Better Than a Ribbon

One thing that happens at almost every Quilt Show that I have attended is that some items submitted get judged.  Judging has two purposes.  One is too acknowledge exceptional skill and ability demonstrated in the items submitted.  The other is for the makers to get a critique of their work.


Most people entering items to be judged have made their quilts specifically to be judged.  They have not been used, run through the washing machine several times, dragged around the house by Alex or, in the case of wearables, worn to several events.


When I make something it is usually for my own enjoyment or as a gift to a willing recipient.  Some how I got talked into submitting two items for judging this year.  One was the Origami Jacket ( which I have worn many, many times)

 and the other was a purse I made a couple of years ago.  

I also submitted one purse just to be displayed.




I didn't need a critique of my work as I am more than well aware of my skills and abilities and the critiques only reinforced that knowledge.  The thought of winning a ribbon for my work fed my ego and I was disappointed that I did not get one...no-matter how unexceptional my work.


Notice, I knew I did not deserve a ribbon but I really wanted one.    


Today, however, I got something better than a ribbon.


I took the purse I had entered for the judging to a doctor's appointment.  I used it because it was still on the kitchen table where it landed when I brought it home from the Quilt Show and I needed a purse to carry my book and knitting.


While waiting to be called back to see the doctor, another woman in the waiting room noticed my purse.  She told me how much she admired the shape, the choice of fabrics and generally made me feel pretty good about it.


We were both called back within moments of each other and, as I sat in the examining room glowing with her praise, I realized that her admiration of my work meant more than any judge's comments or ribbons. 


I contacted one of the nurses and had her deliver the purse to the other patient.  I hear she was most grateful and I hope she gets many years wear out of it.


After all, she had made my day with her kind comments when all I was going to do with it was store with my other purses.


Yup, definitely better than a ribbon.


Now I need to get my inflated ego back in check and try to create something for the next quilt show that is worthy not only of being judged but of actually winning a ribbon..... or maybe not!  

Super Simple Chef's Apron

One of the things any restaurant needs is aprons for the cooks. When the whole restaurant thing started I imagined myself making all sorts of cute aprons for the cooks. Paul immeadiately nixed that idea as impractical as cute aprons in a barbeque place, especially white ones, would get very dirty, very fast and would be impossible to clean.

I will admit that he is probably right but that didn't stop me from experimenting with some cute fabric that I had sitting around here.

Here's what I came up with:

Simple, straight forward and to the point.

If you are interested in how I put it together, here are the basic instructions.

Sizing - This Apron should fit anyone from 20" around and 4' tall to 80" around and 7' tall. I haven't tested both of these extremes but it makes sense to me.

Supplies:

1 1/2 yards of mid-weight cotton fabric, about 45" wide

2 3/4" D-rings

usual sewing supplies

Construction:

1. Rip a 5 1/2" strip of fabric off each of the selvedge (finished) edges.


2. Rip off the 1/2" selvedges


3. Rip three 2 1/2" strips and sew them into long strips by folding the long raw edges into the middle of the wrong side, fold again en-casing the raw edges and edge stitch both long edges . Sew decorative stitch down the middle of the strips for additional strength.


4. Hem the bottom of your apron by folding the bottom edge to the wrong side about 2" twice and secure with a decorative or straight stitch a couple of times.


5. Hem the long edges of your apron by folding the edges to the wrong side about 1/2" twice and secure with a straight or decorative stitch once.


6. Fold your apron in half the long way and measure out from the fold approximately 5 1/2" on the unsewn end. Mark with a pin. From the unsewn edge measure down the sewn edge approximately 11" and mark with a pin. Fold you apron along a diagonal line marked by these pins and cut along these lines. Unfold your apron, fold over these edges individually approximately 1/2" twice to the wrong side and sew down with a straight or decorative stitch.


7. Take two of the three strips made in step 3 and attach one at each junction of the diagonal edge and the side edge on the sides of your apron. Really sew it down securely and cover the raw end. Trim the unsewn end neatly and tie it in a knot.


8. Using the remaining strip from step three, cut it into two pieces, one about 7" long and one the rest of the length. String your D-rings onto the shorter piece secure the cut ends together.


9. Fold the remaining unsewn edge of your apron (the top) over twice to the wrong side approximately 2" securing one raw edge of the long strip on one side and the edges of the shorter strip with the D-rings on the other side.


10. String the long strip through the D-rings, adjust to fit around your neck. Trim the long strip, if you would like, and knot the raw end.

Enjoy!

I like tying this style of apron in front so I can hang a towel off the ties in front. I also have a tendency to just use the ends fo the apron as a towel. I did not add a pocket but that is a personal preference. You can change the length to suit your taste. If you are making this for someone else, leave it long and they can always tie it shorter like you see waiters do in wanna be fancy restaurants.

I used many sources on the web as well as my own stash of purchased aprons to fiure out this design. If you can't figure out my instructions this is always the incomparable Martha Stewart as a source of all good things.

One other thing... this pattern will work well for canvas though I find canvas a little inflexible for hand wiping.

Time to do some cooking!

Teaching

Today I had the great pleasure of sharing my Muslin Transformation workshop with the Woodlands based ASG neighborhood group. I originally wrote about this early in my blogging career and you can see that post here. It is always fun to share, with a group of creative women, technques I have tried. I did not have my camera but believe me, they made some wonderful samples. There were two problems we encountered. One is that we really didn't have enough time to try everything I brought with me. The other is that the stuff I hauled with me that now has to be squeezed back into my stash. Here's what the pile looked like earlier on the stairs to my sewing space:

There is one item in that pile that I did not bring with me. The cardboard box at the left is full of kits and fabric for making cancer caps. I picked these up from the amazing Miss Margory and hope to get the kits done this weekend. The fabirc needs to be a two way stretch and some of the knits from the local ASG warehouse, are only a one way stretch. This one way fabric will be donated, I hope, to others who can use it. There are so many groups that need fabric - local high schools with sewing programs, community colleges with fashion design classes, craft guilds with charity sewing projects, senior centers and after-school places with craft programs, elementary schools with art programs and local churches with missions in poorer countries.

In that spirt, my embarassingly large stash is going on a crash diet. By the end of this weekend I will have reduced its size by at least one large green garbage bag of yardage. Although I am short of breath after writing that sentence, I know it is the right thing to do. Specifically I will be donating it all to another ASG member who goes to Mexico with her church to work with women to sew things for their families and for resale. Will you join me? Who will get your excess stash?

KAQG Auction Donation

The Kingwood Area Quilt Guild (KAQG) has a bi-annual auction of handcrafted quilts and related items. I am a member of their wearables group and we committed to making purses for the auction. I hand a brain storm the other day when I saw a cute purse on Betz White's blog made out a felted sweater. I thought about a white angora sweater I picked up in Canada as a perfect base for this type of handbag when combined with a machine embroidery design I have. Here's what it looks like: Mine is taller than Betz's by about 2" and the embroidery is the the focal point rather than the felted embellishments Betz used. The bright pink interior and the pink ribbon trim are both from the stash.

It's the perfect size for a little girl on Easter Sunday or for anyone during an Easter Egg Hunt.

Unfortunately the auction will not occur until after Easter. For some reason I kept thinking that Easter was April 23rd and not the real date of March 23rd. Heck we are already in Lent. If Easter Sunday was late in April, there would be many miserable people out there suffering through all the things they have given up. I will add this to my stash of kids stuff without a known recipient....unless one of you would like it? If you do, let me know and I'll pass it along (before the real Easter).

Scratch one project and find another fast. If all else fails, I will donate a bag I made, but have not used, from the 'Velma' Amy Butler pattern. Now if I could only find where I stashed it I would be all set!

Puppy Christmas

It took me until just before Paul left yesterday to find where Alex had hid my camera...upstairs under some fabric wih a rawhide bone he has been hiding from Kemora! Clever boy. Here is a shot of him as model for the 2007 Christmas Puppy Ruffs. Now if I could figure out how to get rid of his white eyes, he wouldn't look like a devil dog.

Here is the official Puppy Christmas portrait for 2007. Thanks Paul for corraling the crew for me!

In case you were wondering, I like making fabric ruffs for the dogs for the holidays as coats, sweaters and dresses seem to irritate them more than those outfits please me. For the ruffs I rip an eight inch strip of fabric from selvedge to selvdge... about 42" long. Sew it into a tube, insert a 12" piece of 1/2" elastic anchored at each end. Add about an inch of velcro as a closure and voila... the puppies are dressed up and looking so-o-o-o cute ..... even if I do say so myself.

Giveaway

Anyone want a free ticket to Stitch Austin on November 10th? Leave a comment and, if I get more than one, I'll randomly give it to someone in a drawing. If only one person comments, then its yours. Comment (by November 2nd) letting me know if you are listening.

Why am I giving away my ticket after waiting almost a whole year for this event? Well....

I just found out today that my Gall Bladder needs to come out... actually I've known this for many years but have just put up with the pain and nausea. My last attack was about a month ago and it really spoiled an otherwise perfect day with the dogs and my son as it lasted almost 20 hours. A couple of weeks ago I had an Ultrasound and it showed quite a few stones. Today I saw the surgeon and she agreed that it needed to come out, preferably as an elective surgery, rather than having it done during an attack. Since I have to go clean out my Dad's Florida apartment in early December, sooner, rather than later, is the mantra today.

The surgery is scheduled for Monday, November 5th and Paul has been volunteered to stay with me the first day or so to make sure everything goes well. I may be in great shape by Saturday the 10th but I just can't ask him to dog sit (again) during the busiest time of year for caterers. He works for the premiere caterer in Houston and is currently working seven days a week and some days are very, very long .. not a good situation for Alex who is very needy for human companionship. My Mom guilt over both Paul and Alex has come to the forefront, again, so my ticket is available if you want it.

Don't know what Stitch Austin is... here is the link to their blog - http://stitchaustin.blogspot.com/

Let me know if you would like my ticket and keep those cards, letters and comments coming.