sew & tell - an apron for my sous-chef

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Hey everyone!  I hope you've had a great productive week!  If not in the sewing room at least in the have-fun-during-the-summer department.  My brother came down to visit this week and we went to the beach a couple of days.  Of course there is still settling in to do so I wasn't able to do any sewing still!  But luckily more talented relatives have come to the rescue!  I'm still learning the lighting in this house for pictures, but I think you get the idea.

My lovely sister-in-law Laura is one of my recent sewing converts.  She made a darling apron for her cousin and thought a mini-me version would be just as adorable! And my Alison was the lucky recipient!

Can you believe she got these cute fabrics at Joann's?  I'm still impressed with the improvement in their selection.  (I read this interesting article about why things are better over there.)

I love the yo-yo detail!  Yo-yos are so cute!!!

And it's crazy how much she wants to help now!  Every night - "mom can I help you with dinner!?"  If an apron is all it takes I'm going to make sure she has one for every chore!  :)

Thanks Aunt Laura for the cutest apron ever!  And for being so excited about sewing! (I should add that Laura has just started sewing and she made this apron up from something she saw - no pattern!  You go girl!!)


What sewing project did you finish this week?

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1. Link to your specific  post  about a sewing related finish you had THIS week.

2. Please mention sew   & tell in your post and link back to this  post (link or button) so  everyone can join in.
3.  Pat each other on the backs in the comments!

snooping around my mom's house

My mom always has some new treasures when I come to visit.  These first two things she got at her quilt guild's yearly auction.

This adorable little water bottle apron, with it's little pocket about killed me with cuteness.  These were the favors!  I know there are 40 people in her group - so someone was busy with all that bias tape.  Now I want one.

She bought this quilt during the auction and I just love the colors.  And who doesn't love a cute Mary Englebreit anything?

I ♥ the border fabric.  And the stripe. And all the little squares.

And the back, it's all just cute! (Why didn't I stuff it in my suitcase at the last minute????)

This next quilt is one of my favorites.  Dare I call it her masterpiece?  It's my favorite anyway.  It's a New York Beauty, and I can't wait until it's finished!

These pictures are actually from while ago, but I didn't remember to get it out again to photograph it this last trip.  It has the red borders on and is waiting for a beautiful red and yellow floral-y striped border to go on it.

and just look at those points!  I think this was paper-pieced (mom, correct me if I'm wrong.)  I can't remember the name of the fabric line, but it's a Moda from several years ago.

Wouldn't you all love to see it finished too?  (hint hint) Maybe, I'll share it for sew & tell one of these weeks.

emmaline apron

I think that the old barter system is a great way to do things - I don't mean talking someone down on their price - I mean a good old swap of goods and/or services! (by the way, isn't wikipedia awesome!? I recently had a great history lesson on Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I, not to mention Henry VIII.)

Meet Rheannan. She just graduated from cosmetology school. (Congrats!) Isn't she cute?

She lives in Arizona, but when she comes home to visit family, she's graciously cut and enhanced my blonde for me.

She didn't want to charge me since she hadn't graduated yet, but she loved my Emmaline Apron pattern and these Ginger Blossom fabrics. (my pictures aren't as good as the ones on the link -sorry, I was in a hurry, and it was getting dark!)

So I paid her in aprons. I hope she likes it (as much as I like my new 'do)!

(I may have gotten carried away with the parenthetical remarks.) (On a completely unrelated note, I reccomend the HBO Elizabeth I over the BBC version. They were actually both very good, with lots of British eye candy.)

more from my mentor

aka, my mom.

So yes, we are suffering from Grandma Suzie withdrawl. My daughter has said on numerous occasions, "Grandma needs to come back to our house!" and we all agree!

Here are some the fun things she made during Sewing-fest 2009:

This shadow embroidery was a project she did with her quilt group. She pieced it and put it together one of the first nights we were here. I love how that embroidery on the back shades (hence the term shadow) the muslin. That and it's cute. I wish I would have hid it so she would have "accidentally" left it here.

If I remember correctly, this quilt pattern is called Yellow Brick Road. This was whipped up in an afternoon from 6 fat quarters and a bunch of strip piecing. It turned out very cute - it's a baby quilt size.

This is the same pattern only bigger and with brighter colors! I think it's adorable!

And look at all the cute kitties! This one is closer to a twin size and only used 12 fat quarters. Now that I've seen it done, I really need to make one myself.

mais, La piece de resistance. are you ready? This is a McCall's pattern (I think) It didn't look like much when I saw the drawing on the envelope, and I wasn't sure about the fabric choices, until I saw it!

yes! that whole thing is trimmed in bias tape. She worked it on there like she does it everyday! When I asked her to show me how you do it, it was another one of those moments, "things my mom thought she taught me....." you know the rest.

Speaking of which, did you know that store bought bias tape has one fold longer than the other? It's to use on the backside so you will catch the back when you are stitching on the top! You learn something new every day. And maybe now I won't hate working with bias tape!

She's amazing - now if I could just plug an external hard drive into her brain to download all the information that's in there....

pink poodles and some new fabric

My sister-in-law who brought me back the cute Japanese Fabric mentioned a few times how she thought the poodle fabric would be a cute apron. I decided it was a good chance to make up an apron I had seen a couple of years ago.

It's got three large pockets (8x8) across the front and I used a pink linen blend that matched well with weight of the other fabric.

Because the poodle fabric was so cute I made it reversible without pockets on the other side.

And who can resist a little pom pom fringe?! I was worried she would think it was a bit too girly, but she loved it!

And doesn't she look cute?! Never mind she's 3 months pregnant, with number 3!

*****
I've been doing a bit of fabric shopping lately. Surprised? You should be impressed I'm branching out!

Tina Givens Fairy Tip Toes. This stuff is amazing. I bought a panel to make something for myself. I don't know if it will just end up being a wallhanging or if I'll make a little lap quilt. At any rate, I'm totally smitten with it!

My best friend from high school has commissioned a bag for a mission trip to Austria she's going on this summer. I loved the daisies! Al Fresco by Michele D'Amore.

I was also asked by a friend to make some bedding for her baby girl that's coming in August. She came over yesterday to discuss details and pick fabrics. I'm in love with what she chose. (l-r) Amy Butler Belle Acanthus in Olive, Hot Pink minky and Sandi Henderson Farmer's Market in Medallion Bloom.

I'm going to be busy!