Cutting into the Good Stuff!

A stack of my favorite fabrics, quick skinny dip in the pool at mid-night, time to myself and staying up way too late . . . priceless! Starting to get a little spring in my step and some sewing mojo back and loving it! I had a fabulous Saturday night both with the family and after they went to bed. I think I just needed a little time without my three (okay we can add Steve to the mix as well) so four whinny demanding peeps in my head! Wow has life changed that I find staying up four hours later than everyone on a Saturday night and sewing bliss . . . but it was!

I cut out fabric when the little kids napped and got the patchwork almost done for this Urban Swap project. We had a picnic dinner out in the yard and Max directed his brother and sister in a crazy little dinner show. The fish tacos were a big hit and they were dancing across the yard, eating their tacos and having a wild time. Max begged for a fire and some s-mores, so it turned into a party. Being the all-star mom that I am, I brushed their teeth but failed to wash their sticky faces before sending them off to bed. Steve, Max and I played a few games until the fire went out and then they went into bed just before mid-night and I decided to have some fun!

Here is what I came up with as Project 1 for my partner in the Urban Home Goods Swap - a craft and/or vendor apron. I am in love! It is inspired by Patchwork Style by Suzuko Koseki.

The patchwork ties are for sure a new obsession. I think any time you sew bits of fabric together, iron, fold, iron, sew again . . . and you get this magic- I am in! The ties are way too long, but I love to wrap ties a couple of times around to get the cool vendor look going . . .

Started off with boring canvas and decided to use the good stuff. I ordered this on ETSY from Japan, but now that you can find it at Hawthorne's and even though I can't drive the half- hour to Albany any more to pick it up from them, it is a one day delivery! They are out of it right now, but I can wait patiently for the restock! I love the elephants with the patchwork and hope my partner does too!

Have had a couple of Aunt Cookie panels for about a year now and have decided to start using them. They are so fun and I think add that perfect touch to this project. Also this grouping of four really sums up my partner for me. It has been so fun stalking her blog and flickr and I have been an admirer of her sewing for a year now. I said to my swap mama how I was a little nervous making stuff for a sewing rock star, she of course said all the right things, but in the end my sewing is a bit on the karaoke side . . . but it is the effort that counts right? The inspiration from this group is off the chart, check out the flickr pool if you have a moment!

Finally I have a pledge to make . . . I will cut into and start sewing with my favorite fabrics. If I run out . . . who cares! It was so fun using my favorite fabrics on this and it just makes me smile. I was smiling sewing with them, cutting them, ironing them . . . I just L O V E Flea Market Fancy Large Blue Bouquet and Grey Seeds together. Add in the red ovals from Blank Textiles and the Aunt Cookie panel and I am in heaven. How about you partner?