You're a Grand Old Flag! {A Celebration in Fabric}

A few weeks ago, one of the swaps that I sporadically participate in - the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap - held a 4th of July Mug Rug swap.  With only about 3 weeks to create a little mini quilt and send it off to your partner, it was a bit rushed, but sometimes those are the best ones.  Here is the mug Rug I received from my partner, Raesha.

Sorry for the mediocre iphone picture, but I had already taken it to work when I realized that I hadn't taken or posted pictures.

Can you see that she quilted USA in the corner?  I thought that was a fun touch.

And my partner included some fun extras, too, which was fun!

With WH having his foot in a cast and not feeling too well this year, our celebration of Independence Day was pretty quiet - actually, he didn't feel well at all and slept a lot, so I sewed all day (which was pretty much a perfect day for me).  We did eat hamburgers and corn on the cob, so that was something to celebrate right there. 

So, I'm glad to have created (and received) this little bit of 4th of July fun.  It gave me an opportunity to reflect on the great blessing of living in the USA.

So, in the famous words of Irving Berlin, "God Bless America!"

Hooray for the Red, White and Blue!

I recently participated in a 4th of July mug rug swap.  It was one of those swaps where you and your partner exchange mug rugs, so you can't show much before your partner receives her item. 

It all started with these four tiny HSTs.  They were just laying there in a little pile, so when I picked them up and started playing around with them, they reminded me of stars.  These little goodies were left over from my Swoon block makeover.  I love it when I can use things I once would have thrown away.  It makes me feel so good.  Like I just won a bizillion dollars or something.  It's that whole something-for-nothing thing. 

Once I had the stars, the stripes were a no-brainer.  I had the gold "freedom" fabric left over from my something.  I can't remember now what it was.  I thought it was a Quilts of Valor project, but my Just One Star blocks didn't use this fabric.  Hmmm..  Anyway, it was in the scrap basket too.

And I added the red, white and blue tote I made last week.

I really love red, white and blue!

You're a grand old flag!
You're a high-flying flag!
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're an emblem of the land I love -
The home of the free and the brave!
Every heart beats true 'neath the red, white and blue
Where there's never a boast or brag,
But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag!

That chorus from George M. Cohan has been rolling around in my head all morning, so it just had to come out!  And most of it from memory too (although I did check the words before I hit "publish".)


So Happy Birthday, America!  And grateful thanks to all those who have served and are serving our country to help keep our liberties (including you, WH!)