April Showers Mug Rug

Yeeeeeha! It's Day 5 of the Hop!

Madame Samm (the inspiration behind it all) and Erin (the head cheerleader) are hosting a fantastic Mug Rug - April Showers Blog Hop!
 Many thanks to them for inviting me to join in all the fun!!
Hip, Hip Hooray!

International viewers, bloggers, "Followers" and the Internet world are welcome here!


 

Make sure to click on the following blogs to see what others are doing & giving away today!!



http://www.fromthistothatbybobbalou.blogspot.com/ = Bobbie
http://lesquilts.blogspot.com/ = Leslie
http://meadowbrook-kristen.blogspot.com/ = Kristen
http://zellerwear.blogspot.com/ = Lavonna
http://www.thimblemouseandspouse.blogspot.com/ = Lynn
http://www.sewincrediblycrazy.blogspot.com/ = Amy
http://livinglife-martha.blogspot.com/ = Martha
http://creativeinspiraciones.blogspot.com/ = Shawn
http://www.quiltingadventuresofagingerblogspot.com/ = Toye
http://ravelly1-quiltzblog.blogspot.com/ = Ravelly1 Rhonda (you're here at my blog)

Oh boy, oh boy, it's my turn for April Showers Mug Rug Hop and boy do I have loads of things to show, tell and give away.

First....
Let me show you how I make my mug rugs.....

My concept , the word Spring, for example.

 I found a font that I liked, printed it off, placed it on my light-box face down and traced the letter onto my favorite adhesive - Steam-a-Seam. BTW, I should buy stock in that adhesive, I use so much.

I have chosen six springy fabrics to press the letter onto the wrong side.

After cutting letter out, I chose a beige background that will show off the feeling of spring.

These needles are the best, I've found, for narrowly stitching around the edge of the letters. I have the needles in bulk.....LOL

This is an open-footed foot and I've moved the needle to the far right. I love this foot because it allow me to see where I sewing.

Now I stitch the letters down about a sixteenth of an inch or less from the edge.

Letters are now sewn down, the backing is a floral red and I've pinned everything so it's ready to meander around.

All sewn, meandered and trimmed

 

Next comes the binding. I'm doing the binding in the background red floral...very smart on my part because I'm not so good with this part. Sometimes I do use fabrics like muslin as a backing.

I usually hand hem the binding but on occasion I machine stitch it.

All finished!!!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Secondly......

As a big thank you for stopping by,

here's what's in my first 

give-away package.....

Yes there are 2 give-aways in my hop!

 

This mug rug is just waiting for a hot cup of coffee or tea or a glass of your favorite beverage to shade it from all those April Showers.

I love the green/blue/red/yellow fabric I used. It reminds me of "SPRING" one of my favorite seasons.

This Tea-towel is included in this give away. It will look great in the kitchen. I used the same fabric and notice that it matches the strips of the Tea-towel. That just happened, I really didn't plan it.

 

  Still more goodies .........

 

This is a great book to add to your library. Nancy Zieman walks you through several fun and decorative projects to dress up or brighten a room.

See that blue container....there's a little something extra for one luck commenter. Also, I've added some plastic bags. These are always welcome when on retreat,

at a sew-in or to use in your sewing area.

A great little stress ball or hand exerciser to squeeze. It's so soft, can't you just see

how soft it is..... ;-}

 

And finally in this photo are

twenty 10 inch blocks

 and

 twenty 5 inch blocks of fabrics.

These wonderful fabrics are just waiting to be loved and used in someone's project!!

To receive all the wonderful items just leave a comment & Mr. Random will do all the work.

 By the way, I'd love for  you to become a "FOLLOWER,"

& stick around for all the "whacky" fun and happenings at Ravelly1. You would

certainly brighten my life 

but

 it is not a requirement.

 

International viewers are welcome to participate in the give away.

I'll announce the winner on April 13th after Mr. Random picks a number.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 And Third............

 

Remember this little mug rug???

Well, this is my second  smaller give away.

It needs a home to brighten someone's coffee/tea/beverage time.

I will be using Mr. Random to pick another number from the commenters.

I'll announce the winner on April 13th, as well.

 

 

Remember you're visiting Ravelly1 - Rhonda

http://ravelly1-quiltzblog.blogspot.com

Visit anytime to read about my "whacky" world of fabric, BOM, quilt blocks, farm animals and life in general!!

 

 

 

 This LINK gives you a full listing for all the April Showers Mug Rug Hop participants!

Hooray and a big Whoop!

Back From Retreat

Annie (no blog) worked on and/or showed off the above projects.

The yellow star you see beginning to take shape is from our Christmas tree challenge 2011.

 

Molly finished these two fabulous quilt tops. You may recognize her "Boot Bash" BOM designs.

Kathleen (hasn't blogged in awhile) worked on our new challenge 2012 which I will post about in more detail soon.

I finally finished my "FONT" quilt top and was very happy with the way it turned out.  This might just turn into another BOM.... maybe but don't hold me to that one.

Kathy got all her cutting and sorting done before she started on our challenge.

A great time was had by all!!!

Relax

Therapeutic folding was very much needing after my traumatic experience with the frog.  Just thinking about the little varmit (that's Texas talk for unsavory critter) makes me shiver.  So I'm out in the "sewing studio" folding and refolding fabric to my heart's content.
I'm finding some fabrics that I didn't know I had.... imagine that! Those are going on top so I can find them and use them up. Also refolding helps to keep the fabrics fresh in my mind and creases from being permanent, if you know what I mean.
I pulled out one of my long tables to help with the folding and then I neatly place the folded fabrics back on the shelves.
Ah, I'm feeling much better!

Just a Thought

I'm no Spring Chicken anymore but I done seem to realize it. I get plenty of sleep, try to eat healthy, drink water and manage to get in a little exercise. I, also laugh a lot.....even at myself.....I communicate often with my wonderful "sisters of the heart" girlfriends and with the older folks in my community.....they need a little love, too. When I visit my doctor, the first thing he asks me is, "How are you feeling?" My reply always is, "I feel great and I'm on top of the world!" He is always amazed at my attitude.......he says he rarely sees any patient who is this positive. So I just wanted to say is.......try to have a positive attitude, do something encouraging to yourself and others each day and stay in touch with your friends and family even if it's only via phone or email. Enjoy life!

No Worries

If you don't hear from me for awhile....don't worry. I'm off for a well needed retreat with my wacky girlfriends.  My plans are to relax, laugh and get a little machine embroidery, which I have been neglecting.  I'll be putting the final touches on the February "Lazy Hearts" BOM to be published Feb. 1st....... on my sidebar.
But I'm so excited about next month's BOM that I'll just go ahead and show it. 
As you can see, I'm holding the block up for you to.............wait a minute...........I think my tripod handle got loose and slipped alittle........sorry about that..........I guess we'd better wait until February for the viewing and instructions.

"Featured" - WOW

Greetings All! I am so excited to be featured on Spinndiva Bridgett's blog.  (LINK) I'd love it if you'd pop over to her blog and take a look and please, leave her a comment.

Peaceful Lake

This little lake is one of the places that I hide out at just enjoying nature and the quiet. Even though I'm retired, life can sometimes put loads of pressure on me but this little hide-out gets me back on track............shhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Find yourself a little hide-out even if it's within your own backyard.

All Stressed Out?

Sometimes it helps to think of happy peaceful scenes....you know....like maybe a upastoral field......yea, that's it. A field with small babbling brook surrounded by wild flowers and honeybees. Picture yourself there on a glorious summer's day...are you picturing it....so peaceful are you........and then suddenly.....you're holding someone's head under the water.....now you're letting them up for a second......then BLAM!.......... Back into the freezing water....over and over again!............There....feel better? I couldn't resist sharing this little moment with all of you who may have had a bad week or dark thougts. This little moment of "meditation" will help to ease you though nearly anything without causing bodily harm.......hopefully.