I have big dreams, a head full of ideas, a gazillion links to things I’m interested in making, doing, experiencing.  But January seems to be a month for coming home from work and going PLOP.  It’s either PLOP on the couch or PLOP in front of Facebook or PLOP in bed with a book.

There’s some stuff I really need to do – like our 2008 income tax returns.   But the PLOP keeps getting me … and nothing gets accomplished.

Last night, I decided to overcome the PLOP and do something.  It’s not really something that needed done, but I thought that a small success might give me energy to overcome the PLOP and go on to do the important things … like our 2008 income tax returns.

I have no idea if my plan will work, but I’m really pleased with how this one little project turned out..

It’s a placemat for my little Maddie, a 7 month old Chihuahua.  The *poor thing* was eating out of dishes placed directly on the floor.  Oh, the hardships dogs must face!

This is inspired by both the Towel Rug and the Beach Blanket To Go  in Amanda Soule‘s book, Handmade Home.  I don’t own the book, but I borrowed it from the library awhile back and both projects stuck in my head.  By the way, I LOVE Amanda’s blog and books.  Handmade Home is about repurposing old materials – a passion of mine.  And here’s a neat Flickr group featuring other peoples’ pictures of projects they’ve made from the book.

Maddie’s placemat is made from scraps of fabric, stitched together and backed with an old towel.  I’ve never done mitered corners before, nor have I ever cut my own bias tape – so that was all fun fun fun.

I really like how it turned out.  And it looks great with Maddie’s little dishes, which I found at my favourite thrift store.  Love them!

What’s all this?

A vintage towel for backing and mitered bias tape corners!