Recently in placemats Category

There were many, many things finished up in December. I need photos of the things I finished! Luckily, I did snap a photo of these placemats for children of a friend. Despite having the flu, I managed to finish them up Christmas Eve, just in time to take them to an evening gathering and pass them off. I felt a little bit lame (or old-fashioned) not giving a toy. I doubt kids get overly excited by a placemat! But I knew Mom would appreciate it. And maybe it will be something they use through the years and hold special down the road. That is always my hope with a fiber gift.

I have to admit that placemats haven't always been standard fare in my house. There is a drawer for them, just as there is a drawer for tea, a drawer for coffee, a drawer for kid cups, and one for kid snacks. The drawer that houses the placemats and cloth napkins, however, also now holds batteries. With the rate we use up batteries in the Wii and with the way my wireless mouse sucks up batteries, it's with a sigh that I admit I get in that drawer for batteries far more frequently than I do for the placemats.

There is irony in that fact that we've made so many placemats in the last year, especially placemats featuring birdhouses. Placemats seem to speak to the heart of home decor for many people. It wasn't until we each opened a placemat from Opal last year that I realized the charm and whimsy a placemat can bring – the smile to go along with the nourishment of food and drink.

These three placemats were made specifically for their recipients, but you can see the wonder of them and the ways in which a placemat can reflect a personality, young or old.

Two more placemats to complete a set of four purchased at Art by the Bay. Amy pieced these, using a great fish fabric framing the focal bird houses. I love the way they turned out.

Last night I was honored to be invited to a dinner where our Here2There placemats were being used for the first time. Actually, it was someone's retirement celebration, but in truth, it was the placemats that held center court. I was told that new dinnerware, flatware, glasses, and chargers were chosen to match the placemats.

Before everyone took their places, I discreetly moved the plates aside and snapped a photo of the guest of honor.

I just finished the last of eight placemats for a special order. Tonight I'll see them being used...I was told they bought new dishes and glassware to go with the new placemats...I can't wait to see it all together.

When I set up my expanded studio space a few weeks ago, I brought out this machine from the storage closet. I use it to do everything but quilting. Would you believe I won it? It was one of those drawings where you drop in your name and then forget about it...but this time I got that phone call.

So on to the next project...a baby quilt happening...and some applique circles in my favorite colorway...