Hi quilting friends!
Happy November! Can you believe we're already in November? Thanksgiving is just around the corner, Christmas isn't far behind, and somehow my list of quilting projects keeps getting longer!
November also has some fun little holidays that I thought would be worth celebrating. National Button Day, National Homemade Bread Day, and even National Deviled Egg Day! Who knew?
So I thought I'd share some of those fun November days, a little update on what's happening in my quilting studio, and an easy mug rug tutorial that's perfect for using up some of those fabric scraps we all seem to collect.
And of course, I have to tell you about my upcoming trip to the Houston International Quilt Festival!
A Little November Fun
A Little November Fun
November is full of holidays, both the traditional ones and some that are just plain fun. Here are a few that caught my attention.
November 3 – National Sandwich Day: A good excuse to skip cooking and get back to sewing!
November 11 – Veterans Day: A heartfelt thank-you to all who have served our country.
November 13 – World Kindness Day: A little kindness goes a long way.
November 16 – National Button Day: Now this is one quilters can appreciate! How many of us have jars, tins, or drawers full of buttons?
November 17 – National Homemade Bread Day: There's nothing quite like the smell of fresh bread. Especially with lots of butter!
November 26 – Thanksgiving: A time to appreciate family, friends, and the many blessings in our lives.
November 28 – Small Business Saturday: A wonderful opportunity to support your favorite small businesses and local quilt shops.
Speaking of National Button Day, it inspired me to share a little sewing project with you!
Let's Make a Quilted Mug Rug!
Have you ever made a mug rug? It's basically a little quilt that's just big enough for your favorite coffee mug and a cookie or two!
They're quick to make, great for using up fabric scraps, and make wonderful little gifts. With the holidays coming up, you could make a few in Christmas fabrics or even a matching set for your Thanksgiving table.
I put together a beginner-friendly tutorial that uses just six 3½-inch fabric squares and finishes at approximately 9" × 6". And the best part? No binding required!
It's also a fun little project for practicing your quilting. Try some straight lines, gentle curves, or even a few swirls. And since November 16 is National Button Day, you could add a decorative button in one corner, away from where your coffee mug will sit.
Want to make one?
I've created a free printable tutorial with step-by-step instructions and pictures to help you along the way.
You can find it in Tootie's Sewing Basket, my little collection of free quilting projects and printables!
[Visit Tootie's Sewing Basket for the Free Printable Tutorial]
I'd love to see what you make! If you try this project, share a picture or tag Tootie's Quilt & Fiber Studio on Facebook or Instagram.
Meanwhile, Back at the Longarm...
I've been spending some time practicing on a quilt my sister Sharon gave me. The quilt top was pieced by my talented friend Trudy, and I just love the blue and yellow together. The colorful sashing really makes those blocks stand out!
I'm using this quilt to practice different quilting designs, including ruler work, straight lines, curves, and lots of swirls.
Each block gives me a chance to try something different. It's interesting to see how the quilting changes the look of the fabric and the overall design.
There's a reason I've been spending extra time on my swirls. My next customer wants edge-to-edge free-motion swirls on her quilt, so I'm getting in all the practice I can!
She's planning to give the quilt to her sister as a gift, and I'm hoping to have it finished by mid-November.
She's also asked me to take videos of the quilting process so she can share them with her sister. That gave me an idea! I may put together a little video for my YouTube channel as well.
Nothing like having a customer quilt waiting for you to motivate a little extra practice! LOL!
A Few New Things Coming to the Shop
Little by little, Tootie's Quilt & Fiber Studio is growing!
I recently ordered some Riley Blake Designs solid fabrics in black, red, vintage white, and gray.
I'm looking forward to putting together some new quilt kits with these fabrics, including a custom kit for a customer who wants to give it to his sister.
I also ordered more thread for my longarm. You can never have too much thread, right?
I'm always looking for new fabrics and projects to share, so keep an eye on the shop for new additions.
Houston, Here We Come!
I'm getting SO excited because my sister Sharon and I are headed to the Houston International Quilt Festival next week!
We're leaving Tuesday, November 10, and coming home Saturday, November 14.
I've signed up for five classes, including classes with Stacie Spradlin of Seams Divine. I'm looking forward to learning more about ruler work, quilting designs, borders, and quilting around appliqué.
I'm also attending Linda Hahn's Passion to Profit lecture, which should be helpful as I continue growing my studio.
But I'm especially excited to see all the beautiful quilts on display and spend some time wandering through the vendor booths.
And then there are the vendors.
Oh boy.
I'm going to TRY not to spend too much money.
I make absolutely no promises. LOL!
I'll be taking plenty of pictures and can't wait to share some of the highlights when we get back.
Let's Keep in Touch!
Enjoyed this little visit to the quilt studio? I'd love to have you join my newsletter!
I share what's happening behind the scenes at Tootie's Quilt & Fiber Studio, projects I'm working on, new fabrics and kits coming to the shop, and a little quilting fun along the way.
It's a great way to stay connected and see what's happening in the studio between blog posts.
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I'd love to have you join our quilting community!
Until Next Time...
November is shaping up to be a busy month, but I'm looking forward to all of it. More quilting practice, new fabrics, a trip to Houston, and hopefully a little time to work on a few of my own projects.
I hope you'll give the mug rug tutorial a try. Sometimes the smallest projects are the most fun, especially when you can finish one in an afternoon!
And if you're headed to Houston for the Quilt Festival, maybe we'll run into each other!
Happy quilting!
Tootie
Tootie's Quilt & Fiber Studio
Where Makers Gather
P.S. Are you celebrating any of November's unusual holidays? National Button Day might be my favorite! Tell me in the comments. I'd love to hear from you!