A is for Apron (Also, Happy September!)

This book is fantastic and I want to make nearly every apron.
I started with this one...




A bridal shower gift for my now-sister-in-law Christi.

The next pattern I'm going to make has 3 layers, a pom pom trim, satin ribbons and cupcake fabric! It's adorable.

This is the first September that I have greeted with slight trepidation. This September means it's only 2 weeks until I turn 27 -- which puts me most firmly into my "late 20s", it's a month and a half until my baby turns 1 (how in the?) and it means that my goal of being back to my pre-pregnancy weight by that 1 year mark is going to pass me by unfullfilled.

But, I do love autumn and am waiting with eager anticipation for it to cool down. I hate weather over 75 degrees with a passion and long for some overcast skies and rain. It's still probably 2+ months out but I'm going to keep on hoping. And my new weight loss goal is Christmas (good motivation is being able to prove to my younger brother that I am indeed not perpetually 5 months pregnant).

So, with that, Happy Labor Day and welcome September!!

Will 'o The Wisp

Will is so scene. Ear muffs for going to shows with the cool kids.

I'm a crappy friend and just now checked my friend Kaja's blog for the first time in like...months, apparently. She tagged me a couple weeks ago to post 5 things about William that people might not know. Sorry Kaja! I just barely saw that. Oops. So here we go:

1. William gets absolutely stoked on rock music. If he gets fussy in the car we just turn on loud music (has to have drums and distorted guitar...none of that sissy calm music) and he instantly freezes and either just studies the beats or goes to sleep. It works every single time. His favorite song is That's What You Get by Paramore.

2. He does not like laying down or relaxing. He has to be sitting or standing up at all times so he can check out the haps. Don't even think about holding him like a baby -- he'll not be having any of that, thank you very much.

3. He is The Poopless Wonder.

4. He is also The One-Socked Bandit. His legs are always moving and he always ends up with one sock on and one sock off.

5. He loves sleeping between Mommy and Daddy and wakes them up in the morning by touching their faces -- especially their lips. It's the best possible way to be woken up.


Here's my new apron. It's incredible. And no...I didn't make it, obviously. But it makes me outrageously happy. I want to wear it out of the house. I just might.

Hello December

Home.
Thank you all for your concern and love. The situation isn't something I can talk about now -- or hopefully ever -- but I do appreciate your messages. Truthfully, out of everyone affected by this, I'll be affected the least. I should be grateful for that even while I do hurt for the others. This will end up being a pretty long, drawn-out thing and all I can hope for is for us to make it through. It's completely out of any one's hands at this point. Thank you so much for your friendship though, all of you. You girls are the best. Please don't worry about me.

So, on to something else now. Thanksgiving. We spent 8 days in Utah with my whole family and we had a blast. We flew up and William did great -- he slept the entire time on all four flights we had up and back. My side of the family got to meet Will for the first time and everyone was stoked and loved him (of course).

So, I'm a huge procrastinator. I've been getting better in my old age, but I still do it from time to time. I planned on getting all these birthday presents done before baby showed up but kept putting some of them off and now they're late. I finally finished these two aprons that were supposed to get to Kelly and Christie last month. Oops! Forgive me, I have a new baby. At least now I have an excuse for procrastinating. :) Also forgive the bad photos. It was really bad lighting. The pattern is based pretty much on the Vintage Apron pattern in, of course, Bend-The-Rules.


(Pretend to be surprised when these get to you, girls. They're going in the mail today!)

Will and I took a walk today. It's pretty chilly and windy, but the sun and sky are beautiful. It was really nice and helped me clear my mind a bit. Though it was depressing to put on a sweatshirt that used to be too big, only to find out that it's pretty tight now. I've got some serious work to do on my fitness.

Happy December all!

I Love Getting Mail A Lot

Getting things in the mail really is one of my most favorite things ever. I almost wish that email, texting and instant messaging didn't exist so that we'd all be forced to write good old fashioned letters and cards more often. Though, knowing most people, I'd probably never actually hear from anyone.

So, I just have to order things online to get mail. Seems like a good enough reason to me...but I'm sure John would beg to differ. :)

Here are my fabulous fabric orders I've received recently. This one is from Cia's Palatte and both are Denyse Schmidt prints. And both are WAY brighter in real life than online. I did bleach out the yellow one before using it for its intended project (which I'll post about after it's gifted) and it made a big difference. I like the bright pink though.


These next fabrics are from Superbuzzy. Some baby boy fabrics and some for gifts.




The one finished project out of all of this that I can show off now is this apron I made for Nellie's birthday. The pattern from Amy Karol's (aka Angry Chicken) new book Bend-the-Rules Sewing. I LOVE this book. The patterns are so simple but darling and different. Not to mention all the great tips she has at the start of the book -- a couple of which have already really improved my technique.


Not the best picture ever but I had to get it taken and packaged for the post since it was already 2 weeks late. Ooops!

More finished projects soon!!

My Favorite Weather : Overcast and Humid.

Okay, I am loving the weather this morning and hope that it stays this way for awhile. According to Google, rain is predicted for today. Please! Rain!

And because it's so deliciously gloomy and almost Autumn-like outside, I figured I'd show you this project.

Pattern : Endpaper Mitts from Eunny Jang Pretty simple pattern, once I re-read it several times.

Yarn : Sorry, I can't remember! Some fingering weight cashmere blend type, in purple and cream. It's SO soft!

Needles : US 0 and 3 bamboo DPNs

Modifications : Nothing on purpose. And no, of course I didn't swatch. So they ended up like, 4 inches longer then they were "supposed" to. But that's okay!

Start to Finish : Several months. They were a birthday present and ended up being 2 months late. Oops! This was due mostly to my laziness.

For : My beautiful younger sister.

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Ok, next on the programme. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I picked up my copy on Friday night and only let myself read the first chapter that night. I'm trying to drag it out as long as possible cause I'll be so sad when it's over. I spent all day yesterday in bed sick though and read way more than I was going to allow myself, so, I might be taking a break from it today. It's so hard though!! I have a couple friends who have finished and are re-reading it already. Crazy kids. :)

And finally, you've got to see this vintage apron that Christen found over the weekend. I'm am so in love and wrought with jealousy. It's perhaps the most darling thing I've ever laid my eyes upon



I mean, hello. Just look at it.

Apples and Gold Ribbon

Hi and hello there. Well, after months and months of talking about it, I've finally gotten my act together and started this here crafty blog. So, for the 3-5 of you who will read this...Welcome! This will be a blog that I actually update (!!!) with pictures of projects I'm working on, baked goods and other things that make life so incredibly good.


In today's post I'm featuring an apron that I made a few months ago for my dear like-hearted friend, Christen. I saw this fabric and immediately thought of her. The pattern is based off of the apron in Amy Butler's (oh Amy, how I love you and your fabulous fabric and patterns and loveliness) In Stitches. Which I love love love.


Dear friends are hard to find. I've learned that much in my almost 26 years. Dear friends who *get* you are even harder to find. So when/if you do find the good ones -- keep them close.