I *heart* paper piecing!

Paper Piecing Projects... I adore them!

Valentine's Day is nearly upon us, but I think that we can celebrate love and PINK and red and hearts during all of February, don't you?

Before Valentine's Day is here, I wanted to share a really quick, but cute, mug rug that features a heart. I think I have been seeing hearts everywhere, since this month we have been encouraging ANYTHING  Hearts for our  February project in the  Across The Pond Sew Along!

My Simple Heart Mug Rug starts with a simple paper pieced heart pattern.
I found this Simple Heart pattern   , 4 in x 4 in ,    at 
Block of the Day  by Quilt -Pro  Systems.   
Link here:  Block of the Day   Simple Heart
(It is FREE     ,  and you can sign up to get emails of a new pattern every day.)

Simple Heart Mug Rug    

• I  wanted  to make the mug rug a little bigger, so I pieced 3 strips ( 2 in tall by 4 in wide) together , and sewed this patchwork to the heart block.   This makes a block of approximately  4 in tall by 7 1/2 in wide.
•  I added  Pellon FF 987 to the back of my heart block 
•  I cut the backing to be 1 inch bigger than my block, on all 4 sides. ( I really like to  make the binding come around from the back, in my little mug rugs.  It lays nice and flat.)    
• I layered my quilt sandwich 
• I machine quilted a few lines to echo the heart shape around the heart , and then vertically on the patchwork side, at 1/4 in apart 
• I ironed my binding to the front side and machine stitched it, using my walking foot

Simple Heart is paper pieced , with a touch of machine quilting

Ready to enjoy a cup of latte or hot chocolate in no time !

If you get time to make  anything  with a heart theme,   upload your picture to our
 Across The Pond Sew Along   Flickr  Group, with the other beautiful and fun projects already there!
I am so inspired by your talents and creativity!
This group is supportive and relaxed... even if you can only make something every once in a while, join us!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up to:

•   Sew Cute Tuesday  @ Better Off Thread
•  Across The Pond Sew Along @                                                    http://www.flickr.com/groups/2154636@N22/