Mug Rug Blog Hop and a Giveaway!

It's the last day of the April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop, which means that it's my day to share. YEAH!!!!

I have so enjoyed seeing all the wonderful creations over the past two weeks and am in awe of the talent of so many people. Thanks to everyone who has participated.

I also want to send a great big thank you to our cheerleader

Erin at Sew at home Mummy 

and

Madame Samm @ !Sew WE Quilt!

 

You two ROCK!!

Grab a cup of coffee or other drink of choice and check out my co-participants for today.

Merry Gay @ Merry Gay in Stitches

Mary @ Sew Maybe I Can

Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt (You are here!)

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!     With "my day" being the last day of the hop, I was a bit intimidated as I saw the wonderful creations shown each day. I finally remembered that this isn't a competition, and that my creations are for me and my use. That's all that matters and once I remembered that, making the rugs was easy and fun. I hope you enjoy them. So, here are my creations...    It's been kind of rainy here lately (imagine that - rainy in April) and the flowers are a bit slow in blooming. I decided to take matters into my own hands and make something that might coax more flowers to break the surface and let us enjoy their beauty. Either that or it would look like flowers growing.     Don't these flowers look great amongst the green blades of grass. They're even in baskets already. Each basket block measure 1.75" x 1.75" and were fun to make. I fussy cut some of the flowers (like the one below) and I like how they turned out. Just a reminder that if you're going to use monofilament thread to quilt, use smoke on darker fabrics. It won't shine like the clear does here. Of course I didn't have smoke when I made this and didn't think it would show too much. Guess I was wrong.      This mug rug is a bit on the large size (8.5" x 8.5" ), but it's perfect for those mornings when I need the LARGE cup of coffee.     I've really enjoyed seeing all the mug rugs that reflect April showers and May flowers, but when I think of April, rain and flowers are not the first things that pop into my mind.   I've made a mug rug to reflect MY April mind set. See if the following pictures help you figure out what I think of when I think of April. (Hint: think about the song you hear from one of the American truck manufacturers.)         OK, let's all sing along...   I've got baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. They all go together in the good old USA. Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet!     It's a BASEBALL MUG RUG!     I love baseball! I grew up following the "Big Red Machine" in Cincinnati and then I moved up north and began following the Cleveland Indians. (That was a big change - going from the National League to the American League!) My husband was never a big sports fan, and he laughs at the fact that I start taking notice of baseball trades and transactions in February and March. I think it's quite normal. :-)   This mug rug is very versatile. It's great for a refreshing beverage during a ball game.     But I think it's best for that morning "cup of joe" when I'm reading the scores from the night before or thinking about the game that will be played later that day.       I've made a couple of other baseball related projects over the years. Click here for a wall hanging made for a friend of my daughter. (Be prepared, it might be considered a bit racy.)   I mentioned a giveaway, didn't I? Since I like baseball so much, I thought a half yard of baseball fabric would be in order.     For your chance to win, just leave a comment below. You don't have to be a follower, but it would be great if are.   I'll pick the winner on Sunday afternoon (4/21/13).   Now, go play ball, I mean go check out the other blog hoppers from the list above.