Vintage aprons at the market

I bought this vintage apron pattern years ago.........

I loved it because it has large front pockets, perfect for gathering eggs and tomatoes......
and it just looks so comfortable to wear!

Finally, I decided to make one............of course I wanted to put my own signature on it by working some embroidery. I really like the way these roses look on the plaid!

I love the deep separated pockets!

I have always loved mixing prints with plaids!

........... and here it is! I am thinking about making these up in different colors and different embroidery designs to sell at the farmer's market in July. I have to make the pattern into different sizes, since there is only one size. Not really sure if anyone will want an apron like this. What do you think?

Do you like aprons that just tie around the waist? Maybe a bib apron? I would love to hear!

Color sets and black sets

I worked on my rooster cross stitch and I also finished two towels from two different sets I am currently working on and hoping to sell at the farmer's market. I am doing one set of vegetable towels in color........
and the other set in black background with just a dash of color. Although I am not sure how much everyone else will like this idea. But a set of towels done this way certainly catches the eye. Don't you think?

Stitching Forward!

This rooster..............it has been in my sewing basket, unfinished for years! As well as a circle of a Wedding Ring quilt, once started years ago. The biggest reason? ...........embroidering for others and getting orders accepted and finished. Now, my fingers are busily working away at Farmer's Market items.............however..........

I have decided to take one day out of the week to work on this rooster until I have him finished.............the same for the quilt. I think I will start to work on him today.......

As for this blog this year..........I will also try to find new and interesting stitches or projects, to tell you about and try to show you how to do them.....or to lead you to the instructions........

How about you??? What project do you have waiting for your eye to catch and to start back to work on?? I would love to hear!

The Year's Past Projects

The year is just about over, and I am looking back at all I have finished projects and what I am still in the process of finishing.

In January of this year, the icy white days, inspired me to work on my white and cut work projects. Even though this basket is finished, I still want to add something to the corners of this tablecloth.
I also showed you, blogging friends, an easy way to transfer patterns for embroidery.

In February, the little Girl Scouts were selling the most adorable cookies, that reminded me of my grandmother's buttons.

In March, wildflowers were inspiring me to match colors and to get busy stitching.

In April, I decided to use up my stash of assorted cotton yarns by crocheting this granny square afghan. Although I have many squares crocheted, I am still not finished with this.

In May, I showed you all a vintage table cloth, that I removed previous stitching on and embroidered the way I love....this also, I am not finished with.

June found me digging through my stash of scraps and miniature quilt patterns ,

and through July, making a couple to hang on the wall.

In August, I experimented with small pieces of embroidery, making them into pretty buttons.

I also started making embroidered towels with matching wash cloths.

The whole month of September, found me staying up till the wee morning hours, to finish 7 sets of towels for a customer.....which I did complete!

In October, I was in the mood to embroider small coasters.

In November, I fell in love with black embroidery with just a splash of color. I really do love this technique!

In December, I made the decision to start accumulating my embroidered work as well as my crocheted wash cloths, in hopes of selling at the Farmer's Market next July. I am still working on these projects.....along with other great ideas.

Now......how about you????

Do you have a project that you have been working on all year and not yet through? Or have you finished what you have been working on? I would love to hear!

Merry Christmas

May your stocking be filled with linen and floss,

May your home be filled with cheer,

May you find enough projects to stitch,

and to keep you until next year!

Have a blessed Christmas!

What were you stitching on August 31, 1997?

August 31, 1997.........I remember that day well. I was up at 2:00 AM, stitching on a beaded tree skirt, while my little ones were asleep and my husband was working the night shift. With very small children at that time, I did not get much sewing done, until the wee hours of the morning, when they were not needing my attention, plus, it helped me survive the loniliness when my husband was away.

The reason I remember this date so well is not only was I finished with the tree skirt, which I had started the past June, but as I was watching the news, the tragic news......Princess Diana was gone......tragically killed in an auto accident.....I just could not believe it! As I was getting ready to retire for the night, my mind still filled with the tragic news, I heard my rabbits outside crying. I ran outside to find that dogs had attacked the hutches. What rabbits that were not killed in this attack, were horribly injured and at 3:00 AM, the local vet was at my house, putting them down for me. Such a tragic sad night.

Although I remember these sad things when this piece was finished, when I look at the designs, it reminds me of the the happy Christmas times when our children were very small....

and all Santa had to bring was baby dolls, trucks, and play dough......such sweet, simple times.

I never did cut the piece to fit around the bottom of our tree. I knew it would soon be ruined by small hands and pets. Instead it has always been draped across our old piano and is still in "new condition." On the back is a label that I fixed, stating the dates when I began and finished, along with a small note about Princess Diana. Many years and generations from now......when I am no longer stitching on this earth, someone will have this in their possession and will probably go research who Princess Diana was.

Now how about you? Were you stitching on something or creating when something "big" happened? I would love to hear!

Washcloth Pattern

I have been asked If I would share the pattern for this washcloth.....and of course! I would be more than glad to. Now I kind of made this up as I went based on a gingham afghan design. I am not that good at writing pattern instructions.... the best thing to do is to go to this link and follow the gingham pattern, but use only 2 colors instead of 3. To make a washcloth size, I chained 50, and then worked my wash cloth in single crochet.

Inspired Crochet Design...http://inspiredcrochetdesign.blogspot.com/2007/10/free-pattern-gingham-ghan.html this lovely lady has a lot of wonderful patterns and helped me understand how to do the gingham squares. This is so easy to make and you can use any color combination. So here you go....enjoy creating!!