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:
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Winner of last giveaway and NEW blog Hop!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Stitch Me Up - My Turn!
It is my turn for the Stitch Me Up Blog Hop!
May I extend a big Thank You to Madame Samm and Jane as well as our sponsor, Colonial Needle.
Here is what you came for ~
I was excited for this Embroidery Blog Hop, for I had a project on my "I think I should make this..." list for several months that would fit perfectly into this hop. I used to embroider a lot before I had kids and when my boys were really young. I loved crazy quilting and really enjoyed embroidering a variety of stitches and even would accent the embroidery with beads.
Here are a couple of bears that I have crazy quilted.
More about this project - I would make these hearts and sell them at crafter's markets and bazaars.
When unpacking from my move last spring, I happened to come across a bucket full of 44 finished crazy quilted hearts, fully embroidered and ready to be made into these hanging hearts that I evidently had made many many moons ago. I realized that I most likely would have NO outlet to ditch these hearts onto people who would never pay me enough money to cover for the time I put in to them, so I thought perhaps they would look good in a quilt. I mapped out the plan for the quilt and decided then that crazy quilted borders would look good on this to tie it all together.
I put the picture on my design wall, bought some simple muslin to put the hearts on, cut them into squares, sewed a few onto the squares and then the project sat in another bucket waiting for time/desire to continue. When this blog hop came along, I had a reason to start and finish this project!
And now the project ~
First of all, here are the "required" elements: I incorporated a few of the embroidery designs that were given to us in the crazy quilted borders.
Now for the other stuff ~
May I extend a big Thank You to Madame Samm and Jane as well as our sponsor, Colonial Needle.
Here is what you came for ~
I was excited for this Embroidery Blog Hop, for I had a project on my "I think I should make this..." list for several months that would fit perfectly into this hop. I used to embroider a lot before I had kids and when my boys were really young. I loved crazy quilting and really enjoyed embroidering a variety of stitches and even would accent the embroidery with beads.
Here are a couple of bears that I have crazy quilted.
More about this project - I would make these hearts and sell them at crafter's markets and bazaars.
When unpacking from my move last spring, I happened to come across a bucket full of 44 finished crazy quilted hearts, fully embroidered and ready to be made into these hanging hearts that I evidently had made many many moons ago. I realized that I most likely would have NO outlet to ditch these hearts onto people who would never pay me enough money to cover for the time I put in to them, so I thought perhaps they would look good in a quilt. I mapped out the plan for the quilt and decided then that crazy quilted borders would look good on this to tie it all together.
I put the picture on my design wall, bought some simple muslin to put the hearts on, cut them into squares, sewed a few onto the squares and then the project sat in another bucket waiting for time/desire to continue. When this blog hop came along, I had a reason to start and finish this project!
And now the project ~
First of all, here are the "required" elements: I incorporated a few of the embroidery designs that were given to us in the crazy quilted borders.
One of the hearts
Quilted with a light lavender thread outlining the hearts and then in meandering circles and hearts.
Borders before embroidery and quilting
My personal favorite of all of the embroidered designs features tatted flowers that I had made and saved for who knows what.
Here is the complete project (as of today).
I still need to finish the bottom border and then get the binding on, but here it is so far.
Here is the complete project (as of today).
I still need to finish the bottom border and then get the binding on, but here it is so far.
I placed several tatted pieces in the crazy borders. Believe it or not, these pieces of tatting are part of my test samples. My rejects, if you will, like the patterns that I was trying to figure out, but they didn't quite become really what I was looking for as I made them up. Yes, I am a tatter. Regular shuttle tatting, none of that fat needle stuff that then doesn't look like tatting because it isn't dainty enough. Learned from a friend of mine in college as payment for me sewing some bridesmaid's items for her. Best payment I have EVER received. As for the projects I have made with my tatting, that will have to wait for another blog post.
Here's the other bloggers to enjoy!
This quilt will eventually go on my 11 year old step-daughter's bed once I get it completed. (It is my Spring Break now, so hopefully I will have some more time this week to get it closer to completion).
And now for my Giveaway!
For one lucky winner, you will receive one of my hanging hearts in either blue, green or pink tones as well as a small bag of some of my "tatting scraps" for you to do with whatever you like. Please leave a comment below telling me what YOU would like to do on your Spring Break (whether or not you get one) and tell me what color of heart you would prefer.
HAPPY BLOGGING, EVERYONE!
Lavonna ZWB
Here's the other bloggers to enjoy!
Tomorrow's Treasures Today ( no show)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Stitch Me Up Blog Hop Schedule
Stitch Me Up Schedule
New Blog Hop!
Here is the schedule:
WEDNESDAY March 20th
Karen@That Other Blog
Susan @That Other Blog
Pig Tales and Quilts (moved to the 22nd)
THURSDAY March 21st
Janice@ That Other Blog
Angela@ That Other Blog
FRIDAY March 22nd
Keri@That Other Blog
Heather@That Other Blog
MONDAY MARCH 25th
Beverly @That Other Blog
Betty@That Other Blog
THURSDAY MARCH 28th
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