Sunday, January 25, 2009

Temporary Insanity & A Giveaway!

I have, this week, been stricken with temporary insanity. As evidence of that, I offer the following: I ordered a new cord for my sewing machine, even though there's no way I need to use my sewing machine right now. Also, I bought fabric. Not a lot of fabric, but fabric, nonetheless, because heaven knows I don't have enough left over from other projects hiding in my closet (the fabric, not the other projects).


You can see the fabric, here, to the right and left. Isn't it precious? Isn't it perfect? Would you have been able to leave this fabric sitting on a cold and lonely bolt amongst preoccupied shoppers who don't even have the decency to appreciate it? Because I couldn't, and so a bit of this fabric came home with me!

I know, I know - I am supposed to be studying. And, heaven knows there are things around here that haven't seen a cleaning cloth in months. So, if I'm not studying, I need to be cleaning, and if I don't want to do that there is no shortage of yard work. I do NOT need to be doing something frivolous, so what did I do? I made aprons. Because, you know, a day without an apron is like a day without coffee, right? Yeah, I know - if I was going to break out the machine, I could have at least had the decency to make something useful. But, aprons were calling to me, so I had to do it!

You can see them here, on my reluctant model (my youngest son) who only agreed to model them when I promised that his face wouldn't be shown, and that nobody from WOW reads this blog! Note the cool red crocs the child is wearing - he gets his fashion sense from me! :)















I am not the most adept seamstress around, but I am reasonably happy with the way these turned out. They are simple half-aprons, made largely from this tutorial Diamonds, Fur & Laundry 15 Minute Apron, although I did make a couple of adaptations to the pattern. For one, I wanted pleats, so I added those to the top of the apron before I put the waistband in place. For another, I wanted longer ties (so that anyone could use these aprons), so I used more fabric there. Still, I learned a few things on these and I think it will be relatively easy to make a third apron, and I have enough fabric to make one more whole apron.

So, to you, my bloggy friends, I am making this offer: I will give away a third apron, just like the two shown above. You can select either the green or the pink fabric, and if you want a trim other than the brown I've used you can tell me, and I'll try to find fabric in that color. I'll use a random drawing to select the winner.

To enter, simply comment on this post. You can get a second entry by checking out Melissa's paint colors and commenting on that post (anyone who's already done that who adds a comment here will get both entries). You can get three more entries if you link to this post on your blog (but let me know you've done that in the comments, please!). So, you could potentially have five entries in the drawing. I'll draw a winner on February 1st, to give people ample time to comment.

My disclaimer is, however, that I am not a professional seamstress. This is a handmade apron and it will look like a handmade apron. However, it will keep your clothes free of flour and such when you bake, and it is made of some pretty cute fabric. So, if you need another apron in your life, feel free to leave a comment!

36 comments:

simple~needs said...

hey, whats wrong with melissa's colors??!! teeheee rotfl
um, soo glad you made the ties longer. cause us big girls have more girth to go around. :)
great job on the aprons!!
kim

Terri said...

There's nothing wrong with Melissa's colors - if you don't mind attracting aliens, that is! :) Seriously, I think her craft room should be as colorful as she likes - after all, it's only paint!

Thanks - I am happy with the way the aprons turned out - I wouldn't be brave enough to offer one if I werent! :)

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

I understand getting distracted from the things that SHOULD be done and doing WHAT I WANT TO DO. And you have lovely aprons to show for the distraction.
Melissa's HEP GREEN is a color I would use.

Terri said...

Well, Mary, Melissa is a hep chick! :) Thanks for stopping by!

Anonymous said...

Hey that is a neat idea. I like those colors. I put a link to you on my blog at http://smallfarmliving.today.com/ stop by and visit my little farm if you have the time. Thanks

Terri said...

Anna, thanks for stopping by - I'll definitely check out your blog!

Lisa-Maladylis said...

I started reading this ( and I do read each and ever post even though I haven't posted in a while) and got to the part about your son modeling for you. I cracked up but also felt alot warmth for the both of you. I sure miss having my older son around here, he used to do things like that for me. What a wonderful son you have there. I'm not usually a apron gal but I guess I could be :-) Beautiful colors too ! Have a fantastic week !!!

smileykylie said...

Hey Terri, love the aprons. You've done a great job. Ah yes, I'm a procrastinator too, why do the things that need doing when there's another sewing project to get started! Cheer :)Kylie

Thistledew Farm said...

I just love Melissa's colors - cute aprons tooo.......

Terri said...

Oh, Lisa - I didn't mean to make you sad! I'm sorry :(

Kylie, I will totally die if you win this apron, because I have seen your sewing skills! :) But, fair's fair - I'll send it on, even if you wind up using it as a painting apron... or a cleaning the barn apron!

Terri said...

Melissa, (Thistledew Farm, for those of you who are new to these blogs), you are silly! And I like your colors, too - I think your house would be prettier if you'd had yur way throughout!

Lisa-Maladylis said...

you didn't make me sad, I love seeing others with their kids and what they all do together. It reminds me of good times. It's good to be reminded of those times together. Besides, being a sewer myself, I had to comment. :-)

Susie said...

Those are so cute Terri! Please put my name in the bucket. And by the way, you have to take a break from studying every once in a while.

Terri said...

Lisa, I'm glad to hear I didn't make you sad. :)

Susie, your name is in the hat! :)

Anonymous said...

I love your aprons. Makes me want to drag out my old sewing machine and start stitching. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Oh good grief, I forgot to add my url. Must have been a blonde moment! LOL

Anonymous said...

I like the green
You can never go wrong with bright

luckydolls123[at]verizon[dot]net

Terri said...

Carol, you're in and I'm glad you left your url - love your site!

Dolls, you're in as well - thanks for leaving contact info!

Carolyn G said...

I love this apron. It's actually quite cute. Congrats.

Carolyn G said...

Okay I once had a room painted burgandy, orange, purple with blue trim. That was during my Frida Kahlo phase. So I see nothing wrong with the colors except that maybe they aren't bright enough. hee hee

SuseADoodle said...

what's wrong with looking handmade? I'd rather that than mass produced looking any day. LOL! please enter me in your drawing, okay?

http://oneworldoneheart.typepad.com/one_worldone_heart/2008/12/whats-it-all-about-important-information-about-owoh.html

Terri said...

Thank you, Carolyn! Good Luck!

Suse, I like handmade, but I know that not everybody feels the same way!

Angie said...

Terri, You are a great seamstress! I love your aprons! Wish I knew how to sew! It's a great art to pass on to children!
Nice giveaway!
Have a great day!
baileybobby6(at)hotmail.com

Angie said...

You know, I like Melissa's colors! They are bright and "daring!" Good for her!

baileybobby6(at)hotmail.com

Terri said...

Angie, I like Melissa's colors, too - although her "Hep" green does make me laugh. I keep telling her it stands for "hepatitis!" And thank you for the nice compliment - good luck in the giveaway!

Yarn Princess said...

Pink and brown? I like pink and brown! And Lord knows an apron is much better for wiping hands than my jeans or jammies.

And I'll put a link on my blog too!

I'm just very envious you can sew.

Terri said...

Well, Yarn Princess, we'll leave it to the winner of this giveaway to judge my sewing skills! :) Thanks for posting the link on your blog!

Yarn Princess said...

Meant to tell you I had seen Melissa's colors. Not something I would do but I do like the green blue combo.

for some reason I've always associated Hepatitis with yellow. Oh, wait, that's jaundice!!! :) Duh!

Kathleen W. said...

I too would much rather make things that study...and I've been known to made things while under the weather too.

Your green apron is so pretty, and would match my kitchen walls!

Kathleen W. said...

I blogged this here

http://katydidandkid.blogspot.com/2009/01/weekend-contest-love.html

Kathleen W. said...

I loved Melissa's colors, and told her so! I wish I had a craft room...sigh. Once my son transitions out of the nursery, it's mine again.

Peggy said...

Very cute aprons! I always wear them when I'm baking, call me ol' fashion! ;-) I'm a pink girl, so that would be my choice. You inspire me to do some sewing again!

Peggy said...

Just checked out Melissa's paint color. I have to admit, the green isn't my bag, but I'm not a green kinda girl! But I know how color can inspire, so whatever floats your boat! Afterall it's only paint as they say. :-))

Jennifer said...

I have always wanted an apron and sadly I cannot sew, I have tried. I think your aprons are gorgeous! I will keep my fingers crossed!

knittingmomof3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Simply Stacie said...

I don't even own an apron so this would be a great win for me.

Jen Sue Wild said...

Im not trying to get in on the action late or anything. I saw the comment just today that you made on my apron tutorial . I some how missed it.

I am very flattered that you used my tutorial. You did an amazing job!