Gift of an Apron

I love wearing aprons! They make me feel so domestic and homemakerish (okay, I know that's not a word, but hopefully you know what I mean.)

I have collected a few vintage ones, I've made a few, I have some my mom has made for me through the years, but for some reason I only recently began wearing them. I don't know why I waited so long because I've always been a messy cook! It probably has something to do with the fact that I often store things I love instead of using them. I'm always waiting for a special occasion. I'm trying hard to change this and use the things I love, even if they get messed up at least I'll have a memory associated with them.

I have been meaning to post on the apron I'm wearing in this picture for a while. A friend made this for me and then gave me the pattern so I can make some too! I love it! It's such a happy apron don't you think so? I'm anxious to make some for gifts. I was hoping to get some made before Christmas, but I don't think that is going to happen. Not much time left and I don't expect I'll have a lot of sewing time before then. Some of the best gifts are those given "just because" like this one was!

Apron Secret Out of the Bag

After back surgery last October my father had major complications from which we all feared he wouldn’t recover. He was delirious and in pain much of the time with hallucinations, fever, and severe weakness. During this time I was over for a visit. He had overheard Mom and I talking about various sewing projects and he began to smile a little and say in a very weak voice, “I made an apron one time.” Mom and I looked at each other quizzically. He caught our thoughts and said, “No, really, a friend of mine talked me into doing if for a 4-H project in second or third grade.” He went into great detail in his description, and we had no idea whether this was true or something his mind had fabricated due to medication and his illness. He continued his story. “Our mom’s helped us make the aprons and I remember mine was trimmed with ric-rack and had a flower on the pocket. We won at our local school because obviously there were no other boys in the competition. After winning we had to go to the southeastern conference. There were so many people there. We saw school buses from everywhere all filled with students as we arrived. We didn’t find out until we got there that we had to model our aprons for the whole conference. Neither one of us wanted to do it, but we couldn’t figure out how to get out of it. We just walked out on the stage, and you’ve never heard the likes of the whistling and carrying on. I don’t know how my friend felt, but that was the longest day of my life. Everywhere we went people would point and whistle. I was never so happy as when we left and head for home.” Daddy drifted off to sleep and Mom and I speculated again on whether or not the story was true. Mom began to vaguely remember my grandmother giving her an apron in their early days of marriage (they have been married over 50 years) that she said my dad had made when he was a kid.

Daddy was sick for a long time, but Christmas Day he began to pull out of it. He is now fully recovered and back to his old self. We have confirmed that his story was in fact true, and he added that up until that time he had never told anyone that story. He still seems a little embarrassed when we mention it. Mom dug through some old linens and found the apron. It is in pretty rough shape, but you can tell at one time it was really pretty. The pocket was crocheted, so of course I asked Daddy if he had made the pocket as well as the apron. “No,” he answered, “and to be truthful I am sure my mom did a lot of the sewing while showing me how.”

When I told him I wanted to share this story he told me to change the names. So those who know me personally you might not want to mention to my dad that you read this.

Sewing, Sewing, and the Bag I Won

I've been a little under the weather lately, but I've found time to sneak a little sewing in here and there.  I whipped up a cute apron that came in my "Poor Mindy" box a while back.  It was an easy one where the pattern is printed right onto the material.  I think it turned out really cute.  It has a kind of vintage feel to it, and it is a full apron which I need 'cause this girl is a messy cook. 

I also made another diaper bag, and I love the lining in this one.  As a matter of fact I wish I had kept it to line a bag for myself.  It was one of my end of the bolt bargain buys from the shop hop last month.

And I finally took some pictures of the bag I won from Becky's Sew in Stitches Blog.  I love the fabric!  It's reversible which I also love so you can change it up when ever you want to.  

Here it is filled with my stuff.  It has the greatest hidden pocket right at the top by the handle so I can quickly get to my phone, debit card, or tissues without having to plunder through everything else.  As an added bonus, she sent this matching tissue holder, so wipe my not so dainty nose and be trendy doing it.  The bag is soft so you can fold it up and stick it in another purse to use for a market bag as well.  Thanks Becky I just love it!  If you haven't been there you should check out her blog.

Books, Doll Quilts and an Apron

I've been a busy little elf sewing, embroidering, wrapping, and smiling.  It is so much fun to make things for loved ones at Christmas.  I wanted so badly to make little doll quilts with a book theme for the grand daughters this year.   (This idea probably came after reading this post on Kleios Belly .  She does really great embroidery, and has wonderful ideas posted on her blog, if you haven't read it, you should!)  I started with vague ideas, searched the net, found some really inspiring ideas, and got to work.  One of my grand- daughter's favorite story is The Little Red Hen.  My original idea was to make a quilt and give the book that goes along with the story, but since this particular little girl loves this story so much, I just had to make her a Little Red Hen quilt, even if she already has the book.  I'll just give her a different book. 

 The other stories all had fabric to match, like Little Red Riding Hood fabric for the Little Red Riding Hood quilt, etc.,  but I scoured fabric sites and came up short on The Little Red Hen.  However,  I found this amazing quilt and story on a blog ironically called  The Little Red Hen .  It is a beautiful blog with gorgeous photography, beautiful quilts and needlework, and just the idea I needed for my quilt!  I wrote Lynn and asked if she would mind if I copied the pattern.  She graciously consented telling me her sister had gotten the pattern from an old children's book .  You really must go over and look it, for my work doesn't do the pattern justice!  I'm very much a beginner as you can tell from the quilts.  

I didn't figure my oldest grandson would want a doll quilt so I made him a Thomas the Train apron.  He adores Thomas, and I found a beautiful book, The Goodnight Train, to go along with it.  

This has been so much fun!  I have another apron in the works, and want to do a Pokey Little Puppy quilt as well.

Now to start wrapping and cooking!

The Cutest Apron Ever and Tree Climbing

My friend from Atlanta sent me the the neatest apron I have ever seen!  She bought it while teaching school in Okinawa, Japan in the 1960's. I love the detail on the appliquéd pocket and the adorable embroidered  face!  I love to use my aprons, but I will only use this one when I am absolutely sure I won't mess it up.  Who am I kidding, that would mean I'd never use it and it's just too pretty to be stuffed in a drawer!  I need another wall just to hang pretty aprons on don't you think?

The kids enjoyed spending some time outside today.  

Sweet Cheeks sat on her little tractor and one of the chickens came up to visit her and she kept saying, "No, no bac bac, (her interpretation of a chicken sound) no no! 

I spent part of this afternoon teaching a couple of my grandchildren to climb trees.  I loved climbing trees as a kid.  We had so much fun!

give away!!

Since my camera has still not found it's way home I don't have any photos of my own to share.  I hope it will be back soon, there is so much I want to document and share.  Anyway, there is a really cute apron being given away by the Secret Stitch Club  I'm hoping I win it, but if I don't maybe someone I know can and I will share your happiness.  They also have a killer looking recipe for Key Lime cupcakes in the same post.  If you make some, brew up a pot of coffee and give me a call.  I'd love to try them, but I'm just not in the baking mood today.

Tea Time

The ladies at our church hosted a very nice tea for our son and his new family.  I love wedding showers or teas.  There is such a feeling of love and community present when a couple is showered with gifts and blessings as they start their new life together.  In this age of technical communication it is nice to be a part of something as personal and connective as a tea.  Everyone welcomed our son's new family with open arms and genuine happiness for their embarkment into the adventure of marriage. 

My camera was passed around and several people took pictures, most of which were blurry.  I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who gets unfocused pictures with a self focusing camera. LOL!  Anyway here are a few shots that are clear enough to see.

I made my daughter-in-law an apron for one of her gifts.  My son said, "hey, I'm sure I'll look really cute cooking in this."  See him modeling it?

Thrifting

Another old pattern and a chicken scratch apron in my favorite red gingham! I also bought a jar full of buttons and some sewing notions. I just love junkin!