Thursday, April 11, 2013

April Showers Blog Hop - My Turn!

It is my day for the April Showers Blog Hop and my opportunity to share with you my Mug Rug.

A BIG thank you to Madame Samm for her organization, to Erin for being our cheerleader as well as our sponsors, Fabri-Quilt.

And now to the Mug Rug  ~

Since I live within the Northern part of the Willamette Valley of Oregon, we can get plenty of April Showers. When challenged with the theme of this Blog Hop, I wanted to truly have my project represent the state from which I live. Oregonians rarely use umbrellas. Why? I think it is because we are a very proud people. We like to be tougher than the raindrops. It rains here, no duh. That is why everything here is so green. :) Since rain is a pretty normal thing here, it can change from rain to sun in an instant, and you can often get both of them at the same time in your front yard, followed by hail and a rainbow, or all four at the same time! I wanted my project to represent the fact that I am an Oregonian.

I went in search of inspiration online and found the following quote:

"Anyone who thinks sunshine is pure happiness, has never danced in the rain."

I then went in search of the right photo. I found this:

I put it all together, and it looks like this:





I printed off the picture onto printable fabric. I had never used this stuff before, so I learned a lot in the process. It is not really embroidery friendly and I ended up breaking 2 needles while trying to embroider the quote onto it. Note to self: you may not want to embroider directly onto printable fabric next time and come up with a different option next time you use it.

I felt this quote and photo was so very appropriate for my life right now. There have been some recent changes in our lives as of late that would not necessarily be considered "sunshiney moments", but more rather "rainy" kind of things to happen. Instead of hiding from the rain, or avoiding the rain, I prefer to choose to dance instead. Why complain about the rain? There are so many benefits of rain that we would not have unless the rain comes. I would rather celebrate that.

So, I will shed my umbrella and DANCE in the rain. How about you, won't you join me?

Please enjoy the other bloggers today:

FRIDAY, APRIL 12th
Bobbie @ From This to That
Leslie @ Les Quilts
Kristen @ Meadowbrook
Lavonna @ Zellerwear (you are here)
Lynn @ Thimblemouse & Spouse
Amy @ Sew Incredibly Crazy
Martha @ Living Life
Shawn @ Creative Inspiraciones
Rhonda @ Sunrise at Ravelly's!
Toye @ Quilting Adventures of a Ginger

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Winner of last giveaway and NEW blog Hop!


MONDAY, APRIL 8:
Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy
 Patty @ A Stitch in Time
Jenny @ Squawk That
Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt
Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio
Lisa @ In The Boon Docks
Julie @ Jolie Maxtin: the project girl
Beluah @ Sowing Stitches
Karen @ Bungalow Bay Quilts
DeAnna @ Georgia Girl Quilter
TUESDAY, APRIL 9th
Gina @ Sew Much and More
Sharon @ Vroomans Quilts
Theresa @ Bumbleberry Stitches
Jennet @ The Feathered Nest Studio
Patti @ A Yankee in Queen Liz's Court
Gene @ Gene Black - Alabama Artist
Susan @ Susan's Scrappy Domain
Bente @ I Like to Quiltblog
Deb @ Quilting & Other Craft Therapy
Megan @ AnnieOak Designs  
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10th
Hayley @ Mrs. Pickles
Karen @ Sew Much 2 Luv
Mélanie @ Les passions de Cliodana
Cindy @ Quilt Doodle Doodles
Jamie @ Busy Bee Quilts
Judy @ That Other Blog
Regena @ The Distracted Domestic
Amy @ Domesticity and other Ponderous Things
Denise @ My Whittle Adventures
Heather @ a Reformed Heath'n
Marica @ ~Englating~
THURSDAY, APRIL 11th
Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures
Jill @ Apple Avenue Quilts
Cathy @ Cathy's Chatter
Quilter Kathy @ Kathy's Quilts
Marsha @ Quilter in Motion
Pat @ Life in the Scrapatch
Connie @ Shepody Mountain Crafter
Vickey @ Gingersnaps Quilts
Danielle @ A Geeky Crafty Life
Gwen @ Get More Done...Today
Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After!
FRIDAY, APRIL 12th
Bobbie @ From This to That
Leslie @ Les Quilts
Kristen @ Meadowbrook
Lavonna @ ZellerWear
Lynn @ Thimblemouse & Spouse
Amy @ Sew Incredibly Crazy
Martha @ Living Life
Shawn @ Creative Inspiraciones
Rhonda @ Sunrise at Ravelly's!
Toye @ Quilting Adventures of a Ginger
MONDAY, APRIL 15th
Cathy @ Cate's Linens
Nicola @ Sunshine Reflections
Martina @ Sunshinequilting
Judith @ Frimart
Anita @ Anita's quilts en handwerken
Linda @ Sew Nicely
Kris @ krislovesfabric
Laura Ann @ The Fuzzy Hat Quilter
Carol @ Just let me Quilt
Selina @ Selina Quilts
Mary @ Crooked Gulley Art Quilts
Marisa @ Passion et Couture
TUESDAY, APRIL 16th
Cathi @ Quilt Obsession
Jane @ Jane's Fabrics and Quilts
Heidi @ Nutz4Redwork
Cherry @ Cherry'sPrairiePrimatives
Christine @ Quilt Monster in my Closet
Vickie @ More Stars in Comanche
Pauline @ Stekje
Jan @ Jan's Art Friendzy
Nissa @ Nissa Made Stuff
Robin @ As Sweet As Peaches
Lyndsey @ Sew Many Yarns
Eleni @ That Other Blog
Wednesday, April 17
Jen @ Quilter in the Closet
Marjorie @ Marjorie's Busy Corner
Elita @ A Pieceful Perspective
Green @ So Sew Green
Mara @ Greco Mara
Wendy @ Why Knot Kwilt?
Gmama Jane @ GrandMama's Stories
Debby @ Debby Kratovil Quilts
Britt-Inger @ Hill Valley Quilter
Connie @ Freemotion by the River
Beth @ Words and Stitches
Kathy @ iHeartSquishy
The winner of our last giveaway for a hanging heart and some of my tatting scraps is Frances. She has been contacted, and the package goes in the mail this week.
Congratulations!

Here is our next Blog Hop: April Showers!

Thursday April 18
Merry Gay @ Merry Gay in Stitches
Mary @ Sew Maybe I Can
Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt
Linda @ Buzzing and Bumbling
Mary @ NeedledMom
Sherry @ Peanuts Patchwork
Fredrika @ Feltfree på Åsly 
Shauna @ Welcome to Shauna's World
Sharon @ Dancing thru Threads
Madame Samm @ !Sew WE Quilt!