There is a free pattern+give away at the bottom of this blog post AND a give away in this YouTube video: [click!]
Yayyy! It is SUCH an exciting day today. It’s my birthday! I’m turning 32. And I’m loving it. I love each day and don’t mind getting older at all. I’m learning more and more to enjoy life. To celebrate all the things, no matter how small they are. My heart is overflowing when I think of the all the things I’m thankful for from this past year. Our little mister Jules with his unstoppable urge to climb things and his adorable giggles. My awesome husband Marten who supports me 200% in everything I do and puts me on the couch with a cup of tea when he sees I’m running a bit too fast. My parents, my brothers and their families, my friends. My studio and the fact that I can do what I love so much everyday!
In the past year I’ve started to practice being grateful everyday. For things big and small. Such a super power to get yourself in a higher frequency by just focusing on what your grateful for. When it’s a kind of sad day, and it’s hard to come up with happy things, start by listing everything that is NOT wrong at that moment (you can have a cup of tea, there is a roof above your head, you’re wearing happy socks). I learned this from Lou Niestadt, check out her podcast for manifesting all the good things ;)
Good Vibes Only
So when Shayla Wolf from Sassafras Lane for Windham Fabrics contacted me asking if I would want to participate in a blog tour about their new fabric line I got a huge smile on my face when I saw the name of the line: GOOD VIBES ONLY. Ha! Love it. And when I got the fabrics in the mail, I did at least three happy dances. Such awesome colors!
Making something for my mom
My mom had her birthday last week, so I decided to make something for her. And the idea of making a pattern where you can use an already pieced block popped up in my head. I started sketching and doodling and came up with this little fishy. You can use and type of block for the belly to create unique fishes using the same pattern.
A fun video tutorial
In this weeks YouTube video I’m showing you how to make these fun mug rugs. First download the free pattern, pick some pretty fabrics, make yourself a nice cup of tea and go make a little fish (or two or three haha). In the video I’ll explain how you can use a pieced block to create a unique little fish. And I’m giving away one of the mug rugs in the video! Whoop Whoop!
The blocks are 6 x 9 1/2 inch, a perfect size to hold a hot cup of tea and your favorite flavored cupcake. It’s a quick project! And perfect to practice your quilting on. Since it’s so small it’s very easy to move around under your machine. Check out the video to see how I quilted these fishes.
Download your FREE paper piecing pattern
But first thing to do: grab your free foundation paper piecing pattern for the fish. It’s a PDF with a coloring page so you can try out different colors and designs before you start cutting into your fabrics.
This little form will let you sign up to my newsletter so you’ll get my weekly email with updates so you’ll be the first to know about everything that is going on within Suagridoo. Make sure to confirm your email address so you can download the pattern.
But wait there is more!
Of course there is more. Sassafras Lane is letting me give away a small bundle with a few fat quarters to one of you! How cool is that! Just leave a comment on this post stating who you would like to make the Little Fish Mug Rug for and I’ll pick a winner next week. Get yourself an extra change to win by commenting to today’s instagram post over here. (entries close on 13th of June 8PM CET)
Next up:
Now hop over to Sassafras Lane to see who’s up next in the blog tour. You can win a fabric bundle almost everyday this month! Monday, June 3rd: Shayla Wolf | Sassafras Lane Designs
Tuesday, June 4th: Emily Dennis | Quilty Love
Wednesday, June 5th: Nichole Vogelsinger | Wild Boho
Thursday, June 6th: Irene Sytema | Sugaridoo
Friday, June 7th: Sylvia Schaefer | Flying Parrot Quilts
Saturday, June 8th: Robin Long | Robin Ruth Design
Sunday, June 9th: Jessica VanDenburgh | Sew Many Creations
Monday, June 10th: Nicole Young | Lillyella
Tuesday, June 11th: Sherry Shish | Powered by Quilting
Wednesday, June 12th: Tara Curtis | Wefty Needle
Thursday, June 13th: Jo Westfoot | The Crafty Nomad
Friday, June 14th: Janet Nesbitt | One Sister Designs
Saturday, June 15th: Natalie Barnes | Beyond the Reef
Sunday, June 16th: Elisabeth Hardy | Elisabew Quilts
Monday, June 17th: Sarah Sharp | No Hats in the House
Tuesday, June 18th: Joanne Hart | Unicorn Harts
Wednesday, June 19th: Elise Baek | Elise & Emelie
Thursday, June 20th: Kaitlyn Howell | Knot and Thread Design
Friday, June 21st: Nicole Daksiewicz | Modern Handcraft
Saturday, June 22nd: Sarah Thomas | Sariditty
Sunday, June 23rd: Shayla Wolf | Recap
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I will make this Fish Mug Rug my mom, she loves drinking tee!
So cute! I would make a fish for each of my quilt guild’s officers. A whole school of little fishies! ?
They are so cute! I’m going to make one for myself, and then probably all my kids :)
These are so cute ! They will be perfect for a quilt that I need to make for charity for a tribe in Brazil (#brumadinho_quilt) Thank you !!! And happy birthday !
Happy birthday! Love all your fish but especially the orange one! So cute!
I’ll have to make one for my sister!
Beautiful! I would like to make a couple of these together with Suzanne during the summer holidays :).
Dankjewel voor dit gratis patroon! Ga is kijken of het gaat lukken! Maar met de stofjes zou dat vast goed komen!
I would love to make mug rug for my sisters and for me so we can have a video chat while enjoying a cup of tea or hot chocolate even though we are a 1000 miles apart. Thank you.
Dag Irene,
Hartelijk feliciteerd met je verjaardag.
Your YT’s always make me happy, because of your personality and your choice of fabric colour.
Instead of bringing a bottle of wine for my hosts when they invite me to dinner, I have the itention to bring a mug rug, your fishy mug rug.
Have a very nice anniversary from Wil.
Adorable block! I am in a traveling quilt group and this block will be absolutely perfect for one of the participants! Thank you and Happy Birthday!
Hoi Irene, allereerst hartelijk gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag! Ik kwam toevallig hier in Oostenrijk jouw youtube videos tegen en ik moet zeggen: ze zijn fantastisch!!!! Je moet toch wel lef hebben om zoiets op te starten …
Ga zo door en w.b. de giveaway … de oranje vis past het beste in mijn huis. Oh ja, ik heb vorige week je gratis ebook gedownload: geweldig. Ik ben een moeizame fmq-er, maar met mijn walking foot heb ik een innige relatie. Gaat dus helemaal goed komen! Bedankt voor alles; een fijne verjaardag en heel succes verder met sugaridoo!
My two grandkids love fun stuff like this. Perfect for our summer cottage when they visit.
Hoi Irene,
Van harte gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag! Ik word altijd zo blij van jouw filmpjes. Jouw enthousiasme werkt aanstekelijk, heerlijk.
Heel eerlijk gezegd zou ik de visjes voor mij zelf willen maken (mag dat ook? ?) ik vind ze zooo leuk en die stof maakt het af. Super!
I would make the little mug rug for my daughter Peri who loves to drink tea.
Love the creativity. Want to make the fish mud rug for my 3 grandchildren. Thank you!
Is it bad that I want to make it for myself?! ? It’s so cute.
This would make AWESOME placemats for my grandchildren. They are all so cute.
I’m going to make my husband several little fish mugrugs for his nightstand. Thank you so much for the pattern!
Such a cute modern addition ok n to any coffee table. I love them all and the fabrics ,I too did a happy dance and since dreaming of those fabrics too. Love yours and their work!
Love these happy fabrics. I would use them to make mug rugs and microwave/ice cream bowls for my grandlittles!!!!
I would make the fishies for my 3 year old granddaughter, Isla
Happy Birthday Irene, thank you for this awesome opportunity I just love the fabrics that Shayla Wolf creates they truly are very happy. I will probably make this mug rug for my little grand daughter who loves fish.
Happy birthday!!!??? I cant wait to try out this pattern and learn how to FPP. I’ll make it for myself so I don’t have to worry about being so perfect my first try. ??♀️
Hiep hiep hoera voor je verjaardag! Volg je videos nu een tijdje en vind ze erg leuk! Dank voor je paper piece foundation patronen, heb nog niet uitgevonden hoe ze zelf te maken ?
I would make mug rugs for my grand-daughters! They would like the fish pattern too.
I am loving the bright pretty colors of this line of fabric .
Nog keertje gefeliciteerd!! Super leuke blogpost! ? Ga de blogtour van sassafraslane zeker weten volgen!
Ik zou er eentje maken voor mijn vader want toen hij vroeger moest raden als hij een cado kreeg, zei hij: het is vast een VIS! Dat vond ik als klein meisje heel erg grappig ?
These are absolutely adorable! Thank you for making something with Good Vibes Only. I absolutely adore everything you make and these fish are perfect!
Nice job on the mug rugs. I’ve enjoyed watching you for a while. I think it is so awesome that I can watch your videos when we’re thousands of miles away from each other but we have quilting in common. Howdy from Texas.
Happy birthday!!! I would make my mom a rugmug, we bought your book this year on the craftshow in zwolle! She is my partner in craft!!!
Cute fish! I love this fabric range. Wishing you a happy birthday from New Zealand ?
Is it wrong I want the fish mug rug for myself? New Mama here and I need somewhere clean to pop a tea or dummy while I’m feedingb
I would make the mug rug for my eldest granddaughter (7yrs old ) who I hope , when she is older ,will love to drink hot tea like I do
I would make one for my mum! She loves her cup of tea and this would be a perfect gift for her.
I love the fabric line! Such bright fun colors. I would make a mug rug in primary colors for my daughter who is an elementary school teacher!
These fabrics are fabulous! I would make a mug rug for my husband because he loves ocean creatures.
Happy Birthday! I love all your patterns and am working up some money to buy your sampler book! I would make this mug rug for my friend who wants to do an underwater themed living room!
Irene, I would make a lovely fish mug rug for my husband Jim, who has had yet another big operation and is coming home from hospital soon! He loves coffee and will be taking it easy to recover-with plenty of coffees!! Elizabeth x
I would like to make some of these adorable fish mug rugs for my sister and her husband.
I’d love to make the fishy for my youngest son who just turned 8years old! I can’t believe my last baby is so big now!
I would make mug rugs for my two granddaughters who like to sit on the floor to eat a snack with a drink. It would help to keep their food and drinks in one place… Less messy. And they love animals and fish. Thank you for doing giveaways.
I would make a fishy mug rug for my grandson! We love to have tea parties!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the “Unique” fish with the pink tail! It’s my husband’s birthday today too! I hope yours was also grand! ?
I would make this for my 81 yo mom who drinks tea every morning. Thanks for sharing the pattern!
Such a cute pattern. I will make 6 or 7 mug rugs for family and friends I will stay with during my fall trip to Germany.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY Irene” :D . . . Hope your day was amazing. .<3 And you were spoilt by you adorable Son Jules Family & Friends. . <3 Nx :D
Thank you so much for the fabulous Fish Mug Rug tutorial. . I have been wanting to make one for ages and today when I saw yours, I though that's it I am making a Fish Mug Rug. . hahaha :D I have uploaded my pattern. . Just got to pick my fabrics. . I do love the Little striped one that you made . . so cute. . So maybe something similar. . I will post a photo for you when I have finished..
Thanks again…. Kindest regards, Noeline (Australia)
I will make one for my boy friend. He is such abeautiful person. He too sits me down with tea when iget spinning to fast or if I’m feeling blue. He’s always giving of himself to me. And i love him for that and so many other reasons. I am such alucky girl!
Many Happy Returns for yesterday ? – I tried to post comments on YouTube yesterday and this morning but just got error messages – technology huh ?? I love your fishy mug rug especially the improv one (so cute), thank you for the pattern. I would have liked to make one for my Mum, but she has sadly passed away a number of years go, as she is still my inspiration in quilting and she would have loved to learn to FPP. I shall make several fishes in her memory for family. Thank you again Irene and have a Happy Birthday week
I would make 2 fish mug rugs; one for myself and one for my daughter. I have been looking for the perfect pattern and I think this is it.
Hi, Happy Birthday Irene! And thank you for learning me the FPP-techniques! :-)
I would use the wonderful fabric for sewing projects for my son; he starts with school in summer, and I want to sew a quilt for him and the fishy mug rugs for the party with the family! Kind regards! Karin