Wednesday, April 10, 2013

April Showers Blog Hop

This has already been such a fun blog hop and there have been so many creative and wonderful mug rugs that everyone has shared. I want to express appreciation to Madame Samm and Erin for bringing this blog hop to us and making it such a success (along with all the other many hops that M. Samm brings us!)

My daughter and her family live next door and for Easter the grandkids all got these cute umbrellas. Fortunately for the kids, it rained that day and they were able to try out their new umbrellas while their Mom took this picture of them. When she showed it to me, I got all excited and had her send it to me--I knew it would be perfect for this blog hop and I knew JUST what I would do with it!

I printed that photo onto fabric and made it into a mug rug! I found some bright umbrella fabric that really seemed to complement the photo.

There are 3 of us in our little family here at home and usually what I do for one, I do for all. So that meant that ONE mug rug was not enough. My next idea was to use Sunbonnet Sue:


That still left my husband, so I needed to come up with something a bit more masculine. I was wracking my brain and thought that maybe Sunbonnet Sue could use a companion. I had one those "light bulb" moments when I remembered the Wee Tots that Madame Samm drew for the Stitch Me Up Blog Hop. I thought there was a little boy in that collection and there WAS!


I printed this little boy out to his full page size, then reduced him by half. Finally, I added a rain jacket and some boots and made a little appliqued Wee Tot.


Once I had him made, all I had to do was place him into the appropriate background and then I had my husband's mug rug!


I thought I was done with mug rugs for this hop, until I began thinking (dangerous thing to do!) I enjoy sewing when it rains, but what I REALLY like to do is to curl up with a good book! And I have this chair where I like to sit and read (and enjoy the occasional snack) and it would be wonderful to have a mug rug to use on the table next to my chair.

My mind began whirling with ideas and I remembered that Melissa at Happy Quilting had created this wonderful storybook quilt. I wasn't interested in making a whole quilt using books, but this seemed like the perfect starting point for my reading mug rug.



So now I can sit and read and enjoy a nice cup of herb tea and maybe even a bowl of Ladyfinger popcorn!

The forsythia is so bright and beautiful--I thought it made the perfect backdrop for these mug rugs. Isn't it wonderful to have those April showers bringing us such a lovely display of color?!

Be sure to go and visit the other blogs today to see what they've created:

And don't forget to visit Madame Samm's blog each day to find out what other blogs are also hopping with us--all the way through next week until April 18th!

Have a Happy Spring!

103 comments:

  1. The Wee Tot and the Sunbonnet Sue are just the cutest things. You are sew creative. Thanks so much for sharing ... :-) Pat

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  2. ... and the grandkids are adorable ... <3 Pat

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  3. Just love the grandies and their cute umbrellas - Sue is a classic - love the wee tot!! You really had fun with this and thank you for sharing with us.

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  4. Sew imaginative! I love all your mug rugs! Thanks for sharing.

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  5. All of them are lovely, but I love the memories that are captured on your first one, so fun!

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  6. Love all your mug rugs, but your Grands with the darling umbrellas is my favorite! Thank you for sharing.

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  7. All your rugs are just cute as a button and so are those cutie kiddos! Nothing like playing in the rain with stylish umbrellas! Great work! :)

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  8. Oh my, all your mug rugs are just precious!! How much fun was it for you grandkids receive those cute unbrellas and then get to use the the same day. Mdm Samm's wee tot boy was the perfect opposite for Sue Bonnet. Thanks for sharing!!

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  9. Deus continue a abençoar a sua criatividade!!!!Você ARRASOU!!!Parabéns!NETOS É TUDO DE BOM.Abraços.

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  10. So creative & the forsythia- gorgeous!

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  11. What a lovely mug rugs. I like the one with the boy the most.

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  12. You mug rugs are so fun and cute and the picture of the forsythia in back ground is so smashing. We will wait some time here in Sweden until forsythia bushes come to bloom. My favorite mug rug is the one with the boy. Thanks for sharing your creativity

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  13. Love your collection of mug rugs. I like to read on rainy days too (if I am not sewing that is!)

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  14. I love your mug rugs, what great ideas you had! I love your bright and happy colored blogpost, it made me smile reading and seeing the fun details you added to your mug rugs. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Gwen, you are sew creative. I love all your mug rugs and those grandkids with the umbrellas are precious!

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  16. Beautiful mug rugs and I love, love the one with the photo. So precious.

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  17. YEP! I bet these make top honors today! VERY creative!

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  18. Wow they are filled with color and design...very creative. I hope you have a great day.

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  19. Fantastic mug rugs! You have been busy. I like them all.

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  20. These are amazeing. Love the wee tot boy applique. You did a fabulous job on all if them but I really love the boy....Thank you for shareing all of them with us...

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  21. Love your mug rugs - thanks for sharing.

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  22. So creative! Great idea to include a photograph that matches the theme! I really like your Sunbonnet Sue and "Read" mug rugs.

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  23. Fabulous mug rugs! I love the little boy one!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  24. The wee tot mug rug is so cute. I love your "transformation" on it.

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  25. I love all your mug rugs. They are so creative. Thanks for sharing

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  26. You made today so much fun...thanks...love them

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  27. These mug rugs are all so creative! I love the story behind each one. Love the one with the grandkids picture the best! Wonderful job!

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  28. They look great! I especially love the book one (hey I am a librarian after all!)

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  29. I love each and every mug rug you created...especially the photo transfer one.
    And what a great photo by the yellow forsythia!

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  30. Good Morning Gwen...oh wow....such lovely eye candy this morning..your wee tot completely ready for splashing made my heart smile....my boys did that a lot ....wet from the top of their head to their wet toes...I have been known to jump in a puddle too...They will say I taught them....
    great mug rugs...

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  31. I don't know where to comment first! The grands seem to be having a lovely time with those cute umbrellas so of course, the photo transfer will capture that moment in time.

    It would be hard to pick a favorite from the other three you thought out so well! I guess it would be the wee tot boy turned into the applique and stomping in the puddles! That frog is hopping for dear life! Just makes me smile and I hope your husband does as well!

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  32. Wonderful! Frogs and little boys are always a good mix! All your mug rugs are great!

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  33. Great variety! These are all fabulous Gwen!

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  34. I think I will make our librarians a opulent of mug rugs with your idea. All of yours are very nice!!!

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  35. Each rug better than the last, these are all wonderful designs!

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  36. Wow! You are so creative with design and color and fun! I love every one of these!

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  37. great designs! just love the one with the photo - how cute those kids are!

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  38. Great job on all your mug rugs. Hard to do just one!

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  39. I love what you did with that little boy...so dang cute! Your mug rugs are just beautiful and make me want to jump in a rain puddle or two. :O)

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  40. Your mug rugs are fabulous! Great job! My boys have the duck and frog umbrellas too - they loved them when they were smaller!

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  41. Those are all darling. I especially like the little by with a puddle and frog!!!

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  42. Those umbrellas are so cute! Then the mug rugs you made are wonderful.

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  43. Your mug rugs are my favorite! I love Sunbonnet Sue and that is so precious!

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  44. Great Rugs. I love them.I like your husbands mug rug with the little boy.

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  45. WOW! These are awesome! I really love all of them, especially Sunbonnet Sue.(I am a big fan.) You did a wonderful job. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  46. Gwen-Your mug rugs are great, especially the one with the picture on it. From California, thanks for sharing.

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  47. These are so adorable! I love the bright fabrics and cute, cute patterns. I've been looking for a cute book pattern to make for my daughter who will be starting a job as a librarian next week. This pattern will be perfect! I'm so glad I visited you today!

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  48. Wow you are one very creative lady! I love your mug rugs. What a fabulous idea to use the picture on the one. Thank you for sharing.

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  49. wonderful job on all of your mug rugs. I like how the little boy is about ready to splash the puddle and that the frog is hopping away. That's what I'm going to do is hop away to do some more hopping. Thanks.

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  50. Amazing mug rugs! I haven't tried putting a photo on fabric yet. Brilliant!

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  51. Gwen your mug rugs are fabulous! I love them all! The first one with the picture is a great idea! Your applique of Sunbonnet Sue and the Wee Tots boy is amazing, love the colors. I loved the pieced books and very appropriate for a snack while curling up with a good book! Thanks for participating and inspiring us today!

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  52. I love all your mug rugs but my favourite is your husbands puddle jumping mat.

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  53. Wonderful mug rugs. ANd the photo one was really perfect. Nice to be able to look at the grandkids all the time too.

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  54. I love all your mug rugs!!!!! They are original!!!!
    Marisa.

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  55. Very cute mug rugs! All of them are so creative.

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  56. Wonderful mug rugs... each one is so very creative! You did a great job.

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  57. I love your mug rugs-so creative!

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  58. Oh my gosh - the book one.... Wow. I might just have to make one. SOON!!

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  59. Wow! I love them all but the kiddos pic in the rain is sooo fun! I have to do this with my grandkids. Thanks for the ideas and sharing.

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  60. Oh, my goodness! You have made some wonderful mug rugs. I love the book one!

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  61. All three rugs are just excellent! Loved the idea of the picture on fabric and what cute umbrellas!! Sue and Wee Tot are so well executed; almost too cute to use!

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  62. Sew Sweet and Creative! Thanks for sharing...Judith, Texas

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  63. Great mug rugs. The wee tot reminds me of my grandsons out in the rain with their boots puddle stompin!

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  64. Oh my gosh! The one with the pics of your grandbabies is AWESOME!!! Thanks for sharing :)

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  65. Adorable. April Showers all over!

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  66. They are all sweet but I esp like the books one:)
    Yes I love to read and eat chocolate:)
    Great job on all of them!

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  67. Wow...you really got creative with your mug rugs. I like the one with the pic of the kids...makes it very personal. Great job. Thanks for sharing.

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  68. Love your mug rugs, but my favorite is the little boy in the puddle.!
    cheers
    maggie

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  69. I love how you used the photo of your kids with their umbrellas and matched it up with the umbrella fabric. Perfect!

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  70. Love all of your mug rugs, but my fav is the one with the books! Love it!

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  71. What a great idea to use the photo for the base of the mug rug. Your wee tot isn't too shabby either. What a great use of all of the various quilting styles. wonderful contribution.

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  72. Wow. Very nice. Love the appliqued kids.

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  73. These are fun and soooooo creative!

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  74. Very cute mug rugs! Beautiful picture with them hanging on your forsythia bush. They aren't blooming yet in my area. Soon, I hope.

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  75. Your mug rugs are adorable! You did a great job!

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  76. Love your lovely mug rugs, choice of colors, and design!! May April Showers bring you lots of May Blessings!!!! I do believe I would have selected one of your mug rugs as Top 2!
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

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  77. Your applique is amazing - can't pick just one.

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  78. I think these are some of the cutest and most creative that I've seen! Great job!

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  79. All 3 of these mug rugs are splendid! Love the creativity!

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  80. Very creative! Thank you so much for sharing with us. :)

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  81. Great rugs! I really love the "book" rug though. Thanks for sharing.

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  82. Wonderful! I especially love the book one!

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  83. Oh my goodness you are so talented! I love your mug rugs!

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  84. Adorable mug rugs! Thank you for sharing!

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  85. Ahhhh! That picture of the kids is soooo adorable and so perfect! Thanks for participating with us!!!

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  86. What super-fun mug rugs. I love how the colors work and how they all go together. I also love reading ... I'm pinning that one for future reference :) Thanks for sharing!

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  87. I would love to have those cute boy and girl mug rugs. Great job!

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  88. Oooh they are all lovely - I love the way you have incorporated the picture on the first one. Thanks for sharing.

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  89. your mugrugs are so cute, really lovely!
    Well done thanks so much for sharing ☺

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  90. Great job! They are terrific. Great choice of fabrics.

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  91. Oh, I love your mug rugs! They are SO creative! I think I especially like what you did with the one for your husband. I was expecting an embroidered version but I love what you did with it! Great job with super inspiration - Thanks for sharing!

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  92. Oh - very creative and very nicely done. I love them all. Thanks for inspiring.

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  93. What wonderful mug rugs and you added so much creativity to them! Hope you are feeling better!

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