Mug Rug Tutorial

         This post is not related to vacations or fishing or cabins...but a post I felt was needed.  I'm a quilter...I have a passion for sewing!  My 11 grandchildren have provided me with lots of sewing opportunities...blankies for each baby when they were born...minkee fabric is my best friend when sewing for these little ones!  So....I had a wonderful opportunity to sew last week.  My cousin, Jackie, drove up to spend a few days and we sewed our fool heads off!  Jackie spent the weekend before she came here in Door County, WI, walking 50 miles for Multiple Sclerosis.  She's a little younger than I am...and she just amazed me with her ability to walk that far in 3 days!!  Needless to say, when she got here, she was glad to relax a little.

      Jackie brought her sewing machine and fabrics, equipped to sit and sew for several days...so I couldn't disappoint her!  I hauled my machine and just a small part of my fabric stash...out into the lodge game room where we could sew with the natural light coming in the lodge windows.  We worked on projects we both wanted to get done, but then we decided to look for something we could both do together and use some of our fall fabrics.  Pinterest was our friend...we researched the projects and found lots of "mug rugs" featured.  We noticed that there were lots of photos, but very few tutorials...so, here you go!

 

This is the finished mug rug that I am making.

The finished size is about 6 1/2 inches by 10 1/2 inches, but size can vary.

 

This is a charm pack of 5 inch fabric squares...not the one I used, but you get the idea.

I started with a stack of 5 inch squares...I like using charm packs to sew because all the squares coordinate in your project.  It's just easier...and eliminates searching your stash and cutting the fabrics into 5 inch squares.

 

I laid out my 5 inch squares and cut them in half...now I had 2 1/2 inch strips of assorted colors.

 

I sewed 2 different strips together, then added 3 more strips and ended up with 5 strips sewn together.

I then cut those strips in half, ending up with a strip of 5 colors 2 1/2 inches wide...

 

Here's the 2 1/2 inch strip of fabric, with 2 background strips sewn on the top and bottom of the strip.  That's the face of the mug rug...

 

Next I layer a backing fabric, a piece of batting and the fabric to be quilted.

 

I just did a squiggle stitch...my own design just moving the fabric side to side while stitching...very easy and forgiving if you don't stitch straight!  After I have quilted the piece, I trim the batting and backing to the size of the mug rug.  I attached binding to the back of the project and top stitched the binding onto the front of the piece.  It's fast and secures the binding well in case the mug rug is laundered frequently.  I cut my binding 2 1/4 inches wide, folded it wrong sides together, pressed and sewed it on.

 Here's the finished mug rug ready to gift with a mug and a package of Chocolate Mug Cake!

Recipe?  I have it...I'll post it later...

 

I embellished the corner of my finished project with stitching and a button...

Aren't they cute?

I used my entire 5 inch charm pack and sewed about 25 of these mug rugs...sewing was fast and it's a great way to use up scraps of batting and backing fabrics.  They make such cute gifts...everyone needs one for every season!  

Now go make yourself one...or 25!!

Happy Sewing!

Thank you!

     I began to write this post about Labor Day...the guests, fish, kids, friends...but then I realized what today is.  This date is 9/11...a date that is remembered by everyone...we all remember where we were and what we were doing when the tragedy hit.  Those of us who are old enough, remember this date as well as we remember the day President Kennedy was assassinated. 

     I also remember 9/11 because I talked to my Dad about the tragedy...and that was one of the last few conversations we had before he died too young in November of that year.  My Dad was too young to have served in WWII or the Korean War.  Some of his brothers served. 

     I think we all are thankful to the men and women who have served our country in their lifetime.  Steve was drafted in the last draft of the Vietnam War.  The draft was never reinstated after that...he did not have to go overseas...he served his country quietly in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Utah.  I thought my world ended when he was drafted when we had only been married for 5 months....but as I have lived through the last 40 years, I realize that his serving was just the right thing to do.  I was scared, he was scared, but together we lived through his 2 years of Army life...and now we look back on that time as some of our fun years together!  We were broke, making such a small salary with the Army, but we were together most of that time and that was the important part.

     I am moved to write about this because I recently heard about the "Honor Flight" program being offered by our country to honor the veterans who served during WWII and the Korean War.  These veterans are contacted and reservations made to fly them to Washington D.C. for just one day, but it is a day where they are hailed and thanked and recognized...so many years later...for their service to our country. 

     We were honored to have an "Honor Flight" veteran as a guest at our resort this year.  Dean has been coming to our resort since the early 80s....and he LOVES to fish for crappies!  He always catches those fish...for himself and anyone else who might need some fish to eat or take home.  We had a fish fry while he was here this year and he wore his t-shirt so I could take his picture!

 

Dean and Emma Clayton

Latham IL

     Dean has been teasing me for all of our 26 years here....always inquiring about what days the ice cream is free....wondering when his cabin will be free....those of you who know him can almost hear him saying that!  Anyway, he proudly wore his shirt for the dinner and told us the story of his trip, how the school kids stood as he and the other veterans came off the plane, clapping and shaking his hand while a band played and the crowd showed their respect for this group of veterans!  I was immediately proud of our country for going to this length to honor these men and women.  What an awesome gift to these aging veterans who don't often get the chance to tell their stories....and how important their stories are!  So thanks, Dean, for your service!

     And thank you to any of our guests who served...if you were a part of the Honor Flight program, please send me your picture so I can brag about you too!

     I can't write a blog story without more photos, so here's just a couple of the wonderful, blessed  sunsets we witness this time of the year....

 

 

     If you know someone who served our country, no matter when, be sure and thank them!  They will really appreciate it!

Happy Fall!

 

The Family of Cedar Rapids Lodge!

     Our family has changed since we took this picture in 1987...the summer we moved to Cedar Rapids Lodge....

 

We were a young family excited for our new adventure in Minnesota...

and 26 years later, the Addler family has grown up!

 

The oldest, Jen, and her family...

Nathan, 7, Marc, Jill, 4, Jen and Calvin, 9

 

Oldest son, Max, and his family....

Greyson, 6, Max, Sara, Tate, 3 and Will, 11

 

Middle son, Sam and family....

Lucien, 5, Roz, Monica, 4, Ben, 8, Sam and Olivia, 1

 

and youngest son, John and family....

John, Calli, 3 months and Alicia

Needless to say, when any or all come to visit, the resort is a busy place!  Our kids worked hard when they were growing up...we probably didn't appreciate them as much as we should have. When they left for college and then married and left this place for their own digs, we realized how hard they worked and cared about the resort!  We love when they come "home" and bring their families...we love how they just pitch in and help in the lodge or wherever we need them!  They take pride in the resort and we consider them all a big part of our life here!  Even the grand kids are getting old enough to help out!  If the chore involves using the golf cart and grand kids, it always is fun getting the job done!!

We were pretty green when we bought this place...

 

Oh my, just look how young we were!  And now...

 

How the years have flown by!  We love our life at the resort...and our family, friends and guests have made it possible for us to live here and work here and vacation with all of you!

Thank you for making our 26 years so much fun...we look forward to this 27th year!