Skirt Apron ...

So not only did I play with a pillowcase last weekend, I also played around with a skirt. A skirt also purchased at Goodwill.



So I brought it home and stared at it. Them I held it up to all the fabric I own to see if anything matched. It didn't. Which bothered me because I was thinking for sure I needed more than just the skirt to turn it into an apron (okay, so I was hoping to get 2 aprons out of it). But I stared and thought ... and then I began to cut it up.



And somehow, using only pieces of the skirt, I managed to whip up this apron.



And oh yes. I am in love. I really am.



This is not at all what I had planned when I bought the skirt, but it is so much better than what I had planned. Sigh. I really made this with intentions to part with it. But I just don't know if I can.

Anyway, all this apron sewing has me back in love with sewing, so I'm hoping to have a few more projects to show next week. And I'm still knitting away when I get the chance to =) Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Aprons ...

So I'm on a major apron kick right now. I really do love aprons and think I can never own enough - ever. So I'm sewing lots - except really, I won't be keeping all of them. But more on that later - for now, let's talk aprons.

A few weeks ago I mentioned to you all that I bought some new fabric and some items from our local Goodwill and I've been wanting to play around with it, but didn't have time until last weekend.

So I pulled out one of the pillowcases:



and turned it into this:



I really do like it. It's simple and it was pretty easy to whip up. I took pictures of all the steps and might try to write up a tutorial. We'll see. I have a habit of assuming people can read my mind and not always saying all the steps/directions. I guess I can try and if it sucks, I'll have to trust you to tell me! LOL!

Also, keep your eyes open. I have 5 other finished aprons that I can't wait to blog about =)

I'm dreaming ...

of a new sewing machine!

In December when my sewing machine broke - again, I decided not to take it to get repaired. This is the 4th time the machine has had a problem with the bobbin. It would have been the 4th time I had taken it in to get the same exact problem fixed. And I just decided to not get it fixed this time.

Partly because I could use the machine my daughter was given (that she hasn't yet learned to use) and partly because the repair bill is about the same as the cheapest machines on the market, so if I had just bought a new one the first time we took it in to get fixed, for the same amount of money we spent on repairs I could have gotten a decent machine. Now, the machine also breaks about every 12 months - so I decided in December to wait a year and then buy a new machine.

Except I have been sewing. A fairly decent amount lately (and yes, pictures will be coming and I'm going to attempt to write my first tutorial!) And the machine I'm borrowing from my daughter is doing what it's supposed to do - but it's not doing all that I want it to do. It's really a great little, basic, starter machine - perfect for my daughter to learn on for sure! But I think I really need a more heavy duty machine.

And also, my daughter has now actually expressed an interest to have it back and has asked to take some local sewing classes. So, yeah, if she starts using it she might not be so willing to share with me LOL!

So I think, I think I will start shopping around for a new machine. I've been saving up for other things so I might have to shift that savings to the sewing machine instead. Which is fine. Clearly that is a bigger priority to me today than it was a few months ago.

Anyway, I'm sharing all of this with you with the hopes that you will tell me what machine you use to sew with and if you recommend it. Because I want a new machine, but not one I'll regret buying in a few months. And yes, I know, try it out in the store if possible but I want to know how it will work in a few months, in a few years, etc, etc =)

A Proper Picnic!

We've been eating outside on a picnic blanket in our yard when we can - and while that's lovely and fun and we all really enjoy - last week we had a nice day, we decided it was time for a proper picnic.



So we fixed up a yummy lunch and headed on over to the park. Several other families were playing but most of them came up and commented on our picnic. It was kind of strange. They all must not have picnic-ed yet this year because they were all telling us what a great idea we had and how fun our picnic looked.



My 4 year old befriended another boy and ended up sharing some of his lunch with him - which was so cute.



The best part about picnic-ing at the park is playing after eating. Okay, I might have sat and read a little out of a book when they were playing but the kids had a lot of fun playing!



And I appreciated letting them run around and burn off some energy.



And even the "big" kids have fun playing =)



We will definitely have to do lots of picnics this year. Because they are just fun for everyone!

Big night.

So this past Saturday was quite the night for me. I'm not sure why I haven't blogged about this sooner other than, well, life!

So a few weeks ago I was invited to a gathering to celebrate Kristen Chase's new book The Mominatrix's Guide to Sex: A No-Surrender Advice Book for Naughty Moms at Kenmore Live downtown. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to make it - husband had plans for the night too and it can be hard to find a sitter. But my mom saved the day and said she would watch the kids.

So at 4:45 I boarded a train and headed downtown. I was wearing jeans, nice top, and my athletic shoes (to keep the feet happy). I walked by Kenmore Live studio and saw Kim wearing a gorgeous dress. At this point I seriously considered turning around and taking the next train back home. I thought I would die - and was also internally yelling at myself for not asking about attire. I always wear jeans. It doesn't dawn on me sometimes that the rest of the world does not. But I sucked it up and went in anyway (thank goodness I did - that's coming later).

I really wanted to hide in a corner as more people came in dressed nicely - much much nicer than I. Yes, this is all I could think about for the first 45 minutes. But I got to meet some new people and see my new friends from the Galena trip and that made me feel better!

Then it was time to watch Charles Joly and Chef Nick Lacasse from The Drawing Room make drinks and food for us!

Charles making us some really yummy - and more powerful than I am used to drinks

Nick made us some very yummy scallops. I'm sorry, I was much too hungry to take a picture of them - but trust me - they were so tasty. And with some asparagus. Now, 5 years ago I wouldn't touch that but these days - I LOVE asparagus! I wish it were fresh all year round!

Then some comedy troop did some comedy. I giggled a lot which I blame on the drinks we were given ;-) And then Kristen talked to us! She's such a sweetheart - it was so nice getting to meet her (even if when we were first introduced all I could think about was what an idiot I was for not dressing nicer LOL!)

Then it was time for the give-aways. 3 lucky moms went home with new hedge trimmers. No for real, hedge trimmers. Which probably would have excited my husband a lot more than it did me LOL! But after that - they raffled off a brand new kenmore elite appliance. You will never guess who won ....

Yes - for real. Do you see my look of complete surprise (even though I had been praying and wishing because I need a new washer and dryer so badly dh and I have been talking about it since oh, this time last year?) And how Kris was able to snap this picture - wow, I'll never know, but I love it and thank her! And also, I completely look so much like my mom it's the first thing I thought when I first saw it!

So then I'm pretty sure I floated down by Kristen and I'm not quite sure what all happened - I think I hugged her a couple of times. I was kind of shocked. Eventually I remembered to, you know, call my husband and tell him! And yes, I teared up while telling him.

I think I'm still slightly shocked. For real. I can't believe it. So soon this

but in red (I think) will be coming to my house. Seriously! Oh my! I just can't even believe it! So so so excited!!!

So I floated for the rest of the party. I think I laughed a lot. And said wow! a lot and probably said I can't believe it a lot. It's all just a slight blur. The Kenmore people interviewed me. I'm told video might be coming soon. Maybe I'll share it here - maybe if I preview it and think I look completely ridiculous I won't LOL!

So after all of that - right before we left I remembered I never did get a picture with Kristen but I finally got one (after all, it as her I had come to see!)


As we left, we were all given copies of her book (signed! Yay! I love nothing more than getting signed books!!). We were also given an induction cooker (so neat - but I haven't cooked on it yet - this weekend hubs and I are going to play around with it but we did boil water just to see how fast it would go. 4 min 40 secs!!)


And when I got home I realized we were also gifted an American Girl Doll package from Chicago Embassy Suites! How amazing (and perfect) is that? My mom is also a huge American Girl Doll fan, so considering I got all of this because she watched the kids, I've already promised she can come with us! =)

Holy mackerel. So yeah, Saturday was a pretty big night for me! I'm so grateful and so thankful and still a little shocked! LOL!