Apron Exchange

This month I've been busy on lots of projects, but one of the most pleasurable has been researching, planning, and sharing ideas for the crafty cooks apron exchange that I've been participating in.  I've been stalking my secret partner and have come up with an Asian inspired apron for her.

I really hope that she likes it.  It has a nice wide waistband and ties around the front.  Do you recognize the fabric on the pocket side :) ?  This was one of my recent purchases from the Im Patchworkhimmel shop that I found here in Germany.  You can read more about my German Fabric trip here. 

The three pockets should hold anything that my partner wants to stow away while she's cooking or working.

My partner is also a quilter and loves the little details, so I appliqued a cherry blossom branch on the corduroy side of the apron and added a border that reminds me of one I'd use on a quilt.  Plus, who doesn't like binding?

Now, because I've been stalking my partner, I've gotten to read a bit about her two beautiful children, and I couldn't let her little helpers go without their own aprons too.

Her little lady is a bit older than my model, but I hope that she feels special in her apron that is made to coordinate with her Mommy's.

I got to go a bit more girly with this apron by adding a frilly edge to the umbrella fabric that matches the main fabric on the Mommy apron.  As you can see from above, it also ties in the front so that her little girl can tie and untie it more easily by herself.

She also has a little man that I just couldn't leave out either.  So he got a manly cars apron.  I didn't think that  he'd want to match the ladies ;)  

I also created another little extra that I'll be posting (with a pattern) soon for everyone to enjoy.  For now, I hope that you like my aprons, and feel free to visit my apron pinterest board for more apron inspiration.  

Novelty and Colors Layer Cake Swap

After all the swapping fun I've had this last week, I've decided to join in on just one more swap.  My husband must be wondering where all his envelopes have gone this month :)

Hilachas and My Sister Made Me Do It have teamed up to offer the Novelty and Colors Layer Cake Swap.

Everyone is swapping 12 10x10 Blender and a Novelty fabrics each.  Hilachas has a list of colors available and a Flickr group set up so we can all see what the others are sending (also so we don't accidentally buy the same Novelty fabrics).  I think there are still a few slots open until the 28th of March 2012 for those who are interested.  I've signed up to swap a Navy blender and a Fuchsia blender with their accompanying novelty fabrics.  I had a great Navy that I wanted to use, but alas they requested that the fabric be unwashed, and I religiously was my fabrics after purchase.  That's okay, I found four really great fabrics that I love and ordered them today from Fabric.com for the swap.  I love Fabric.com because I've never had a problem getting even big orders shipped to my APO.

I agonized over which fabric to buy!  I loved them ALL, especially the novelty fabrics.  I was torn between a really great whale fabric and the cassette tapes.  I finally decided on the tapes because my seven-year-old son came in the room and asked me "What are those?"  I remember cassette tapes, and taping songs off the radio when I was a teen.  Good times :) So, I just had to get them.  I also love the balloons.  I was trying to get Novelty fabric than went with my blenders.  I think that this will make them more useable later on.

There's still fun to be had for other would be swappers who want to join in.  Hope to see some of you there :)

Stale Stash Swap

*This swap is now closed.  Thank you all for swapping with me.  It was great fun :)*

Lucy at Charm about you is hosting another Fabulous Fabric Event!  

I love FQs.  I buy them more than any other cut of fabric, but sometimes I buy something for a future project that never comes to fruition, and then I have beautiful fabric that just sits in the drawer.  These seven pieces of fabric would love to get swapped to someone who can really use them.  Just FYI, the green dragonfly is actually 2 FQs that are currently married.  I can divorce them, but if someone would like them both it would be a shame to break them up.  

I'm hoping to swap with someone for some unique novelty fabrics!  I'm making a 400 piece I spy and I need some more squares!  I've got 350 4.5" squares done, so it's been hard finding stuff I don't have.  I'm perfectly happy to trade a FQ for I spy scraps as long as they are 5"x5" and I can get a usable image from them. Think weird!  Think sushi or balloon animals or parrots or anything really!  If you've got strange novelty fabric that is just sitting around see if I have something you'd like instead. :)

Just FYI this tangerine dot fabric is NOT designer. It is from Hobby Lobby, but the quality is good. I have 1 yard (or 4FQs of this one) 1/2 yard (2FQ) left.

Make sure to check Lucy's Blog to see what everyone has to swap or send in your own link!