You learn a lot about yourself when you get a swap partner with likes very different from your own. Do you make something you like, hope they like it and send it away, or do you stalk learn about your partner and try and make something they like, even if it means trying new stuff you're not entirely proficient with? I feel like the latter is the true intention of a swap. So, with this last challenge, for the Scrappy Mug Rug swap (#5)- Haiku, I decided to try something that I have done in the past, but hadn't attempted for some time. For this swap, we have to compose, or "borrow" a Haiku poem (remember those- 5 syllable, 7 syllable, 5 syllable) for our partner based on something we learned about them. Then we have to sew them a mug rug to compliment our Haiku poem. My partner likes a style very different from my own (this seems to be a swap theme for me this year). BUT, lucky for me, although my partner does not live in the USA, I have visited where she lives. I decided that I would use photographs from my trip to compose her mug rug and the fact that she has a very unique job where she lives, my poem is an ode to her fair city. (I'm not saying what she does, it would be a dead giveaway and given what she does, it's fitting tribute, I hope think).
I'm posting pictures here, there are so many swappers, unless someone is stalking each and every blog I doubt she'll find it. I do hope she likes it. I do.
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| Mug Rug overall shot. The centerpiece is a photo I took on our trip, and then printed onto fabric. I then free-motioned quilted the center totem, added 3-D applique and quilting to selected trees and pieced some blue fabrics with hand stitching, left. |
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| close up detail of fabric piecing and of the over applique. |
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| detail free-motion stitching on center totem |
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| My Haiku tribute. I wish my hand embroidery were better. I found it very difficult to get the letters onto the linen with any consistency. If anyone reads this and has some helpful hints please pass them my way. |
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My "package" to my partner, a Mug Rug, Haiku tribute, some blue and green embroidery floss (theme related) , a small pieced luggage tag (travel), a colorful fat quarter as well as a note written on a map from……
Partner- I sure hope this is what you had in mind and that you like what I made for you. Despite my initial hesitancy I hope I achieved the intention of the Haiku swap with a style that you would like to receive. |
Oh My,that is a masterpiece. I am sure that your partner will be so delighted with her new mug rug! I know that I would be blown away :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you for stretching - it's lovely!!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine that anyone would not be delighted to receive this mug rug. It is simply amazing.
ReplyDeleteVery imaginative! Having been to said park, I also love your haiku, I am sure your partner will love it.
ReplyDeleteIt is always so hard to make something that we wouldn't necessarily make for ourselves isn't it? My doll quilt swap partner likes brown, and other sludgy (her word) colours, so it was a real challenge for me to come up with something I felt was mildly attractive!
ReplyDeleteI looked into joining that mug rug swap but I've got so many other commitments now w/ all the bees, and tbh the haiku component scared me! You've done it perfectly! I love your fabric print, that's such a good idea. I would never have thought of it, and your quilting is so expressive! Great job! I'd love to receive it and it's not even remotely for me so I'm sure your partner will be thrilled!