It's Nice To See You Again

I refuse to let an entire year go by without posting anything so here I am.

Some time ago -- we're talking a couple of years -- Kellie sent me an apron she had made for me.  She used some really cute fabric, including some with dogs on it, although I have no clue what ever gave her the idea that I even like dogs.  It's not like all I ever do on Facebook is post dog stuff or anythng.  She also made a matching coin purse, which I did not take a photo of, but it's made of the same material as the apron.

I LOVE IT!!

 SO CUTE!!

In other apron news, I got this one from an Etsy shop called Pastel Vintage, mainly because I like the dog on the pocket (who knew?) and the stripes & rickrack.  The cool thing is the Fruit of the Loom label hanging off it.  I refuse to remove it.

You can never have enough cowbell.

In my next post, I'll share something I actually made.  And, then the world will explode.

Go See Martha's Aprons

Please go visit Martha at Q is for Quilter* and see her vintage-inspired aprons that will be given as favors to guests at her daughter's upcoming bridal shower. I don't know Martha but I wonder if I can get an invitation.  I'll bring a nice gift.

*The aprons are shown in the last few posts starting on April 15th.

Also, Rachel has another embroidery pattern round-up on One Pretty Thing . Thanks, Rachel!

Tie One On's New Theme

I was happy to see that Tie One On has another apron contest going on. (Would that be an apron-along?) This one is Apple Cider and you can read all about it here.

The deadline to post a photo of your finished apron to the Flicker gallery is December 1st and the prize is a randomly selected book.

FYI: Amy from Angry Chicken is behind Tie One On.

Are You Following The Gum Tree Designers?

Um, why are my titles in the form of a question? That's twice in a row. Maybe it's because I'm writing the second entry right after I posted the first one.

Anyway, every Monday, the Gum Tree Designers are sharing a new freebie. Last week's pattern was for an embroidered felt heart ornament that I love, and this week's is for a lovely Christmas apron that someone should make for me that you should download if you're the Xmas-apron-wearing type. Or know somebody who is. Named Patty. Be sure to read the entire Among The Gum Trees blog so you don't miss any of the freebies. (Next week they'll be sharing the last one.)

What is the difference between someone and somebody?

Did You Wear Your Apron Today?

Here I am, celebrating National Wear Your Apron Day by hanging out with my camera in the bathroom. Don't I look super excited?

Mia's New Apron

The subject of Crissy dolls came up on Facebook this past week. I no longer have my childhood Barbies or Dawn dolls, but I still have Crissy, Mia and Tressy, and all of their clothes. Last night, I decided I would make an apron for my Mia and show her off today for National Wear Your Apron Day because I wasn't sure I would find someone to take a picture of me to mark the occasion. Plus, it gave me a good reason to stitch up that cute puppy dog pattern I posted yesterday. I had some major issues sewing on the bias tape by hand (I really need to learn how to work that sewing machine), and finally I just dug out the fabric glue and used that to attach it. Mia doesn't seem to mind my craptastic glue job, does she?



Back in 1973 or so, I made Mia her first apron. I can honestly say my hand sewing hasn't really improved much since then.


I am off to get dressed and choose an apron to wear today. Happy Apron Day and don't forget to tie one on!

Edited to add: The Apronista wants links your apron posts today, plus there's a giveaway.

National Wear Your Apron Day

I recently found a Scottie dog pattern on some website that was divided into two parts. So I printed out both of them. One was scanned at 117% and the other at 129% so the pieces are not the same size and don't match up. I'd like to thank the braniac who created those pdfs.

Today is National Wear Your Apron Day so I might go make an miniature apron. Or I might go to bed. Or I might go eat something. The spinach dip in the fridge is calling my name.

If you've never made Knorr spinach dip, you should. Even people who claim they hate spinach, love this stuff. Here's the recipe but you can also find it on the back of Knorr's dry vegetable soup mix. I always leave out the water chestnuts because as everyone who has read my Facebook page knows, they serve no purpose whatsoever and the world would be a much better place without them. Oh and don't wimp out and use low fat mayo for this dip. Use the real stuff. As Best Foods. (Or Hellman's depending on which side of the Mississippi you're on.)

Thanks, Kellie, for the image!

National Wear Your Apron Day Is Monday

I haven't felt much like blogging lately since I haven't made anything since last week (thanks for all your nice comments about my needlebook!) plus I'm having trouble with my cataract eye so I haven't felt much like working on anything and I have a broken tooth and it looks my foot surgery may be postponed until June. Hopefully, Jack Bauer will kill Tony Almeida on Monday night and I can get happy again. I did want to remind you that Monday is National Wear Your Apron Day (thanks to Kellie for the reminder!) so don't forget to tie one on. And, Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! I'm off to stick my head in the oven.

Is It Time To Put Up The Xmas Tree?

For the past two Saturdays, I've thought Easter was the following day. Seriously. Since I don't do much of anything that involves any kind of planning anymore, I never know the day or date or when the next major holiday is. Plus all the chocolate eggs I've been eating makes it feel like that bunny should be here at any minute.

I haven't had anything to blog about since I haven't finished a single cross stitch, embroidery or felt animal in quite awhile, and I have yet to do anything fun or illegal that's worth writing about. Oh, I did go back to the foot doctor who still has not heard anything about my surgery getting approved. It's been four weeks since she first suggested it so that's another month down the drain. In my mind, I keep extending the date for when I will once again have a life and I've now set my sights on December 25th.

Well, I'm depressed. Excuse me while I go shoot myself. Hey, how about some links to make us all feel good?

This one makes me happy. You can win a snazzy sparkly pink reversible vintage apron over The Polka Dot Barn. (I so want that cake in the blog header photo.) Details on the giveaway are here. Link via The Apronista -- check this post for even more Apron giveaways.

Kandra over at Sibling Craftery has been sharing a set of DOW embroidery patterns of these cute little ninja girls. My favorite is Thursday's ironing ninja. You can find links to all of the sisters' wonderful freebies here.

There are some new embroidery patterns up at knitting-and.com: a flower and Victory Kittens. Oh wow, it looks like Sarah has added even more vintage transfers since I was last there (last night?). The latest additions are bunnies and piggies and Weldon's Nursery Designs, both circa 1930, and she added a missing bunny to a set of Semco transfers. (That's where I found the puppy I used for my iPod cover.) You can find an index with links to all the patterns on this page.

I have three felt egg shapes sitting in front of me that need some embroidery so I'm going to go play with them. Maybe the next time I post, you will see a picture of them. No guarantees though. Happy Not Easter Sunday!

There's Got To Be A Morning After

Earlier today, some guy knocked on the front door and I was ready to jump up from the computer and go answer it when I realized it was after 2:00 in the afternoon and I was still in a robe and pajamas. How did that happen?! I seem to remember coming up with a plan, while I was eating breakfast, to give my bedroom a good spring cleaning -- I was even going to move furniture so I could vacuum everywhere -- and then next thing I know, it's early afternoon and I'm still in my PJs and playing on Facebook. Have you tried the Pick Your 5 application yet? It lets you make lists of your five favorite whatevers -- movies, bands, TV shows, beers, sports teams, books, slopes, dog breeds, etc, and then share them on your page. I love doing that kind of thing, and also seeing what other people put on their lists. And, making fun of people who think Hannah Montana is one of the best shows ever always cheers me up.

And, it wasn't just Facebook that kept me busy today. I also wasted a ridiculous amount of time trying to get a pattern to print. Normally, I'd give up after the second try but it's for this adorable donkey on Etsy's blog and I HAD to have it. Who knows why but I couldn't get the pdf to open no matter how many times I tried, and printing the page only gave me the sidebars -- the entire middle section with the pattern itself was blank. Signing into Etsy didn't make a difference and neither did using Firefox instead of AOL's browser. To make it more fun, my computer kept freezing up when I was trying all these things so I had to keep starting over. The weird thing is I had the same problem a few months ago while trying to print another pattern from The Storque blog. I would love to link to that other pattern now but I just got stuck on Etsy again and had to re-start AOL. Anyway, the donkey is cute and I am sure you will have no issues printing the pattern. I think I'm just special that way.

On to the good stuff . . . You can win a copy of either The Apron Book or The Kitchen Linens Book by EllynAnne Geisel from The Apron Goddess. All the details are on this post. You have until midnight, Saturday, March 28th, to enter.

Kandra & Renee at Sibling Craftery are holding their first giveaway for some great prizes. (fabric! a pincushion! floss!) You have until Sunday, March 29th, to get in on this one. And, I know I've linked to them before but in case you missed it, be sure to check out their fun embroidery patterns too. I heart the Valentine's Day one.

There's another way to win one of EllynAnne's books but it's a little more involved: EllynAnne, along with Colonial Patterns Inc., is giving away six prize packages (full of Aunt Martha embroidery transfers, some towels to stitch them on, and copies of her books), over at Apron Memories, but to enter this not-a-contest giveaway, you need to create something using vintage household goods, (fabric, handkerchiefs, toweling, embroidery, doilies, place mats, napkins), and then post it in their Kitchen Linens Flickr pool. The deadline to enter is April 30th.

I am really in the mood to stitch something now but first I must print out even more patterns. I wouldn't want to get kicked out of Hoarders Anonymous any time soon. They're all are for embroidery except the felt Easter cone, which is now on my to-do list. (I'm considering joining Felt Anonymous as well.)

Bunnies and chicks at Orange Flower: Patterns and Tutorials [via Meet Me At Mikes]

Springy Chicken Day, flower for Spring, and (my favorite) Itty Bitty Circus and (even more favorite) a felt Easter Favor Cone at Tangarang

Henry the Hedgehog and Padraic O'Malley (links are in the right sidebar along with a few more) at Chichiboulie

Bunny pattern for March from Bad Birds (thanks, L&L!)

Have a great Thursday!

Insert Scream Here

So, yesterday, I called the only phone number listed on the webpage for the local DMV office, hoping to speak with a live person who could help me either make an appointment to take the written test or to confirm the seventeen appointments I had already set up thanks to my seventeen attempts at using their lame automated online system. (Why, yes. I do have a huge N stamped on my forehead for naive. How did you know?)

Let's just say they use an automated phone system and it's just as lame as the online one.

I may call back tomorrow just to give goofy answers to the male voice. When he says "Enter your zip code," I will say "I'll have the filet of sole." And, when he asks how many items I need to process, I will say "666...Damien!"

Moving on to happier things...

Arizona is looking for free embroidery patterns for princess-y things like a crown or a magic wand for a quilt. I'm sure I've come across patterns she could use but can't remember where I saw them. If you know where she can find some, please leave her some comments on her blog, The Craftivist. Thanks!

Look at these cute stickers you can print out from Lotta Bruhn [link via Craft]. And, if you have some time, wander around Lotta's blog for a bit and check out her amazing artwork.

Andrea Zuill has posted her January embroidery freebie over at Bad Birds. I really like this one. Ok, I like them all.

Over at Canadian Living, you can find directions on making "cute bears to sew from felt." I may never get around to making these but I get giddy when I see anything made of felt and must link to the pattern. [Link via How About Orange]

This French site has a bunch of cross stitch charts for bookmarks with a variety of designs. Click each bookmark for a copy of the pattern. (Thanks to Diane on one of my Yahoo lists for that link.)

I mentioned the Whirl Into Winter Quilt Blog Giveaway the other day but forgot to add that Jenna from CorgiPants is one of the participating bloggers. If you win her giveaway, you get to choose your prize: either her Pillowcase Pinnie Apron pattern or her Black Forest Scoodie pattern. Enter by January 14th.

Sublime Stitching is holding a Micro Monogram Stitcher's Challenge. To enter, stitch up a teeny tiny monogrammed pillow and submit it to their Customer Gallery, and you could win a boxed set of the first four issues of Craft magazine. You have until January 20, 2009. (OMG, it's 2009!)

National Tie One On Day

I've added a button in the right sidebar for National Tie One On Day which is the day before Thanksgiving. This campaign was started by EllynAnne Geisel, author of The Apron Book. From her Apron Memories blog:

Participation in National Tie One On Day is simple - on the day before Thanksgiving, pause in the preparation of your own bounty, wrap a loaf of bread or other baked good in an apron, tuck a prayer or note of encouragement in the pocket, and tie one on...an apron, of course! and deliver the wrapped bundle to someone in need of spiritual or physical sustenance.

EllynAnne will also be holding giveaways for aprons and books. You can read more about National Tie One On Day here.

Finished For Friday -- I Got Nothing But Links

Be sure to check the previous post for a link to Loralynn's Thanksgiving giveaway (apron alert!) and see the pretty biscornu she sent me.

Since today is Friday, I hope you'll participate in Finished for Friday over at Lit and Laundry and share any projects you've been able to complete this week. Sadly, the only thing I've finished this week was my bag of candy corn.

But I do have some links to share.

Check out these cute bookplates with vintage animal designs from Sweet Jessie [link via One Pretty Thing].

Not sure how I missed it but a couple of weeks ago Tip Nut had a list of twenty free softie patterns and tutorials, including this alpaca stuffie from The Shishi Girl.

Zakka Life is sharing her Cute as a Button ornament and boy, is it ever so cute!

There's a new cross stitch freebie called Jingle Sparkle Joy at Midsummer Night Musings that I just love and hope to start this week.

You have to see the super cute Tree Family embroidery pattern at Nini Makes. Joanie is also having a giveaway for some cool stash so go leave her some comments before November 17th.

I'm going to catch on some blog reading this weekend so have a good one!

(Did you notice I used cute four times in this post? I'm shooting for five next time.)

Some Giveaways, A Freebie And A Challenge

Here are a few giveaways for you to enter:

At Green Jello, you can win some Martha Stewart Halloween goodies, some cute coasters, and an apron. Check out this post for the details. You have until next Monday, October 6, to enter.

Jenny is giving away two adorable felt pins, a ghost and a pumpkin, that she made. Go leave her some comments on this post before Wednesday, October 15th.

And, there's a giveway for an apron from Rick Rack Attack on Bloggy Giveaways. This one ends on Monday too.

Andrea Zuill has her October embroidery freebie up on Bad Birds. This one is a cute pumpkin girl.

And, from Craft Stylish:

This month CraftStylish challenges you to Make it Pink. For every pink project uploaded to the gallery throughout the month of October, CraftStylish with donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Look for expert how-to from our contributors to inspire your creative side so you can help support breast cancer research and Make
It Pink for the cure!

Go Dodgers!!!!

Apron Giveaway

There's a giveaway for a Halloween apron from Kisses n Lollipops over at Sweet 'n' Sassy Girls [link to giveaway via Jennifer].

Apron Queen Giveaway

The Apron Queen is having yet another giveaway but you only have until tomorrow, Monday, at midnight central time to enter so get over there now.

And, a huge thank you to Brook for sharing a better way to blog photos from Flickr!! (See her comments in the last post.)

More Prizes From Birdie

Last month I entered a giveaway at Lil Birdie Stitches and won. Not only did Birdie send me that adorable cupcake to hold my scissors, she also sent me six skeins of DMC 57 variegated floss.


Scottie and some floss
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

Look how pretty it is.


DMC 57
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

I wonder if I will get into trouble for showing the bar code. Is there a copyright attorney in the house? And, if there is, can you please advise us on the whole Plaid/Vogart/removing photos from Flickr case? Thanks.


Another prize from Birdie was an apron pattern, and as I am typing this, I just realized I don't have a picture of it but it's to make three vintage-style aprons. As an added bonus, Birdie sent me this apron because she thought I'd like it. It's gingham with chicken scratch so I love it. There is a stain on it which is fading from washing but I have no idea why my camera made that white blotch over by the pocket. Ya know, if you tilt your head to the side, it kind of looks like Mickey Mouse.


Gingham apron
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

You can see part of my Scottie dog in the first picture. Here's the whole pillowcase. Maybe one day, it will become an apron. And, if it does, those two pigs I posted the other day will fly out the window and off to the moon.


Cross stitched Scottie dog
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

Drool Worthy

If you haven't seen the aprons for Tie One On's Gingham Summer theme, I command you to go look at them now.

This is my favorite apron because it has all of my favorite things: rick rack, polka dots, gingham, lace, stripes, cherries, blue, and pink.

And, this is my favorite photo. How cute is that?!

An Apron Giveaway from Sommer Designs

I really am on a break from blogging but I must post this or I will feel super guilty if I win and didn't bother to tell anyone about this apron giveaway at Sommer Designs. You only have until Sunday to enter so go do it now!

Vintage Thingies Thursday X-Stitch Apron

For today's Vintage Thingies Thursday, I thought I'd share another one of my mom's aprons from when she was little. Her mother brought the apron back from a trip to California to visit her father during World War II. My grandmother and my grandfather's cousin had taken the train out from Philadelphia to visit my grandfather who was recovering in a San Diego naval hospital after being wounded on Iwo Jima. After my grandfather got out of the hospital, they all took a trip to Tijuana where this apron was apparently bought from a man with a donkey pulling a cart.

I apologize for the not-so-great photo. (You can see it better on Flickr.) I wish I had a little girl to model the apron for me. I tried doing that myself and using the bathroom mirror to take a picture but I looked like a major chubbette wearing a too small apron and it was scary.


My mom's apron
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

I thought this apron would fit in nicely with my latest posts about cross stitching on gingham. It also shows once again how ironing is not something I do often.


Apron bib
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

I like the motif on the skirt. I should reproduce that on some graph paper and post it here.


Apron skirt
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

To see more of this week's Vintage Thingies Thursday, please visit Confessions of an Apron Queen and consider joining in next time. It's a lot of fun!