Gingham Apron Sew Along part 1

So I joined the Gingham Apron Sew Along 

(see the button on the right hand side of the blog for more info)

and I finally picked my fabrics today.

I was originally thinking red and yellow gingham,

but this rooster fabric changed my mind for me :)

So red and black it is!

And I HAD TO add jumbo red ric rack, right?

I'll post more pics when it's done.

I haven't sewn an apron for myself in years.

Should be fun!

Back to the beginning......

Some of you might know this,

but when I started blogging,

I was joining every apron swap I could find.

I met some life long friends that are now 

a big part of my daily life :)

Although I don't swap aprons anymore

I decided to join the Apronista's Apron Sew Along!

Connecting with old friends from "the old days"

of swapping will be so much fun.

This time the apron stays with me.

This is the pattern I have chosen.

No fabrics picked out just yet.

This deserves a special fabric shopping day all it's own!

I'll keep you updated as it goes along.

Hop on over to the Apronista's website and join the fun!!!

It's Friday!!!

LHN "Home is Where the Sunflowers Grow" stitcher over 2 on 28ct Blue Monet Linen

Hope you are all having a wonderful Friday!

I'm excited to be sewing tonight :)

I finished up my cross stitch by Little House Needleworks last night

and I love love love it.

Not sure how I'll finish it just yet.

I guess for the time being it will join my growing stack 

of cross stitch pieces waiting .........

I also finished this fun apron this week.

I'm obsessed with this fabric.

Don't you just love the red bowls with polka dots?

I know I do :)

I received my charm pack from SistersandQuilters.com.

Isn't it fun?

I'm going to make a Valentines Day table topper.

It's called "Surrounded by Love"  by Deb Strain.

I also rec'd my vintage buttons from pillowtalkswf.etsy.com

Those little wooden doll buttons just stole my heart. 

I have no idea what I'm going to use them for,

but they needed to come to my house :)

Don't forget to make use of the coupon codes!!!

You can find them HERE! 

And remember you have until midnight tonight

to add your photos to this week's Flickr Group.

This week's winner will be announced here tomorrow!

Apron Time :)

I've been having some fun making aprons for the shop.

(Sewing them is so much more fun than the listing process.....)

I bought this darling birdhouse fabric

to make a project bag

and then I had to go back and buy

what was left on the bolt for an apron and potholders.

It just makes me happy :)

And this red fabric was calling my name for sure.

It says "Cafe Con Leche" on it.

My hubby grew up drinking that

for breakfast in Cuba :)

Yes, even children drink coffee over there.

Isn't it fun fabric?

These Owlies just HAD to come home with me.

I have no excuse......

And these modern cups and coffee pots

were just too cute to pass by.

Love the colors!

And last but not least,

I made a Mother/Daughter set of aprons

for a dear friend.

Why are tiny aprons just so stinkin' cute? 

I can't wait to see them wearing their aprons.

I hope she gives me a photo :)

Well now that the aprons are done

it's time to get started on the matching pot holders :)

A little bit of custom ordered goodness :)

I seriously have the BEST customers!

I love the ones that tell me what they want

and then just let me go for it :)

How fun is this Vintage Army apron?

My sweet customer has a vintage Army poster

in her home

and now she has a matching apron :)

And she saw this darling tea pot fabric on an apron

I made a while back and wanted the same fabric.

Unfortunately I didn't have any more

and it's out of print.

I checked Etsy and Ebay

but no luck.....

But don't you just love the internet?

I was able to locate some yardage

from an online fabric store and "voila" :)

She also ordered matching pot holders.

It's always such a good feeling

when the orders are complete

and on their way to their new homes.

Ok....I hear fabric calling me....

let's see what's next on my list :)

A new box of crayons......

I don't know about you,

but shopping for fabric

is like getting a new box of crayons to me.

I love combining fabrics!

Having the etsy shop gives me the opportunity

to play with colors that I wouldn't

normally pick for my own use.

It's like painting a picture :)

 

I'll be honest,

sometimes I just want to hold it

and admire it........

But seeing it take shape into something useful

is probably my fav :)

Well, I have 2 more aprons already cut out

so I'd better get back to it.

So.....Whatcha doin?

I feel like I haven't had much time to blog lately.

But I'm not complaining.

Just the opposite.

I am thankful to have been busy :)

Today I had some time to play a bit.

I made this apron and listed it.

I do love me some cherries!

And here are 3 of the 6 new project bags in the shop.

I just realized when I posted these pics

that they are all fruit themed....

hmmm  I must have been feelin' fruity!

And last but not least

I'm working on a new project that involves

Christmas fabrics.

Yes.....in January :)

I'll show you more in a day or two.

So.....What have YOU been doin?

Sewin' Machine!

I'm starting to feel like a "sewin' machine" :)

I don't think I've had a chance to spend this much time

behind the machine in quite a while.

I finished up another style of the sheep project bags tonight.

I'm definitely making one of these for myself.

Polka dots, giant rick rack and red......'nuf said :)

If you need one of these,

jump on over to Crazy Annie's Stitchin'.

I also finished up another apron for the shop.

This one is made from Organic cotton.

I'm not usually a "brown" person,

but I love these colors together :)

And last but not least,

I made 7 more mug organizers.

Remember you still have until the 16th of January

to enter my giveaway here to win your choice 

of one of these from my Etsy shop.

Which one would you pick?

Un Bear-a-bly Cute :)

Sometimes I just can't help myself.

Fabric calls out to me and I"m helpless to resist.

When I stumbled across this adorable bear fabric

I knew it was coming home with me.

Am I a bear fanatic?

No.

I just can't explain it.

It was love at first sight.

What do bears have to do with 

kitchens, 

cooking, 

baking,

or aprons?

Nothing.

Unless you have a mountain cabin....

yeah....that's it!

(I know...it's a stretch)

I just hope someone loves these bears

as much as I do......

I guess only time will tell :)

Ho Ho HO!

I should be working on dolls for my granddaughters.

But I find myself taking it easy today.

Not sure why.

I did manage to finish up the Lizzie Kate

cross stitch into a pillow for myself.

Shocker I know.....

AND I finished up a little zipper bag

for a lovely client that is stopping by today to pick it up.

Yesterday I added one more apron to my shop.

This one just feels like sunshine to me.

Even with the gray fabric.

It's just a happy apron :)

I've got lots of new ideas for my Etsy shop for the coming year.

I also have a BIG giveaway planned for January

so make sure you check back to see what's going on!

It could be YOU who wins :)

Busy...busy...busy....

Just a few more fun aprons listing in my shop today :)

This pink and gray one just makes me happy

and those are totally NOT my colors.

This one makes me want a cup of coffee....

nuf said.

Now this one is more my color palette.

I do love me some red :)

Berry Sweet

I didn't realize it until I posted my photos for this blog post,

but apparently I'm working in a "berry" theme today :)

I made this fun strawberry apron this morning

with bright pink polka dots.

I've used this fabric before,

but always matched it with red polka dots.

(shocker.....I know)

I have to say that it's really fun

and bright with the pink.

Who knew?

I also made this set of 6 coasters for a custom order.

My lovely customer stopped by my home yesterday

and picked out the raspberry fabric 

and asked me to add some red.

They look so cozy, don't they?