Birthdays, Birthdays, and More Birthdays

Hi. Busy, busy, busy with birthdays and parties here, so I can't stay and chat. I just wanted to pop in and show you the latest apron I made (as a present for my dear sister). Don't you just adore this fabric? It is too lovely. Kind of regretting only buying one metre of it. But kind of not, because my fabric stash is already at bursting point. Hope you are all having a lovely weekend. I hope to pop in again soon...but have another birthday party to get through before I have time for this. Cheerio.

New Little Girly Apron

Here's another order I completed for my super girly friend. A little girl's apron with plenty of ruffles, a pocket and button...

The photos are a bit blurry because I had to bribe my little model to let me put the apron on her in the first place, then she got really into the posing but would not stand still!

Another Fruity Apron

Hello friends. It's a lovely (albeit a little windy) day here in sunny Brisbane. How is it where you are?

I am feeling somewhat satisfied with myself for FINALLY finishing an apron that I started making for my sister's birthday months ago. That is, I started making it months ago, but her birthday was about three weeks ago. It is nice to have completed it to my own satisfaction.

Now that it is finished, I wonder why it took me so long. I made the skirt part basically the same as this one, but just had to figure out how I wanted the bib part to look. Every time I had time to work on it, I had no energy, or no inspiration, or some other excuse...well, now it is DONE! I just hope it fits my sister, or I will be making some alterations.

(Oh, by the way, the apron is hiding my new Modcloth dress! Super excited about finally finding one on sale that suits my body shape and my size!! )

My mind is now whirring with ideas for the ruffly, super-girly child's apron order that I get to make next. I LOVE making up my own patterns, but it takes me a while to work it out from initial sketch through to final product. Since this next order is due by mid-July, I'd better get on it, right?

Mummy and Me Oilcloth Aprons

Wow. It has been another crazy week in our household, what with sickness and exhaustion. Do you ever feel like you are just always at least one day away from catching up on everything? I just never quite get caught up. A common dilemma, I guess.

I have been trying to keep up with my making, alongside all the normal stuff of life. I just have not managed to blog about it for a few days. So...here's a little update of just one of the things I've been working on.

Remember the Kids' Oilcloth Apron I blogged about a couple months ago? I mentioned then that my friend had put in an order for matching aprons for her son and her. I have *FINALLY* made them. Sorry it took so long, my friend!

I learned a lot while making these about what a difference the quality of bias tape can make. Not a fun lesson to learn. As much as I would love to keep things simple and buy as few gadgets and gizmos for my sewing as possible, sometimes I think it would just be easier if made my own bias tape. I know I can do this without a bias tape machine, and have done that before. But...part of me just keeps saying "It would be quicker and easier with a bias tape maker". Arrrgh. Maybe I will relent and request it for my birthday.

Super Girly Half Apron

I have finished the half apron that I received as a custom order from the markets. Danielle from Sophisticake ordered this apron to wear as she makes her delightful cakes. You should totally check out her Facebook page, and if in the Brisbane area, keep her in mind next time you need a cakey creation for a function of any kind!

I designed the half apron in sketch and watercolour, and had a lot of fun seeing it through to completion. I am part-way through making a tutorial for this one, so hopefully that will be up within the next week.

Features a ruffle all the way around the skirt, and the pockets have cute buttons to match the fruit print - one has strawberries, one has cherries!

I will also be making a full apron version of this one soon for a special someone's birthday :)

Kids' Oilcloth Aprons

Today has been a shocker. I will spare you the details, as it is like something out of a B-grade PG comedy involving children and their bodily functions. Not to mention the kitchen disasters. And trying to juggle five activities at once, and the chaos that ensues.

Anyway. One thing that has gone right today is my attempt at a kids' apron out of oilcloth, bias binding and cotton twill tape. A friend has put in an order for matching aprons for mother and child. This is the style I am planning on making, as clothing protection is the number one priority. Oilcloth is great, because you can just wipe it clean.

 

Cute little model, isn't she. As my Mum always says, "God made them cute for a reason." Today is another example of why. ;)

Vintage Style Aprons

Aprons. They're all the go at the moment, have you noticed? We often used aprons when I was growing up. Saturday mornings meant baking time, which meant apron time. Fun! I loved putting on my apron like Mummy, and whipping up a chocolate simplicity cake (leaving plenty of mixture in the bowl to lick out of course!). My two and a half year old also loves to don her new apron (thanks, Sneha!) and 'help' me bake (was I that much trouble, Mum?).

Well a couple years ago, I decided to make myself an apron. I found some gorgeous Michael Miller fabric with a vintage kitchen motif, from Oz Material Girls which I thought was perfect for my apron. I bought the pattern from Etsy as a pdf download from Tenth Muse Studios (sorry but it appears she is no longer selling). The end result is above, middle and right pics (it is a reversible apron).

Around that time, I also made a simple half-apron (above left) from a rectangle of vintage red gingham fabric that I was given by my grandmother, with some home-made bias binding for the trimmings from some white fabric she gave me. It's very simple. Maybe I will do a tutorial for that one sometime soon.

With the small amount of leftover Michael Miller fabric, I covered an art canvas and attached a bit of ribbon with some mini-pegs for a matching recipe-holder. This is now a fixture in my kitchen that I use regularly, especially when I am baking.

I recently found some vintage magazines at an op-shop, with some great sewing patterns and gift ideas. There were some cute aprons in one, as pictured below.

Perhaps I will give these a try next. I think the embroidery and applique looks sweet. But perhaps not so practical for wearing while baking or gardening, as you would have to hand-wash to protect the embroidery. kind of defeats the purpose of an apron... Do you like to use aprons, or don't see the point?