My Mug Rugs

These little mug rugs are fun to sew and perfect to practice sewing bias bindings on. 

I like both mug mats shown here and although my bias binding turned out better on the poinsettia one, both appliqués are part of Merry Minis Mug Rugs (here) designs. 

Patrick Lose has several excellent videos on bias bindings (here's one). 

Here's the link for the pattern for the Shining Star Ornament Mug Rug (here).  

This is a 13 inch square I cut for this bias binding.
You offset the "rows" by one row before cutting.  

For some reason after calculating the size of fabric square I needed for the ornament mug rug's bias binding I just had enough length.   Usually you want several inches more than the circumference of the mug rug to play with.  I don't know what happened on this one.  I even had Hubby look at my calculations and he said I figured it correctly.  For the poinsettia mug rug I increased the fabric square from 9 inches to 13 inches and I had plenty of bias binding length.  

I think the bias binding got twisted on the ornament mug mat too.  

I may rip it out and cut another bias binding. 

I've blogged in the past about joining my local sewing store's monthly Embroidery and Party with Patrick clubs last year and I'm signing up again for 2014.  

Yesterday I joined another monthly club.  

This one I joined on-line at Patrick Lose's website...it's a monthly Mug Mat Club.

Read about it (here).

These mug rugs will make cute gifts.

  

Once reason I like Patrick Lose's designs is because he mostly focuses on "celebrations"…like special occasions and holidays.

I'm not getting paid to write about Patrick Lose's machine embroidery designs either by the way. 

Just in case you are wondering!

Laugh for the day:

❤️ My Valentine ❤️

I'm starting on my Valentine decorations now that Christmas is over. 

Easy peasy to machine embroider this one.

Well, that is easy peasy after months of practicing on my new Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000.

I will add fabric borders to this design and frame it to hang for Valentine's Day.  

And in the meantime I machine embroidered/appliquéd another holiday mug rug.   

This one is another Patrick Lose design I purchased on line.

It's a pretty poinsettia design named "Merry Minis Mug Mat" (click here to purchase).  

I used fabric scraps in my stash.  

I just have to bias bind it.

Patrick Lose has a wonderful video (here) on how to sew a bias binding.

He even tells you on to make a bias binding with a small square of fabric. 

I like both of these projects because I used fabric in my favorite color... RED!

Smiling Snowman Mug Mat

This little appliqué embroidered Patrick Lose design is so cute!

It's almost too pretty to use.

I tried to machine stitch the binding…but it looked terrible so I picked it out and hand stitched it instead.

It looks cute on my crocheted hexagon throw, "Sparkle". 

Smiling Snowman Mug Mat

This is a gift for my hair stylist.  

I'll have to make one for myself too.   

I only have one more fat quarter of the pretty blue fabric. 

 I love it because it looks like snow falling.

 

The Home of Mr. & Mrs. Magano "Marlboro Manor" Circa 1842

Yesterday we went on the 38th Chadds Ford Candlelight Christmas historic house tour.    

We visited 15 gorgeous homes here in SE PA.

This is an event we look forward to every Christmas.

  

"Marlboro Manor"

We weren't allow to take interior photos {{{darn!}}} but I took a few exterior ones to share with you.

"Marlboro Manor"

"Marlboro Manor" (circa 1842) had their porch decorated in Christmas-y reds and greens. 

The Joseph Barnard House circa 1790

A subdivision was built around this historic home, The Joseph Barnard House (circa 1790), …but only on the condition the home was restored.
  

The Joseph Bardnard House 

These homes were filled with beautiful antiques - I can't believe how gracious the homeowners are for opening their homes up for viewing to the public. 

Rosewood, circa 1861

"Rosewood" (circa 1861) sits on 36 acres of beautiful landscaped grounds. 

The Yellow House

And this one sits on top of a hill and is named "The Yellow House of Willowdale" (19th century stucco over stone home) and is used for weddings.

It's snowing!

Today we are having our first snowfall since we returned from Florida!  

Well, I better get back to my indoor Christmas decorating…that is after I sit watching the fire and listening to Christmas music while I drink my morning coffee.  

This is our fireplace mantel... so far. 

Have a lovely  December weekend.

Let It Snow!