Monday 15 April 2013

April Showers Blog Hop


It's my day - yay!  Thanks for popping on over to see me as usual I had plenty of ideas of what to use for this blog but in the end settled on two.  Firstly this one:


I guess it needs an explanation eh?  Well when I think of April I always think of April Fools day.  Years ago in the late 70's early 80's there used to be a programme on BBC1 called That's Life - and one Sunday evening they did a documentary about a dog driving a car - it was quite a long documentary and quite interesting showing, I think, an Old English Sheepdog driving along in a car all by itself - of course this was an April Fool with an apt title of Lirpa Loof (which is April Fool spelt backwards).  It's funny what you remember isn't it because I would have only been at about 10 years old but I always think of this on 1st April so I have done a mug rug to celebrate the fact!

I found the picture of the dog and car on the internet and reverse drew it onto some Heat N Bond which I then ironed onto my fabrics and then cut them out to place them on the rug.  The letters are from a sizzix die and are applied the same way.  I machine appliqued around the all edges - I am still only just starting out with machine applique and am still not sure whether I like the stitch my Bernina gives or not!

My next one I have actually made two of:


Again I used a sizzix die for the flowers and appliqued them in the same way - I finished off with buttons and have only just realised how creased it is after looking at this photograph! oh well.

Here is a closeup of my machine stitching:


What do you think? It's not quite as neat as hand blanket stitch but it's ok isn't it - think I will keep practising with it for a while.

Hope you have enjoyed your visit here - if it's your first I hope it won't be your last and if you are one of my regular followers thanks for popping over.  Sorry I was late visiting all of the posts last week but I was on holiday in a hotel and the Wi-Fi wasn't working - have caught up now though and love all of the inspiring mug rugs I have seen so far!

Here is todays schedule for the hop:

MONDAY, APRIL 15th
 
I would also just like to say a big thank you to Erin and Mdm Samm for organising this wonderful hop - I really have enjoyed putting my mug rugs together.
 
Thanks for looking - Dancing in the Rain from Solihull

86 comments:

Cecilia said...

Very cute! I think you did a great job on both! Thank you for sharing.

tubilinha tiacarminha said...

Muito legal este do cachorro!E o outro com flores é a própria primavera.Adorei,parabéns!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Lovely job on both - love the April Fool! Thank you for sharing.

Judy B said...

Your mug rugs are so cute! Love the dog driving the car. Thank you for sharing.

Patty C. said...

I especially like the flowers :)

Amy said...

Both your mug rugs are cuties! I really love the flowers!

Lavonna ZWB said...

Very cute rugs! Thank you for sharing.

Janet said...

These are both great but Lirpa Loof is hilarious!!

Martina said...

They are lovely! Like the buttons on the flowers too. And the car is just cute!

Corina said...

Lovely mugrugs!

AnitaS said...

Lovely mugrugs. I like april fool the most.

Nati said...

Lovely works, thanks for sharing!

newsurfiegirl said...

What a lovely way to remember something special about April too you! I love both your mug rugs. Thanks for sharing.

Britt-Inger said...

Your mug rugs are so cute. Thanks for sharing

Pauline said...

Yes, I enjoyed my visit to your blog, you made some darling mug rugs! Thanks for sharing!

charlotte said...

Love them. The dog in the car is cute and the flowers are very pretty.

Gill said...

Great mug rugs!
I too remember the dog driving the car on April Fools Day!
Thank you for sharing!

Unknown said...

Really cute...love the colors. Enjoy your day.

Rhonda said...

Two clever mug rugs. Love them, especially the April Fool one!!

JoyceLM said...

Your mug rugs look great. Thanks for sharing.

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

Nice job on both mug rugs!

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

I really like the flowers!

Jeanie said...

What fun mug rugs! Have a happy Lirpa 15th!

Unknown said...

Your mug rugs are adorable! Thank you for sharing your creations with us! New follower here via GFC, today is also my day!
Marisa from
http://passionetcouture.blogspot.ca/

Patty said...

love the colors - great job.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

What stitch is it? I like it. And your mug rugs are fantastic

Sowing Stitches said...

:) Oh what a funny story from your childhood! :) The little dog reminds me of the dogs in Go Dog Go! And your bright and cheerful flowers will joyfully welcome many mornings! Thanks for sharing!! Beulah

Unknown said...

Very cute dog! I love making mug rugs. Gives me a chance to practice new techniques on something small

Catherine said...

Fabulous Mugrug! I love it!

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio said...

Cute April Fools and flowers. The stitch you used for your applique is actually a blind hem stitch. Unless you have a really old Bernina, you should have a blanket stitch on your machine too. Some people do use the blind hem if they don't have a blanket stitch on their machine. You might want to check your machine and see. The blind hem takes a couple straight stitches and then one zigzag stitch, where the blanket stitch usually takes a straight stitch and come back and then makes a horizontal straight stitch and comes back to make the straight stitch again, etc. Just looks a bit different than the blind hem, but I think it's easier to sew the blanket stitch.

Vickie said...

I think they are very cute Nicola. I bet making something from your childhood was enjoyable for you !

Frederika said...

Fabulous. Great job. These are so fine.
Thanks for sharing
Frederika

Mara said...

very cute, it can be really hard to applique with the sewing machine, you did a great job.

craftykat said...

Ha - it took me a moment with the April fool on :) well done

Dee said...

Love the dog driving - It too a minute of reading - but so enjoyed the story behind it.

Gwen said...

How cute is that Lirpa Loof! It IS funny the things that we remember from the past! But I have to admit that I LOVE those flowers--so pretty! I may have to look into getting one of those Sizzix things. I really like the designs you can applique with it. Certainly easier than cutting them by hand!

Unknown said...

Colorful mug rugs, Nicola. You have a VERY good memory to remember Loofa Lipra. I don't recall it but you did. Love that dog in the car.
Thanks for participating.

Nancy in IN said...

Love these small quilts as you can try new techniques. So cute; will the cup sit on the buttons without spilling. Thanks for sharing the cute idea.

krislovesfabric said...

Pretty and fun!

Linda said...

How cute! I love the title on the one with the car!
Great job on both your projects!

Joyce Carter said...

I love your mug rugs, especially the dog driving the car. It it so cute and I really love the story. I think you did a great job. (I have a Bernina, too, and the stitch you used was the blind hem stitch. Try the blanket stitch. It is easier to use.) Thank you so much for sharing.

Sparky said...

very spring vrrrrrommmmmm and floral...how can you go wrong...great showing

Linda C said...

You did very well on both of your mug rugs, Nicola!

The sheepdog driving the car is a wonderful memory put to cloth while the flowers are so bright and fun. Looks like you enjoyed yourself in the making. THX for sharing with us!

Patty said...

I like both rugs, but like the flowers best. You did a great job on the dog, but I am a flowers type of gal.

Just Quilt It said...

Clever April 1 rug, and I like your flowers. Great job on both.

Needled Mom said...

Lirpa Loof???? Love it! I will have to remember that one. Your mug rugs are both so cute.

Anonymous said...

I like your flowers best, but the dog is very cute! Thanks for sharing them with us :-)

LJ said...

Your Lirpa Loof story was so cute and makes your mug rug extra special. Great rugs!

Lou said...

Our minds do remember the oddist things sometime:)
Both are cute!!! Love all teh buttons! Plenty of places for cookies:) Yums!

HeatherK @ A Reformed Heath'n said...

Perfect time to try something new! I like the look of those long & skinny mug rugs. Thanks for sharing!

Emily C said...

Love the flowers, very pretty.

Quilter Kathy said...

So fun and creative!

Cathi said...

Wonderful fun and so creative! I love the April Fool one!

Leanne Parsons said...

Great job! Your car driving dog reminds me of something you would see in a Richard Scarry book.

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures said...

I like the rectangle spade signs. Beverly fun rugs!

Unknown said...

Isn't this fun...I had no idea mug rugs would be so addicting! I can't wait to show mine on Wednesday!

Kathy H said...

Fun April fool's joke and very cute mug rugs.

BizyStitches said...

really cute mug rugs, thanks for sharing and being in the hop.

Susan said...

Love your mug rugs. the flowers are so bright and cheery and the dog is really fun! Thanks for sharing.

Janarama said...

Both of your mug rugs are very cute. Love the bright colors you used. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Mrs.Pickles said...

very cute work thanks for sharing!!

ThreadCatcher said...

Nice job! I will have to remember Lipra Loof next April 1st. Great name to sign prank emails or something. Thanks for sharing.

Bente-I like to QuiltBlog said...

Your mug rugs look great. Thanks for sharing.

Ella and Nesta said...

Love Lirpa Loof mug rug (and the story!)

Julie said...

They are both so cute!!

Snoodles said...

Love the stitching...so nice to be different from the blanket stitch we all seem to use!

lefuntz said...

I think your stitching looks fine. Both designs are cute but I prefer the Lirpa loof. I love the story too. That ten year old girl is still a part of you. Some parts of childhood should never be outgrown!

lefuntz said...

I think your stitching looks fine. Both designs are cute but I prefer the Lirpa loof. I love the story too. That ten year old girl is still a part of you. Some parts of childhood should never be outgrown!

tink's mom said...

Great story behind your first rug. I really like the way it turned out. I like the use of that stitch. I will need to try it. I used the Bernina blanket stitch on mine if you want to see what that looks like, I'm Selina, toward the bottom of today's list.

Teatime Creations said...

Very cute. Love the cat idea.

DeAnna said...

Very pretty. Nice hand applique work! Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your Holiday.

Karen O said...

I absolutely love the backwards April Fool mug rug! What a great interpretation of what you saw so long ago.

Gina Loomis said...

That's funny about Lirpa Loof, thanks for sharing that story! Both mug rugs are great! Thanks for participating and inspiring us!

Kim said...

Very pretty :)

Catskill Quilter said...

I love all of them! The flowers look wonderful with your stitch, and I like the buttons you added.

apple blossom said...

the flower mug rug is so bright and springy...I love color lovely job on both mug rugs

Tammy said...

well u are a creative soul. I realy love teh floral one...Love the fabrics you choose for it.

Missus Wookie said...

These are both pretty but I like the Lirpa Loof best as it has a story attached :)

Newbie Jen said...

I love how colorful your flowers are! Wonderful.

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

I love both of your mug rugs - so creative!

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle said...

Nice job! Now I will think of your mug rug every April 1st!. Love the bright colors of the flowers. Thanks for sharing.

Hettie said...

Tee Hee! Loving the lirpa loof quilt. Like the second one too!
xx

vicki said...

I really like the Sheepdog mug rug. Thanks for sharing both of them. vickise at gmail dot com

Simone said...

Very cute and you did a great job. I love the flowers and buttons. Lovely! Thanks for sharing!

✄ Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy ✄ said...

BEautiful stitching! And your sheepdog (& story) cracked me up :) Love it - thank you for participating with us - I hope you had fun!

Joanne said...

These are just plain adorable!