Iron mat and carrier

My guild offered a workshop this morning to make this fabulous bag which opens to use as an ironing mat and closes to carry an iron that's still hot. I saw this bag being used at a class a while ago and knew it would need to join my supplies. Those blue buttons are ancient and who knows why I bought them!

This is a great way to use quilty print fabrics.

Some of the ladies used colored hair elastics, but I used 1/4" elastic. The inside is insul-bright and one layer of cotton batting. The silver fabric is for ironing boards. 

The pattern is from http://www.sisterscommonthread.com.

Done! Pot of flowers for Twisted Tradition

I'm not a big fan of appliqué- looking at it, yes, but working it myself is difficult. Too many stitches show here and there, but it is easier than last time.
Aren't these colors great? Block of the month with all fabrics chosen by Material Obsession in Australia