Brittany sporting her new apron!

Apron of the day

The threading of a needle

I love getting mail, fun mail at least.

 Yesterday I received a big box from my mom in Minnesota. It was packed full with fabrics from her collection as well as my grandmothers.


 I'm so excited to get started on the 'Church Lady' Pattern!



An awesome Amy Butler Pattern was also in the box along with the most AMAZING seam ripper EVER.

 
















I am so grateful to have such a wonderful thoughtful mother. I have many treasured memories growing up spending time at the sewing machine with my mother. As a child all of my cloths were ether hand-me-downs from extended family or handmade by my mother. She even made doll clothes for by baby-dolls including a few brave attempts at Barbie cloths! It is my hope that one day I can be half the mother to my own children that she was to me.


All the new patterns and tools and fabric that were included in the box will keep be busy for months but there was one thing that I will treasure forever.

It has been said that our sense of smell is the most powerful of all our senses. Have you ever been walking through the mall and you get a whiff of a perfume that instantly triggers memories of someone special? It is almost as if your body is transported back to a special time. I had one of these experiences as I sorted through all the goodies yesterday. Nestled between a bag of binding and a box if hot cocoa was a pink bin full of lace. As I carefully picked through the beautiful lace pieces a familiar smell lofted in the air... my grandmothers house.

My eyes filled with tears as I brought a neatly bound pile of delicate lace close to my face. Emotions had been running high all day as I had received a call from my mom late in the morning telling me that Grandma had gone into the hospital and was in the ICU. The smell of her house simply put me over the edge. I neatly packed all the lace into a zip lock bag and sealed it tight. Although it would make a beautiful addition to several aprons I plan to keep it tucked away in a safe place so that I can transport my self to Grandmas house every time I miss her.



The evening got better by the hour. After working for a few hours on two aprons I was able to talk to Grandma in the hospital. She sounded wonderful and it looks as though she may be able to go home by Sunday.


It is a true blessing to have been able to spend much of my time growing up in the same town as my Grandmother. As I grow up and prepare to start a family of my own I realize more and more the little tings of my childhood that shaped who I am today. Yesterday it became clear to me just how much my life has been shaped by the simple threading of a needle.

free is good

I'm so excited because my brother gave me a BOLT of really cool fabric that they found on the side of the road.... easily over $300 worth of fabric! Oh happy day. I'll be making the first apron out of it tonight, be sure to check back tomorrow for the end result!

A good apron attitude goes a long way!

Regardless of if you are making aprons or just trying to have a good day it always helps to start your day with affirmations!

Late night creations

Well it wasn't quite an all nighter but the lights were on until 4am.   I nearly finished this cute little number.  The ties and waist are still giving me a little trouble.  I could just sew them down but I'm trying to hide as many seams as I can.  I used some old drapery fabric I found months ago in a clearance bin for the body and made a beautiful pocket out of the end of an old dish towel I found at a  thrift store.















I love sewing late at night because the house is normally quiet and I get to spend quality time with Houdini. He is our one inside cat who is very skiddish.  We adopted him from a shelter about two years ago and it always takes him months to warm up to new people or places.  Most of his time is spent in my craft room. He loves checking out the farm from the two sliding  glass doors and catching some sun on my art table.  Any time I leave fabric out he makes himself right at home.

Sunday shopping

   There is something very gratifying about getting a good deal on cool things!  I've just returned to the farm from a trip into town and am eager to get into the craft room tonight and start a new apron.  Joann's had some beautiful lace on clearance and I couldn't help but add some to my collection.   Dinner, dishes and laundry then it's into the craft room....  I feel an all nighter coming on!!!!

30 aprons in 30 dyas

I am a self professed serial project starter. Craft stores are my drug of choice. My loving fiance has allowed me to take over an entire room of our small house and converted it into a crafting room. He even built me a craft organization wall and a massive sewing/ project table.

The craft room is a plethora of 'projects in the works', from mosaics to scrap booking. Little did I know that one neatly packaged gift from my grandmother would bring my serial project starting to a grinding halt.

An apron. A green apron that had once belonged to my great grandmother had been passed along to me. This sparked an addiction that has since kept me awake all night creating. Every thrift store I visit is searched top to bottom for old aprons, towels, doilies and fabrics. My collection of hand me down aprons continues to grow and I am rarely seen around the house without one on.

                 While traveling through SC this month I discovered Apron.ology.  This is a yearly publication of amazing works of apron art.  The beautiful photographs got my imagination spinning.    I am now on a mission to create 30 unique DIY aprons in 30 days!