Two New Custom Aprons made with love

~I recently finished 2 new custom aprons. The first was for one of my dearest friends. I really loved making this apron because I was able to think of it as something I was making for myself.
~She had spied this butterfly fabric in another apron and said she wanted something with that fabric. She wanted a full apron on account of her having a bouncy slobbery baby and a four year old.
~This apron is destined for some heavy duty domesticity.
~Since I have been drooling over nasturtiums all summer.I decide to include them ~It is not just the beautiful tasty little horn shaped flowers that I love but their little disk shape leaves. They are such lovely , delicate plants.... When I look at them I get that excited twinkle inside; when something beautiful sparks you in just the right way. I made a skirt (no photo) a few weeks back that had a single nasturtium on it with two little leaves and I was pleased as pie with the out come.

~I had done a group of bell type flowers from a single quilt scrap on this earlier apron pocket.
...and I was itching to do something similar again. So I sort of combined the two ideas for the bib work on this apron.
~I use little bell~ish shape cut from quilt scraps for the flowers.
~ I laid out my entire design first then worked from the bottom layers up . My friend had mentioned she really liked my chic aprons, so I put one on the panel pocket .
~I was able to use so many tiny scraps that I had been saving just for a special heart felt project.
... I also finally used this sweet vintage button I have been hanging onto for at least a year.~ These blue rhinestone buttons I picked up a yard sale a few weeks back.
~I also made her a matching set of napkins. ...I am really into these napkin set right now. I make them in sets of 4 with scrap fabric from the apron then make a snap tie to hold them together.






~The second custom apron is for a repeat client who wanted a fourth apron from me. The pattern is the same as the first 3 . All she said was she wanted it to be "old fashioned " looking. I really loved this parameter. I also knew she does not really do yellow so that is what I worked with. Most of the fabric in this apron is recycled. The skirt was a beautiful vintage linen table cloth. ~On the pocket is a small embroidered doily I picked up at a yard sale I really love this little piece and when I saw it I new exactly what I was going to use it on. ~The prissy little lady cat on the bib was also vintage scrap that I had been saving for the perfect piece.~The "belt" is from the edge of a beautiful pink rose sheet .
~The blue shadow foliage fabric that I made the ties from is new.~ I bought the buttons new when I first started designing the apron. Pink roses ; very old fashioned in my book.~ I also made a matching napkin set for this client . I made the napkin's smaller ; Tea time napkins? I liked the idea of the smaller napkin but I am not sure about it's reality. ~I am organizing these scrappy napkin sets as a tutorial..... what do you think big or smaller napkins?

The Crafty Chic Challenge

The Crafty Chica is offering up a whole bushel of booty in this super fun contest that she has teamed up with Craft to hold.

Crafty Chica/CRAFT Contest Description

Crafty Chica and CRAFT are excited to present a contest for all you crafty beach-goers this summer. It's the first Crafty Chica Challenge, and this is your chance to win your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests! Submit a photo of your own embellished beach tote to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group and at the end of the four week period, The Crafty Chica, Kathy Cano-Murillo will pick one Grand Prize winner and three runners-up.

The Grand Prize winner will receive a prize pack for your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests!

The prize pack includes:

• 30-minute crafty conversation/coaching session for your party (or just for you) with Kathy Cano-Murillo.
• $100 discount off of the Crafty Chica Art Cruise package.
• 6 sets of Crafty Chica Mojito Papers.
• Crafty Chica Wood Boxes (great for making a shrine for something you love).
• 1 set of handmade invites and a paper banner handmade by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica!
• 10 jars of Crafty Chica Glitter.
• 1 Crafty Chica Wish Granter Empowerment Guardian for you to decorate to bring cheer to your party!
• 1 copy of Kathy's book, Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing.
• 1 mixed CD of music to craft to, chosen by Kathy.
• A blog post about your party on Kathy's blog.

Three (3) runners-up will receive a Crafty Chica bobble head and a $25 MakerShed Gift Certificate.

Deadline is extended to 07/24/09.

Head on over to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group.

snazzin' up new kicks and lovin' She and Him

~I got some new music and some new sneakers....


These are my brand spankin' new $5 kicks


I added some scrappy flowers, fun and easy...that's my style





~also, On a whim my sweet lover downloaded the She and Him album, Vol I for me.I cannot hear it enough ~maybe you feel the same as me.

...I find my self practicing my pronunciation of "brag" every time I hear this song; trying mightily to get it just like her(Zooey Deschanel) and yet never quite
ahhh what a belle.

Panty Tutorial: How to make your own drawers

Well folks I think I have been talkin' about this tutorial for about a year, so I finally pulled it out. There are millions( ok maybe not millions, but a whole heck of a lot) of variations and add ons but I was trying to do the simplest one first.

Materials
thread
sewing machine
1 yd stretch elastic or fold over elastic
paper for pattern(paper bag or newspaper)
scissors
old t shirt or any knit material
pair of underwear to cut and make pattern from

Make your knickers !!

1. Cut or fold your undies so you can make your pattern. First Cut or fold on seam between front and back of the undies. Then fold each piece in half at the center.( I made a hybrid pattern from two different undies I liked different things about the cut of each)

2. Trace and cut your pattern pieces. There will be three pieces (front, back and the lining) that will be cut on the fold. You should cut the front panel first then cut the crotch off the front panel to get the pattern piece for the lining. Lie the pieces as flat and symmetrical as possible on your pattern paper(I Try to use the manufactured straight edge of my paper as the center fold line, This way I know that line is straight) Trace around your fabric piece leaving about 1/8-1/4 " edge. At the hips add 5/8 to each piece(front and back ) for your seam allowance. This pattern may take a bit of tweaking to get the way you like so use up and the oldest ugliest t-shirts on your first pair then you can make adjustments to your pattern from there

3. Cut and iron the T-shirt into usable fabric pieces. For my undies I just cut around the seams to free the front panel of this large mans shirt . I was using only the front image for this pair. I cut the front panel from a large enough scrap of fabric I had in my cotton knit pile.

4. Decide and arrange any key design elements from your fabric.( I wanted stewie's face on the bum)
5. Pin, cut and Iron your pattern pieces from your fabric.
6. Zigzag your edges on the lining to stop the fray.
7 Attach your lining and your panties together. Make a sandwich aligning all the edges from their center; on bottom, front piece wrong side up, next back piece wrong side down, next lining right side down (longest width as the edge ) Zigzag stitch all pieces in place.
8. Flatten and pin the lining to the center of the panties to hold in place.Run your iron over everything to be tidy.
9. Sew both legs about a 1/4" from the edge with a zigzag crossing over the lining( treat the lining as the edge to sew from)
11. trim/ even up any excess edges
12 Attach trim to the legs.( I do not cut my trim in advance I work from a large piece and trim it at the end of the stitching) Using a zigzag, topstitch the trim directly to the legs. Attaching stretchy trim to stretchy fabric can be tricky, so if you have not tried this before practice on some comparable scraps to get the hang of it. I do not pin, I simply line up my trim overlapping the panty by about 1/4 " and slow and steady send it through the machine. Most folks will say to try not to stretch either material very much however I do give a little tug to my trim, (not as much as I would with a woven fabric mind you). Maybe my machine pulls the fabric a little. This is something I worked out with my little Brother. That is why I recommend a little practice will take you far.

13. Attach one side of undies. With right side together with a zigzag (5/8 seam allowance). Sew from bottom up matching up the leg trim. Finish the seams with a zigzag and trim
14. Trim waist line if needed to flow smoothly front and back
15. Attach trim to waist just as with the leg trim.

16. Finish by attaching other side of undies with right side together with a zigzag (5/8 seam allowance). Sew from bottom up matching up the leg trim and waist line. Finish the seams with a zigzag and trim.

~Some great places to shop online for supplies for this project:
Sewzanne's
Sew Sassy Fabrics
CryBabys Boutique
Fashion Fabric Club

* just wanted to show you how cute and comfy they are, the model is a willing and knowing legal adult and this is not a dirty picture!

Happy Birthday Paw Paw...we made you cupcakes!!!

~We miss you Jack...Burger and I talked about paw paw and the swamp, and made cupcakes in your honour

Yummy Summer reads

~Crazy Appalachia moth love
The Prodigal Summer By Barbara Kingslover



~Short ,Sweet, and dark
Farewell Navigator By Leni Zumas


Beautiful inspiration
Lotta Prints by Lotta Jansdotter



~Large and quite juicy
Anais Nin by Deirdre Bair



~Just picked this up yesterday and cannot wait to make at least 3/4 of the projects! All the Women's clothing looks doable and wearable, super excited
Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross

The Shift

" when things do not feel right, make a shift" Jessica my yoga instructor 2 weeks ago

~Things are feeling kinda sludge like round here in central Texas. The weather we have been enduring this early summer is more like July and August not May and June. I usually shift down into a slower mode but it is a little harder to make the change so quickly. I have been struggling with whether or not I want to keep our market booth, because the summer is darn near unbearable. We have not been out to the market in almost 2 months, I am sure there is more to it than the heat but either way I have been in limbo about it.~ I find when I am undecided about one thing it affects everything else causing everything to sort of stall out( like my serger currently being serviced). So I am trying to make a shift into a more determined and comfortable position. We shall see
~We will probably do the market maybe 3 times this summer(once every 6 weeks or so). Then when the weather breaks in the fall we can step it up if we like.SinceI will not be at the market so much I decided to head over to Parts and Labor on south congress and peddle my Belle and Burger goods.
~ As usual Lazelle was warm and enthusiastic about my clothes. She always gives great feedback and boosts my confidence. When I first started sewing clothes to sell ( about 5 years ago) I sold out of parts and labor. They have relocated into a larger store and it is quite lovely !


~This kind of shift....I made a new dress pattern from a summer tunic shirt I got last year. I decide to make it a sheet dress the first time around. I made it sleeveless(the tunic had little cap puffy sleeves) and I added a scrappy wrap belt..... From my brooch stash I pulled this sweet little bicycle number and added it to the ensemble because it went perfectly with the shift and the belt. ~My sweet pal Blue Mama decided she needed to add the shift to her wardrobe. She makes it look super sassy and cute with her black cowgirl boots! This photo was a lil' impromptu bloggers meet at my house( very fun) It is Mama Sings the Blues(center in the shift) and Crazy Texas Mama (left)and me Belle and burger(right).

A sweet southern trio like Dolly, Emmy lou. and Linda, (How do you like that CTM, a dolly comparison ....are we friends forever now?)