Have some cake! - WIP Wednesday

One of my good friends had a birthday this week.  As usual, I struggled with what to get her.  Since neither of us really need anything (or the stuff we need is way to pricey for a gift), we typically trade cookbooks or generic gift cards.  Complicating matters, my friend recently bought a new house, that she hasn't moved into yet because they are doing major renovations.  In fact, they are held up in a tiny guest house until said renovations are complete.  Because of this, I figure my friend probably wouldn't want any additional "stuff" at this time.  So what to you get a gal that has everything and no space for anything new?  You make her a mug rug so she has something special to drink her morning coffee with...

A couple of weeks ago, Jennifer at Ellison Lane had this adorable paper pieced cake pattern posted for FREE on her blog.  She actually made a gorgeous table runner with multiple cakes, but I wanted something smaller for my friend.  I adjusted the pattern to be a little smaller, and I totally took the easy route by sewing ric-rack for my cake instead of the lovely layers Jennifer had on her cakes.  I added the border and decided to try out Leah Day's paisley filler from last week's free motion quilt along segment.  I'm not sure if it is a bit too much for this mug rug or if it adds a bit of glam.  I wonder what my friend will think.

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - more blocks done, will post on Tuesday
• And a block for the Beginner QAL 
• Happy Birthday mug rug for a friend

On-going Projects:

• Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop Item - TOP IS DONE!  QUILTING is DONE!  It needs binding.
• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - blocks done, top needs to be sashed and borders put on.
• Totally Groovy Quilt Along - not started, but this one is really calling me!
• How Far Will You Go? QAL - I might need to put this one aside for a little while.
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - they took a week off, but tomorrow we get directions for putting the top together.
• Star of Africa Bee - get an early jump on September's block??
• "Tree" themed quilt for the guild - since I got my top done for the LGABH, I actually started this one. I am not sure I like how it is going nor am I sure I will get it done by the deadline.
• Grammie's placemats - STARTED!  One top done, one in the works.  Quilting should be relatively easy unless I get too fancy. deadline Sept 19th
• 12 Bee Blocks - this quarter I am in two groups!  I haven't even chosen which blocks I will do yet!  I just can't make up my mind.
• Leaf's Me Happy block(s) - I finally got my date for this blog hop - October 10th.  I need to at least choose a design by next Wednesday.

Back Burner:

I am determined not to forget these projects!  Keeping them in this category reminds me of them on a weekly basis.

• Handstitched goodies - several projects in limbo.  I didn't want to put these on the "back burner", but realistically, unless I have a spark of inspiration and a bunch of time, I won't be working on these until October. 
• Batik Stripe Quilt - still sandwiched and ready to be quilted!  
• Red, White, Blue New York Beauty - piecing in progress, but put well out of the way.  I need to be in a paper-piecing mood to resume.
• June UFO - "A Christmas Something for myself" -EPP in progress.  I figured out this weekend that if I want a table runner of a normal-ish size, I am going to have to baste some more hexies.  Perhaps, I should just make a collection of mug rugs instead?
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 1 + 5 blocks
New projects - 3 (but 1 is done)
Currently in Progress - 10-ish

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to yesterday's post!  The linky stays open for a whole week, so feel free to add them as you complete or wait for next Tuesday (or both)!



Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday's and Quilt Along Wednesdays.