Bad, Bad Girl!!

Bad Girl..... that would be me. I got lazy this week. More accurately, I just burned out on denim-bibbed aprons, LOL. I DID finish one more (if you're counting, this would have been Wednesday's apron, I think).....

This is a little girl's apron. The colors in the photo look so different, but in reality they match very nicely. I thought I'd include some of the inside detailing. Yes, I did a French Seam where the two fabrics joined at the skirt bottom... And I added some lace - rather vintage-y (from the seventies)...

I spent more time than I had planned hangin' out with sick DH this week, but it's all good. He's going back to work tomorrow. :-) We did go to a couple thrift stores this week; one was a disappointment, the other netted me some Good Stuff, like fabric, crepe paper (for paper doll dresses), a small stand that I can use to elevate some stuff on my boutique table, and some books.

And I've never shown you this GREAT purse I got in October.

I can't believe this was just sitting there in one of the bins..... it had been there two weeks when I found it. I snatched it up real quick, let me tell you. It's in pristine condition. Look at that frame!!! I doubt it's more than 25-30 years old (does anyone know how to tell?). Guess what I paid for it????

Yeppers.... $2.99. I should've shown something for size reference, but I can tell you that the frame measures 14" across, and the length from top of frame (not clasp) to the bottom of the purse is 12". That's a big purse. Don't know what I'll do with it yet.

This is a rather hodgepodge post, if you haven't noticed.

At Crazy Quilting International, I'm the one who handles the monthly Challenge. This month, we're doing Silk Burning as a sort of afterthought, but the main topic is Organizing Your Stash. We've set up a database and a picture album so that members can have a place to both Show and Tell their storage solutions for fabrics, beads, laces, trims, silk ribbon, buttons, art suppplies, etc. etc. I plan to devote a separate post to my pictures. Tonight I uploaded 20 pictures to the CQI photo album, and I realized I haven't even taken pictures of my storage for silk ribbons, dyeing supplies, silkie prints & supplies and a couple other things. Hmmmm... maybe I'll have to do that in two blog postings.....

I've also been trying to update the graphics on my business card, labels, tags & signage for the boutique. Spending way too much time playing around with my Print Shop program....

And finally, I've actually been stitching yesterday and today on a CQ block for our Flower Fairies Round Robin. I should have progress - well, the whole 6" block, that is - to show in a couple days. Stay tuned.

Hugs,

Two More Aprons

I've gotten two more aprons done, so I'm nearly keeping up with my goal of one per day this week (Monday thru Saturday) and then 3 on Sunday for a total of 9 by Sunday night. This morning at work we had a few issues with one of our software programs, so I was on the phone with the techs (who did a patch and uploaded it to us) and ended up staying longer at work than I intended. When I got home, DH was there, home sick from work. And then my dentist appointment. Checkup & cleaning went well; no cavities or issues. Yessss.....

So, here is the Monday apron.

The print is a country/primitive print of snowmen with hearts and buttons and stars in the spaces between the "pictures" on the print. I imitated the shabby stitched-on look by adding a little blue heart and some buttons on the bodice pocket, and a button on each of the skirt pockets.

Tuesday's apron uses a black bib and a Mary Englebreit print of teapots. The dress I put on the dressform for under these aprons is an oriental-style silk dress from the sixties. Needs ironing, but for now looks better than nothing. I will get this right before I begin attempting to sell aprons on Etsy.....
Again, the 18" waist on this dressform makes the bodice and everything look rather funky. I may have to "pad" Miss Victoria before letting her model 21-century styles....

And here I am, blogging, when I could be watching Game 6 of the World Series. All I can say is that the Phillies better win so that there's a Game 7 and maybe I'll be caught up on my aprons. For now, I'm off to stitch for an hour (maybe finish Wednesday's apron and be caught up?) before cracking open my copy of Judith Baker Montano's new book "Fiberart Montages".

Talk to you in a day or two!

Frenzy of Sewing .... and things

It's been awhile since I've posted. This fall season, into the Christmas season, is a busy time of year for us crafters/sewists/needleworkers. And then there's work (at least for me it's thankfully only part-time), being a mom, grandma, and wife. During the month of October at Wheeler Farm where I work (a county-owned working historical farm) as a bookkeeper (/tour guide/camp counselor/editor, etc.), we had a Halloween event going on daily (except Sunday) that included a trip through the corn and hay maze (geared for kids 12 & under, but anyone welcome), a pumpkin from the patch, and a tractor-pulled wagon ride.

Here are some of the workers setting up the hay part of the maze...

We stayed open most evenings until 8, but Friday & Saturday until 9. OMG - we were slammed (except for 2 days in the month when it rained). We not only made our revenue goal, but exceeded it by over 700%. Needless to say, this little bookkeeper has been busy counting, depositing, preparing reports, solving problems, etc.

This is the hay maze before it was decorated. You can see the cornfield behind it, and the historic farmhouse in the background. Oh, I can't tell you how much I love working here...

But all work and no play makes Cathy a grumpy girl, so I began putting together things for the December Christmas Boutique I'll be participating in on December 5. I spent a couple days just washing (and in some cases, ironing) fabrics for potential use. (Note to self: start washing them when you first bring them home to save yourself some time!!!)

One of the things I wanted to try was a denim-bibbed apron like the one that my friend Gerry gave me at our September crazy quilting retreat. She posted about her aprons here. So, I've been sewing away, and this is what I came up with in the last 7-10 days or so.....

After having to trudge off to thrift stores (don't you feel sorry for me? LOL) to go hunting for bib overalls or bib shorts, I was able to glean a collection of about 18 or so. My requirements were that they be in very good condition, no embroidered motifs (there are a lot of Disney ones out there) or labels that couldn't be removed or covered with a yo-yo flower, and that I pay no more than $2 for a child size and $3-4 for an adult size. I did pay $5 for one adult pair that was in a sage green because it was such an unusual color. I ended up being very open-minded about colors as long as they fit the other requirements....

Of course, the overalls had to be washed again and then cut off just below the waist, and the pockets and shoulder straps (with clasps) trimmed off, too. That's what I did differently than Gerry; I re-used the straps. Instead of making a new tie to go around the neck, I just sewed the two ties to each other in the back. They're still adjustable in the front. Take a look.

This denim was a gray-blue with brown stitching, so I chose this brown-background coffee print - a kitcheny theme - to go with it. I've photographed these aprons on my Victorian dressform with the 18" waist, and I've learned a few things from this photo session. First of all, Victoria is going to need some sort of undergarment on to show off the apron tops better and cover some of her less glamorous features, LOL.

This apron has blue checked ties. I love the country feel that the denim gives the aprons; perfect for selling at the Farm!!

I had this wonderful scrap of home dec fabric and it just didn't look right with blue denim. I ended up with a khaki-colored denim bib, but I'm still thinking it needs some decoration on the pocket to carry some of the red up a bit. I've got the perfect piece of vintage red and ecru trim to add....

This was my first effort, and so far it's still about my favorite!

However, I'm not too happy about the grosgrain ribbon ties, so those will probably come off in favor of blue checked ties. I've got yards and yards of the home-dec weight blue check.

And I've got enough of this fabric to make one more apron. My plan is to use any aprons that don't sell as Christmas presents. This one may become my own! ;-)

And we mustn't forget the girls!! This can be used as a girl's apron or Playtime Pinafore - you know, like when kids do arts and crafts, or whatever.... The apron above is a Laurel Burch fabric (dog theme). The one below is just red checks with red checked trim and a daisy border.

I'm going to do another one similar to this with the daisy fabric and a checked border....

Now, here's my challenge to myself. This is where the "frenzy" from the title of the post comes in.... I've got to kick it up a notch here, if I'm going to get a sizable inventory of things ready in the five remaining weeks before the boutique. In addition to these aprons, I have three denim chef-style aprons to decorate, and a few half aprons I want to do with hankies, sheers, and/or vintage linens. I also plan to make some stuffed owls, hearts and cats, some lace and button cuffs, more dishtowels and oven mitts, and some handbags. And I'm sure there are a few things on my list that I've not mentioned.

So...... My goal this week is to finish 6 aprons by Saturday night. And the 3 denim ones next Sunday. Nine more aprons by this time next week. That's about one per day during the week. I may not finish one every single day, but it should average out to that. So, feel free to nag me!! :-) I'm hoping things at the Farm will settle down after Monday (when I have to finish the October deposits and cash reporting). And I've got 3 medical appointments on Monday (mammogram), Wednesday (dentist) and Friday (annual physical) to cut into my production time. But I am Woman, and I shall succeed! I may not cook or clean this week (but who cares about that?) , but I will reach that goal. And that's because ... next week is Stuffed Things week.

And to throw a wrench into the entire plan, I've GOT to CQ a 6" block for the Flower Fairies Round Robin I'm in so I can mail it out in the next week or two.....

Maybe sleep is overrated???

Fall Decorations

Do you like to decorate for fall? For me, fall/autumn is the best time of year. Weather-wise, we have mostly sunny days and cooler nights. And the smells! The musty scent of decaying leaves, woodsmoke from fireplaces, hot cider or a pumpkin spice latte, soups on the stove or bread in the oven..... YUM!! I did bake bread this week, but it hasn't been cool enough for us to build a fire yet, at least not in the fireplace. Perhaps we can sit out on the porch and light a fire in the chiminea.

But for now, come on in and let me show you some of my decorations this fall......

Our wonderful vintage sideboard is always a great stage for seasonal decor. This year, I decided on a crocheted runner (rather than my embroidered fall one). The cornucopia has some of our Indian corn and silk flowers in it.

Last year, I bought this great leaf swag (it's plastic) from an import home decorating store (Tai Pan Trading - do they have those anywhere besides here?). It was 75% off of $4.94, so how could I resist? My original intention was to take it apart and use it for CQ (rather like those plastic flowers we buy from the Aussies), but for now, it looks nice on the sideboard.

I also got these great blocks for the mantel, then added the floral arrangement above it. In the mirror (the entire wall above the mantel is mirror) you can see the fall CQ wall hanging that I showed you last year here.

In January we got a new bookcase/hutch for the living room, so it was the first time I decorated it for fall. Above is part of the top shelf, and the next two photos show parts of the other two shelves.

I'll have to come up with something a bit more clever than fall leaves to fill up the "birds nest", but for now, this will have to do.

My love of glass extends beyond my paperweight collection. The glass orb on the right moves around a bit according to my whims, but the glass pumpkin gets displayed front and center every year so I can enjoy it. And I'm thinking that I need more of those white pumpkins. Wouldn't they look nice in my new neutral-colored bedroom?

My collection of fall pillows. You may remember my fall CQ pillow from last year.

This is the top of the vitrine (china cabinet) in the dining area of our kitchen. The vitrine matches the sideboard (see above). In fact, there were other pieces in this set. I have the SMALL sideboard. My ex-husband got the large one when we divorced, which fit great in our old "McMansion", but was truly unwieldy. (It did have a cool built-in silverware drawer, though). And we sold the dining room table with 8 chairs because neither of us had a place for it. Anyway, it's Dutch, circa 1860's....

There's nothing particularly fall-ish about the plant stand, above, but I just wanted to show it to you. It was a cast-off that got a new coat of paint and was re-purposed to fill a little corner - next to the vitrine - with color and life.

And below is the silk arrangement (such as it is; I just throw things in a vase) on the kitchen table. Yes, and a cluttered end counter! (Books for DH were from my last thrift store foray). And speaking of thrift stores, that runner came from the thrift store this week (in its original package). It was too long for my table, and I didn't want to open up the table, so I cut off 40% of it and will make a fall totebag out of it!!

Well, that wraps it up for this year. Thanks so much for stopping by to visit! Let me show you to the door........

Hugs,

New Street, New Bedroom

For two and a half months, we've been dealing with the city putting in new water lines on our street. In addition, they decided (and we certainly appreciate) that they would replace our curbs and driveway approaches, and then pave the street. They started at the first of August and finished yesterday. HOORAY!!! This was taken from my front yard looking east. The trees to the right of the orange tree (about the center of the picture) are at Wheeler Farm, where I work. That gives you an idea of how close it is. And isn't the orange construction marker they left behind festive??? LOL The city still has to restore the parkways on the street. We're going to pull up the grass and do some xeriscaping & stonework in ours.

And this summer I redecorated the master bedroom, which was long overdue. In fact, other than the laundry room and one downstairs bedroom that now functions as part of my studio, we've remodeled or redecorated everything in this house since we bought it six years ago.

Our bedroom had (dingy) white walls and ceiling, shag carpet (white with multi-colored specs that was stained and grungy), a pink floral wallpaper border (barely visible in the background in the picture of my cat Boomer in the suitcase here), vertical blinds, and a poster bed that took up the entire room. I hated it.

First we got rid of the poster bed, then we ordered new carpet and wood blinds. While waiting for them, we repainted. I also found a great new bedding set - an oversized comforter with shams and dust ruffle, yadda yadda. That cool mirror over the bed was purchased at the same estate sale that I got my treadle sewing machine at. Finally, we bought a new dresser. I wanted one on legs because there is a heating vent on the wall it goes along.


I hung a CQ wallhanging (the one I bid for at the Crazy Quilting retreat in Omaha last July) on the short wall between the door and the closet. It's a little sparse there, but I really wanted to keep the room uncluttered. I used a neutral color pallette. It's very relaxing and makes the room feel so much larger!

I've got a couple interesting picture frames in white - and I'm looking for 3 more frames or interesting shelves) for a white collage on another wall. But that's the kind of thing you can't force - it just has to evolve as you find just THE right pieces, LOL. When it finally comes together, I'll take a picture.

Thrift Shop Goodies & New Appliances

During the week I was able to hit a couple thrift stores. I didn't come away with too much, but that's OK. I'm thrilled with what I did get.

October is such a wonderful time to visit thrift stores, because most of them (at least here in Utah) put out a lot of funky and vintage clothing to sell to people looking for Halloween costumes. The below pictures are of a green poly/cotton dress, likely from the early seventies, with dozens of incredible beaded motifs.


You can see the continuous beaded hem above ; the short sleeves were done in the same manner, but the motifs were smaller. Imagine the CQ possibilities!!

And then there were the yellow/green motifs sprinkled all over the front of the cotton/poly dress.
Regular readers will know that I'm a sucker for aprons, particularly vintage aprons. I spotted this little puppy for a song, and HAD to get it to add to my collection. It's a bit soiled, but nothing that some gentle soaking and laundry won't handle.

And speaking of laundry, our dryer went out yet again. We've had it. We've been washing our clothes in the washer and taking them to the laundromat to dry for the last two weeks. Actually, if I had a clothesline and pins, or even enough space and a little ingenuity, I would rather have hung the wet clothes outdoors (which I used to do when we lived in Idaho). But rather than walking down that memory lane, I digress...

We did lots of checking (Consumer Reports and online sources) of customer satisfaction reviews on washers and dryers, and finally ended up purchasing a pair of new front-loading, high efficiency machines. Truly a major purchase!


These are our machines, although we purchased both in white and with pedestals. They're being delivered on Wednesday. In the meantime, I must quote one of the reviewers, because his/her experience mirrors what we've been through over the last year: "Good riddance Maytag, hello GE". I think the "lonely" Maytag repairman is (if our experience is any indication) a very social creature these days....

And our old Maytag washer (6 years old) will go to my son & DIL to assist with all their additional laundry since DGD London has arrived. :-) The 8-yr old dryer is dead (would cost more to fix it than buy its equivalent new) and will go to appliance hell (it didn't make it to heaven).

Before these appliances, I never had a washer or dryer that didn't last at least 17 years. Shoddy workmanship? Planned obsolescence? Cheap parts? Whatever. This time we bought extended service warranties.

Crazy Quilt Retreat - Last of the PIctures

It's been fun going through all the photos and reliving our 2009 CQ International Retreat. Now I'll get to play with all my new knowledge and goodies....

Gerry K. & Ingrid

Looking down the stairs

Below: Some of the laces I dyed (on the left),
The new CQI (Crazy Quilting International) logo embroidered on a tote (center), given to all retreat attendees as a gift. Gerry K. designed the logo and Leslie machine-embroidered it Other Stuff: gifts from various attendees. Everyone was so generous!

Below: Piecemakers Calendar from Ingrid, yummy fabrics from Connie, lavender sachet made by Carolyn and won by me in the Chinese Auction

Below: Darling Teacup Pincushion made by Lauri B. Claudina won it (along with an incredible Cabin in the Woods stitchery commemorating the retreat). Claudina generously gave me the teacup because she knew how much I loved it!

Below: Some of the polyclay images and molds I made, two mother-of-pearl buttons I painted, and five silk buttons that I dyed with potassium permanganate.

One afternoon Connie and I went out to get some photographs of the surrounding area of Breckenridge. I got dozens of great photos, but will spare you (although a lot of them will be great ideas for landscape stitcheries!). Here are four of my favorites.

An autumn hillside

A mountain meadow after the first snow melted


One of my favorite, almost magical-in-feel photos. An autumn Fairy Hollow?


The beautiful lake just two miles from where we stayed. What a gorgeous day it was! Look at the picturesque shoreline ...

Until next time...