Christmas Creations of '09

While organizing my fabric stash last fall (which is still an on going process), ran across several scarfs that belonged to Ken's Grandy Mommy. When Suzanne (Ken's Mother) gave them to me, over a year ago, I wanted to some how incorporate them into a bag for Suzanne. The pattern used can be found in Soule Mama's book, Handmade Home, called the Mama Bag. Since there were several scarves, also made one for his sister, Rachael, had fabric I knew she would love! Used a light fusible webbing on one side of scarves and used them for the lining in each bag. Rachael watched Suzanne open hers first, and said, "I would love one of those!" And much to her surprise she did receive one of her very own:) My intended use for the bags was to carry scrap-booking supplies, crafts, knit/crochet supplies, or yarn. They both really loved 'em!

~Suzanne~

(bottom photo is the lining)

~Rachael~

(bottom photo is the lining)

Remember this post? Well I am sure by now the recipients have received their gifts and the sneak peek can be revealed! My friend, Jillian, commissioned me to make her mother and mother-in-law aprons for Christmas. She requested this style apron, same one as I had made her a year ago, apparently her mother really enjoyed wearing hers while staying with Jillian. I was completely flattered! She provided me with the lovely fabric and I went to work!

Hope these aprons are enjoyed for years to come!

Red and apple side is my favorite!

Thank you so much for the opportunity Jillian! And sorry again for the ruffle mix-up!

While dropping off her aprons I also dropped of their family gift.

~Hand-Stitched Wall Hanging~

Have something for Nana too, check back though cause it's still in the works!

Creating Through Christmas: Sneak Peek

My sewing "room", I use quotes because it lacks a door and four walls so, can it even be considered a room? Which brings to mind an ever present thought: 'I want a room... with a door... not a view... just a door.' The loft in our home is a shared spaced, computer/sewing/crafting area, makes for tight, distracting quarters at times:) Anyhoo my point being that I am trying to make the best of it these days and in order for that to happen I purchased this quant shoe cubby...

I hope to soon have each little cubby happily filled with beautifully organized  fabrics, let the inspiration begin!!!

But first here is a sneak peek at the beautiful fabric that was purchased and given to me by a "nameless someone" at the moment. I have started her projects, she made wonderful fabric choices and I can't wait to see how they come together in the end... check back later to find out!

Aprons Abound!

I have been meaning to write this post for the last week or so, but have been unable. And I am so glad that it was delayed because my Grandma Greywitt sent me this yesterday:

~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,because she only had a few,it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, 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..

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 menfolks 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.

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 were on that apron. I never caught anything from an apron but love.

Too cute not to share:)

Before heading to Chattanooga for Thanksgiving I whipped up these two aprons. One for my mother, who truthfully has been waiting on hers since last Christmas and one for my good friend Kelly P.

She was very surprised and excited to finally receive her apron!!

Hope she gets much use out of it:)

~Apples & Polka Dots for My Mom~

For Kelly I hand appliqued the word 'IMAGINE' across the bottom of the apron.

She is not the ruffly type, so I made a diagonal cut in-loo of a ruffle & didn't gather the bodice. With the time I put into embroidering the letters I didn't make hers reversible. I hope she is truly inspired to this while cooking or making pottery. Because she did make the comment that it is too pretty to use, but just remember... you can wash it!

~Imagine~

On the drive to Tennessee I finished-up a Santa Ear-flap Hat, for a friend whose baby boy's due Dec.13th. I was very unsure of the pattern at first, but I think it really turned out great! Can't wait to see baby in it:)

~Santa Baby Ear-Flap Hat~

More apron action to come soon!!!

Halloween...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Has come and gone and Thanksgiving is fast approaching! So I figured I'd better get my Halloween post done before then. So Halloween was a blast for Orion! He loved his Pikachu costume that I was able to make for him. He went with his Daddy and a friend from down the street and his Daddy. Orion's cousin Connor came a little later and caught up with them for some last minute trick or treating:) He came home with an enormous candy stash that we are still trying to get rid of!

Ethan had a great afternoon of wearing his owl costume I made for him. He was unable to make it to trick or treat time. His bed time is around 6:30 or 7pm. So he didn't get to hand out candy with me either but that was okay. I really think is going to love pretend play because he could not get enough of him self in the mirror with the costume. And I have to mention that this costume was made especially for my father who affectionately calls Ethan "Hoot Hoot" because of his big eyes:) He thinks he looks like an owl.

He even ate dinner in his costume, but you can tell he is getting sleepy:)

Here they are together right before Orion left to go out trick or treating. They love each other sooo much! All day I had been trying to get that smiling shot of Ethan and all it took was a little bit of that Big Brother charm:)

My Happy Halloween apron I was able to finish that morning! But I made it reversible so I could get more use out of it:) I did enjoy wearing it all day and then handing out candy in it. Received many compliments. Hope everyone else had as happy a Halloween as we did:)

A Blankie for E and A Bag for O

Since all Halloween costume worry was out of the way last night I could not resist making a blankie for Ethan. Have had some pasted down flannel clown fabric and thought it was time to put it to use:) I used a soft (and rather stretchy) white terry cloth fabric for the other side. To add a little color I appliqued clown fabric circles (3 different sizes) to each corner on the terry cloth side. I rounded off the corners with a bowl and placed 5 pieces of ribbon on each corner (for chewing purposes:) We have spent all today exploring our new blankie and he loves it!

Exploring Ribbons!

Chewing on Ribbons:)

Happy Circles!

Pretty Ribbons:)

I think it looks like a funny face:)

Enjoying his blankie and toys.

Did I forget to mention that the clowns are on skateboards!?! This got Orion wanting something made from the material as well, so... I made him a reversible trick or treat bag. He loves it as well:)

PS~ I finished my Halloween Apron today also! A little late I know but the kids costumes come first. I made it revesible so I'll still get use out of it:) I will post pictures with the kids costumes.

BOO... HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

Apron Attitude!

WARNING: POST WITH PLENTY OF PICTURES!!!!! Last week for some reason ended up being pretty much dedicated to trying apron patterns. I was inspired by some beautiful like mother like daughter fabric that I found! Since I myself do not have a daughter, I instantly thought of matching aprons for Jillian and Lilly:)

So off I went scouring the Internet for just the right apron pattern for them both, and lucky enough I found some. Both patterns were a guide for me, I tweaked each one to fit my needs.

Lilly's was a one sided apron pattern that I turned into a reversible apron. I thought it would be nice if they could match when they wanted and have a side all their own when they wanted. Pattern can be found here. I did not tweak this one really, just decided to make it reversible. Found a cute Fairy Ballerina Princess fabric that was too adorable to pass up.

Jillian's pattern was already reversible, there were just a few things I didn't like so I changed them. First thing I changed was the tie at the top of apron, I also constructed the waistband differently, and did not make it as long. The neck strap I extended to the side ends of bodice, also shortened the ruffle, and I lengthened the apron as well. Pattern I used as guide can be found here. I found a very cute circle pattern fabric that I paired with the like mother like daughter fabric. One side has the mother daughter fabric as the main pieces with circle fabric trim and the other side is reversed.

Inspired by these aprons I wanted to make my son, Orion, and Jillian's son, Andrew, semi-matching aprons. So I came up with my own Kids Reversible Butcher's Apron pattern. And they turned out great! Orion has really enjoyed his. He loves the fact that he gets to keep something Mommies made, because I am always giving them away, so it was special:)

Orion's Apron

Batman

Green Side

Andrew's Apron

Crazy Cars

Mad Scientist Side

I also forgot that the first apron I made was for myself... a Reversible Half-Apron from a tutorial found here. PS~ This is a great blog and definitely worth looking at:)

So there is what I was doing last week! Apron Crazy!!! I also finished Orion's Halloween Costume last night and hope to finish Ethan's in the next 2 days. I will post some pictures of them after Halloween.