It Was December 6, 2011 When I Finished My First Mug Rug

It took me until today to get up the nerve to try to quilt it!!  Now, I have to remind you that I have had my mid-arm quilting machine for over 3 years and it stayed in it's box for the first 2-1/2 years.  The reason is because I never had the space to put up the 10-foot table in order to use it - or so I thought!!

No, I still don't have room for the table, but about 6 months ago, I said, hmmmmmmmmmm, maybe I can just use it as a table top machine and quilt small quilts.  It infact sits perfectly on a table top and I did finally try some stitch-in-the-ditch on December 8, 2011.   Then, kept saying I was going to try some free motion quilting on the mug rug but I didn't want to ruin it . . .  so I put it off and put it off and put it off - until today.

I did a search on the Internet for free motion quilting and came across a Youtube where the quilter said that using a Quilt Basting Spray instead of pinning the top makes life much easier.  So I tired it.

First you need a wall and some newspaper ~

Then you pin the back to the wall with the front side of the fabric facing the wall ~

And after shaking the can of Quilt Basting Stpray for 2full minutes (well, that's what it said I had to do), you lightly spray the backing and press the batting onto the backing ~

Then spray the backing ~

You then put the top over the batting and smooth it out from the center to the edges ~

Oh, my gosh, and then you have to quilt it!!  Yes, ma'am I did it!!!  Woo! Hoo!!

I am thrilled to pieces!!!  And with practice, my meanders will be smoother!!

Now to bind it and send it off!!  I am ready to try another one!!  

It is hard to express how fun it is to still be learning new things at my age!!  Love it!!