Quilted Gift Giving and Coronavirus

Scottie Dog Mug Rug (from my Animal & Pets Book)

Sending gifts through the post at this time can be both a blessing and a curse.  On the positive side it is the perfect time to let somebody know they are cared for and loved.  However, if care isn’t taken you may end up giving the recipient more than just a quilted gift.

So I thought I would share some simple steps I am taking when sending one of my little mug rugs to a friend in these worrying times.

1.         Once I have made the quilt I leave it untouched for seven days before packing and posting it.  I call this the quilt quarantine period.

Spring Chicken Mug Rug (from my Animal & Pets Book)

2.         After the quilt quarantine period is over I use clean gloves and pack the mini quilt in a plastic bag.  I try to use a bag that can be opened and the mini quilt simply tipped out. This allows the recipient to only touch the plastic bag – they can then wash their hands before touching the quilt.  Alternatively the recipient may wish to wipe down the plastic bag before taking the quilt out.

3.         If I am including a small packet of cookies or a chocolate bar I make sure it is wiped down with a disinfectant wipe before including it with the mug rug.

Butterfly Pocket Mug Rug Pattern

4.         The plastic bag is then popped into an envelope, addressed and taken to the post office whilst adhering to the strict social distancing measures that are in place.

5.         I let the recipient know a small gift is going to arrive and I put my address on the back of the package so that they can identify it when it arrives.  Many of my older relatives (myself included) leave the post on the doormat for at least 4 hours before picking it up.

Beach Huts Mug Rug Pattern

6.         If I think the recipient might be concerned at all about the safety of the gift I include a note or card letting them know the measures I have taken.  I also let them know that the gift is washable and can be washed before use.  In these worrying times I do not want to add to their stress with my handmade gift.  

7.         And finally, I do not seal any envelopes by licking them.  Obvious but habitual!

Summer Birdhouse Mug Rug pattern

Nobody can be sure about anything at the moment.  All we can do is minimize risk and keep showing one another how very important they are.

Please feel free to share any safety tips you have put in place - in the comments below.

Keep safe everybody.  Until next time ........

Valentine Patch Mug Rug

Valentine Patch Mug Rug

Last week I told you how much I loved mug rugs because they are so quick and easy.  Well I also love them because they are small enough that I can play around with them and that is exactly what I did this week.

I combined my Butterfly Patch mug rug

Butterfly Patch Mug Rug

 with my One Block Heart Sidebar:

Heart Sidebar from One Block Mug Rugs Book

to create a Valentine Patch mug rug.

Creating a life of fabric, fun and friends.

What is more – I used my Butterfly Patch (QAYG) quilt-as-you-go tutorial to make it super speedy – just one hour from start to finish.

Click to go through to the QAYG tutoral for this mug rug

In true Valentine style – two become one!  

The Patchsmith's Valentine Bunting

One of the things I love about rug mugs is the way I can use them to bring the seasons and special days into my home quickly and easily.

Half Hearted Valentine Mug Rug

I also like how the mug rugs can be used for other projects.  So I am full of love for this year’s Valentine project – Half-Hearted Valentine Bunting.

Half-hearted Bunting.

The instructions for making the bunting are available FREE here.  You will need a heart template – I used the template from my Half-Hearted Mug Rug pattern which is available for immediate download for just $2.50.

Make a Half-hearted Mug Rug to go with your bunting.

I think my Mum might just like some half-hearted bunting for her lounge to go with her Mother's Day mug rug.

Patchsmith Alphabet meets Half Hearted Mug Rug

Until next time .......