FO: Mustang apron

Thanks for your kind words on my Grenada photos. I'm sure I'll share a few more in the next few weeks. I whipped up a quick project this weekend, when my Cotton + Steel preorder arrived from Pink Castle. I decided to immediately cut into it. I've got a lot of projects in the works, so a larger project just isn't possible right now. But this apron gave me the gratification I needed!

It's a gift for Amanda, since she's vending at both LeakyCon and DragonCon very soon. You may remember this one I made for myself when I participated in a craft fair. The pattern is from Ruby Star Wrapping. For Amanda's, I used two Cotton + Steel prints, and I included the selvage:

I thought the message that Melody Miller used was very fitting for Amanda. I know she will be successful at her conventions!

Musings on Micro Mod

I am so happy to be part of this Micro Mod blog event. I admire Alexia Abegg and Rob Bancroft for their partnership. Not only are they married, but they work together, and that's a difficult thing! You may not know this, but Elliott and I met as coworkers.
I couldn't help but think of him when I started writing this post today. On Monday, we will celebrate our first wedding anniversary!

I had several thoughts on what I'd like to make first with my Micro Mod prints. I traded with a guild mate for a few half yards recently, so this was a perfect excuse to cut into them.

Then I bought Ayumi's book, Patchwork, Please and landed on a plan.

I made the Polka-Dot-Cafe Apron, using two Micro Mod prints (tick tock and Vertigo) along with several Kona solids (Cactus, Berry, Crocus) and Essex Linen in Grey.

I just love how the colors pop in this design!

Yep, it's a winner! I didn't mean to do it, but my outfit was color-coordinated with the apron yesterday!

Feel free to join the Micro Mod flickr group over here with any projects you make! And be sure to check out the other blogs in this event!
April 2 - Alexia & Rob Green Bee
April 3 - Kelly at Kelbysews
April 5 - Amanda at the Craft Junky
April 6 - Rachael at Imagine Gnats
April 8 - Heather at alamode
April 10 - Holly at Bijou lovely
April 13 - Alexia, Michelle & Rob Green Bee
April 17 - Faith at Fresh Lemons
April 18 - Katie at Swim Bike Quilt
April 19 - Deborah at Whipstitch
April 24 - Jenny at the Southern Institute
April 25 - Amy from sukie don't ya know
April 26 - Jen from Betty Crocker Ass
April 27 - Sara from Sew Sweetness
April 28 - Krista at Krista Withers Quilting
April 29 - Katy from I'm a Ginger Monkey
April 30 - Amber from One Shabby Chick
and on May 1 - Alexia & Rob Green Bee GRAND PRIZE

What's the grand prize, you ask?

Oh, you know. Just: A fat quarter stack of microMod by Rob Bancroft from Cloud9 fabrics, the entire Green Bee Patterns collection, a microMod sewing bag, and a Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine! (Grand prize open to contiguous US residents only.)

So definitely, drop by on May 1st for that goodness!

But for now, I have a little giveaway, too!
Alexia and Rob were kind enough to offer a Fat Quarter bundle of Micro Mod and a Green Bee pattern!

I chose the Amelia dress, since I am planning to make one soon!

To enter, just leave a comment (only one, please!) telling me your current favorite patchwork.
My eternal favorite is wonky stars, but I want to make an entire quilt of those apron squares now!

If you are a no-reply commenter, please leave a way to contact you!

I will take comments until Tuesday morning, CST.

Thanks for entering, and thanks to Alexia and Rob for this fun event!

Comments are now closed. Thank you!

FO: Hedgehog Apron

Thanks for all of your kind comments on Bridges. It feels so good to see improvement in a skill, like free-motion quilting. My word this year has really pushed me to be (mostly) monogamous (or monogamish, as C says) in my crafting.

But sometimes, like with my pincushion, a quick, fun project is what you need.

A couple of weeks ago, it was this hedgehog apron.

My home decor weight fabric stash is a little unwieldy. That hedgehog fabric (acquired at least a year ago from Superbuzzy has always been a favorite, but I wasn't sure what to do with it.

I realized that although home dec might not be suitable for an apron skirt (a little too stiff for my liking), it would work well for the bodice.

I used my favorite apron pattern (previously made here, here and here.

Somehow, I'd never made one for myself, and the project definitely brought me happiness.

I hope to find more practical uses for my home decor stash soon!

Ruby Star Wrapping & an FO

Melody was so kind to give me a copy of Ruby Star Wrapping at quilt market. You may have heard about it, especially since Sukie is starting a wrap-along.

I highly recommend the book, and I made myself a little apron, using some of the treasured viewfinders. Melody shared a bit of her new crocheted trim in the perfect shade! I intend to make at least one more of these aprons, and several other projects from the book. I see an elephant softie that is calling out to be sewn!

As you're reading this, I'm wearing my little apron at a craft show, hoping to sell a few gifties!

I made a pile of drawstring bags using Jeni's pattern. And I've been collecting a few other handmade finishes to take along.

Hope your Saturday is fun! I intend to have fun with mine!

FO: Apple-y Apron

I never shared this with you here, but I made another apron with the Pretty Ditty pattern. Actually, I made two more.

I made this one for my sister, in a fun print she picked out sometime last year. It was a little late for her birthday, but still appreciated. I also made one for Brooke (also for her birthday), which you can see here.

The apron pattern was really fun, and definitely easier the second (and third) time around. I think I've had my fill of apron making for the time being, though.

Spicing up the Kitchen progress

I finished the biggest item for the kitchen swap this weekend, and I think I'll have trouble mailing it away.

Jamie Christina's Pretty Ditty apron is such a cute pattern, and I love this red geometric fabric, found at the Quilt Show last fall. I paired it with some of Robert Kaufman's Quilter's Linen in a blue-gray shade, which I think works well for the trim.

I learned some new techniques with this one, including a ruffle (which is probably my favorite part) and gathering stitches, a very useful technique.

Ruffle closeup

I'm almost finished with my swap offerings; I just have to make one quick supply run for the finishing touches! I hope to finish this up before the end of the week.

FO: Birdie Apron

It's embarrassing how long I've had this item on my to-do list. Several months ago, my sister Jill picked out several fabrics for her new home. I finished her kitchen curtain about a month after, but since then, nothing else has been finished. It's been so long now that I've misplaced the dimensions for her other curtain requirements, but we're getting together soon to remedy that.

In the meantime though, I was able to produce her new half-apron. It took no time at all, probably only an hour or two. We picked out the cute birdie fabric and I added the red solid. I improvised the pattern, and the only thing I would do differently with my method is add a reinforcing waistband. I think making the sash extend across the apron body would do the trick. The pocket turned out especially cute.

I really enjoyed the sewing time I had over this past week. I've got two more sewing FOs to share, and I also want to assemble my 2011 crafting goals. See you soon!