The cutest elephant ever

for baby boy Allard due in the spring of 2010.

I used some of my 30’s reproduction fabric.  The pattern is Simplicity 2613.

Elaine

Apron Club BOM I

Remember a couple of months ago I posted that I had signed up for another Block Of The Month?  Well, I received my first block with all the fabric and notions I needed to complete it.  I’m still pretty new at hand applique but this didn’t seem too bad.  Yeah right.    Block 1 is the full apron in the lower left hand corner.  If you look closely you can see that the pockets on the apron has cherries, leaves and ric rac.  All that on a tiny pocket.

OMG!  I made about 6 cherries and was quickly running out of the fabric that was sent.  I sent away for these little circle templates called Perfect Circles.  These little templates worked great.  Now onto the leaves.  Let me start out by saying that the fabric they sent was a twill that raveled quite a bit.  I had so much trouble and made so many leaves that I ran out of fabric.  I perused by fabric stash for something suitable but didn’t have anything I liked.  At this point I was so frustrated with this project that I didn’t care about cherries or leaves anymore.  I decided to leave them out.  The fabric they sent for the pocket was a plain yellow and was blah without the fruit.  Forget everything.

It looks naked!  It needs something!  Back to the fabric stash.  I found my 30’s reproduction fat quarters and liked the way this yellow looked with the apron.

I made the pockets sans the cherries, leaves and ric rac, added cute buttons and here is the final BOM.

 

 

Looks good.  I can live with this although I’m bummed out that I couldn’t get the leaves looking right.   I looked ahead to block two and heaven help me…it has bacon and eggs on it!

Elaine

A Camera Bag for Alicia

My friend Pam’s daughter Alicia will be spending next semester in Australia.  She purchased a nice camera this past summer to bring with her.  She’s been unable to find the perfect camera bag.  She’d like something small enough to fit in other bags or to be able to carry it on it’s own…something nice to protect her little investment.

Alicia: Do you think Elaine could make something?

Pam: I’ll ask.

Me: OK.

I got the dimensions of the camera and went to work.  I picked two fabrics from Anna Maria Horner’s new Good Folks collection.  I quilted the bottom of the bag to make it “cushiony”.  I made a removable, adjustable strap so she could use the bag on its own or tuck away the strap and place the whole thing in another bag.  The bag has a pull string closure.  Two coats of Scotch Guard and done!  I LOVE the fabric combination.  I will have to do something for myself with these 2 fabrics.

I requested a picture of Alicia with her new bag from Australia.  I’ll post it as soon as I get it.  Hope it’s the perfect bag.

Elaine

Utility Apron

If you haven’t purchased the newly released One Yard Wonders then you are missing out.

This book has the best little projects using 1 yard of fabric or less.

My daughter has been doing craft fairs selling her jewelry.  I went with her to the first craft fair.  I decided that we would need some sort of utility apron to keep our money, cell phone and other odds and ends.  My husband is a carpenter and uses them for nails and things.  I borrowed 2 from my him.  Mine was plain and slightly stained and hers was clean but had “Manny’s Hardware” written across the front.  They served the purpose but we needed something much cuter.  I remembered seeing a great little apron in this book.  I decided to use a heavier weight decorator fabric…some Amy Butler in a beautiful sateen finish.  It has 2 layers of pockets, 6 in all.  I actually made 2 because when my friend Pam saw the one I made for my daughter well…

It was a huge hit with the other vendors when she wore it last weekend.  Sorry I don’t take orders.

Elaine

Tic Tac Toe Revisited

Remember the little Tic Tac Toe game I made?

Well, when I showed my friend Pam she remembered a Tic Tac Toe pillow made for her by her Aunt Norma Richmond.  The pillow was square and about 2 inches thick.  The Tic Tac Toe grid was made with ribbon sewn onto the top  and there was a pocket on the back to store the playing pieces.  Aunt Norma also made one for Pam’s sister Beth.  Pam found her sister’s game last week while cleaning out the toy room.  She thinks this little game is about 40 years old.  The playing pieces are made of craft felt. 

Front:

Back:

Front with playing pieces.

Unfortunately some of the face components were lost over the years.  Very cute Aunt Norma!  I bet you never thought you’d be seeing pictures of this well loved game on someone’s blog 40 years after making it?  Oh look Pam, I win again!

Elaine

If it’s a little chilly,

and you can’t find the dog,

and you call her name and she doesn’t come,

and then you search the house and still can’t find her,

and then you make a sweep of the back yard and still nothing,

and then you search the house again and still no dog,

then you may want to check here:

 

Clearly someone needs a refresher course on the “come” command.

Elaine

Pam’s Purse

After receiving several email hints and links to a cute bag on Moda Bake Shop I caved.  Well, not really.  Her birthday was coming up and she REALLY appreciates handmade so I made the requested bag for her.

The bottom is quilted and has pockets all the way around…6 in all.  The inside has a small cell phone pocket and one slightly larger.  She loved it!

Elaine