Vintage Red

I finally bought lampshades for my grandmother's lamps and put them in the living room. After my grandmother died last August, her home was cleaned out by the family and a yard sale followed. This pair of lamps were put into the yard sale. I was trying very hard at the time, not to bring more stuff into my house, but I just had to bring home these lamps. They are hand-painted and signed simply "Mary".

This wonderful kitchy metal tray also came from my grandmother's house. I saved it from a box slated to go to Goodwill. 

I brought this piece of fabric home from a little antique store just the other day. I love the trees and castles on it. The piece is 36" wide and over a yard long, unfortunately someone cut a hole in the middle of it. Still, it's great for quilt pieces or any small craft and I only paid $1.00 for it.
This is my first time playing along on 'It's A Very Cherry World!'s' Rednesday. Check out all the others on her blog.

My Blog Ribbon & A Quilt Show

I first saw a blog ribbon on Creative Breathing's wonderful blog. She gives credit to Magpie Ethel for the idea. No matter who started the idea, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. So after days of searching for the perfect image, deciding on colors and trims, here is my Blog Ribbon! As always, click on the picture for a closer look.









Lucky me, today was spent with a good friend at a quilt show. I'd like to share some pictures of my favorite quilts. There was one display that was filled with 1930s original and reproduction quilts. Enjoy this vintage sweetness.








And more '30s inspired quilts.
So many talented people!

Pinwheel Quilt Update

Here are the newest blocks I've finished for the Pinwheel Sampler Quilt.

There's More to Life Than Aprons

There are so many wonderful people out in blog-land who freely share their ideas, recipes, patterns, stories, photography and in general, inspiration. I enjoy reading my favorites and I'm always discovering new ones to add to my list. But I also feel a bit of regret with each lovely blog I read. I regret that I haven't been adding to my blog on a regular basis. I decided some of the cause of that was that I don't find or make wonderful new aprons every day. So, even though this started as a blog specifically about aprons, I think that I will enjoy it more if I don't limit myself. If you have been kind enough to stop by and read some of my posts, I hope this decision will not disappoint you. My goal is to keep some record of my crafty life and perhaps I can return the kindness of so many bloggers and offer some inspiration. Here's just a bit of vintage loveliness that I recently acquired.

I'm Still Breathing

I know, it's been forever since I've added anything on here. I don't have any new aprons to show. My sewing room is a disaster with very little room to work. But I have been working on a couple of quilt tops. One is this fun Pinwheel Sampler Quilt Along with Rachel on her blog 'P.S. I Quilt'. Since I have a soft spot for Pinwheel blocks, I couldn't resist jumping in to play with a wonderful bunch of quilters. Here are my blocks finished so far.

The other is a row by row round robin quilt in one of my swap-bot groups. Each of the 11 people participating will send to each of the others a 6"x44" decorated strip in their chosen theme. I'm hoping with both of these projects to be using up some of my fabric stash. In the first round my partner had chosen her theme to be for her 4 year old son. Here's what I sent off for them.

Hopefully I will update soon on these projects and get some more aprons to show.

McCall's 1778

I have been wanting this pattern since the first time I saw it. Now I can finally make it for myself. I love the V-back and the scalloped side button closing. Wonderful details. Now to choose a fabric...this could take a while.

Also Not Aprons

Here are some of my art dolls. that I have made to swap. These were first inspired and named for Dot. Check out her blog for Dotee dolls and more.

Not Aprons♦♦

I just thought I might show a few things I've been making for swaps that are not aprons. Swap-bot and FlickR are just chock full of incredibly talented people who generously share ideas and inspiration. First, thanks to Jen Segrest for her great tutorial for these bottlecap pincushions. Be sure to check out all of her FlickR tutorials. These are the ones I made.




Next are these great little bags called Kidlets from Jennifer Casa. Quick to make with endless possibilities.


Next time Dotee dolls.

More of my Aprons

All of these are from McCall 1105 pattern.

My Pattern

I have been working on my own apron pattern to get exactly the look I want. My first attempt is the black & white apron. I was pretty happy with that. I made a couple of adjustments and tried different necklines and pockets. After one final change, I made the pink cupcake apron. I am very happy with the results. The apron is a one size fits most and the pattern fits on 1 yard of fabric! Three different necklines and any pocket design I can dream up, gives me the variation I love. I then went on to make the same in a child's size so that I can have Mommy & Me sets. I made my first draft (the blue and white apron), but I don't have a little girl to try it on. I think I'll try the library and hope some little girl will be my model.