainly gave so much joy to us. We still look around & expect him to be there. Even Arthur, our 16-1/2yo cat, does that, I've noticed! He looks at the space where Jack's food dish was, then he has a decidedly puzzled look on his beautiful face. And he sleeps in Jack's bed! We've been through this before, but it doesn't make it any easier. Hubby tells me, never again. But he said that last time, too. Someone sent me the poem about the rainbow bridge -- which was new to me -- & it's very beautiful. And I believe in it.

Just dropped in to say hi.
Happy sewing

I'm in, just sent my info. Now to put some hobbies into fabric.

Pamela so sorry about Jack. Sending big hugs

Thank you, Terri. Just taking it one day at a time.

We've got 9 sign-ups for September. Where is everybody???

Not sure where everyone is at. Nice thing is that my main piece for the mug rug is done. Now, I think I just may enter it in the fair and will be late for my partner since it is turning out so nice. Hope that is ok, then will may September 19th. If not, could possibly make another since it was so fun on the first. HA HA HA

I can do 2, Pam. I'm back home in the almost empty nest. It is nice to have peace and quiet but sad that 2 of my 3 are so far away. Ok, Pam, not as far as Iceland! Quilt on.

Thanks, Lynnie. Arthur does seem a little lost without his buddy. I know there are a lot of pet owners on QB who have gone through this very same thing. We still look for our little guy ...

Quilter Momma -- if your partner doesn't mind about the wait, I'm okay with that. But you have to check with her first.

I think lots of people don't realize it's already the end of August. Took me by surprise, too. As a result, though, we do not have a long list of sign-ups. I don't believe I've ever seen a shorter list for the mug rug swap!

Here it is:

1. Robinlee
2. Jan Rutherford
3. vovoa
4. CookieZenmilk
5. Quilter Momma
6. nhnative
7. jazs2
8. lovethemgrays
9. jaba
10. dotcomdtcm
11. dotcomdtcm
12. ctyankee

Well, at least we're an even dozen! Dotty, if you don't feel like doing 2 because it's such a small group, let me know.

And if anyone else wants to sign up, please do so quickly! I will be posting partners tomorrow, but I will wait until I get home from work. I thought everyone would find this one a no-brainer & sign up, but apparently not. (sigh) It's okay if it's just the 11 of us, though -- we will still have fun! Right?

Oh, where are my manners! We have a newbie in our midst -- lovethemgrays. Welcome to the Mug Rug Swap! I know you will love it here because making mug rugs is soooo addictive!

Am I too late to sign up? I would like to be in this swap seeing I had to miss last month.

Can anyone mail international this month?

We have a little problem here. Nobody has volunteered to send international this month. We already have 12 people signed up; I can drop out to keep the numbers even; not a problem. But that still leaves the question -- who can send international??????

Help!!!

i will send international this month!

Yay! You have saved my life! And I know BettyJ will appreciate that, too!

Let me get that partner list ready. Whew! That was too close for comfort! Thank you, CookieZenmilk!

So here's the updated list of participants:

1. Robinlee
2. Jan Rutherford
3. vovoa
4. CookieZenmilk
5. Quilter Momma
6. nhnative
7. jazs2
8. lovethemgrays
9. jaba
10. dotcomdtcm
11. dotcomdtcm
12. Betty J

Now to partner everybody up. Be back soon!

Okay, I'm back & here's the partner list:

CookieZenmilk -- Betty J
Robinlee -- jazs2
Quilter Momma -- dotcomdtcm
Jan Rutherford -- dotcomdtcm
lovethemgrays -- nhnative
jaba -- vovoa

Let the sewing begin! Have fun! :)

Thank you so much for pairing me up with an international swapper.

Does the mat have to reflect one of our own hobbies?

Wasn't able to join for this month but will be watching eagerly to see what everyone is making

Betty J -- yes, one (or more) of your hobbies.

LindaC -- catch you next month! :)

Just sent a PM to vovoa for her address. Excited to see what her hobby is :)

[QUOTE=ctyankee;7642964]Betty J -- yes, one (or more) of your hobbies.

Do we have to request what our swap partners hobby is or do we just go ahead and make the mat as per one of our hobbies? Sorry if I seem a little confused. I am happy to do whatever.

My "hobby" is ready to mail, just need an address from vovoa.

Just go with your hobby, Betty. I'm pretty sure we all have many of the same hobbies -- but, then, you never know!

[QUOTE=ctyankee;7644443]Just go with your hobby, Betty. I'm pretty sure we all have many of the same hobbies

Thank you for your reply, I will go with one of my hobbies that I have had for a long time, like almost 40 years! I just have to source an appropriate design or fabric......not an easy one!

Sounds intriguing, Betty! Look forward to seeing your newest creation!