Angel Apron

Here's an "angel" apron swap package I sent out awhile ago - just didn't get around to posting. Let me warn you: NOTHING about this swap really goes together very well except that it all fit the theme, which was Cupcakes, Cherries, and Mary Engelbreit, Oh My! So...a bit of each - here's the apron, which has M.E. and cherries. Pic's a little washed out...the top flounce is M.E. fabric, and the dark fabric is cherries.

I made these cupcakey potholders:

And rounded it out with this M.E. bag. I LOVE this bag! It almost didn't make it into the box!

Here's the back. There's a pocket-on-the-pocket, with a zipper - how fun!

Here's a closeup of the pocket. Of course, there were other goodies I included, but didn't get a picture of them. I love creating "angel" swap packages!







APP's Potholder Swap - What I Got!

Been a bit tardy about posting this - be assured my partner did send her potholder on time - I'm just late to post about it :-(  Actually, I was coming up on my 100th post and thought I should do a giveaway, but wanted to actually HAVE something to give away before I posted! Well, then I saw someone else's blog where they had fudged on a milestone post and did a giveaway WELL AFTER the actually milestone occurred. So I thought "Brilliant! I shall fudge on MY 100th post, too! Because fudge is chocolate, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with chocolate!" My, how I can talk myself into or out of just about anything, LOL! So, here is the beautiful potholder and other things that my wonderful partner, Susie, sent me! I aboslutely love it all! I love the fabric so much! And look at the tea towel, with a hanging loop - soooo pretty, pretty, pretty!!!

As if the beautiful potholder and towel weren't enough, she also sent this delicate etched glass oval! It's hanging in my (FORMER) office window in this photo, but it'll be going in my living room window at home as soon as I unpack it - more about why it's my FORMER office window in the next post.

But the things that tickled me the most were these little gold-tone paper clips! They are so delicate! And so small! Susie said she had gotten them from someone and was "doling" them out to special people. My, I guess that must make me a special person and even though there are only two in the picture below (with the seam gauge for scale), she sent me THREE of them! I'm feeling all quite warm and fuzzy, Susie :-) Thanks so much for everything!

Monkeyin' Around

Made some kitchen stuff for a friend's son, Chad, who has purchased his very own first home. Kathy (mom) and coworkers rummaged through their houses for household items they could spare, to get him set up. Kathy said the one thing she was sorely lacking was any potholders she could give to the cause. So I said "I'll make him some!" Wanting them to be dignified enough for a guy, I Monkeyed around and came up with these:

I used wide-wale corduroy on the back of the potholders. It was on sale at Joann's and I thought it would add texture, as well as a bit of extra thickness, protection, and of course, manliness! I've since made others with corduroy backings just because I like it so much!

I also found some bar towels at Target that had a decorative stripe in coordinating colors. I added a bit of Monkey fabric to two of them and left the other two plain.

But, my favorite item is this reusable grocery bag I made him from one of hubby's old, worn shirts. Chad had already been scouring ads and figuring out the best grocery stores to shop in, so I figured he might actually USE a reusable grocery bag.

I cut the bag out of the center, including the well-worn shirt pocket, and added a cuff, and the back-neck tag for interest.

Here's Kathy at Chad's housewarming party.

Look at the totally cool coffee table one of Chad's guy-friends gave him! It's made from pistons. Chad's friend recently had a baby, so those sharp bits underneath aren't baby-friendly, but all Chad has to be careful of are his friends who might possibly get inebriated at one of his parties, rolling around on the floor...small price to pay for such awesome furniture! Happy Housewarming!