Mama Mia!...Here I Go Again!

The Mama Mia Apron swap comes to a close. Here is what I sent:)

My partner was Becca and she said her favorite part of the movie was the ocean and her favorite color was red. I decided to ignore the favorite color part (sorry Becca!) and focus on the ocean. After sifting thru my stash I found the perfect combo of fabrics to "make the ocean" out of. I decided on the Marie Antoinette apron out of "A is for Apron" (a great aproning resource). This is the end result...







Can you see the ocean in it? I made the ruffles out of some sparkly tulle, some aqua tulle, some sage chiffon and the main panel out of blue satin. The band and ties are fashioned from the thrifted sheet I acquired at Goodwill last summer. Then I used some funky buttons to secure the accordion pleats.



I threw in a recipe for some watermelon sangria, some blue cocktail napkins, an Amy Butler FQ, and some 3-D die cut stickers in a beach motif. Voila, swap package complete!

BTW, I got my swap package from Sherry when I arrived home yesterday (clap, clap)! I will post about it tomorrow...gotta get some pics!

Bored

I am bored and having a doodle. I want to make an apron like this...



I want to cut the tiers of the skirt on the bias so they will be full and I think I will layer some tulle between them as well. Add a little fabric flower brooch at the top and voila! I haven't made an apron for a LONG time. I kind of burnt myself out last year...I lovingly refer to it as Apron 08. I must be feeling nostalgic though because recently I am feeling the urge to whip up something domestic:)

OK, well I am off to deal with rush hour traffic. I love getting of work at 5(not)! I am going to upload pics when I get home whilst I enjoy my kick-off-the-weekend-cocktail...lol. So I should have some Weekender pics available for your viewing pleasure by late this evening or sometime tomorrow.

Winter Sassy Apron

The fair Katy of Queensland (check out her blog...she is one crafty gal)has received her Sassy Apron so I can share photos with all of you. YAY! I know you are all on the edge of your seats in anticipation...haha.

So here it is...





I did the Emmeline by Sew Liberated. I thought that would be the best way to make a holiday apron and a winter apron since it is a reversible pattern. It can be worn on the Christmas side for the rest of the month then flipped around for the rest of the winter. I added a little yo-yo pocket to the "winter side" which didn't turn out as nicely as I had envisioned, but I don't think it looks too bad.

I also included some cookie cutters, pencil box and magnets, and some list making paper:)



Happy Christmas, Katy! I am glad you enjoyed your sassy package!

The Fabric Has Been Selected

I have finally selected my fabric for my Sassy Swap Winter apron.



To me this fabric screams winter. I think it is the crisp ivory/white background against the blue. Do you get the same vibe? I am going to pair it with some silver crushed velvet to give it a little extra pizazz...much like the Recycle Swap apron I made...I really loved the look the aqua colored velvet added to the finished product.

I am excited and hoping to get started this weekend! I want to be one of the early mailers for a change;)

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween, and survived the night without too much of a tummy ache...lol

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Here are the photos (finally!!) of the apron I received from Jennsue for the Recycle Swap. Isn't it just adorable?!? I love the material and the cute ribbon she added! The ties are cute polka dot material, but you can't see them in the photo.


She included some great stuff in the package too. A requirement of the swap was to include a reusable shopping/market bag. If you look in the photo below you can see that Jennsue fashioned one for me out of an old tank top. How innovative is that!?! She also included a pumpkin mold to make chocolate suckers. I think the kids are really going to enjoy that project! I have never done it before so I am looking forward to trying it out as well:)



A BIG thank you to all the ladies who participated in my first swap! I want to see photos of what everyone has done! I set up a flickr group so you can all add photos. I emailed the link to all of the participants.

"Sally" Soon to Be in Stitches

My friend, Sara, went to an auction a couple of weeks ago and bought me the best gift EVER!!
A dressform for $15! YAY! Isn't she purty!? So vintage!





So I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to "Sally"(I will be changing her name)!

I am so excited! Any of you who have read my blog know how much I wanted a dressform! Now I don't have to display my aprons on the ironing board, chair back, flat on the table, or on my daughter! "Sally" is sporting my Recycle Swap apron. My first properly displayed apron from my first ever Heather hosted swap:)

Now I just need to come up with a suitable name for her! She is called Sally by the factory, but I think I would like to come up with something a little more creative and unique. Maybe I should have a little naming contest like some others have done...What do you think?

If I Only Had 98 Smackaroos (and a little apron love too)

I absolutely LOVE Anthropologie and their website is one of my guilty pleasures. It has been awhile since I visited so I thought today would be a perfect time.

While there I found that I must have this...



I have a THING for handbags, especially those that are roomy and have a neat print in the fabric. As you can see, this meets those criteria. Too bad I can't bring myself to fork over the dough (who could when there is fabric to buy?...lol-gotta keep my priorities in order...jeesh) and treat myself. Hmm, isn't it about Christmas List season? Might have to pencil it in right under dressform;)

Anyway, enough rambling about the handbag...while I was there I was checking out their apron offerings. Let me tell ya they have some DARLING aprons! Check out this little number...



Now, at $32 I would consider it a little pricey...especially since I know I am perfectly capable of making an apron for myself, but if for nothing else than a little inspiration or a little therapeutic window shopping why not check it out?

Laters

Spooky Booky

Here is the apron I completed for my partner in the SpoOky~BoO~ScaRy swap over at Booming Aprons.

The requirements were for 1 apron, 1 potholder, and 1 treat bag. Apparently the apron was supposed to be a full, but I deviated a little (no, not me!) and made a half. I used the pattern for the "Spotless" apron in A is for Apron-my new favorite book that is full of nifty apron ideas.

I used the Chic-or-Treat fabric by Moda...I LOVE it! I seriously had a hard time parting with this one! I mailed it late, not because I didn't have it done (which is usually the case), but because I seriously wanted to keep it (and I wanted to get the batteries in the camera so I could snap the photos).

Here is how it all turned out:

A close up of the hauted house fabric I used for the pockets...

A close up of the cute Halloween buttons I found at JoAnn's...

The treat bag and potholder...

I used the "In the Bag" pattern from Pretty Little Patchwork (another useful book to have around) to make the bag. The potholder I just made up myself.

I have one more swap to go(Recycle Swap) and then I am taking some time off so I can get some merchandise sewn up to put in my Etsy shop.

The Batteries are ALWAYS dead!

I don't know about all of you, but it seems like the batteries are always dead around our house...and when I go to the battery drawer (a.k.a. JUNK drawer) I never can find enough of the right size! I think I need to invest in the rechargeables, but they would always be dead because I forgot to put them on the charger...lol! So it is a lose-lose I guess. Anyway, I finally got some batteries for my camera (yeah after they have been dead for about 2 weeks) so I am catching up on my thank you's and showing off some of my recent-recent basically encompasses all of summer-swap received items.

First: Apron w/ Profile Surprise Swap-Partner NanaDeb (also hosted by NanaDeb)

You can tell she read my profile because the fabric she constructed this apron from has me written all over it! I wore it just the other day in the kitchen when my daughter and I were making pancakes and it has a great fit.



Second: Hittin' the Trail Swap-Partner Bean (hosted by yarnigras)

A cute and girly cowgirl apron! I love the big pockets and sturdy material and I can't wait to bust it out next time we go camping! She also included a fun book called "Backcountry Betty"~it has some very entertaining/useful information



Third: Booming Aprons Spooky~Boo~Scary Swap-Partner Kirsten (Preppy Pink Crocodile)

I just got my items Saturday and they are awesome. 1 apron, 1 potholder, and 1 trick-or-treat bag. She also threw in some pumpink Peeps and some cute pumpkin straws which Graham Cracker and Lyddiebug promptly claimed for themselves. We all say "thank you"!

Same deal...forgot pic, but I grabbed a couple off of her blog...Hope you don't mind PPC;)




Thanks again to everyone!

Sew, Sew, Sew

I have accomplished so much this week! It helps that my parents took the kids to Branson for 4 days. I sewed darn near everyday this week! It was nice:)

I completed my apron for Beelicious, my partner in the Hittin' the Trail Apron Swap. It was supposed to have ride em' up cowboy theme. I am not much of a cowgirl so I put my own little spin on it. I use a gingham fabric (which turned out to be pretty lucky since it is this month's theme over at Tie-One-On) and made bandanna flowers to applique on there. Attached some green ric rac for stems and green felt leaves. Also, to stick with the western theme, I found little buttons at the fabric store that reminded me of Old West Sherif badges...so I used them as the center of the flowers. I didn't take a close-up of them so you really can't tell from the photo.

I just made a traditional clothespin apron. I didn't have a pattern so I winged it. I am pleasantly pleased with the outcome.


I also squeezed in a little me sewing time. I made myself a Jenny bag...the one that I had penciled on my to-do-list. Check it out, I am loving the way it turned out:)



I didn't have quite enough fabric leftover to make the handles so I pieced some of my remnants together. I am kind of glad it worked out that way cuz I like the way they turned out.

Back in the Saddle Again....

With summer drawing to a close I am finally getting back into my apron-ing. I just sent this off to whirledpeas00 for the Profile With Surprise apron swap (for the Apron Lovers Group on the Bot). I was late of course, true to form, but not as late as I am with my current swap send off...but that is another story (and it is going in the mail tomorrow!!!).



I bought a pattern off of Ebay about a month ago...retro 50's-the circle skirt kind. I have been trying to win one of these patterns since about April...I guess it was finally my time. I love how these aprons look, and I love the fact that when you twirl it kind fans out!

In checking my partners profile I saw that she loves cupcakes so I decided to make another cupcake apron (not the same as the previous cupcake apron though). I also embroidered a little dishtowel. I found a dessert transfer by Aunt Martha's (I believe it is called "Death By Chocolate"-yeah, that's right). I also threw in some cute little mini cupcake wrappers that I found at the craft store.

She really seemed to like it, and I think it turned out pretty cute. I love that polka dot fabric (you usually can't go wrong with Amy Butler's fab designs!) I had enough left over to make another Jenny purse so I have that penciled in on my to-do-list. I think I will start on it next...in all this time I have been sewing I have never made something for myself. I have 2 swap aprons to get going on, but I have everything ready...I am making it my goal to be done BEFORE the deadline for once!

Thanks to NanaDeb for hosting this fun swap!

I have received some swaps as well (from NanaDeb and Bean)...once I get all the pics taken (camera needs some batteries-died during the cupcake apron photo session) I will be sharing photos of their aproning talents with all of you;)

Where Have I Been?

Wow...long time no post!

I have been a busy little bee these days. REMINDER for next year: No swaps in Summer!!

Here is what I have been up to lately...

My first apron lovers swap completed:



My partner was Val (aka YarniGras) I couldn't have been more excited that she was my partner. She has become one of my favorite blogging buddies:)

I made her a mushroom apron (cuz she is CRAZY about mushrooms) and added a little mushroom potholder that buttons to the band so it will always be handy. I chose the fabrics so the apron would have a vintage feel to it and used a 1950's pattern. Overall I am happy with the outcome and it was fun to throw it together. To top off the mushroom theme I also included a recipe for mushroom bisque from one of my favorite downtown eateries.

Flirty Apron Swap Completed:



I little (actually a lot) late, but I am finally done and my partner will receive it before the 4th. The pattern was a little tricky because the directions were minimal at best-I mostly sewed by looking at the illustrations. My partner might have to adjust the waist ties a little, but then again maybe not...I am always super critical of my aprons, so it might fit just fine without any alterations (I hope this is the case). I am mostly pleased with the outcome and I hope my partner loves it so much that she will forget how tardy I was in sending it:)

Sassy Apron Swap Summer Edition Comes To A Close-Edited

Updated with the photos of the apron I made for Diana A.



I just want to start off by apologizing to my partner...I just got the apron package in the mail today...so no fear you weren't forgotten! I am just bad a getting myself to the post office!!

Here is a little preview of the apron I made for this edition of the Sassy Apron Swap. I won't post full pics until it is received by my partner (don't want to ruin the surprise!).

The fabrics kind of reminded me of the whimsy of summer. We have our State Fair here in late summer so I included a recipe for my fave fair beverage.

I hope she likes it and everything fits ok! I am excited for her reaction!

Yesterday Was Present Day!!

Yesterday was the best day EVER!! I got my ami (I actually won a drawing!!) from yarnigras and my sassy apron from Adrienne L!!!

Check out my pics below. I couldn't be more excited!! You ladies have really outdone yourselves!

The Ami:



Isn't she cute!?! I am naming her Midge the Manatee. This is yarni's first manatee ami and I think she did an AWESOME job! She also included an owl bookmark which is equally adorable! I can't thank you enough! My daughter wants one now (because I won't let her have mine...lol) so I guess I am going to have to start dabbling in ami art as well. Thanks again, Val!!:)

The Sassy Apron Swap:



I am so spoiled by my sassy apron swap partner! She included two dish towels that she appliqued to match my apron, a matching apron for lyddiebug (which she absolutely loves), and a color coordinated recipe card with a recipe for a delish sounding summer drink! I can't wait to break out the blender and kick back on the deck with a "Summer Sunrise"!!

Thank you soooo much!!



Lyddiebug's



Mine

Can everyone see the trim? She used little pom pon (pon pom) trim...too cute!

Dust Off Your Favorite Apron!!

Get ready to strut your stuff in your bestest apron:)

History of Aprons

I got a cute little email that I wanted to share...

Grandma's came in all shapes and sizes but their aprons always fit!!
The reality in this is one must be old enough to have experienced an older generation grandma!!


The History of 'APRONS'


I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.


It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears .


When Grandma rocked us to sleep, she would cover us with her Apron, we felt so snug wrapped in it.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.


When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.


And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.


Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.


Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.


From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.


In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.


When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.


It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know, and love the story about Grandma's aprons.

REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool -Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs was on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from a Apron.

Another Apron?!?...No Way!

Here is my latest apron creation. Fashioned from my trusty McCall's pattern #3979 (made it for my friend Dena at work). I actually found the fab fabrics at Hobby Lobby. It was great...they keep all the coordinating fabrics right next to each other so you don't have to run all over the store holding the fabric you picked out up to all the other ones hoping for a match! It was awesome...I was in and out of there in a flash! Joann's should take note...It would make my time spent there so much more enjoyable:)



I bought extra striped material so I could line the apron...you know make it a little more protective since the fabrics were a little thin. It turned out well and was most loved by the new owner...YAY! I aim to please;)





Well thanks for looking...I am off to start on the next one...maybe one of these days I will actually make one for myself:)

Lemons On the Flipside

My friend Bailey is getting married this summer and her bridal shower was on Saturday...I made her an apron (big shocker!) and cute little handbag (I used the Jenny pattern from Lola...again's tutorial on her blog).


Why did I name this apron "Lemons on the Flipside"?? Because after I got everything cut out I realized that the lemons were upside down. I always seem to do that when I am working with fabric that has a print on it where direction matters...I am a little bit of a space cadet:) Rather than junk the fabric and start over (gasp!) I just thought I would give it a clever name and pretend like I meant to do that;) If you check out the purse below I did the same thing...lol! The flowers on the main part of the purse sure are pointing to the side...hahaha! One of these days I will remember to take the direction of the print into consideration before I start cutting...hopefully:)



They both turned out cute! I was pretty proud of myself since I actually accomplished the invisible stitch to close the binding this time. Last Emmeline I sewed I just cheated and top stitched;).





The Jenny bag was the first handbag I have sewn and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was very easy and fun! I suggest you run over to Lola...again and try it out. I have the link to the tutorial posted to the left...happy sewing!

Oops!...

I just realized as I was flipping through my blog archive that I never posted pictures of my Sassy Swap apron that I received from Summer M! Bad Heather...tsk-tsk!

Anyway here it is...My daughter has claimed it as her own. Every time I am cooking in the kitchen she wants to get "her apron" on and help:)

I Received a Package From Sunny CA!

What a super cute apron! My partner Natasha did a fantabulous job! Plus she is from CA and she bought the retro cookbook fabric at Hart's which is one of my favorite fabric sites! I am jealous...I wish we had awesome fabric stores like that around here!








Maybe I should have pressed it first...but I couldn't wait to try it on;)

It is lined, has pockets, a ruffle, and a decorative stitch...what more could a girl ask for!?! Thank you for making this a great swap! I heart the dessert notecards too:)


Thanks again!!