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Saturday
Feb142015

because frogs eat flies ... that's a totally normal and valid consideration when deciding on an embroidery stitch, right?

Confession:  my husband and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day.  Don't get me wrong - we're not anti-holiday or anti-romance or anti-flowers/chocolate/candle-lit-dinner, etc. etc.  We just aren't inclined to doing that sort of thing on a prescribed day.  Besides, I'm the sort of girl that would rather get a few FQs than a dozen roses.  Flowers die.  Fabric is forever. ;)

However, that doesn't mean I can't say yes to a sweet friend's request to join a Valentine's Day Blog Hop, right?  When Mollie sent me her adorably cute love critters, I chose to do the quail.  She got me - I mean, that heart-shaped feather on her head?  Aaagh!  Had to stitch her.  So here she is if you'd like the PDF.

 But I showed Mollie's designs to my girls and asked which were their favourites.  That's how I ended up with 3 little stitcheries ... and then 3 mug rugs ... and then 3 convenient Valentine's gifts for my girls and ... me.  (By the way, I'm positive mug rugs were invented not because we quilters needed something to protect our tables from hot beverages, but because we needed something to turn our cute little blocks and things INTO ... am I right?)

Free Valentine Quail PDF

Oh, and one other silly little thing.  After I had the fabric borders sewn onto the mug rugs, the space around the animals looked a little empty, so I added stitched borders.  I did Mrs Quail first - a quick and simple running stitch.  Nothing fancy.  Easy enough.  But also a little ... mmm ... uninspired.  I could do better than that.

So then Miss Ferret got kisses (cross stitches).  It took a little more time, but I think it's way cuter.

Then I was really in an embroidery mood and I wanted to do something else for Miss Frog, but no particular stitch came to mind right away.  I scoffed at myself for a moment - I mean come on girl, you wrote an embroidery book once upon a time for heaven's sake ... THINK! 

Then I got it. 

The fly stitch, of course.

Why, you may ask?  Well ... because ... frogs eat flies. 

I'm not even kidding about that.  This is how my brain works.  I can't help it.

If you missed the other lovely blogs in this Stitch Love Blog Hop, here they are.  You can collect all 8 free patterns - courtesy of the lovely Mollie at Wild Olive.  I promise your hopping will be rewarded with all kinds of adorable inspiration!

On that note, Happy Valentine's Day!  And also happy stitching. :)

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Reader Comments (13)

Very, very cute!
February 14, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterArchie The Wonder Dog
I am same as you. I will rather get some fabrics and threads then chocolate:). Love beautiful coasters just perfect!
February 14, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterZehrina
Happy Valentine's Day to you! Love your little critters and the fly stitch makes perfect sense to me;-)
February 14, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterHildy
Happy Valentines Day to you
My parents are from the Netherlands, they are 92. When I was a kid we did not celebrate valentines day.
My hubby, totally a farm boy from Michigan, as a kid, celebrated every stinking holiday at his house/family.
Even George Washington's birthday! go figure, and St. Patricks Day too.
We did not indulge in any of that non sense.
Hubby and I make each other cards. He is not artistic so it is always fun to see what he can push out of that geeky brain of his. Other than that, not much else really.
I like how the stores get all of their holiday associated clutter out, months before lol
February 14, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterRosemary
OH! completely forgot :-P
Your little projects are adorbs. Love them
February 14, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterRosemary
These little animals are so cute.
February 14, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterDeidra
Great work love your newest creations!! They are so adorable! Miss Feret and the little birdie are my favorites!! I think I would prefer some nice fabric to red roses too!
February 15, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterJodie Zollinger
Oh my gosh, what an adorable post. "Because frogs eat flies." How cute is that. I adore your critter mug rugs and wish I had the ability to print the patterns. I rather enjoy embroidery. And I.do agree with you on the invention of mug rugs. I've currently made four. By the way, I really enjoy your blog. :)
February 15, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterSusan
I love mug rugs! These are really cute. I really like how you combine quilting and embroidery together. I'm very inspired to make a couple today.....
Blessings.
February 16, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterNancy
I get the fly stitch and frog thing - totally right. Your stitching is very beautiful - so neat. My husband and I don't celebrate St. Valentine's day either. At least not in the prescribed way with flowers, chocolates and so on. We just spend the day together. What better way to show your love for someone.
February 16, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterGillian
These are absolutely adorable!!! :)
February 16, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterSandy O
We are the same here about Valentine's Day. Very cute way to finish the stitching.
February 21, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterChristina
I wondered why mug rugs were invented. I think you are right!
Fly stitch makes perfect sense to me!
I love the ferret. It captures a little of real ferrets' cheekiness.
February 24, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterCarla

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