Apron Swap

I just joined a terrific Hot Drinks for Hot Mamas Apron Swap !!! Check it out its gonna be fun!

Our Bass Lake Trip 2008

Birhtday Cake, Swaps, and Handmade Post Cards

This is a "chimes" I made recently for a swap friend over at "All Around the House" Yahoo group....I used a plastic table cloth cut in strips for the tails. I left them long so she could cut them to the length she wants. It blows perfectly in the wind....let me see if I can sho it a little lighter...this photo was untouched...

This is the cake I got my g-son for his 12th "B"B day...he loved it because he got his own indiviual one and then we all got the cupcakes... :) and the candles are the ones that keep coming back on when blown out... hee hee ...he loved that too... :) I joined a handmade post card swap over at Brenda's blog The Quilt Journey and here ar 2 more fantastic embroidered handmade postcards from my postcard group....these are from Brenda and Holly...thank you....I love them...they are so talented...I am still trying to make my 1st one.. :( I love the ladies...so cute.... and the embroidered one is fabuous...

Bob's "B" Day Celebration at Frisco's

We went to Frisco's and ate and watched the show...

I Joined a Material Post Card Exchange

Over at The Quilt Journey with Brenda I joined up for a wonderful "Fabric Post Card" swap. No pressure no real rules, just fun in making post cards and sending them off whenever. Now I have never made any before so it may be a little challenge for me, but I was looking for some different and I think this will be fun...

You make them yourself and design them however you want. I googled a couple sites and come up with these ones to help out on the basics. About.com shows some interesting ideas and Making Post Cards explains easy steps to making a fabric post card and Deb R has a really great tutorial on making them, and I like this one for a list of funny sayings to put on your PO. And the photo comes from another great tutorial over at Calidore so be sure and check it out.

Back from Vacation and doing a PIF

I am back from vacation. I love it up there in Bass Lake...so pretty and R&R time is a blessing....

So today I was surfing some wonderful blogs and came upon Kim's blog where she is in a;

"Pay It Forward"

with Lisa's Retrostyle be sure and check out both these great and interesting blogs.... :) I joined up and cannot wait to be in the giving and recieving exchange....

Sizzix "Big Kick" Arrives

Lookie what came in the mail for me!!!! I cannot wait to start using it. I love to make shapes out of felt for my crafts....I learned about it from a swapper friend on Swap bot...and I got it in a pretty pink to boot....thank you Ebay.... I also got an extra set of die cuts....

Off to the LA County Fair

This is what I am entering in the LA County Fair this year.... :) have to drop it off tomorrow and then the fair starts the end of August...can't wait...remember last year I won ribbons on all my entries....

My Spooky Cat Bag is from my "kitty" bag lines "Spooky" even has fangs...just in timeand the Tea Bag holder is new that I just did last night as a fridgie or can also be used on a tote bag.....

for Halloween...

Tagged Meme from Joann

Rules - You must answer each the questions with only one word & tag 4 others.

I was tagged by JoAnn


1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your significant other? changing into work clothes
3. Your hair? Colored
4. Your father? Dead
5. Your mother? Dead
6. Your favorite thing? Family
7. Your dreams last night? pleasant
8. Your favorite drink? tea

9. Your dream/goal Maine
10. Room you're in? office

11. Your favorite hobby? crochet

12. Your fear? Snakes
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? tropics

14. What your not? phoney

15. Muffins? apple
16. One of your wish list items? Maine

17. Where you grew up? NY
18. The last thing you did? breakfast

19. What are you wearing? PJ'S
20. Favorite gadget? GPS

21. Your pets? Foxy

22. Your computer? HP
23. Your mood? energetic

24. Missing someone? Yes
25. Your car? Cadillac

26. Something you are not wearing? undies

27. Favorite store? Homegoods

28. Like someone? Yes
29. Your favorite color? Pink

30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? Sunday





I will tag Pooch, Leslie, Shawnee, and Dawn have fun!!!

Aftert he 4th and Back into the Swing of Things

We had a wonderful time at our cabin in Big Bear. It is always so much fun to go up there. I love listening to the wind blow through the pines. It builds up and "swishes" through sounding like a waterfalls. :)

Oh the pic is me at my local "Summer Yarn Exchange" party with my crochet/knit group from the 19th of June. IT was so much fun and lots of goodies. This is the loot I won. All kinds of materials to make tons of scrunchies with beads,sequins, flowers, and lots more...yummy!!

Anyways I finished my "kitchen" items for my swap partner in the "All Around the House" swap. I made her a pot holder, since she said she was out of them and I also made her a matching srubber. I like to make them they are fun and so handy.

Now I have to mail out my July swaps and get to work on Beelicious' apron, I am so glad I am a partner with her, for the "Halloween" apron swap. I am wondering what I should make???? I really like Halloween and making an apron should be lots of fun especially designing it in that theme... :)

I also need to get myself in gear and finish some of my WIP that are scattered all over the place....wow....time flies. I am now entering the LA County Fair and need to get those items going too....too much to do...I do have a few items finished for the November craft fair that will be here before you know it.

Happy 4th to all my Online Friends

They are Back from the Caribbean

Look whos all tanned??? They really had a great time...and loved the cruise...

Manic Monday Post "Will"

MANIAC MONDAY.... "WILL"

I "Will" is what my daughter and new son-n law said on Saturday in a beautiful ceremony on a boat in Newport Beach. She made a beautiful bride don't cha thank? And he made a wonderful groom, and they have a ready mae family....my granddaughters were so cute...I "WILL" was a wonderful word that day!!!! My son and grandson were there too... :)

It's A Blog Eat Blog World: Under Where?

It's A Blog Eat Blog World: Under Where?

Manic Monday Post

The Word is Under? I am a little late but I am in.. :) Check out It's a Blog Eat Blog World...

Under the bird house roof my local sparrows

Under water my oscar fish

Allie under the yarn and my pond fish under the water

Who Wears Aprons? What to Sew?

I have lots more to make and SEW for my aprons and bags, but I just love the new material available today. Since, I have visited one of my favorite secondhand store and they are selling a lot of "vintage" clothing. Yummy .... I can really get some wonderful fabric there by using clothing and cutting from it to line my bags and make some aprons.

Here is another new bag I just finished that will be available soon in my Etsy shop and my online store.




Ya know one of my pen pals, that I wrote to and sent a photo of one of my finished aprons asked me, "so...who wears aprons anymore?" And I started to think about that statement and thought I would look it up to see if any info was out there on it..


Here are some of my findings:

Buy a vintage apron on EBay
or try Ric Rack Attack
a funny apron
for kids direction on making a "turkey" apron
tie-dyed aprons


I loved this saying since I am a Marylyn Monroe fan "Forget the Diamonds. Aprons Are A Girl's Best Friend."

But who wears an Apron?
Many people say they can almost smell good food cooking when they see an apron that
reminds them of their mom or grandmother. Some dads like to wear aprons when they
barbecue outdoors in summer. Throughout history aprons have also been a sign of certain occupations. Fishermen wore oilskin aprons. Blacksmiths and carpenters had leather ones. Butlers and maids wore clean white aprons. Lumberyard workers often had short canvas aprons with advertising on the front and pockets for nails. Many people have an apron as part of their
historic national costume. They wear these aprons today for special celebrations. But the apron probably had a useful purpose years ago.

What Is an Apron?
The word apron comes from a French word, naperon, meaning a small tablecloth. An apron is an article of clothing usually worn on the front of the body and tied around the waist with strings. It is used to protect clothing, to cover the body or to adorn a costume. An apron can be made of cloth, plastic, leather or other material. Half aprons tie around the waist with a skirt that hangs in front of the body. Full aprons have a skirt and a top section called a bib. Aprons are often hand-made, but can also be purchased ready-made.


To most people, aprons are mainly good for protecting your clothes while cooking or working. However, there are multiple uses for aprons.


Try using your apron to:

• Pick up hot dishes
• Wipe away your grandchildren’s tears
• Dry the inside of a freshly washed mug
• Carry in eggs from the henhouse
• Warm your arms when the house is drafty
• Dust the furniture
• Wipe up spills
• Let the children run and hide underneath it
• Carry freshed vegetables from the garden
• Make people laugh (funny aprons are great for this)

An Apron for Housework

To be entirely consistent, an apron that is worn in the performance of household duties must cover the whole dress underneath. Otherwise it wouldn't be much of a protection, would it? But the apron must be absolutely neat, for surely one cannot do neat housework when the apron one wears is untidy! And after all, why shouldn't a woman look as attractive in her own home, among her own dear ones, as she does at a fashionable dinner? (Read entire essay.)

A funny apron story:

One lady even told a funny story about how when she was newly married, she and her husband lived on a small farm. They had a few goats, one of whom was a little obnoxious. This goat was always following her around and bumping in to her. She always had to dodge that annoying billy goat, until one day her apron came to the rescue.
She was so frustrated at that goat that she actually ripped her apron off and threw it on his head. He was so confused, that she was able to rush out to the garden and pick her vegetables before the goat knew what hit him. Her little trick never ceased to work on that dumb goat, and she had her apron to thank for getting her work done every day.

And check out the Apron Queen for some fabulous ideas like a tutorial on "How to make a Hanky Apron" for clear instructions and fun! I love her site!!!



And over at another blog I found this interesting observation:


My Mother always wore an apron and any time we are cooking together it always began with ‘where’s your apron’, or ‘here let me get you an apron’. I would happily oblige her, and put on one of the waist-style aprons she had on hand. Never really seeing the point, but doing so, because its how things are done in her kitchen.
Now, years later, with a family of my own, I am always reaching for my apron when beginning a task. The type I wear is a bib-style that goes around the neck and ties around the waist. This is the only style that works for me.
This link show basic ‘types’ of aprons. Mine is the ‘Designer Kitchen Bib’.
http://www.chefwork.com/aprons.htm

Apron history, blogs, and uses goes on forever and I was amazed at just how popular they have become. So for my pen pal and all others who are not aware of this "craze" that has been going on for centuries....lots and lots of people where aprons and aprons are here to stay!!!!

Look At All The Goodies I Got Today At The Post Office today!

One of my favorite online friends, Robin sent me a book I have been "oogling" over for some time now! What a sweetie she is for doing this. As you see from the photos, she sent it for no reason, "Just because" She is in my Button swap, and in my crochet swap. And I am always going to her blog "Crocheting Lessons" to learn of some wonderful links that she researches and posts for anyone who might be interested.

Thanks again Robin!!! :)

And then I was really surprised when I got my bag from the swap bot swap "Make my Bag" bag swap. My partner had hand surgery and was unable to finish my bag on time, but it was worth the wait. What a fantastic bag she made, with hooks, needles, scissors, tarn, and stitch markers, too. And all in my favorite colors, Red and Purple. The bag is hge, lots of pockets and will be great for my projects...Thanks Glenna....

Next I got my May Button swap from Debbie. She sent me the cutest yellow buttons in all shapes and a whole big tin of assorted yellow buttons. And my surprise sewing gift is 2 measuring tapes. Now who doesn't need more of them? I know I always do. Thank you Debbie.

And lastly I got my Apron "Zig Zag" swap from Mona on Apronista. I love the apron and I am wearing it as I type. The colors are green black and white and it fits perfect. What a great job you did making this!! And of course I must add she also sent me an apron book, "Aprons on a Clothesline" Oh I love it...Many Many thanks , Mona!!!!

New Blooms in my Yard

My first Bird of Paradise bloom on my BOP behind my pond and the 1st Moon flower bloom