I drink my tea in coffee cups, how about you?

I promised the model that she would not be identified. She was so kind to slip on my apron, and tolerant of my skills. This is the apron that I just completed for a teapot or teacup themed swap. It might be one of my favorite projects thus far. The fabric was so easy to work - as though the apron practically made itself. The entire body is lined, so the apron is reversible, with the same pretty pink fabric that can be seen as the pocket accent. And, the scallops at the bottom were not nearly so difficult as I expected them to be. I filled the pockets with a little tea wallet and several tea samples. I feel in love with the fabric and later realized that the background is dotted with coffee beans! Attention to detail is something I'm working on!

It's been a long time since I sewed a garment; an apron counts as a garment, right? Of course, it's a simple garment, just right for my remembering journey. I thought of Grandmas and Aunts and all those church dinners in the basement where my family attended services. I can almost smell the banana pudding, hear my grandmothers voice and pause, waiting to linger on my Aunt Joan's voice as she says, "hon" in her own peculiar way. Lots of women are in the making of this apron, and I'm grateful for each of them.

I just love this apron and I'm glad I got enough fabric for two. It's so wonderful when a project isn't a struggle, when the work just flows.

Growth is mandatory, struggle is optional.

Cheers!

Strike Two

You know, I just had to try it again. I just had to! Strike one wasn't the most abysmal failure of my lifetime - but it was pretty bad, flowers and ribbon notwithstanding. So, I had to give it one more go!

Okay! To my credit, there's a story behind this pretty shabby ATC (which is not enhanced by the photograph). Just as I was sending my Dotee doll off to my swap partner, I noticed, as I re-read her profile, that she's an X-files fan. Well ladeeda so am I! Like, a BIG X-files fan. And then wouldn't you just know it - one more domino fell when I saw that same day, on my local Freecycle, a stack of X-files magazines up for the taking. I just couldn't resist. Before you know it, I was armed with a stack of eery,sci-fi magazines just begging to be cut up.

So, that's what I did. I cut them up. And then, well, you see and then.....

It looked a bit better before the gluing stage but somehow it just never fell into place the same way twice once I had glue in my orbit.

Still....I actually rather like it. And, I had fun. I did!

And now, I am actually planning a third attempt. Did you hear that? Planning - as in, in advance. We'll see. I'm chomping at the bit really, it might be the first time I've ever had an idea, and worked on the idea without having a "reason." No birthday, no swap, no occasion - just an idea.

I'll let you know.

The rest of the stack is safely on it's way to Indiana, out of harm's way.

It really does look (a little) better in person. Really.

I want to believe!

But I hadda do it - you understand, right?

Cheers!

P.S. It is after this ATC is completed and mailed away, and the blog post is posted when I noticed that spelling error! Whoever thought to check the spelling when cutting from a magazine! Sure makes this beginner feel more confident, eh?

Bejeweled

She's not quite bejeweled yet - but she's on her way!