Christmas in July Blog Hop

Sew excited to be a part of the
CHRISTMAS IN JULY BLOG HOP

hosted by the always fabulous
Carol of Just Let Me Quilt

My most favorite things to make lately have been Tray Mats!

I am simply obsessed!

We've never been ones to worry about placemats - 
I guess because we don't have an actual dining table to eat our meals at.
(I kid you not! 
Got rid of it years ago when all it did was gather 'stuff' 
and there was never any room to eat on it anyways - LOL)

Since it's just the hubbs and me, we relax at dinner time and watch tv as we eat.
I know, I know....
-we should be talking to each other...
-we should be paying attention to our food...

But remember now, we work together 24/7 - we ride to and from work together
Believe me...
We talk plenty!

And about the food?
Oh My! 
No worries there!
I enjoy and savor Each and Every Bite!

Ok, back to our mats!

I love making mats for our wooden trays - they keep our dishes from flying around....
But mainly....
I LOVE SEEING FUN FABRICS UNDER OUR PLATES!


Our trays allow for a 10-3/4" x 18-1/2" finished mat.
You can make yours any size - adjust what needs adjusting and just have fun!

Here's a quick peek at how I make ours!

1) Focus Fabric (cats) - cut one strip 6-1/2" x width of fabric
2) Accent strip (green) - cut 2 strips 1" x width of fabric
3)Outer Border (red) - cut 2 strips 2" x width of fabric

The Accent and Wider Border strips are sewn ONLY to the top and Bottom!

You can sew these in place working with the Whole Width of Fabric
-or-
Cut the fabrics for the width you will need
(as in my case: 18-1/2")

Press seams - layer with your choice of batting and backing.
Quilt as desired and bind using your favorite method.

I quilt simple vertical lines most of the time.
I LOVE to use Painters Tape as my guide - No Marking! MeOwZa!!!!

Place tape on center of mat

Stitch on each side to start.
It's better to stitch a bit away from the tape to keep from stitching THRU the tape
(ask me how I know! Ha)

Move the tape (remember that little space) and continue quilting.

Once you have quilted across your mat using the tape - you can go back and  "eyeball" another quilting line down the center between previous quilted lines.

All quilted and ready for binding.
I cut 3 strips at 2-1/4" using the accent fabric.

These mats were trimmed and binding was attached on the backside,
then flipped to the front for quick machine finishing.

Ta-Da!!!!

Backing

Dinner is Served
Christmas In July!
(and BTW it was deeee-licious even if the stuffed zuchinni was just a tad overdone!)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!
Be sure to check out the rest of the
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
festivities happening today
(see the list below)

Remember...the hop is happening now thru July 27th!
Visit Mrs. Claus (aka Carol)
at
Just Let Me Quilt
for the daily schedule!

The Thimble Mouse and Spouse

(apologies to my sista bloggers today - 
I just can't seem to get all the fonts the same size! 
But you're there!!! Ho Ho Ho!)

Today-Tuesday-July 24

Wont-To-Be-Quilter

Words & Stitches

Home Sewn By Us

Desert Sky Quilting

Thimblemouse and Spouse (you're here)

Seams To Be Sew'on Quilting

30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days Blog Hop : Opposites Attract

I'm so happy to be here joining in the fun

with our hostess

Carla from "Creatin' in the Sticks"

along with a super line up of absolutely awesome quilters for the

"30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days Blog Hop"

It's my day today, and my block is "Opposites Attract"

You can find the full tutorial to make the block by clicking here! 

I decided to play with some batiks to make a tray mat.

I'm really into tray mats lately!

Below you'll see the progression of the blocks - I made two!

Here are the two blocks sewn together, and finished for the tray.

(okay, yes it's the same fabric! I really need to work on my picture skills!)

I added a simple border to the top and bottom of the mat so it would fit the tray

without sliding about....nothing worse than a slippery mat, wouldn't you say?

You can see in the close up above,

that I added a little flange of the orange fabric before adding the binding. 

I also decided I wasn't in the mood for a flippy flange....so I sewed it down!

This picture above taken outside probably shows the truest colors

(and for the record, that is not poison ivy, or poison anything....at least I don't think so)

 -scritch scritch-

When Carla first asked me to join in - I purposely chose this block so that I would be

"inclined" to make a quilt that would become a present for my super fabulous nephew and his wife.

I asked him for his favorite colors...

and it did my little mouse heart so fine when he chose Red & Black

which also happen to be favorites of mine! Must be in the 'genes' ((Smile))

Hubbahubbs suggested I use our recently arrived Fossil Ferns - he's so brilliant!

And now for a little mouse magic - 

because you know I kinda tend to do the "Opposite" of what's expected 

(see what I did there? lol)

If you simply switch the placement of the two halves
when you sew them together,

you'll easily get the block below.

I made 30 blocks this way for a 5 x 6 layout.

Simple Borders (also cut 3") follow along with the theme of the block.

[[ Please excuse the less than wonderful picture that follows...

mother nature was not cooperating and I was 

taking pictures between the raindrops !]]

I'll be back when the quilt is finished for a pretty picture then! *wink*

I was 'on the fence' about using only two fabrics...

(I'm happiest using at least one hundred and two)

but I'm thrilled with the way it turned out!

Meanwhile....it's spring and the Jasmine is in bloom,

which has absolutely nothing to do with the theme....

but sure made a pretty picture!

Thanks for visiting....I hope you're enjoying the hop!

If you Instagram...you can find me by clicking HERE

Lynn

The Thimblemouse

Here's the full schedule in case you're just joining in - 

or even if you've been here all along....

it's always good to know who's who, when and where to find them!

Date

Project Designer

Block

April 1st	Creatin’ in the Sticks	Block 1- 4 Patch
April 2nd	Kwilty Pleasures Blog	Block 2 - Double Stuffed
April 3rd	Sew Incredibly Crazy	Block 3 - Baby in a Corner
April 4th	SBD Embroidery and Quilting	Block 4 - Dutch Door
April 5th	What About Rheema	Block 5 - Surrounded
April 6th	Quilted Delights	Block 6 - Tacked Up
April 7th	Joy Studio	Block 7 - Stripper
April 8th	Just Sew Quilter	Block 8 - Staggered
April 9th	Quiltscapes	Block 9 - Topsy Turvy
April 10th	beaquilter	Block 10 - Chunky Pinwheel
April 11th	Freemotion by the River	Block 11 - Painted WIndow
April 12th	krislovesfabric	Block 12 - Broken Cinder Block
April 13th	MooseStashQuilting	Block 13 - Reaction
April 14th	Quilts by Joanne	Block 14 - Median Strip
April 15th	Persimon Dreams	Block 15 - Center of Attention
April 16th	Needled Mom	Block 16 - Bounce
April 17th	Just Let Me Quilt	Block 17 - Sweet Sixteen
April 18th	Life in Scrapatch	Block 18 - Yeah Eights
April 19th	Quarter Inch Crafter	Block 19 - Weave
April 20th	Seams To Be Sew	Block 20 - Classic
April 21st	Just Let Me Quilt	Block 21 - Spot
April 22nd	Something Rosemade	Block 22 - Cross Walk
April 23rd	Thimblemouse and Spouse	Block 23 - Opposites Attract
April 24th	Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.	Block 24 - Possibility
April 25th	Words & Stitches	Block 25 - Camper Window
April 26th	Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats	Block 26 - Catching Z's
April 27th	Selinaquilts	Block 27 - Broken Stripes
April 28th	QuiltFabrication	Block 28 - Stockade
April 29th	Lakeshore Stitches	Block 29 - Dovetail
April 30th	Creatin’ in the Sticks	Block 30 - Slow Tee

Happy Easter - Are You Ready to Make Like A Bunny and HOP?

Happy Easter Everyone!

I'm still busy designing eggs!

April Fools!

But I'm not fooling around when I tell you that April 1st,

 is day one of  Creatin' in the Sticks fabulous 

30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days Blog Hop and Sew Along

I hope you'll be joining in for the fun! Can't wait to show you my block on the 23rd!

Let the April fun begin!

Here's the schedule of who's who and when and what!

As for me...I've got 48 more eggs to paint!

Til later..... 

PS....I meant to let you know I'm trying really hard to get back here more often...

so far it's not happening but I'm not giving up! Ha

However, if you're on Instagram, you can find me most days there...

Come find me @thethimblemouse

(maybe one day I'll figure how to add the IG badge on the side!)

30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days Blog Hop and Sew Along - Schedule

Date

Project Designer

Block

April 1st	Creatin’ in the Sticks	Block 1- 4 Patch
April 2nd	Kwilty Pleasures Blog	Block 2 - Double Stuffed
April 3rd	Sew Incredibly Crazy	Block 3 - Baby in a Corner
April 4th	SBD Embroidery and Quilting	Block 4 - Dutch Door
April 5th	What About Rheema	Block 5 - Surrounded
April 6th	Quilted Delights	Block 6 - Tacked Up
April 7th	Joy Studio	Block 7 - Stripper
April 8th	Just Sew Quilter	Block 8 - Staggered
April 9th	Quiltscapes	Block 9 - Topsy Turvy
April 10th	beaquilter	Block 10 - Chunky Pinwheel
April 11th	Freemotion by the River	Block 11 - Painted WIndow
April 12th	krislovesfabric	Block 12 - Broken Cinder Block
April 13th	MooseStashQuilting	Block 13 - Reaction
April 14th	Quilts by Joanne	Block 14 - Median Strip
April 15th	Persimon Dreams	Block 15 - Center of Attention
April 16th	Needled Mom	Block 16 - Bounce
April 17th	Just Let Me Quilt	Block 17 - Sweet Sixteen
April 18th	Life in Scrapatch	Block 18 - Yeah Eights
April 19th	Quarter Inch Crafter	Block 19 - Weave
April 20th	Seams To Be Sew	Block 20 - Classic
April 21st	Just Let Me Quilt	Block 21 - Spot
April 22nd	Something Rosemade	Block 22 - Cross Walk
April 23rd	Thimblemouse and Spouse	Block 23 - Opposites Attract
April 24th	Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.	Block 24 - Possibility
April 25th	Words & Stitches	Block 25 - Camper Window
April 26th	Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats	Block 26 - Catching Z's
April 27th	Selinaquilts	Block 27 - Broken Stripes
April 28th	QuiltFabrication	Block 28 - Stockade
April 29th	Lakeshore Stitches	Block 29 - Dovetail
April 30th	Creatin’ in the Sticks	Block 30 - Slow Tee