SUTK Progress Amidst Chaos

So despite the chaos of last week I did make progress on the gifts I'm creating for my partner in the Spicing Up The Kitchen Swap. The response from all of you was overwhelmingly in favor of my hubby's idea to keep it clean and simple and to use plain linen binding or to just add a splash of Echino in one area. Well, I loved the idea of adding the splash of Echino, but as the week, and weekend, progressed I got more overwhelmed so I kept it simple and just did the plain linen binding. But I am planning to make more of these placemats for myself and the hubby so I'm hoping to use that awesome idea on those!

I found myself finishing the binding on these in any stolen moment I could find. I took them with me so if I had a few spare minutes in the office or the car I would pull them out and work on them.

I decided for my second project that I would make matching linen napkins for her. I used tissue linen for the napkins. I debated binding these in Echino but the hubs won out again. I simply finished the edges and then stitched on a coordinating "patch" out of Echino or Ruby Star Rising and they were done! So quick and easy.

The only snafu in the whole process was that we had a little leak in our house during one of the torrential rains we've been having over the past week and the water leaked onto one of the finished placemats overnight. I laid it out to dry but it was clear the the deluge of rain had stained the placemat. Before I started to make a replacement, I threw all four of the placemats in the wash (I wasn't planning to pre-wash the placemats) hoping that would solve the problem. Thankfully it did! And now my partner has freshly washed mats.

I also included some Echino and Ruby Star Rising scraps, a kitchen magnet and scrub brush and some teas in her package to round it out. Now it's off on it's way to her. I have to tell you, this package was really hard to send off. I wanted to keep it for myself. I hope my partner loves it as much as I do!