Sew Sweet Bee, Embroidery, and Retreats!

 In case you forgot what I look like since it has been so long since I blogged!
I finally finished May's Sew Sweet Bee Block, I feel so bad being sooo late on it.
This block is for Donna, it is her pattern that you can find here.
She wanted 30's print.

 This was my "oops" moment!

Of course Pippi had to help!

My sewing room is a mess right now since I have not had time to clean it or sew.  I am teaching a sewing class for three little girls, I keep forgetting to take pictures, and I have them set up in the basement.  I just borrowed Alayna's sewing machine real quick to make my block.

My husband bought me the solar flamingo for my car!

 Pat, a lady from my church, was kind enough to help me do embroidery on my new Pampered Chef apron.  I thought it needed something extra.

It is hard to see in the picture, but we put my name in pink at the top, and a flower in the corner.  I also added some ric-rac.

 I went to a ladies retreat a couple of weeks ago and forgot my jacket.  My quilt was a good substitute!

This was our bunks where we slept.  I had to bring a quilt of course!  This is one my grandmother made.

 Cupcake packed herself.

 Then Oreo packed himself.  But I had to leave them both behind.

I have been busy setting up my new Pampered Chef business.  I love selling Pampered Chef and my favorite parts are the cooking shows at people's houses.  If you live within an hour of Ava, MO I can do a show for you.  I also do Facebook parties and will do at least one live demo during the show.  I can do fundraisers, bridal showers, freezer workshop meals, and more!

My website is pamperedchef.com/pws/mshaymo
Business email is mopcmissy@gmail.com

You can always help me out by liking and following my business page on FB too!
https://www.facebook.com/MissyShayMO

Thank you everyone, do you have a favorite quilt you take when you travel?

Missy

Christmas Apron

have you ever wanted to make something and just had problem after problem trying to get it made?
I bought some very cute vintage looking snowman fabric from Joann's on black Friday.  I wanted to make an apron for Christmas.  I took out my book A is for Apron and looked for an apron that I liked.  I found a really cute vintage looking one, but could not figure out a way to print the pattern at 400% on my home printer.  After messing with that for a while, I decided to see what Christmas fabric I had.  I pulled the box down and found some material that already had the apron printed on it and decided to just make that.

 Wow, I had not realized how big my bulky sweatshirt makes me look!

Of course I had help cutting out my material!

I think I am going to make a table runner with the material I bought for the apron!

Missy

Vintage Aprons

I went yard saling and got some great deals!  My favorite was the six vintage aprons I got for $3!

The first two look like they were made from handkerchiefs or something.  The material is very light and delicate.  I love the big red flowers on this one.

 This one has a grossgrain ribbon for the tie and waist band.

 It has an unusual triangular shaped pocket.

 I like the two textures used on this one.  I love the material used!

 Of course you have the delicate hostess apron, with a beautiful lace trimmed pocket.

 That pink is very see through and Cupcake wanted to show you.

 This one has been used a lot and the material is starting to tear in the middle.

 I love the detail on the pocket.

 I'm going to use this one around the house, the pockets on the side are perfect for carrying my cell phone and stuff.  It is not delicate like the other ones so it can be used.

 This last one was a gift from a new friend.  It was her mother's which makes it extra special!

 I love the tiny blue flowers on the double edge lace.

Now I just need to find a great way to display them!  Have a great day ya'll!

Missy

Design Wall Monday

I finished the penguin applique on my postage stamp quilt!  My friend Julia drew the penguin and cut out the templates for me.  I decided to use the green material from the border and the red from the binding for the hat and scarf.

 I used fusible webbing when I cut out the material.  I practiced with my darning foot to go around the penguin.  It's not great, but the more I practice the better it will be!

I plan on finishing the quilt this week, at least I hope to!



We had another quilt along on Friday night, that is when I started the work on my penguin, I had it all cut out before I got there.

Tabitha and I working on our quilts, this is Tabitha's first time to quilt, I had her chain stitching.

Valerie Chain stitching her postage stamp quilt.

Gladis, Sarah and Atarah are crocheting their granny square quilts.

I did finish my step mom's gifts.  She loves Raggedy Ann and Andy.  This material was the closest that I could find.  I had this plain looking apron that I had made about a year ago, I put a pocket on it with this material.

Before I practiced my free motion quilting on her gifts, I took some scraps and made mug rugs for myself and practiced on them.  They look pretty awful!  LOL

I also made my first mug rugs and pot holders!  I made them reversible.  I did not want them to look Christmasey, and had a hard time deciding on the binding, I finally decided on this blue and really love it!  These pot holders and mug rugs will also be gifts for my stepmom.  I noticed she was using cheap old freebie  costers, when I was there for my Dad's funeral.

 I made two of each, but wanted to show you both sides.

 I practiced more free motion quilting on them.  She has a country theme, so I liked the apples on this one.

 Here are the pot holders.

Here is my quilt so far!  I'm really glad I added the penguin, when I wash it, it should fray some, I clipped the red parts on the hat and the ends of the green scarf.

I also need to make a bath robe for my husband for Christmas, and then I'm done!
Do you have any last minute gifts that you need to make?
Have a merry Christmas!
Missy

Aprons

I have a lot of aprons to show you today!  I participated in an apron swap over at Katherine's Corner.  She is having a linky party on Friday (12/14/12) to show off all our aprons, so if you like aprons be sure to stop by!
Here is the apron Katherine sent me:

 
It is perfect for me with all of the cupcakes!  And I love the pink bows!
Here is the apron I sent to Marie, my swap partner.  It is one of my favorites I have made with the gingham ruffles! (I had to put a t-shirt on the mannequin! LOL)

I really enjoy apron swaps, although this is only the second one I have participated in.
I thought I would share some aprons I made for Christmas presents also.  My sister said she wanted a ladybug apron for Christmas.  Wow, that's easy for me to do!  I was going to make my niece a matching apron, but when I was digging through my fabric I found this one that was pre-printed on the fabric and I had already cut it out.  I had the polka dots already out for my sister's apron and thought it would make a perfect ruffle on Johnna's apron, so I added it, and am very glad I did!

It says "more sprinkles please".  I also made two aprons for her Barbie dolls.

They were so easy to make, took me 10-15 minutes for both!  I just cut it out with my pinking shears, ironed it under and sewed it down.  I guessed at the shape and size by holding it up to the Barbie doll, then used ribbon for the ties.  My husband took the picture for me and did not get a very good picture of the yellow one, but it is the same as the green one, just a different fabric.
 I wanted to make her some Barbie Doll clothes, but did not have time, my friend Chrystal had some she had made, so I bought them from her.

For my sister's apron I bought all the ladybug fabrics I could find.  Do you think there is enough ladybugs for her?  She also likes butterflies, so the top one is perfect!

The dark green does not match well, oh well.  Can you believe that I could not find the pattern I was going to use?  I pulled it out last week, and it has totally disappeared!  I bet I find it mixed in with some fabric some where.  I cut the dark green fabric 19 inches long and all three layers 36 inches wide.  The next layer was about four inches shorter and the next about three inches shorter.  I was not exact on the lengths as you can tell.
I made the top and the pocket the same way.  The top is a ten inch square, I didn't measure the pocket.  I cut two pieces of each and sewed them right sides together, and then turned them right side out.

I then lined the tops with the black polka dots.

I sewed the pocket onto the yellow fabric about an inch up from the hem.
I gathered all three layers of the bottom at the same time, that was not easy!  I then made a waistband and sewed the "skirt" in between the folded layers.

I added the ties to each end of the waistband, I did it this way so I would not have a seam in the middle of the waistband.

I sewed all the way across the bottom of the ties and waistband.  I pinned the the top to the waistband and sewed across the top of the waistband and ties.  I then sewed the neck on. I had cut all the ties and waistband three inches.  Here is how I made my ties.

I felt like it needed something at the bottom, I had a small strip left, so i made a fabric flower and added a daisy which matches the yellow fabric.  Go here for directions on how to make the flower.

I really should have put the flower on the other side from the pocket.  I was in a hurry trying to get these gifts done to send off today!
If you have any questions, just ask, I know this was not a very detailed tutorial.  Be sure to check out my apron pin board!
What homemade gifts are you making this year?
Have a merry Christmas!
Missy