April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop

Welcome! So happy you could stop by to visit on this beautiful spring day.
Erin Davis and Madamme Samm have done a fabulous job of scheduling and coordinating this event... 
To them I send ~
 A Grand Thank You!

My mug rug is a bit on the large size and does not have a thing to do with rain, showers or April. In fact, I should have saved it for next month's bird blog hop.
But it is the one and only mug rug I've ever made,
and I just love it.
 (Oddly enough, so does my DH)

It all started with this litte table located in our cozy reading corner of the kitchen.


  
It's functional because it holds magazines and has a lamp. 
However, the top is not real wood! Tacky! 
And, our kitchen is pretty nice... We love its open style and views. 
Enjoying coffee there in the morning is quite nice.
I wanted a nicer looking table.


That little table was just screaming... MUG RUG!

We have a bird feeder just outside the window that birds often visit, especially a cocky little Carolina Wren.
So I began a search for a pattern that would include
a cute wren with attitude. 
I found it... Sandra Leichner has a wonderful pattern.
I also wanted to use fabric from the panels over our windows.
 The panels are there to add the touch of color instead of window treatments.
We love our view and don't want to block it.

Here is my final result of Sandra's darling pattern..   
The back ot the Mug Rug.


The front....


I fused the wren parts and the flowers
on to the cream background.
I then covered it all with a gray netting/tulle, which is pretty much invisible. The tulle secures all the edges and  allows the free-motion quilting to really protect the edges.
Once I had it all secured, I used thread sketching via free-motion to make all the branches and stitch around the flowers.
I then added the borders and binding. I always sew the binding on the back first and then turn it to the front to secure with whatever decorative stitch I want....
 in this case I used a blanket stitch and gold metallic thread.

The overall look...



What a happy little table!  Ironically we still use coasters
so that we won't stain the mug rug! (LOL)

Now, keep hopping to all of the other presenters;
thank you so very much for stopping by!
Mary @ Crooked Gulley Art Quilts    (That would be me)

Keep Stitchin' for the ones you love!
Hugs from Mary

Comments

  1. Beautiful! I can see why you wouldn't want to stain your mug rug. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Wow, thanks for the kind words and the quick comment!

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  2. What a gorgeous mugrug! Just perfect!

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  3. Aplausos!!!!!!É uma obra de ARTE. Parabéns!!!!

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  4. Very beautiful! I laugh that you still use coasters. Sounds like something I would do!

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  5. Gosh I don't know which side I like better. Your quilting is stellar. I did think, before I got to the part about your coasters, that I wouldn't be able to put anything on that piece it's more like art than placemat. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

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  6. So glad you are using coasters. It is way too pretty to dirty!

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  7. This is just beautiful - a piece of art for sure. I couldn't set anything on it (even with a coaster). Thank you for sharing.

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  8. Lovely mug/table rug! Your quilting is fantastic. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. So very beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us. :)

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  10. It is gorgeous! I would be using coasters on it too!

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  11. Isn't that just the problem with mug rugs... one doesn't want to spill coffee, tea or hot chocolate on them! Your bird is gorgeous!

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  12. Oh wow! I love this. So beautiful!

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  13. What a beauty you made. I love the bird.

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  14. Oh its lovely and so is your kitchen! Havent heard about using tulle before - do you just put it over the top piece of the fabric you are fmq and then leave it on when done? Thanks for sharing.

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  15. What a gorgeous mug rug. I think I would hang it on the wall if it were mine! Thank you so much for sharing.

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  16. I love birds and I love your mug rug. And it is so beautiful and lovely. Thanks for sharing

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  17. Mary, first: I love your view, what a gorgeous landscape to look at! Thanks for this peek in your home, I understand you love your kitchen. I love your mug rug, it adds to the cosiness of your reading corner, it's fabulous! Thanks for sharing!

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  18. Stunning! This is my favourite project today Mary!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  19. Love the tour, your mug rug concept and the finish. Thanks for the tip about the overlay tulle/netting. I'll have to remember that one.
    BTW, I've become a "FOLLOWER" of your blog!!

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  20. Gorgeous! Definitely too nice to put a mug on.

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  21. Love your mug rug.. might be the biggest one I have seen but it is perfect for 2 people to share! I love your kitchen too!! Love all of those windows and LOVE that reading nook to one side! it could also be used for a hangout for guests while the cook is working away at the stove. Gives me an idea for if we build another house!

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  22. Well this turned out just awesome and I would use coasters also...very pretty. Have a super day!

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  23. Amazing! I just love your work.

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  24. This is just wonderful! I love the threadwork! Also love your blog header with the cat thread painting. Very inspiring!

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  25. That is gorgeous!! I just wouldn't want to spill my tea on it...fantastic

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  26. Your mug rug is just beautiful. Love your choice of pattern and fabric. A real treasure.

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  27. a mug rug to hold everybodys mug, I love it!
    Helen

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  28. Delightful! And such a happy little bird!! :)

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  29. It is beautiful and I love your view , what a great place to sit and watch the birds :-)

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  30. Mug rug or table topper, either way it is beautiful! I love the wren and the fabric. We have a table about the same size between our chairs and I have a mug rug for each of us on our table top.

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  31. Mary, I don't blame you a bit for still using coasters. I wouldn't want to dirty that beautiful art work up either.

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  32. Oh yes you don't want to stain that mug rug, it is too pretty!

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  33. Love these small quilts as you can try new techniques. A big mug rug that looks great.

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  34. Gorgeous work on your birdie, love this :)

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  35. Wow, that is definitely a work of art - thinking I'd hang that one a wall. Love it!

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  36. Stunning!!! I would use a coaster, too! Wow!

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  37. WOW, this is a work of art!!!!!I love it!!!! You did a beautiful job!!!!
    Marisa.

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  38. Mary you must have mugs for giants...that is one large mug rug lol. OR it is possible it is a mug rug for families....yes that is it...it is gorgeous...what a grand idea....

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  39. What a lovely Carolina Wren on your mug rug--Love it! And the stitching you did just works wonderfully. Such a nice addition to your table!

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  40. It is really beautiful, thanks for sharing!

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  41. Gorgeous! You did a great job on your project. Who says a mug rug needs to be about 8 x 10, I say as I am eying the little round table my husband uses.

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  42. OH How pretty. I really like your table topper mug rug. I would use a coaster,too. So nice.

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  43. Waouh, great work and GREAT rug!!!!

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  44. This is outstanding! So beautiful! I love anything with birds, and this is just great. I would definitely use coasters on it.

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  45. That is really beautiful. I love your use of it in that beautiful room too.

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  46. My goodness, I would use coasters, too! That mug rug is just adorable - I love wrens. You did a fantastic job!

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  47. Beautiful!!!
    There were no limits on the size of the rug... yours is big enough for 2 mugs:)

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  48. Your kitchen looks so inviting ... all the more so with this amazing mug rug! I think I would hang it on the wall and use coasters. Thank you for sharing ... :) Pat

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  49. WOW, Mary! This is so beautiful. I definitely wouldn't want to sit my coffee mug on it either. You did a wonderful job. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  50. Gooorgeous! And such a tease for your cat :) Thanks for the tip about the netting; I'll have to try that sometime.

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  51. Wow!! That is an absolutely fabulous mug rug! I'd want to put coasters on it too - would not want to make a mark on it either!

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  52. What an incredible job! The table sure looks better!

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  53. Oh my! That is just a wonderful mug rug!

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  54. What a beauty. Its a great job.
    Thanks for sharing
    Frederika

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  55. Your table mat is absolutely stunning. It's way to pretty to be used on a table. It would be way to easy for it to get soiled. I would put a piece of glass over the entire tabletop or hang it on the wall.

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  56. Love this beautiful wren! Thank you for sharing your wonderful creativity.

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  57. It looks perfect on your cozy corner table. Thanks for sharing.

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  58. Your mug rug is so beautiful. It is really a piece of art.

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  59. Great way to dress up your little table. Your mug rug is a work of art. Thanks for sharing.

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  60. -congratulation your mugrug is adorable, thanks for sharing!
    Liebe Grüße
    Bente in Germany

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  61. What a perfect fit for that table. Thank you for sharing!

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  62. That is a stunning table topper!

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  63. Lovely bird, very cute. Thanks for sharing him.

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  64. Beautiful and perfect! Thanks for sharing!!

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  65. Birds love spring and April means lots of bugs sew your rug does fit this hop. We have two bird bath, two feeders, and two hummingbird feeders right outside our front window. I too love to watch the birds with my morning coffee. Your spot looks beautiful and the mug rug is perfect for it!

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  66. You are very talented! Thank you for sharing your gorgeous
    'mug rug'.

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  67. Wow it is beautiful! Your FMQ looks fantastic! You are very talented! Thanks for participating and inspiring us!

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  68. I love this mug rug! I clicked on the photo and saw a larger version so that I can admire the stitching - inspiring!

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  69. our mug rug is more like a piece of art! very nicely done and looks perfect for your table. Love all those wonderful windows in your lovely kitchen!!
    Blessings
    Gmama jane

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  70. I meant to say YOUR mug rug!
    OOPs!
    Gmama

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  71. So pretty! You really made that surface a place of beauty now.

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  72. I love it. So realistic. Really pretty. Thanks for sharing.

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  73. Beautiful mug rug. I wouldn't want to put a glass on it either.

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  74. That is so pretty, I don't blame you for using coasters! Maybe you should make a few that match? Thanks for sharing! vickise at gmail dot com

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  75. Oh My - your rug turned out very lovely! Outstanding quilting as well. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful design.

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  76. WOW. Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing with all of us - you did a fantastic job!

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  77. This is so wonderful! Thanks for sharing it with us.

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  78. This is so lovely! I think you did a wonderful job on the design and fabric choices and quilting. Your have an extra pretty spot for reading and bird watching now.

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  79. Keep on writing, great job!

    My blog ... Chaussure De Foot Pas Cher

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