New Shabby and Chic Pink Apron

In answer to a couple of questions about my aprons, I haven't made or sold any on ebay for awhile. Ebay has just been too slow so I haven't put any on there for a long time. I'll have to replenish my stock on them though as I have no more for sale now.

But this is one I was working on for a while and just completed. Ruffles, buttons, lace, shabby chic fabrics and many different kinds of fabrics on this one. I had to sit down and decide how to do it to get the maximum amount of scraps on it! Then once I had the vision in my head, I measured, cut and started sewing. I used polka dots, stripes and checks to tone down all the roses of pink and red. Kaffee Fassett pocket on the top. Lots of buttons including designer and fabric ones I made myself. I've counted 13 different fabrics in this little apron including the neck piece and the ties and little loop explained later! And lots of decorative stitches on this one also. It is truly one-of-a-kind because I have no more of the red and white polka dot fabric.

Up close you can see a little purple and red button on top, a little fabric covered one I made on the bottom and a ribbon rose and vintage lace on the sides.

Here you can see the little flapper button. This really is a girly girl apron!

Bottom half of this apron. Notice the double ruffle. Squeeeeeeeal!!!!
Jazzy sparkly button on the top left of pocket and a strawberry one on the bottom left.

Some vintage crochet lace from a tablecloth and a fabric covered button I made.

Another piece of crochet and pink ribbon roses along with a pink polka dot button.

I wear glasses for close up reading and work. However, I seem to always have mislaid or forget them so I have added a little fabric tab here to help me keep track of them by simply putting the ear piece through this little loop and they're pretty secure. A hankie could also be inserted here. I've covered a button with Mary Engelbreit rose in one of her fabrics.

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Random Thought

Sometimes I have to ask hubs 3x what he means to answer his question properly. Men and women definitely DO communicate differently. *Wink*
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Redoing a Vintage Chair

I bought this vintage chair at a local antique store several weeks ago. I wasn't sure where I wanted to put it but I knew I DID want to redo the cruddy seat! It was pathetic, I tell ya. However, since there wasn't any place else to put it except my sewing and craft room, I put it in there reluctantly—first because it was the only place I had left and second because I knew having it in my way would prompt me to get at it quicker. *Wink*..........

The seat is very hard wood with no "cushioning" and it had the most atrocious and filthy fabric on it I've ever come across. Three layers of crud. I took off the first layer of fabric that had been put on with tiny upholstery tacks. (This tells me it was put on there before the advent of staple guns and the rusted tacks proves its "vintageness"!) The second layer of "fabric" was a vinyl that was so old it "snapped" off as I was removing the tacks. *Sigh*.... The third layer looks like something out of the 40s or 50 at least. I had to go wash up once while doing this my hands were so dirty! The chair was in "scruffy" shape—can we say "shabby" here?! Just the right amount of "wear and tear" to call it that. Squeeeeeeeal!!! So I didn't bother painting it but did give it a dusting and wipe down. Yuck.

I then found a piece of shabby chic roses fabric in my stash. I put some upholstery fiberfill over the top and then added the fabric. I think it turned out quite well actually.

Then I added some roses decals to the back and voilà here it is. I don't think it's sturdy enough for a person to sit on it because one of the dowels in the back had to be replaced and while doing that Love Bunny noticed that a piece of wood on one of the back legs was cracked. It must have fallen off one day while in the craft room and evidently—I have no idea how this happened(!) Can I help it if phone cords and vacuum cords get in my way while vacuuming?—and got s*cked up in the vacuum which is a Dyson and s*cks up quite good while mutilating the wood piece. *Heavyyyy sigh here*! I emptied the Dyson and everything in there was dust or so tiny there was no hope to fix it. If there is then hubs will find a way. That man is a miracle worker. However, his time frame is not MY time frame here so I'm doing the best I can, chicks! I think it will go in my bedroom to hold books or pillows from our bed at night. I can always use another chair in there besides the 2 in there now. Right?!?!? *Sigh*........

Shabby Aprons

I thought I'd show you some aprons I've made and sold on ebay. I love making them. They are easy and I use them also. I make aprons with shabby roses fabric on most of them. One has some strawberries and I gave that one away to a lady who let me "borrow" some of her pictures. They all have pockets and are generally pink and chic, some have lace and all have a ruffle. Theses are truly one of a kind. However, the one I use most of the time to cook and craft is the very last one below. You'll be surprised.

This one is made with Kaffee Fassett fabric. I love his designs and fabrics for the vividness of the patterns and flowers. Just gorgeous fabric.

This one is an out-of-print Cyrus Clark. I have very little left of it and I hoard it. It's very hard to find if you can find it at all!

I think this is my favorite flowered one out of all the ones I've made so far. This sold very quickly on ebay. Pink ticking at the bottom and a very desirable rose fabric on top.

Jacquard fabaric was used on this one and it is sooooo much prettier in person.

This one is barkcloth. It's very old and quite beautiful also. I've never seen another one like it.

Yep, my favorite one. An old butcher's apron I bought at a yard sale for 25¢! It was brand new and very long. I had to cut off about a foot and with that I made pockets. It isn't dirty; it just has paint and glitter glue all over it. It also wraps around me pretty well. I've never heard of a butcher shop or store around her called "Art's" but he sure had great canvas aprons that last through a lot of cooking and crafting!

Friend's Home Tour #2

This is a better shot of that antique sewing machine and the lovely entry to my friend's home.

Turning right at the dining room takes us into their living room. Those windows are facing south. The little cottage is just visible through the right window. White painted tables and luxurious deep-cushioned sofas and chairs and PINK lamp shades! I just adore how she has taken a sort of Idaho log home and made it so romantic. I would have done exactly the same as she has done. Then she's tied back sheer curtains on the wood trimmed windows. Oooh, did I mention her hubby built this house for them? Well, he did. It is very pretty and large also. Just wait till you see it all.

River rock fireplace. Phyllis has flowers and plants all over this home. Plus she gardens in the spring and summer and usually has a vase of flowers for the pulpit at church. She can really grow beautiful flowers.

The lady of the house also plays piano and I think teaches some of her kids to play also. Luxurious white shag carpet and a vintage rocking chair. Hubby made that clock on the wall also. He cut the wood and then someone in the family painted it. Talent abounds in this family.

Close up of the clock.

Her kitchen. Squeeeeeeeal!! I love the boldness of red. She is not a wimp when it comes to colors, I tell you. She's a woman who knows what she wants and does it regardless. Astounding and fantastic she is. Red microwave, plates, skillet, stools at the countertop, pantry door, hanging pot holder.

Red and white checked curtains at her front window looking out into her entry garden. Red transferware plates on her wall above the sink window.

Yep, hubby made this clock also! I have to tell you this man is the kindest, sweetest, gentlest man I've ever met. He is such a humble man he is most like Christ in any person I've ever met. I guess you have to have patience when you have 11 children!

They've done a faux finish on this wall. Notice another chandelier in this family dining area. A woman after my own heart!! I only have one but she has MANY! But I'm thinking of getting more for my home. *Wink*

They just this past week got their first computer. It is kept in this area and you'll see it on the left side just a wee bit. You'll also notice she has a battenburg lace tablecloth on her table. She's a true stay-at-home wife and mother.

Okay, hold me back here!! Look at this stunning shabby chic white feminine bedroom! Blue and white toile curtains inset into those log windows. And another chandelier. Plus a pink lamp shade with roses on it. Squeeeeeeealing with delight! I know she loves pillows also.

Okay, that's a teaser of the bedroom to come in the next post of their home.

My Skill at Baking Bread~

I have never ever professed to be good at baking bread! I've even had a couple of different women in 2 different wards we've lived in try to show me how. I even have tried doing it in the bread maker. I had a box of a wonderful bread I made the other day to eat with some beef stew. (It was canned. Sunday is a day of rest for us so we do really easy meals.) I kept using a flashlight to look into the breadmaker to see how it was doing. I finally told hubs that it wasn't looking very good for my "domestic skill" of baking bread even with the help of an automatic appliance. Could it be that the box had been in food storage since about 2005 and the yeast had "gone bad"??? Below is how it turned out. If you laugh, DO NOT EVER VISIT MY BLOG AGAIN! I've tried and tried and this is what I get. We ate it, which is even sadder! It wasn't too bad just a bit......uuuhhhh, heavy(?). Your monitor is NOT distorted. The bread was about 2" tall! So I ain't Molly Mormon; adjust! *Sigh*........