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

91 comments:

  1. Your Oregon idea turned out wonderful. Your outlook is wonderful as well. Be blessed!

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  2. Love your dancing in the rain mug rug! Thank you for sharing.

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  3. The perfect mug rug to start the day with. Reading the saying every morning should brighten your days. Very pretty.

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  4. Creative- love the photo you chose ;)

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  5. Your description of the weather in Oregon sounds very much like the weather in Texas. Just wait a few minutes and it will change.
    Love your mug rug and thanks for the tutorial about the printing fabric process.

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  6. Love your mug rug! It and the quote are quite beautiful!

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  7. What a great idea. It is very nice.

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  8. What a clever idea, thanks for sharing!

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  9. Great idea. Thanks for sharing today. I love the picture.

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  10. veryyyyyy interesting....I so love rainy days...

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  11. Wow, stunning mug rug. Rain makes things grow and is necessary to see a rainbow.

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  12. Very nice mug rug. I'm wondering what kind of fabric you used as I print on my own treated cotton and it's as easy as pie to stitch through.

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  13. Beautiful mug rug and thanks for sharing your experience.

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  14. What a wonderful and inspiring quote! And the music background really is so appropriate!

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  15. Great job...and thanks for the tip about embroidery and printable fabric!

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  16. I could use a little dancing in the rain fun, so I'll join you! Such a fun little mug rug...very nice.

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  17. what a good inspirational start to the day. thanks for sharing.

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  18. How appropriate! Great job! Enjoy your rain!!!

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  19. There is a software called Photoscape. It is a free download. I have been using it for 5 years now and love it. You can take your photos in to it and put text on them before you ever print them on fabric sheets.

    Love your mug rug!

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  20. Artistic, creative and wonderfully executed!

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  21. Lavonna,
    Lovely!And so worth the 2 broken needles. Lovely finish! :) Beulah

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  22. Lot's of rain to dance here in my area...love the concept you chose here...nice work :)

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  23. I absolutely love this! The perfect picture with the perfect quote! I'll be doing a little dancing today myself....thanks for sharing!

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  24. So creative.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Frederika

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  25. I love your art mug rug....and I really love to dance in the rain also...Kudos to you for expressing it...Have a great day.

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  26. Now the song and dance Singing in the Rain is in my head - way cool, love that movie.

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  27. What a fabulous quote! Nice job on the mug rug.

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  28. I like what you did, representing Oregon and her climate. Your mug rug is just delightful and thanks for your sewing tips.

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  29. What a wonderful quote--one that can be inspiring to all of us at one time or another. You did such a great job on your mug rug. I think it was worth breaking 2 needles!

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  30. Gorgeous. I grew up around Portland. People in other parts of the country do not understand that a rainy day is not the end of the world, and no you do not need an umbrella for sprinkles.

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  31. What a great story and I love how your mug rug represents strength! Happy Friday :)

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  32. Lovely... both the mug rug and the inspiring quote! I'm going to add snow in there somehow and try to keep it in mind ;-D

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  33. Will try! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  34. I am loving your mug rug and the saying! What a great quote!(I danced in the rain yesterday) You did a wonderful job in making it. Thank you for sharing.

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  35. Beautiful! Love your printing on fabric and the quote! Thanks for sharing.

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  36. Your quote is so true and reminds me when I was a child and first experienced a warm rain in the midwest. Great picture too. Thanks for sharing, from NoCAL.

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  37. Ah yes the Oregon and Washington rain. I never thought I would miss the rain after moving to New Mexico 15 years ago, but now I do. We don't get much rain here and we've been in a drought for several years, so could you possibly send some of that Pacific Northwest rain here? I lived in Portland when I was a little girl. Then we moved to California. Years later when I married, we moved to WA state for 17 years. Hard to get used to the rain at first after CA living and now I miss not having at least some rain.

    You captured the rain beautifully in your mug rug.

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  38. Beautiful mug rug. Great outlook. Wonderful inspiration. Thank you for sharing.

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  39. That is a great idea and it makes a wonderful April Showers mug rug. The music mug is perfect for it.

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  40. I LOVE this!! I had never heard the saying before and it sure is inspirational. And the photos is perfect! Good luck with the changes in your life, but I feel pretty certain that all will be ok with you. Your attitude, as shown by your creation, will carry you far and help you overcome many obstacles.

    Now, since it's raining here and I've been waiting for it to stop before heading outside, I'm taking a bold stand and be like you. I'm taking off my shoes, turning on the radio and going outside to dance. THANK YOU!!

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  41. Your mug rug is wonderful! I've printed onto fabric before and had no problems with embroidery. I don't use printable fabric. I use just regular ole cotton fabric and attach it to a sheet of copy paper with freezer paper. An idea I got from Pintest.

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  42. Your mug rug with the photo is beautiful. Thanks for sharing

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  43. I love your mug rug - and the words are just perfect!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  44. We lived in Portland for 21 years and I really can't remember using an umbrella either. Love how you picked the perfect picture for you mug rug.

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  45. That is gorgeous....Love the picture and the quote. Great job.

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  46. I would love to dance with you..with your mug rug...very nice.

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  47. Great mug rug! Thank you for sharing.

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  48. Good attitude, Lavonna . Wonderful sentiment that you would to make your mug rug. It looks great with the mug you chose to go with it too.

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  49. Rather inspirational on sew many levels. Great job.

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  50. Lavonna, I reposted your quote on my blog and wanted to let you know. Here's the link if you're interested.

    http://joanne-everyonedeservesaquilt.blogspot.com/2013/04/perspective.html

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  51. Lovely use of various techniques for a special mug rug and thank you for the inspiration.

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  52. Great photo to use and your phrase is 100%. Really neat!

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  53. Great mug rug - and a wonderful quote!

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  54. Lavonna, I love it! What a gorgeous idea and result, it's stunning! Thank you for showing.

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  55. What a gorgeous idea and result, very original and absolutely stunning! Thanks for sharing!

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  56. Wow! What a fun idea to print on fabric. I've never done it before and you've inspired me to give it a try! I hope things in your life let up and get less "rainy" for you!

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  57. Original!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Marisa from
    http://passionetcouture.blogspot.ca/

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  58. I love the quote and picture. Your mug rug came out great.

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  59. Great quote and picture and good tip about embroidery not working well on projects like this. Thanks for sharing.

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  60. Dancing in the rain is wonderful and I'll join you. One of my favorite things to do growing up was to play outside in the rain. Mom would only let us when it was a warm, soft rain with no thunder and lightening. Your quote and the photo were lovely. Great rug!

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  61. I love dancing in the rain, every cloud has a silver lining.

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  62. I'll be dancing with you....that's the best way to get through the rainy times! Great job!

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  63. I love to be in the rain!!!
    Living here in Texas we don't get much and when we do I am in it:) Love when you are shopping and everybody is hiding under the awning so they don't get wet.... not me I walk right to my car:) What looks I get!!!!

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  64. Oregonians don't need no stinkin' umbrellas! :)

    Seriously, it's just water. I've lived in Oregon my whole life and I love the rain. During summer downpours I used to take my kids outside and get them all washed up right then. It was great fun and they thought I was really cool for letting them shower in the rain.

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  65. Your mug rug is fabulous! I love the method you used, the thought behind it and the sentiment.

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  66. Fantastic mug rug. Great idea with the photo. Thanks for sharing.

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  67. I have always enjoyed dancing in the rain. Although I am from PA I dislike umbrellas and would rather just get wet. Thanks for sharing and glad for the tip about not embroidering on photo print fabric.

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  68. I really appreciated your reflections (and the lovely mug rug.) Thank you!

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  69. What a fantastic idea! It turned out wonderfully & is a great depiction of your description! Thanks for participating & inspiring us!

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  70. what a beautiful piece of art you made and nicer still to learn a lesson along the way :)

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  71. Beautiful! I love your mug rug, thank you for sharing!

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  72. I'll dance with ya!! Thanks for sharing - absolutely gorgeous! Love it. Thank you so much for participating in the hop with us!

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  73. What a great pic and quote! My daughter would love both ... they're representative of some of her own struggles. Thanks for sharing from another resident of the Willamette Valley!

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  74. Love dancing in the rain and your mug rug. Thanks for sharing your heart and letting others see how their craft can be an encouragement to embrace all of life. Blessings,

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  75. Awesome rug. Love the picture you chose. I'll have to keep the needle tip in mind if I use printable fabric. I am rather fond of embroidery.

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  76. I love the picture you chose and the quote. Simply lovely.

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  77. This is lovely - I love the dance in the rain too! Thanks for sharing.

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  78. Love your quote and your mug rug. These little projects are perfect for trying new things. Thanks for sharing your experience with the embroidery.

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  79. Great job. Love the idea of photo mug rugs.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  80. Looooove your Beautiful Mug Rug!!! It is an absolutely true picture & verse!! God Bless your days!!

    Ohio Hugs!!
    Lori :)

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