Under a Blue Moon

About fifteen years ago I got the ribbon embroidery bug after seeing a piece in a magazine.  At the time there wasn’t much out there on the topic so I just bought some ribbon and had at it. 

It was hard work.  Pulling that ribbon through fabric.  I think I made two pieces and that was that.  Now I am seeing more and more and I’m wanting to give it another try – this time buying proper silk ribbon and getting a book that shows the stitches.

The jacket above isn’t my handiwork.  Alas no.  Actually it is a bed jacket that was featured in a clothing catalog and I was so smitten with it – but it was ridiculously expensive.  It was advertised as a bed jacket but the marketing folks said they loved it paired with a tank top and a pair of faded jeans.  I could just see myself in that outfit.  But like I said it was too dear and I passed on it.  Then after about two years of seeing it over and over again in their catalog they decided to mark it way down so I pounced and bought it. 

And I have never worn it. 

It’s a wee bit snug.  I’m hoping that in a few months I can pull on my jeans and tank top and throw this on top and have it look like it does in my fantasy.

I’m thinking that the ribbon embroidery is what made it such a pricey piece.  If *I* had done the embroidery on it I sure would want to charge a pretty penny for it.

(Cue the wavery, dreamlike lines and see Andrea gazing off into the distance, envisioning her cottage industry of selling ridiculously expensive ribbon embroidered garments and being the darling of both the craft and fashion world….) 

So.  Ahem.  This is the progress I’ve made on my two color quilt.  I did a little cutting and then piled everything in the trunk of my car where it has sadly languished. 

I think I was a wee bit ambitious.  The cutting is just so intimidating to me.  Sorry Nicki.  What a poop head I am. 

Let’s move on, shall we?

Is this not the prettiest fabric you have ever seen?  My photography skills do not do it justice.  The blue background is actually more of a pale aqua color with the prettiest ballet pink stripes.  This is the first time I have ever bought fabric without a project in mind.  It’s also the first time I’ve ordered from FatQuarterShop.com. 

I ordered it on Friday night and about 10 minutes later there was a knock on the door and a delivery guy standing there. 

It is Sweet Escape by Free Spirit.

I also ordered an Ava Rose Jolly Pack, this time with a project in mind.  On Posie Gets Cozy Alicia made a simple patchwork pillow and I just love how it looks.  Her unsewn squares were 2 1/2″ so I figured I could order a jolly pack and cut each 5″ square in quarters and have a go at it.  I bought a kitten toile fabric for the backing.  Which wins the prize for the cutest fabric ever.

Stay tuned for the UABM Anniversary give away.  To be announced tomorrow…..

In the meantime go over to Nicki’s blog and look at her list of the other REAL quilters that are participating in the the Two Color Quilt Challenge.  There will be more to see than you’re getting around here.

I am suddenly in the mood to make aprons.  I blame a message board I frequent where someone posted a link to some adorable vintage aprons and all of the sudden I need a sewing project that is actually in the realm of my capabilities.

I found the pattern on Butterick and what do you know ~ it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg like most patterns do these days.  Has anyone else noticed that??  You have to spend $16 for the pattern?  Most patterns have four or five versions of the garment you can make but this one just has two – the full apron and a half apron.  And only $2.99. 

I also had incredible JoAnns karma today because I was searching through the Butterick drawers and they were out of the apron.  I started looking through other pattern books and found a few that were close and they were out of those too.  There must be a pattern renaissance going on.  Just when I had given up and was walking out I noticed a display and they had one misplaced pattern in the group and it just happened to be the one that I wanted.

My apron is going to have some contrasting fabric for the ruffled piece and for the ties.  And no dorky ribbon.  I think I’ll put a big pocket there instead.  Both fabrics are from the upcoming Heather Bailey Pop Garden line.  She has an on-line store that will be opening in August.  I am going to use the floral for the main part of the apron and the smaller pattern for the contrast.  If you see a bigger swatch of the floral you can see how it will totally work.

I swore I wasn’t going to post future projects because I set myself up for a major case of procrastination but the fabrics are so pretty I had to share.