I received a custom order for a Kokeshi doll mug rug from someone who really wanted a mug rug but wasn’t feeling confident that she would win my giveaway.

It was fun to make! The Kokeshi doll is a silk screen printed in magenta ink. I had the perfect remnant of a little floral print that coordinated so nicely! I used that for the right side of the mug rug, where I picture the mug sitting. Then I appliqued a flower that I cut from an Alexander Henry large scale floral print and a Nicey Jane leaf. I did a little hand quilting in a running stitch using DMC embroidery floss to pull in the color from the center of the flower. I used some straight line quilting on the linen but mostly free motion quilting. I stitched all around the doll and through the leaf and around the petals of the flowers. It gave the mug rug nice dimension.

Here’s a picture of the mug rug playing the part. Oh, I nearly forgot, there is a tiny bead in the center of the Kokeshi doll’s flower!