angry chicken

good times in salt lake city and recent books

My middle daughter was dancing for 5 weeks at Ballet West in Salt Lake City and we had a really good time visiting and getting her there and back. Why do dorms always smell like dirty socks and ketchup? I took me back. I flew out, but Pete and then later Grammie and my brother drove out and said the road trip from Portland was beautiful. I had never been to Salt Lake before and the landscape was amazing. The food scene was pretty great, too. This is non-dairy ice cream from Monkey Wrench and a delicious lunch at From Scratch, which was across the street.

Books!!

We have finished some books these last few weeks:

Hotel Silence, by a wonderful Icelandic author. I love her work so much and enjoyed this newest book of hers.

Turtles All the Way Down I read in 2 days. We have 4 copies, signed, (long story) but I had yet to read it. I did—and it's good. Kind of hard to get through. It's really all up in the brain of someone who struggles badly with anxious thoughts. I think it would be great for people to read if they want a sense of what an anxiety spiral feels like, and for people who get anxiety, well, it's kind of hard to read. It was for me. The humor helps, but I wouldn't call the book funny. 

We Have Always Lived in the Castle I finally read, and the Haunting of Hill House along with a lot of other short stories in this Shirley Jackson anthology. I had the girls read The Lottery as well. All of these stories gave me weird dreams. I couldn't find the exact book on amazon, but the photo is of the edition I read. I like the Library of America series—I think it's worth trying to find that edition.

The 13-year old just read and loved We Were Liars. I think that will float around the house, I might read it next.

The 15-year old just read Miles Away From You, which she wants me to read, much of it takes place in Iceland.

Pete could not stop talking about the crazy in the non-fiction book, The Lost City of the Monkey God. 

maid costume completed

I finished the maid costume a bit ago. Sadie loves it. I don't think I  will have to sew 2 more, the other girls are on to halloween requests, which are changing daily and seem to never invlove costumes we already have. They have asked Pete to dress-up as  "guitar-playing Abraham Lincoln" which should be interesting.

For this costume, I had a blast with my Downton Abbey research and used Simplicity 2843 for the dress, the apron pattern I designed. The dress is black cotton with a zip in the back and the apron is white muslin. It was easy to sew and I spent way too long fussing with the lace placement on the apron. I was definitely in my happy place working on this project.

The hair peice is a strip of white canvas with some sheer gathered ribbon and lace stitch on the top. I sewed on hair clips for an easy attachment.

I didn't realize until after I was done how useful this dress is for all kinds of costumes. All black with a bit of lace lends itself to so much—a mourning outfit, Victorian dress-up, an old-fashioned witch. It's such a great basic piece.

Once again, sewing with all black sure makes me realize I need to get some better lighting in my space.

Unrelated:

• I am reading Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter right now and am liking it a whole lot. I'm only about 1/4 in.
• I am eating a lot of figs in salads or for breakfast with yogurt. Pete says he likes his figs only in a Newton.
• I am getting ready to go to SF next week to do some video classes for Creativebug! I'm going to try and not swear or say "um. . ." too much.

some items of interest-

• I am smitten with these Free ephemera downloads of vintage envelopes from Stampington & Co.

• The new Paris Tie One On gallery is up! They look wonderful. Please head over, take a peek and leave a comment. The new apron theme is up over on Tie One On, as well. The Storybook Apron.

• My large extended family on Grammie's side are very into animals, pets, and critters of all kinds (huge understatement) and I have heard a rumor that certain family members are not leaving their house because they are paralyzed watching the Eagle Cam! Look at that baby eaglet!

 

The Circus Aprons are up!

The Circus Aprons over on Tie One On are outstanding! Please take a look, it will put a huge smile on your face. This amazing photo and apron here is by Amber. Unreal! I am standing up and clapping!

holiday gifts and such

These are some of my favorite items from Stubby Pencil Studio, an excellent online kids art supply shop which I have blogged about before—I just love their inventory. They have items I haven't seen anywhere else. (And here's a handy 10% discount code: ACSAVE10)

I snapped this photo before the gifts got tucked away in a box. Note to self—don't let the girls see the blog this month.

Star shaped crayons!! I drew these book covers and printed them onto card stock to make blank books to go with the nice art supplies. They say "This Very Important Book Belongs To:"

And "Mildly Interesting Secrets Belonging To:"

While I was at it with my brush pen (yes, the one from Jet Pens!) I made a fill-in-gift list for myself. I love drawing, scanning, and printing so much. I just want to play copy shop all day. Remember the stinky ditto machines?! I used to beg my teachers to turn that crank and make copies. Were they actually called mimeographs? I don't even know. But they stank to high heaven.

Hey there Apron Makers:

I am super-slammed this week and will need a little extra time to get the Peppermint Candy aprons up for Tie On One gallery. They look amazing! I will be back from Seattle on Friday sometime and will get the gallery up over the weekend. Thanks so much!

tie one on-gingham summer

The gallery is up! The gingham aprons are so sweet and summery, perfect for the last days of warm weather. I can't believe how many people tried chicken scratch embroidery on the gingham—it's so awesome. And I didn't! Bad me. Now, I have to try. I think it would look so cute on a tooth fairy pillow—which is now needed in this house. I can't believe one of my children is old enough to lose a tooth!

Please head on over to Tie One On to check out all these amazing aprons, like this outstanding one here from Kristena. Thanks so much you guys!

no place like home—my tie one on apron

I had to make it. I was researching chicken scratch for the Tie One On gingham apron theme and then, without realizing it, I started looking for Dorothy images. I had Grammie pick up a lovely black and white gingham but when she brought it she also gave me this blue and white gingham, which she has kept since I was about 7, apparently. This is pretty much normal for Grammie.

Once I saw it, I just couldn't stop humming "follow the yellow brick road." I love making costumes so much, especially iconic ones. A red cape, a witch,—all those types of things. Modifying Dorothy's dress into a pinafore/apron version was totally fun and simple. Also, it makes it so much easier for growing bodies to fit into. No closures to get in the way. Here it is on Sadie.

Here's Delia with a munchkin. Or a flying monkey, depending on who you ask. There was no pattern here. I used photos from the movie for inspiration, although I love the original book illustrations, too. After digging around for props, like a Toto basket among other items, we were able to magically put together a Glinda outfit from the dress up box for the middle child, complete with a white felt crown I made about 3 years ago.  This is totally awesome and a huge load off Halloween preparations. It's also a bit scary when I realize how much dress up stuff we have.

Sadie, God bless her, put on her new fall red shoes as ruby slippers, didn't even say a peep about needing new ruby ones but just scrounged for what we had on hand—but come on, I may have to get her some red ones with glitter.  Glinda (Delia) is also totally content with her pieced together outfit as well but has requested a homemade magic wand "really big, as tall as a cane." So, there you go. The girls want Liddy to be a munchkin, I want her to be a flying monkey, and Pete's vote is for the wizard.

Bring on the gingham aprons!~The aprons for this theme are due by September 1st. The next theme for Tie One On will be in early 2009, so we can all slow down and enjoy the holidays without extra projects. Plus, I have 2 birthdays to contend with.

the aprons are up!

Dang. . . dang, this new gallery for the Polka Dotted aprons looks so good! Thank you all so much! This one here is designed by Meg and I am very excited that she is now selling the pattern, you can get yours here. Please head on over to Tie One On, pop over to flickr, and take a look at all the apron goodness. You can see the new theme there, too.

aprons and stuff

It's Friday and I am happy about that. It's not been a bad week, but I am looking forward to getting some help around here. I have some projects in mind—some crafting and some cooking. I had a failed batch of lollipops and I am determined to not let beat me. Reading the thermometer correctly will help immensely, I think. I didn't have it submerged enough last time and so my sugar syrup turned black while never getting to the hard crack phase on the thermometer. Oops. It's just sugar and water, right? No biggie. Not like the 4 eggs and 2 cups of sugar I wasted when I forgot to put the flour (the flour!) in my pumpkin cake last weekend. That is still irking me, actually. Oh, cooking with the girls can be fun and so not productive. I blame them, for the record.

Here's my apron for Tie One On, the theme being Polka-dotted Lovelies. It's for a young girl, and I thought it would be a great gift with the cookbook there. That's my copy, which is well used. I love this cook book. I think there is a sewing version too, but I haven't seen it in person. This fabric is by Grand Revival and the ruffle is from my trim basket.

other stuff:

-Julie over at Booga j reviewed a bread baking book that has been calling out to me. You have to read bout it, it sounds so cool!

-The bloggies!!! I am honored to be nominated in the Best Craft/Art Blog category along with the other great blogs, not martha, PostSecret, posy gets cozy, and apartment therapy. I just had thai food with Alicia last night and am now planning on T.P.-ing her house, you know, as a gesture of friendly competition. And I got a chance to talk to Megan of not martha fame this summer, and she was so cool and swell, I feel totally comfortable driving to Seattle to T.P her house, too. This is my 3rd year being nominated and I think I have come in last each time. I assume so, because they list the winner, and then the other blogs. . .and I am always listed last. So one can assume, that, you know, I am last. So my goal this year is to be second to last. Vote! I always feel so excited to see the other nominated blogs are out there. I am going to check out the music ones for sure. I can only listen the Fraggle songs a bit longer around here before I go all hyphy.

 

your aprons want to work for you.

There's a cool homemade apron contest over at Craft and I'm gonna enter this one-

You all have to enter this!!

All you need to send is an image of a homemade apron. That's it!

Okay, there are hundreds of these already made over at Tie One On, so all of you apron makers out there, just send in a jpeg of what you have made before!! 5 winners will get a copy of this fine book, Prairie Girl, (which is the inspiration for this contest) and the lucky 5 will also get to see their apron in the actual Craft magazine. See the details here and make your aprons famous! The deadline is November 12th.

Tie One On-Local Pride Apron

I know this doesn't look like an apron, but it is. An apron of sorts. I'm calling it the Dour Fir Apron, for the Tie One On theme, Local Pride. Doug firs are so prolific here in Oregon and a woodland fairy skirt was desperately needed for the middle child's upcoming birthday. . .so there you go. These fairy skirts are just about the easiest things to make ever. I have tried all kinds of tricks gathering the tulle and have discovered it's stupidly hard. The easiest thing to do is just pinch it together as you sew, then it's a piece of cake.

There are 6 layers of tulle in 3 different colors topped with a mildly tacky printed tulle with pine cones and fir needles. I was on the fence about using this print but decided to go for it. It makes it so Doug fir-y and sweet and you know how the kids love anything a bit tacky. I keep trying to go all minimal with them and then I get busted. "Mom, where's the glitter? The jewels?" Oh, yeah. . .

So, to make this I just measured the tiny waist and gathered the tulle layers to that circumference measurement. Then I centered the gathered puffy skirt it on a long wide ribbon and stitched it down. I topped the waist with another piece of ribbon, sandwiching all the tulle raw edges in-between. The ties are only one layer of ribbon, if this makes sense. Then I trimmed it all while it was on the hanger, making a bit uneven and puffy, fluffing like mad. No hemming needed of course, I love tulle. It all cost about $5 by the way. I am exaggerating, but it's not much, anyway. I got 2 yards in each color and had a bit left over in the length. I want one, too. I'm not afraid to admit it.

 

apron gallery is up!

The March/April Rick-Rack Gallery is up, you can go to it here from Tie One On it is amazing. You can check out the new theme there, too. A ton of aprons this round all worth careful inspection. And check this rad one here from Tanya! That's some rick-rack!! So very cool, I am freakin' over this.

I have nothing to report today other than that, it's been all about aprons here the last 48 hours. . .except I am into the heavy testing phase for the next mailorder recipe card and it involves rhubarb. I am so excited.

Tie One On-recipe and apron

The theme for Tie One On for November is to share a holiday recipe and show an apron. Any apron. That's it. I wanted to make it easy on us all. . so find your favorite apron, take a photo, and dig though your recipe cards. And while you are at it, please check out Hannah's cool new food/recipe blog, the recipe box. She has some great recipes already up and even a pdf of a super cool blank recipe card to print out, all ready for your box. I think we should all e-mail her our Tie One On recipes as well for this awesome project, can't have too much of good thing.

This is one of my all time favorite family recipes. It comes from our family cookbook that my mom and aunts put together in 1981, which deserves it's own post. The apron is one of my all time favorites that I thought would kind of go with the recipe. I got it for Christmas last year and love it to bits. Best pockets ever.

Christmas Braid

2 3/4 cup flour
1 package yeast
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg

In a mixing bowl combine the yeast, 3/4 cup flour, and cardamom. In a small sauce pan (or the microwave) heat the milk, butter, and sugar until warm. (not hot) Add the milk mixture to the dry and mix on low for 30 seconds, scrape. Add egg. Beat for 3 min on a high speed. Slowly add the remaining flour to make a soft dough (you may us a little less or a little more flour than the 2 remaining cups.) Mix until the dough is smooth, (use a dough hook here) Put in a greased bowl to rise until doubled (depends on the yeast you use, 30-50 minutes) Punch down dough. Turn onto a floured surface and make 3 balls. Let rest for 10 min. Roll balls into 3 ropes (16" long) and braid loosely. Start in the middle and work out to each end, tucking/pinching ends under. Cover with a towel and let rise again until double in size.**  Brush braid with a little milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes.

**I always pre-heat the oven during the second rise and put the dough nearby or even on top of the oven. It makes it rise faster.

The smell of this braid baking is 100% Christmas to me. It's wonderful with butter and jam and even better as French toast the next morning. Thanks grammie!! Send me your favorite family recipe and apron photo. . share the love, man!

tie one on-halloween

I got done with Delia's witch costume. I used the same style pinafore apron as Sadie's last month. I know this was sort cheating, but I needed to multitask. She is quite proud, as you can see. I made the caplet, the hat, and the treat bag, which you can barely see. I didn't not gather sticks for the broom however, I came to my senses (sort of.) I was cursing a bit at the amount details I put into Sadie's, because although it was fun, I felt I had to do the same for Delia's. . .it was making me a little nutty and I'm really glad they are finished. They are a little too big, but hey, I know these kids are gonna grow, right?

In keeping with a spooky post--my husband sent me this brilliantly stupid thing yesterday which I love. A great time waster.

Zucchini! Aprons!

We have zucchini here from the garden. . .I didn't see this one and it got WAY too big. . .so I guess I will be making some zucchini something. . .bread? Cake? Not sure, but something with sugar--and I think I can find some recipes here, god, I love the internet. Who knew you could put zucchini in so many things? The tomatoes are just now, barely, starting to get red, except the cherries, they are doing pretty good. The eggplant tanked as did the yellow cucumbers, which really bums me out-but the peppers are doing well. .

And, the June/July Tie One On apron gallery is up! Wow. I know I say this every time-but really, WOW. Some many amazing musical themed aprons. I haven't counted, but I think Sound of Music is the most popular. . thank you all, once again, for being so rad with your apron submissions.

oklahoma-OK!

I was going to bust out some apron type thing that was all tunic-y and hippie and Jesus Christ Superstar, but the vintage won out (again.) It's Oklahoma for my musical themed apron for the Tie One On June/July theme. This sassy number is trimmed with wide bias and has two pockets and I love her so. The pose here is so serious but I am actually singing and being a total goofball while I wear this. The girls always say "mama, stop singing. I sing self." I actually miss singing around the house because they really are adamant that I not sing! And I swear my singing voice is not offensive.

Okay, I know the summer is no time to be ironing and crafting inside, but this was way fun, so I hope the extra time motivates you all to add your musical apron-I can't wait to see what you all do!

the smock is done and I feel better.

Oh, I am happy about this. I decided to make a ficka, dicka, and ricka smock for myself for this month's Tie One On theme, also inspired from the anthropologie smock (and coincidentally, there is a great tutorial from suzdeth for a shirt like this as seen on whip-up) this style of smock seems to be all around right now-and I love it!! I don't want to take it off. I used a lightweight linen/rayon for this because it had to float, all cotton would have been way to stiff.

I really struggled with the pocket because I had to have a pocket, but should it contrast or blend in? I opted for the minimal look, which is usually my first choice. The challenge for me with this smock, was since I wanted to wear it out, I didn't want to look either; pregnant or like a 6 year old. And I was thinking a crazy patterned fabric pocket might make the look more. . . juvenile? I'm not even sure. Certainly a crazy patterned pocket wouldn't make me look pregnant. (Which I AM NOT by the way.) Not sure if I avoided these two looks with this smock, but I just don't care. I like it too much.

I'm not done with smocks. There are too many styles for me to be excited about. The 1970s tunic with bell sleeves, the 1940s house dress style. . .I could go on and on. But first, I need to get out of town. Family weekend at the beach tomorrow! yippee!

I am happy.

The yellow and white apron gallery is up and oh-gosh-boy-dang-it all, it makes me so happy to see all this yellow and white! The sun is shining here (with a very cool breeze) and I feel so happy about spring. We got some veggie starts and turned the vegetable beds this weekend (when I say "we" I mean pete) and May is the best month ever. (My b-day month, go figure.)

Okay-this amazing photo is from jennifer, the felt mouse, please check out the other incredible aprons and the new theme is set for next month.

I also am in need of some updating over on tie one on, especially on the "apron lovers" blogroll. I am going to ask you all a huge favor-can you comment here if you are a tie one on participant (and apron lover) and would like to be added to that list? I was starting to work backwards and trying to link from the galleries and it was just really dumb. At least I was doing it in the dumbest way possible. So, if you have ever submitted an apron and would like to be added to the list on Tie One On, let me know-and I will add you (but probably not all at once, sorry, I will really do this though, I swear.) thank you!!
 

tie on one-yellow and white

Here's my Tie One On yellow and white apron. I am so late with this and planned all along to use what I had on hand. I really thought I had a lot more yellow than I do, so there is some patching in the back, which I like a lot, actually. The yellow patterned vintage fabric is from someone (thank you, sorry I have forgotten who.) and then some yellow solids. Snaps in the back. Simple and easy.

Sadie needs a smock so I made this for her. My first thought was to make a smock for me inspired by these, but after a very bad first attempt (late night + no pattern + no muslin to experiment with = failure and depression.) I decided to just make this one. Same old shape and style as what I usually make for the girls. I like it, but need to try something new. . .

Then I read Sadie to sleep last night and there was my new smock design! The Flicka, Ricka and Dicka books, by Maj Lindman from the 1940s, are my new obsession (thankfully Sadie also digs them) and I am really geeking on their dresses and aprons. This style is perfect and fortunately there are a lot of drawings of them, so I do think I can sew one pretty easily.

These books are only available now as soft cover, which bums me out (unless you collect vintage children's books-yikes!!$$$) and the mom in these stories is fascinating to me. Very willowy, impossibly thin, 1940s elegant, always perfect. She has high heeled slippers in her bedroom and a perfect chignon in every illustration. It's so funny to me that this is what I notice the most when reading these right now, the mom. How does she look that good? She sure isn't carrying any extra baby weight from the 3 (!) girls. And where is dad? Yes, I know these are just stories, but I can't help thinking all this as I read them. I check out the kitchen and all the details, the girls' bedroom. Always so clean and tidy. Snip Snap and Snur are the boys version and we got two of these too, but I can't find them right now. Becasue my house is so clean! (ha.)

tie one on-apron on a toy

Jenny came to live here over the weekend. The eBay gods smiled on me and we got her in great condition for a good price in her original brown dress and tights (no shoes) Delia loves her and Sadie is thrilled. I think I can admit here that I have played with them both non-stop. I was thinking yesterday how much my life has changed since I have had children. In so many ways, but it's the creative side I am most surprised about. 3 years ago if you told me I would be making dolly aprons and getting babysitting lined up so I had time to draw fake money, I'm not sure I would have believed you. But I would have been ridiculously excited.

For Tie One On this month, I made a half apron for Mandy with a corduroy pocket and a full one for Jenny that snaps behind the neck. These were so easy and quick and the lovely fabrics came courtesy of Lisa, thank you so much! I couldn't wait to photograph them. I may have rushed it because I think Jenny's might need a red pocket and I want to make matching ovenmits for them both. Oh, I should have done that for sure. Maybe later today.

I think Michelle's Williams yellow dress was stunning, my favorite by far, and shame on the paper this morning for saying she looked like a bottle of mustard! (although that is sort of funny) Color! that's what they needed last night, and she had it. So there!

 

stuff n' stuff

check out this man in his mapron! this is a completely awesome photo from Nancy, nuff said. The new tie one gallery is up and the men are lookin fine and the new theme for March is set, so go and take a peek-

I have started a very official mailorder club group on flickr, so you can take a look at some completed projects and swap tips, ideas, and gossip about mailorder legends (like all the inappropriate things Blanche, from Baker City, said at the mailorder summer picnic last year, that punch was loaded!)

oh my good lord go see what super eggplant is up to: a monthly candy swap called candyswappers. wow! this is such a cool idea (and won't help my recent sugar intake reduction at all)

also, Jessica has started a cool quilt project. It's not a quilt along, but a modern block swap, in a Denyse Schmidt style and looks very cool and fun. You make 10 blocks and get ten blocks. I love this idea so much, grammie did this all the time a few years back and I have quilts from her swaps and they are so cool. I am over committed to the point of stupidity right now, so I will have to miss this one,sniff, sure wish I could join up and hope she does another one (no pressure, Jessica!)

I hope everyone has had a chance to listen to craftlog's wonderful interview over at craftypod. It made me smile big and made my day. And, how flippin cool is craftypod? I love it.

 

tie one on - little mapron

This little mapron (for this month's tie one on) is for a small friend who is turning 4.

And his sister is turning 2 a few days later, so she gets one too! These amazing fabrics are from cia's (of course) the blue is a new moda pattern, as is the cowboy and indian pattern, and they make me so happy, I can barely stand it. The line is called "johnny & buck" how flippin' cute is that? The dots are heather ross, which I love as well. i need to make more of these little aprons, they were so easy and really fun to make. I debated having the neck strap fixed, and ended up opting to have it tie, so then the wearer can adjust it-cause you know the small people keep growin'!

**if you have received your mailorder issue #1 and have found the secret word, please go to kingpod, papergoods/mailorder to redeem your prize. We can't get this little application to run with internet explorer on a mac, BTW, sorry, you will have to use a different browser. (which we highly recommend anyway, just saying.) oh-make sure and refresh if you have the site cashed.

mid-week excitement

What a busy Wednesday! the tie one gallery is up and the new theme is here. All the aprons look amazing, very clever re-use out there. This wonderful shot is from Hayley and I love it that people are getting into the photos so much.very cool.

and of course you know about whip up so stop on by. I am excited to be contributing (but a bit late, ahem) thanks so much kath, for this wonderful idea and crating such a great crafty resource. It's wonderful!

 

tie one on - apron from clothes

Here's my apron for this month's Tie One On. It's an old sweater that I felted and cut up. I sort of have a back to school theme going here, and to be perfectly honest, I did make this back in late august for an apron theme (not so fun working with this wool back then) but got distracted by another theme, and so this one went into the "save" pile. It was really fun to make and quite sassy on. Perfect to keep legs warm over a plaid pleated skirt (this is for me, not for Sadie, so I am wearing the plaid skirt in this scenario.)

And a handy pocket for taking notes. There are a couple more photos here.

it's almost here!

Happy almost Christmas!

I little reminder for all of you who have extra time on their hands. . .ha!

Don't forget to make a holiday apron for Tie One On this month. Of course, you can make one after this weekend, but if you want to cover your holiday finery on Christmas day in style, grab some fabric (or a holiday tea towel) and sew up your apron. There have been some nice submissions already, which will be up in the gallery January 1st. This great Father Christmas image is from here.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and drive safe!

tie one on-holiday apron

here's the holiday apron for tie one on. wow. this took way too long. too many other project interruptions. I laughed when I finished because I am obsessed with light blue and red right now and didn't even realize it. it's appearing in everything I do. It's also the colors of a fabulous vintage apron Laura sent me this summer, which I have been wearing daily. So much that I haven't even photographed it yet.

Christmas present + glitter rick-rack= pocket. And I was planning on using this wonderful fabric for a Christmas quilt (I got it so long ago) but it did really feel right for my quilt work right now, but I do love it, so perfect for an apron, I'd say.

okay-here's the detail where the straps button to the inside of the waistband. the pins are for the oh so professional photo styling. I used this vintage apron pattern for this apron. I really really love sewing from vintage patterns. can't I say that enough. It warms my heart to be sewing and reading the same directions that my grandmother would have, not that it was her pattern, but it could have been! okay,now I really have to get busy making cookie dough. (wearing this apron while I do it) I've made 3 kinds so far, and want to make 4 more (or more- insane?? yes!)
***on a tie on one related note: the holiday aprons are due on december 31st. so you have 6 more weeks. I wanted to extend it since we are taking next month off anyway. so, new gallery will be in January, with the new theme, as promised.

tie one on-mixed media

*Quilt Monday will return when I find/write an amazing quilt post, or when I make a quilt, or, you know, otherwise get it together. Until then. . .*

The most amazing thing happened earlier this week. Pete was cleaning the kitchen with a baby on a hip and Sadie on the floor and said to me "you know, I'd really like an apron." what??? holly crap! Thinking about it, I shouldn't have been surprised. Pete's a pretty neat and tidy guy, and also, working grocery for over 12 years, spent many a day with an apron and a box knife. (this was before he turned into a computer.) So, I jumped to make him one, obviously, and although the Mapron will at some point be an upcoming theme, I couldn't let this opportunity go.

So, I wouldn't say Pete is fussy (but he is) so I'll just say he knows exactly what he likes. Heavy cotton duck, in brown, long, but not too long, no pockets and no gimmicks. But I had to get the mixed media theme in. . .

and here it is. on the 2 matching ovenmits are the two main recipes Pete bakes. Corn bread and pizza dough. Now he'll have the recipe right there!

I used the ridiculously expensive computer fabric sheets because I have had no luck sending waxed paper backed fabric through the printer and I don't have the bubble jet stuff yet. Pete is happy, I am happy and we had pizza last Friday night.

the aprons are up and sadie is 3

Sadie is 3! we went to the pancake house for breakfast and she got these horses here and is happy as a lark and has a runny nose. The apron gallery is up (whew!) and now we are all gonna play with toys and kick-back until the party tomorrow.

tie one on-dishtowel aprons

I spent way too long setting this shot up. It resulted in me screaming at Sadie who had swiped the vintage buttons and was tearing them off the card, and then defensively explaining to Pete why the photo-styling was really important to me at that very moment, and yes, I had to do it all right there at the kitchen table because the light is best there. sigh. I think it turned out pretty good (for all that, thank you family for helping me pretend I live in a Japanese craft-book) you can see I am still fully into this red-work look. the lovely basket was one of many things I have received from Hillary, thank you.

apron #1: from the 4-pack of dish towels I made these 4 aprons. twill tape and extra fabrics were all from my stash, the rule here for me was no extra purchases except the dish towels. and I stuck with the rules, for once. also, no hand sewing. these were to be quick and easy. I did zig-zag embellishment on the twill tape here and no pleats on this one. way to bulky.

apron #2: I swiped this pocket design from a Japanese apron I saw in a craft book. super easy to do and really fun. twill tape is my best new friend and makes a great binding, too. The pleats here were so easy because I just used the plaid as a guide. does that make sense?

apron #3: no, there is nothing in this bowl. this pocket looks a bit more like a stuck on clutch, but I like it anyway. it ties in back.

apron #4: I ran out of the natural color of twill tape here, so switched to brown. I would have had enough but I kept making the ties on the aprons tie in front which takes a LOT of tape.

okay, please remember that you only have to do one for Tie One On. these were even easier than I thought and were super fun and satisfying. family and friends, please act surprised when you get one for Christmas and let me know if you want dibs on one. wooden spoon and white bowl not included.

 

aprons and the world

The September Tie One On theme is out. I'm very excited about this theme. It's frugal, smart and can in voled re-using, which is aways a great thing. And I will be working on the August gallery today and it will be done by tomorrow, I'd guess. Thanks so much for all the amazing submissions, it's looking great!

So, I'm feeling horrible about all the suffering and damage in New Orleans and other places. I'm going to try and figure out my own way to deal with this. Red Cross donation? Selling items with the proceeds going to help? I'm not sure, but I know I need to do something. I'm feeling a bit odd talking about aprons, you know?

up to no good

I have been running amock over at flickr in the last 24 hours. I had to get up last night and go pee (I can't make it though the night anymore since having babies-curses!) and couldn't go back to sleep. so at 3:00AM I started some new flickr groups regarding apron love. check out the details on Tie One On and join up! And just so you know, Pete is on vacation for awhile now, so I was able to rest up, I'm not that crazy.

my mini-me plus one

mini-me is done for Tie one On and it feels so good to have these done.I made a bistro style apron for myself this time, and it is so comfortable and is a rectangle! so, so, easy, really fast to sew-up and easy to wear. I knew I wanted to use this vintage print and had such a small amount, so I used it for the pockets. Except for miss Delia, who gets apples on her bib, not pockets, because god only knows what she'd put in there. I also had to get in some orange. And where there is orange, there is brown (in my book anyway) but it looks so autumnal. didn't mean for that to happen. Guess I'm getting excited for Halloween.

The photographing of all 3 of us was funny. (one word for it) I could post about 30 random photos of crawling/running bare bottomed babies going all over the yard,but I'll just show these here-

 

it's up and lookin good!

****update! I'm so terribly sorry if you didn't see your apron. Flickr didn't save my original set, and is acting crazy right now, so some of you who submitted your aprons early in the month, may have been missed! I am getting up the lovely ladies asap, but please let me know if you don't see yours, thank you.

The Tie One On gallery for July is up and the theme for August is set!

make your apron this weekend!

the tie on one "pink lemonade" apron submissions are due by the end of the day Sunday, so start sewing! This very pinky and lemony fabric here is from jess hutch's personal stash which I found while drooling over at the flickr vintage fabric group.

and not a lemonade apron here, but minute-maid (still a juice!) this lovely image of a vintage pattern (e-mailed to me from janet, thank you) has been added  to the photo album at tie one one, and my goal is  to move the whole photo album over to flickr, so then if any of you *need* to find or are willing to sell/trade patterns, we can have a resource-you can just leave a comment there (when I do this, which I haven't yet- it's on the list, man.)
And if you need a quick apron to make this weekend, go to a fancy schmancy kitchen store, (or better yet, a thrift shop) and  buy a dishtowel, and just sew some ribbon to make the ties, making the tails super long to tie in front. no hemming! now you have no excuse. ha!

 

quilt monday-grammie's apron

Grammie sent me her pink lemonade Tie One On submission last week-and I need to show it here because there's a back story that won't really work on flickr and since grammie doesn't have a weblog-here it is! This was a surprise to me, and along with the photos she sent this is what she wrote in her e-mail:

The inspiration for this was Phyllis, the pink elephant that was a special friend for Amy in primary school. When she was about 6 or 7, Amy decided to write a book about Phyllis, (do we see a theme emerging at an early age?) but all I have from that plan is her concept of the cover: A happy little Phyllis on a summer day. That was just perfect for recreating in applique, so I did that, but I hadn't decided how to use the fabric version until I read the Pink Lemonade theme for Tie One On. Of course, I couldn't find the applique when I started the apron, but just as I was getting ready to hem it, I found Amy's original drawing.   Then I tore my sewing room apart and finally, in the bottom of my UFOs and Orphans bin, I found the applique version. It was the perfect size for the pocket. Yay.

 

Here's my original drawing (done in 2 or 3rd grade, I believe) and the applique that grammie did of it, I think a few years ago, when I was in college. As you can see-I'm still 6. (didn't even know the theme of may last post would work for today too!) and since this is applique, and it has that amazing mini-log cabin bib, I'm posting it on a quilt monday. So, there you go. This is all mildly embarrassing, and I sat on it for a week before posting-but I have to show it cause grammie made it! (and we won't mention how incredibly phallic that pink elephant trunk looks to us, right?)

pink lemonade

here's my tie on one-pink lemonade apron submission. this was so fun to make. I used this vintage pattern (cobbler style apron pattern which I happen to own) and everything worked out really well.

here's the back-
sometimes a sewing project is blessed-and this was one. I had only 1 yard of the great pink floral, so I really fudged the cutting, but squeaked out just enough fabric. The lemon-y pockets are made of 4 layers of yellow tulle, which was slippery as all get-out, but I used my head (and had some patience for once) and based before I did the bias trim. I'm really diggin the frosted look of the tulle pockets-ahh-very refreshing. .(I sound like a mountain dew commercial)

 

some fun applique lemon slices on the pocket, and my hand, demonstrating the sheer pocket (pete's idea). This apron went together really fast. well, except the bias trim. It took 3 whole packets, by the way. I highly recommend using a vintage pattern for this style of apron. I know I keep saying " I can just draft one up by looking at the illustration" yeah, well, I couldn't have done that with this style. The half aprons I think you can sort of make up as you go, but for the fitted smock/full apron thing, a vintage pattern is the way to go for sure. (another ebay habit rears it's ugly head) okay-on to the sock monkey!

 

thursday is the day!

so, tomorrow is the apron deadline for the June Tie One On. This stylin' photo came from Hannah, who is celebrating her 29th b-day today, happy b-day!

some one you (at least 2) have posted aprons on your weblog, but have not e-mailed me links or photos of them. So, if this sounds like something you may have done, please e-mail me the goods, otherwise I may have a brain fade and forget to dig them up when I'm doing the gallery.

family fun

 

here's my funny funny baby. sorry the other photo is so dark, but it was taken at 10:00pm last night when I thought pete had already put sadie to bed. I found this on the camera this morning. As you can see-she is not asleep.

I posted great photos from this japanese apron book on Tie One On-very lovely.

my apron

Here's my apron submission for Tie One On. For the "Home on the Range" theme, I went with a minimal western campy with abstract lasso thing. This is muslin cut on the bias and machine embellished. This novelty fabric is amazing. The cowboys all have names printed on it. This apron features Tex, Luke, and Owen. But some of the other names are: Hap, El Ray, Horace, Pole Cat, and Gus. Too good.

here's a shot of just the apron-

and with the matching pot holder, which loops through the ribbon I sewed on.

people are awesome

So, I have had a really hard last few days. With getting sick on friday and it blowing my whole weekend. It's so hard to have time go by with no crafting. I feel so close to getting done with so many projects, yet I can barely take a shower these days. ugh. The babies are wonderful but so busy and needing so much of my time. sigh. However, I know I will get my time soon-and with impeccable timing to cheer me up (and as a kick-ass b-day gift) I got this book from Karen last friday, and it is so amazing! I will post photos on Tie One On soon, but you can take a peek of the inside of this amazing apron book from Kay also (scroll down). And look at the postcard Karen sent! It is amazing! It's of her sweet needle-felted friend and I have always loved this little guy so much. I'm so happy to have a postcard of him! Karen, make more and sell them!

Oh-you may notice that I have made a Tie One On button at the left there. It's there for the taking. I would paste the code in here, but we did a bit of funky stuff specific to my templates, so I think it would less confusing to just let you all take it and do with it what you will . . and I have been getting quite a few apron submissions, keep them coming! They look amazing!

tie one on is up and running!

here it is!
I have linked to it too-see under my weblogs at left. A link button is one the way. thanks for all your excitement and encouragement!

and we're off!

Wow! Thanks for all your comments! Okay, after dreaming about this endeavor, here's some more info. I'm going to set up a separate weblog for all this apron mania. Then we can all have a great apron resource with links, and an easy place to access the gallery each month. So, stay tuned for that. Also, the official name for this monthly project is called "tie one on" (thanks so much debbie for the great name!!)

I will make a button link soon, and again, the theme for June's apron is "Home on the Range" so think cowboys, cows, horses, you know, that kind of stuff. Oh, how I love kitsch! Thanks again you crazy webby crafters!! And when the weblog is up, I will be asking you all to send links from all your great apron posts out there.

apron of the month!

 

I can't stop thinking or talking about aprons, so how about "apron of the month"?  Here are my thoughts. Pretty similar to month of softies, just with aprons. There will be a theme, we all make an apron, you e-mail me the photo with your info, (no weblog needed! Erin and Leslie, I'm talking to you here!) then I will set up the gallery on flickr, (like myra did for the postcard swap.)

Sound good? I think so! The beauty of aprons is they can be made from any fabric, trimmed in so many ways, and are really such a great blank canvas, the choices are limitless! And they are small! ie: do-able.  (What a great way to use up your stash!) And then you can wear them! You can sew, draw, paint, embroider and/or glue on them. Anything goes here in terms of materials, not just limited to fabric. Think crocheted or even a paper or plastic apron! And the pockets! Ahhh, so many cool details to design and ponder.

My only rule is that they need to be created, not thrifted or bought. I love vintage aprons, you all know I do, but this is about putting newly created aprons into the world so future generations have something to collect, and so we, the next generation of textile lovers, have something to say. (Also, A little bird told me there might be a fun place to show/swap vintage aprons coming soon, so us thrift-hounds can get our fix there.)

So, please comment to let me know what you all think-I'd love to see how much interest there is, and if there is enough to generate this on a monthly basis. If you are game-the theme for June is Home on the Range. I will make a button link soon. Please spread the word about apron of the month! And please e-mail the photo of your apron to me by June 30. The photos above are of Sadie and I in aprons that were my mom's and grandmother's. Matching, of course.

 

quilt monday-get the pink out!

No, not technically a quilt. But, it is patchwork. I had an itch to try a patchwork apron after posting all the aprons last week, and this pink number is what I busted out. I normally don't use these colors, but fell in love with this little pink flower print that I found thrifting on Friday-it's the pocket fabric and

I used it on the back of the apron. I added an extra patchwork square for a pocket on this side too-so it is reversible! This side is for getting down to business, the patchwork side is for company. Because I do so much entertaining nowadays. . ha-ha.

 

Here's both sides being modeled by Delia and I. Notice how nicely the jammie pants match. Boy. Well, you know, it was first thing in the morning. And isn't this the perfect birthday apron? Especially since Pete will be making me red velvet cake. yum.

this is the apron song

 
Oh-how I love aprons. so here is more about aprons-this one shown above is from Country Living magazine and a free pattern on how to crochet it is here. I'd love to try this-until now my crocheting experience has been making a square that sort of resembles a coaster-or just a pitiful wad of yarn. The magazine blurb also mentioned this wonderful exhibition of aprons (and so did stephanie, hillary, and kim, thank you-that's what reminded me of all this) and the article suggested buying super cheap vintage aprons on ebay-so for all you junkers and thrifters, please snatch them up before the ebay sellers do!

here are some photos from great books I have right now from the library regarding apron history and all things apron-y:

children's apron turning into a bonnet! from Gingham Aprons of the '40's and '50's, by Judy Florence-a book solely about gingham aprons and the handwork that goes into the embellishment of them.

from Aprons-Icons of the American Home, by Joyce Cheney-great general book with glossary (lots of terms to know!-who knew?) I love the chicken (obviously) and the blue birds! Thanks amanda for posting about this book.

Holy cow! the scenic apron, the childern's one-piece with the kitties and dogs-and vintage pattern galore! My favorite of the 3 books: Aprons of the mid-20th century, by Judy Florence-wonderful general book, tons of photos, (more than the others) and a really great section on the vintage sewing patterns of aprons. I am going to buy this one for sure.

so, I'd love to do "a month of aprons", like a month of softies-think of all the themes. I would do a clear plastic one for sure-for you know, the 60's theme (or naked theme!) but gosh dang it, I can't do another thing right now or I will implode!

 

my vintage aprons

#1-nice bias trim on ruffle hem and pocket

I've been meaning to photograph and show n' tell my aprons for so long now, way back when I saw this over at buzzville-and then I went to Mama Unraveled 2 today(wonderful weblog) and that was it! Time to show and tell! so there are a lot of these, and yup, I'm gonna show them all. Minus this one and this one, which I've already shown. (I'm adding #'s for easy reference)

#2-plain jane work horse

#3-hostess apron-sheer organdy sides, sheer pocket right side, zig-zag finish on diamonds

#4-hostess apron-sheer organdy and gingham with tons of cross stitch! (thank you Rebbecca!)

#5-plain jane red rick-rack on hem and pocket. Nice gather center hem detail

#6-hostess apron-lined in red, scallop hem-Christmas party fun

#7 A personal favorite-patchwork (!) with bias covering all seams

#8 hostess apron-prized piece-you can see why. sheer organdy ruffle-oops,my feet.

#9-plain jane

#10 unbelievable! first pair of apron pants I've ever seen (thank you Heidi!) perfect for the capris. These are sooo cute on.

#11 hostess apron-sheer, notice rick-rack on hem and in center of pocket

#12 work horse-my only other full apron, tattered, but loved

#13-Sadie's new apron, not vintage (from anthropologie) but love the details-dig that sweet pocket, lined with the main fabric and tied in a knot! that would be a cute detail on a handbag.

Whew! and we are done.

swanky garden apron

Here's my updated version of the swanky garden apron. I've had aprons on the brain lately. I'm making several right now and I can't seem to stop. This one is from my favorite sewing book-and is headed to coffeegirl.

Back detail. Love the 1970's emphasis on top stitching. My god, does the pattern call for a lot of top stitching. I had to leave some out 'cause it was just too much. The pattern runs SMALL, it's not really one size fits all, like the book says-especially small across the HINEY area-which is why I was so happy to have my lovely dress form model this-because I seem to have a post-pregnancy, bigger bootie, thing going on. Ahem.

my favortie sewing book

This is my favorite sewing book ever. I got it in college and use it all the time. It's especially good for crafters who like to make up their own patterns-so you don't have to re-invent how to put in a zipper, etc.

When I asked my costume instructor which general sewing book I should buy, she said this one, and boy was she right. Plus it has all these really groovy patterns and photos which are amazing.

look at this "garden smock"!! too cool. I can't believe that I haven't made this one yet.

who's in the kitchen?

Dig the hair. Here's Sadie ready to cook first thing in the morning. I made this apron with fabric I had on hand (from the growing stash) I've made several since-the ones I made with a mish-mash of fabrics were cuter, I think, with the  bodice, skirt and sash all different-non matching. Cute and hodge-podge. Bad me, I never took a photo of those and now they are in England with family. Maybe I can get them to take pictures.

I think this style is also good for boys-minus the rick-rack. I want to make it in a mattress ticking for Sadie's boy friends. With maybe a front pocket-sort of like a small BBQ apron for little BBQ kings.