A is for Apron

Shylee's apron is finished and I can't wait to give it to her!  AND my sewing room is still clean and organized!!  The next project will be the baby doll blankets Shylee asked for.  I wonder if I can get those made before I see her again in less than two weeks.  Maybe if I get started right now...

Have a great week!

xo Annette xo

80.  creating for Shylee

81.  shopping with Erin

82.  good dreams

A Is For Apron ~ Blogtoberfest Day 14

This apron was so fun to make.  I pulled the fabric from my stash because I thought it was pretty, but I had no idea what I was going to do with it.  So I piled up fabric with similar patterns and colors, vintage hankies, vintage lace of all sizes and vintage buttons.  I wish I had taken a picture of the table!  One by one, I chose each element, and when I was done I saw an apron.

I used four vintage hankies cut in half diagonally and gathered at the waist.  Each one is different and each one is trimmed in beautiful lace.

The ties are white roses, leaves and vines on a sweet pink background.  It is the perfect compliment to the pink roses on front of the apron.

The bottom is trimmed in a double row of gathered vintage lace that has the perfect pink edging.  Vintage mother of pearl buttons line the top edge of the lace.

I waited all week for the sun to shine so I could get some good pictures, but it didn't happen.   I was just too impatient to wait any longer to show you my newest creation!

I'm joining 

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

2805 for Potpourri Friday

An Apron For A Bracelet

A couple of months ago, my bloggy friend Patty from My Life Under the Bus and The Junquerie on Etsy, asked me if I would make her a custom apron.  After explaining what she wanted and agreeing on a price, I told her I would be happy to make one.  Not long after that she asked me if I would be interested in a trade.  She had made a bracelet that I just fell in love with and she would trade the bracelet for the apron.  Well, I jumped at that suggestion!  Who wouldn't want this bracelet?

I waited for Patty to send the fabric and I just couldn't believe what came in that package.  I couldn't believe how wonderfully decorated the envelopes were.  I felt special before I even opened it up!  There were two envelopes.  One contained the fabric and the other was full of goodies I wasn't expecting.

There were the sweetest paper dolls and these wonderful teacup prints 'wrapped' in toile.

Don't you love this wrapping?  I was just in awe of it.  It is a page from a book and Patty did a tutorial on book paper that you can see here and here and here.

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These little note cards were in there!

And then of course there was THE bracelet!  This bracelet won a Facebook contest and you can have one of your very own because there is one in Patty's Etsy shop, The Junquerie!  My photos don't do it justice.  Trust me when I say it is simply beautiful.

Patty wanted a full apron that she could wear to do craft shows.  She wanted the skirt to be ruffles and she wanted pockets on the inside so she could use them for money at the show.  Isn't that just a great idea?    This is what I came up with.

I also made her a lavender sachet to let her know how special she is to me.

Patty was one of my very first blog followers and has been a constant source of encouragement and support.  I was happy to make her an apron and even more happy to have one of her original bracelets.

Thank you Patty for everything!

A Peek At My Sewing Table II

It's been a while since I've done anything in the sewing room.  I've been busy the last few weeks but that isn't really the reason for neglecting my sewing machine.  In all honesty I just haven't been motivated.  I have definitely been inspired but the motivation to do anything just hasn't been there.  Has that ever happened to you?  I finally made myself get in there this week and get started on a custom apron for a bloggy friend.  We agreed on a swap, an apron for a bracelet, and it was time to get started.

When I noticed I was running out of thread, I decided to take a break and take pictures of my sewing table.  This is just what it looked like when I grabbed the camera.

The table sits under the window and gets the afternoon sun.  This stuff is generally always to the right of Vera. Yes, I named my sewing machine!  Have you named any of your tools?  (Calling it names doesn't count!)

 
I think I've had this pincushion since my husband bought me my first sewing macine over thirty years ago!

This is my first attempt at a fabric flower.  I need more practice but it's not too bad for the first try.

To the right of Vera is the fabric.  The apron will have three ruffles for the skirt and they will be trimmed in lace.  Isn't this fabric pretty?  I just love the color.

I hope to have this finished by the end of the weekend.  I will show you how it turns out and also show you the most amazingly beautiful bracelet I got!

I am joining these fabulous blogs 

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

At The Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

I hope you have a fabulous weekend celebrating America's birthday!

Inspiration Challenge Reveal

I was so excited when Patty at My Life Under The Bus started this challenge.  She gave us this picture and color palette as inspiration to create anything we wanted to! 

I was looking at the picture and took a cue from Patty and wrote down my first thoughts.

Spring

English Garden

Flowers

Sunshine

Strolling

Frames

Victorian

Next, looking at the color palette, I saw fall or autumn more than spring!  Oh no!  Since I had no idea what I was going to make, I started pulling fabric from my stash that worked with the palette.  That's when I found this

It had all the colors plus the flowers and I knew it was the one!  After pulling other fabric to go with it I had to decide what to make.  This is when I realized something new about my creative process.  I tend to use fabric that tells me what it wants to be!   Sometimes I buy it with a particular project in mind but I also buy fabric that I fall in love with.  It will tell me later what it will be!  If you sew, please tell me you know what I'm talking about!!  Anyway, this fabric was saying apron and tote bag.  After going back and forth for half a day, I settled on apron.  I hope you like it!

The upper left corner on the pocket is waiting for a butterfly charm!  The ones I have are too small and the wrong color!  I'm very pleased with how this apron turned out.  Once again I've proved to myself that I CAN be creative given a little inspiration!  Thanks Patty!!!

I think you can find others who completed the challenge on  My Life Under The Bus.



My Very First Apron

After about two years of thinking about it, dreaming about it, convincing myself I couldn't do it, convincing myself I could do it, devouring books and magazines about it, drooling over Janet's, planning and shopping for it....I finally made my first apron!  I really and truly did it.  Me.  All by myself.  With no pattern.  Just an idea in my head and a desire to see it come to life.

It is a mix of old and new.  A vintage embroidered table scarf, vintage buttons, new fabric, and a table scarf with battenburg lace I found in a drawer.  I must have used it at some point but I sure don't remember. 

It's not perfect and it's not exactly what I had pictured, but that doesn't matter.  What matters is I finally did it.  What matters is that I'm happy with it and will put it in my Etsy shop.  What matters is that I didn't let my fear of failure stop me this time. 

What have you recently accomplished that you're proud of?

A Glimpse of Things to Come

Fabric is my weakness.  Addiction might be a better word.  If I know there is a fabric store in the vicinity of where I am, I can hear it calling my name, beckoning me to walk through the doors.  You see, if I go in, I'm not coming out empty handed!  How could I?  The colors, patterns and textures conspire to make me fall in love with them and bring them home!  Just look at what I was recently forced thrilled to bring home and call my own!

This fun fabric will be reservisible placemats. (I think!)  Really perfect for a coffee themed kitchen.

I found a quilt shop in Williamsburg and wasn't about to leave empty handed!  However, I did leave with an empty wallet!  Probably, these will become placemats or maybe an apron or two.  Haven't quite decided yet.

Here's a glimpse of a project I've already started working on.  I found the vintage table scarf in Williamsburg and the fabric after I came home.  I can't wait to show you the finished project.  It's something new for me but something I've wanted to do for a very long time!  I hope it turns out!

Here's something else I found in Williamsburg at the antique center.  It's not vintage but that's ok!  The important thing is that it was only $8.50 and was perfect for another project I've been wanting to try! 

Look at the gorgeous detail at the top!

                           

 That should be enough to keep me busy for a while.  If only I didn't have to do the laundry, clean the house, cook meals, run errands......

Going Red and Being Thankful

A friend on Facebook suggested we start each day this month with "Today I'm thankful for....."    I really like this idea and I've decided to start each blog post with what I'm thankful for!  I think starting the day this way will help me focus on what is good and positive instead of the bad and negative.   Today I'm thankful for my family!  I love you all!

Thank you all for your input in the outline color of the letters on this apron.  I went with the red to add more color and oomph!  I also found red lip shaped buttons that I'll sew on the left side of the design since it's kind of off center!

I forgot to mention that this design is machine embroidered, but I'm doing the outline by hand.  I may have inadvertently made it sound like I did it by hand and I'm sorry if I have misled anyone. 

I'm getting closer to re-opening my Etsy shop and I'm so excited!

I Need Your Opinions

I embroidered this apron and as you can see, or not, the lettering doesn't show up.  It says Kiss the Cook.  The apron is a kind of royal blue and the lettering is black.  I'm thinking if I outline the letters in red it will show up fine.  What do you think?  Do you have any other ideas?

This is another embroidery design that I cut out to make a magnet.  I used the colors the design called for and I don't like the combination, so I would change it up if I make it again.  I love magnets on my fridge but I don't buy holiday ones.  What about you?  Would you or do you buy holiday magnets?

I look forward to hearing what you have to say!