Funky Fabric Finds

Val's site at http://hotmamaapronswap.blogspot.com

One of my good on-line friends, Val, also hosts apron swaps. This round of her Hot Mama Apron Swap is based on Alice in Wonderland. What a great theme!!

I finally found some bold fabrics for my Alice apron.  Only the Cards fabric is from the actual "Wonderland" line by Windham.  I think the far right's purple stripe looks just like Cheshire's tail in the old Disney movie.  And I really like those funky clocks.  Good thing my partner likes bright colors, just like me.  =)  Now to decide on the perfect pattern! Fun, fun, fun....

Sweet Goodness Winter White Swap

Sweet Goodness Swaps are always fun to participate in. This is an entirely different group of swappers than my apron gals so it's always so interesting to see their creations and I've received the best packages.

I have only a partial post BECAUSE of camera issues. I'll have to post what I received later but here's a glimpse of what I sent, mostly the handmade goodies. The theme was Sparkling Winter White and partners answered questionnaires for each other. Now, the email from my partner Jenny came when I was particularly busy so I have to admit that I replied with my answers without reading her's first. Good thing, too, or I might have not been entirely truthful because our answers were almost IDENTICAL. Favorite memories ... sledding as children for both us, favorite part about winter ... wearing sweaters for both of us, we both love vintage pinups, etc ...

For the Love of Sweaters: I really enjoy wearing sweaters, especially turtlenecks. (Now, my twenty-something daughters HATE my turtlenecks but that's another story.) I found a cute crochet clutch pattern a couple of years ago and knew that would fit the bill. It's called "Favorite Sweater Clutch" by Julie Armstrong Holetz and I made it one of Jenny's fav colors, pink. Part of the swap is to include a thrifted item, and I found a sweet Sparkling snowflake brooch at Goodwill that matches perfectly.

For the love of Pinups: I had some gorgeous vintage pinup Christmas fabric in my stash that was PERFECT for this swap, so I tried out my new apron pattern, McCalls M5825 (view A). In my stash was also the cutest polka-dot rick-rack that I had to add along the ruffle. This might be my favorite apron I've made since I started sewing and swapping aprons two and a half years ago. Can you even see the pocket??

Apron Update

I've been staying busy on the sewing machine, too. I am making two more aprons for my students, one for a gal who missed the last class and one for someone who really wanted a different one. Then, I gave away a pair of gloves but wanted to make them match her apron so had to wait for her to choose one. The winner and her best friend are the ones who gave me the gorgeous bouquet of flowers so I'm go to make two pairs of gloves. I also still need to mail Dorothy's gloves (I've been showing them off) and create special gloves for Karen at the FAS.

I have finished two swap aprons and am almost done with the third. First, here's my favorite, a cowgirl apron made for Val's Hittin' the Trail Cowboy Apron Swap. I just love the pinup girl fabric. I bought some more of this fabric at a little shop in Long Beach WA that is going out of business. If you hurry, I bet you can call and order some of your own. They still had some of the white background, yellow background and pink background (I bought up all the black and some of the pink). I don't find in on their website so you may need to call and ask for it. J and O Fabrics.com also carries this.



I think this apron is my husband's favorite ... he's think it turned so very elegant. My partner, Karen, says she likes it, too, and already has it hanging in her kitchen. The theme was Parasols, Pink Lemonade and Polka Dots. I found the facing material first, with all the gorgeous asian parasols .... so I added an Asian sub-theme to my package and created this chic apron. It was fun matching up the pocket perfectly so as not to distract from the from scene.

Lastly, I bought this gorgeous vintage pinup Bewitched fabric from Alice's ebay store but she's sold out -- J and O has some in, though. The print is a bit larger than I had imagined but I love it. I'll have my sweetheart apron mailed off tomorrow and then HAVE to make one for me.

Mega Apron Marathon Challenge!

Hello my dear Apronista friends! I have chosen post #200 to share how I am about to embark on a wild and crazy adventure. I am going to attempt to make 30 aprons in less than 30 days!!

I will be teaching a Make Ahead Meals class in my church during the month of July. I really wanted to lead an apron sewing class, but they needed a cooking class. Well, this is for the Lord and not my own glory. So, in order to get my apron "fix", I've decided to include an apron as part of my curriculum! I have space for 35 participants, which is how many I taught when I led this class five years ago, so that means I may actually need 35 aprons. My first class is Tuesday, July 8 and I need to have all my aprons done by then.

So, in an attempt to keep myself on task, I will be posting my aprons both here and on my Apronista blog (requires invitation to view -- just ask and I'll send you one). Of course, all this sewing has to take place in addition to my full time job, running a household and finalizing the actual class curriculum. I need some help! Will some of you ladies join on this Marathon with me and keep me motivated & on task? You could make aprons to sell on Etsy or perhaps extras to send to Lucy for disaster relief...

Just say YES!