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| Blue wren mug rug and kangaroo pa |
What did we do before the internet? Thank you to all my netty friends for the sympathy. I even had an offer of chicken soup from someone who lives nearby. It occurred that with the shingles, I now have a disease as well as a hobby more usual in the 60+ age bracket! Nasty little lumps on my palm today and my shoulder and arm feel like I've been thrown up against a brick wall, but it hasn't stopped me sewing. Can't really hold the rotary cutter easily but I can guide fabric through the machine. However, it took me five goes to get the binding on this baby.
Yup, it's a mug rug. It's part of my mum's birthday present which is next week. I'm taking her to dinner and a movie and this bit is the surprise. I'm fairly sure she hasn't figured out how to stalk me on blogger yet (Hi Mum, if you have!). I'll leave finishing the binding till I'm less sore.
There's a story that gives this gift a meaning. Every weekend morning for the last 44 years of their marriage, my dad (who is a morning person) has made my mum (who is not) two cups of tea for her to drink in bed before she starts the day. If you have read The Five Love Languages, you'll know what I mean when I say my parents are Acts of Service people. They're not huggers or into words when it comes to expressing love, but they'd cut off their right arms for you. (Before you think my dad is completely altruistic, let me tell you there's an element of wanting someone to entertain him or make his breakfast in getting mum up as early as allowable and making her tea is how he gets away with it! :) Anyway, the tea ceremony (2 mugs) usually involves grabbing a tissue or a book or a magazine to stand the cups on so a mugrug is needed. Particularly such a pretty one. And mum loves birds, and is particularly keen on this little fellow.
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| Splendid Fairy Wren |
Who wouldn't be?!
The fabric was from a local craft fair from a local retailer called Fabrics Down Under which specialises in Australian and African fabric. As well as blue wrens, this particular fabric features a range of other Aussie birds such as galahs, kookaburras and sulfur-crested cockatoos as well as native plants. The russet homespun sets it off perfectly and I love the simplicity of this design and the straight line quilting. I used an embroidery thread in the machine for the first time and I'm very pleased with the effect. I think I'll throw together a few more and put them on Etsy - they'd make lovely Christmas gifts.
As spring is just about sprung and it's a lovely sunny day after all the rain we've had, I thought I'd take some pics in my semi-native back garden. Enjoy!
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| Kangaroo paws |
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| Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) |
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| Grevillia |
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| Diosma |
love it! Smart Dad, too
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you're feeling more sore rather than less, but it's good you were able to get a little sewing in.
ReplyDeletePretty little bird, I can see why your mum is partial to them. And a very nice looking mug rug to add to their morning ritual.
Forgot to say, of all the quilting friends I have (that I know personally rather than just through their blogs), NONE are 60+ :)
ReplyDeleteAnd me? I'm 33.
As to shingles, it lies dormant for years from the time of the chicken pox infection I think. So technically, lots of young people have it, they just don't know it ;)
Your gardens are beautiful! As is the mug rug. That is a a very fun story about your parents. So sweet! I love when my husband makes my coffee in the morning. Seems to taste better! Hope you are feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteMy parents were given a "Teasmaid" as a wedding present. It was an alarm clock and tea-maker in one; when the alarm went off, the kettle had boiled and the hot water had gone into the teapot. That meant that dad got two cups of tea (his breakfast) before heading out the door for work and mum got two cups of tea in bed (without anyone leaving the room). Dad brought a small jug of milk to the bedroom when he went to bed around midnight. Even after they retired they had two cups of tea before they got up every morning!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I can't stand the acidity of tea (I drink mine black) on an empty stomach!
Hope your hand gets better soon and you're able to finish the mug rug on time!