And The Winner Is…

SOUTHERN GIRL (Kirsten)

Using a random number selector the ninth comment was chosen.

Congratulations Kirsten!  I hope you enjoy your apron.

oxo

Until next time…

It is always possible to be thankful for what is given, rather than to complain about what is not given.  One or the other becomes a habit of life.   ~ Elizabeth Elliot ~

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The “Okay Already” Spring Fever Giveaway

Spring officially arrived with the vernal equinox Sunday, March 20, 2011.  Yet many of my bloggy friends feel like they are still in the frosty depths of winter.  Everyone is ready for sunshine and warmth and a reprieve from the bitter cold. 

My giveaway is something bright and cheerful in color.  It’s a full apron from DII’s spring collection made in India of quality 100% cotton.  This sassy hostess apron is perfect for celebrating spring, and it’s pretty enough to wear to town!   Chickens not included. There will also be a few surprised included.

For your first chance to win comment on this post telling me your favorite way to treat spring fever.   I love working with herbs, transplanting new plants and revitalizing the soil of my perennial herbs from years past.

For more chances…

Post about this giveaway on your blog and let me know you did in a separate comment.

Subscribe to this blog and leave a separate comment saying you did.

Like this page for another chance and leave a comment telling you did.

Share this post on Facebook and leave another comment saying you did.

Feel free to use this button if you blog about this giveaway…

You have until April 15, 2011 to enter.  I hope you win. 

Until next time…

God’s love for me is inexhaustible, and His love for me is the basis of my love for others.        ~ Oswald Chambers ~

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An Apron Review – Sharper Uniforms

Last month Rebecca of Sharper Uniforms invited me to take part in a product review promotional.  If I agreed to review (or use the apron as a giveaway prize), Sharper Uniform would send me a three pocket waist apron in the color of my choice.  Sorry ladies…I kept the apron.

The picture above is the style I received.  I used their picture because the model is too cute and being “cameraphobic” she was a much better option.  I chose pink because it’s one of my favorite colors, but there are 16 colors to choose from.  (Back in the day I wore a similar apron in black when I waited tables in a restaurant.)  I love the fit even today, because this style fits “snuggly” across the body. The pockets are deep enough to be practical.  They would easily hold an order pad and tips leaving room for lip gloss, tissues and breath mints.  Customarily I put on a clean apron with each new day, but since I was reviewing this one and a very important factor with any apron is how well it launders, I wore this one two days in a row.  I worked in the kitchen the first day and moved on to my herb garden on day two.  Because I had gotten it pretty soiled, as could easily happen in the work place, I sprayed it with Spray and Wash before tossing it into the washer.  It came out of the washer as good as new.

As the name implies, Sharper Uniforms specializes in aprons used in food service professions, but they also carry a full range of uniforms.  Their full line of products can be found on their web site by clicking on the link above. Their prices are reasonable and get moreso with volume purchases.

I will continue to use my apron…but from here on out I’ll only wear it one day at a time.  🙂

On a side note to Rebecca, thank you for including me in this promotional.  I appreciate your thoughtfulness and love my pretty pink apron.

oxo

Until next time…

Vocatus atque non vocatus, deus aderit.  ~ Erasmus of Rotterdam (Bidden or not, God is there.)

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Finally Feeling Better

I’m thanking God I am finally beginning to feel like I’m getting over the sinus infection and bronchitis that has plagued me far too long.  It seemed to me it had a grip on me forever.  I’m doing my best not to relapse.  The air here has been ghastly to breath and flared my asthma up.  While the storms made their way through this part of the country I turned on the air conditioner and have not turned it back off.  That move is going to take bravery.  Yes, bravery.   Breathing is so much more than a luxury.

Enough of that…moving on to happier things.  Yesterday when I checked my mail I found a treasure.  Our three year old California granddaughter sent me a card.  The best part was it was her idea.  She made my heart soar and day.  Love is such a beautiful thing.

Moving on to another blessing…

My precious husband agreed we purchase a Vita-Mix.  It arrived yesterday, and already I am in love with it.  Yes it’s an inanimate thing, but it is an amazing machine.  Yesterday after reading the paperwork that came with it and cleaning it according to the manufacturer’s instructions, I christened it with my first green smoothie.  It will not be my last.  Before you say it looks disgusting let me assure you, you are wrong.  It was both delicious and so good for me.

As a quick side dish for supper last night I made pear/applesauce in about a minute and a half or so.  I didn’t make a picture of that, but it was a big hit with my no fruit eating husband.  🙂  Since neither of those creations satisfied my burning desire to use the Vita-Mix again I topped the evening off with a fresh orange sorbet sweetened with stevia.  It was impressive.

Breakfast was another wonderful taste adventure.  I made a frozen mango smoothie spiced with a pinch of cardamom.  There is no question…it was delicious.

In the event there is any doubt…

I look forward to reaping the benefits of eating healthy, whole foods prepared with this wonderful machine.  And as an extra bonus…It was made in the USA!

Until next time…

Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.  Proverbs 15:16

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Mom’s Special Request

My mom found a piece of denim in her stash she’s had for years.  It’s likely vintage it’s been so long since she’s done much sewing.  She told me asked me to make an apron for her fashioned after her Weber grill apron.  I drew a pattern on freezer paper using the Weber apron as a guide.  It’s the standard chef’s apron worn most often by men when they grill or chef for a living.  I don’t think there is a simpler apron to make.  I modified the ties and neck strap so they would be adjustable.  A casing has been sewn into the bib sides and a long tie is laced up one side and down the other forming a loop for the head to go through.  In the past I’ve made my mom two full aprons and each one was too long for her in the bib area.  This style should eliminate that problem.  Here’s hoping…Mom also requested more pockets than were on the original apron.  This one has a large, divided pocket that should well please her.

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You Go Girl and Well-Worn Denim

Yesterday I finished the repurposed blue jean apron I’ve been making for my granddaughter.  She has not been back here to receive it and model it.  The body of the apron was made from one blue jean leg cut off just below the crotch.  The inseam was ripped out with my trusty seam ripper, and the leg pressed flat. I turned the sides and bottom under about 1/4 and turned it again and hem stitched the raw edges.   Pockets, yoke trim and ties were added with You Go Girl  Pink Ropes by Dawn of Sun Valley. I think my granddaughter will be pleased.

Until next time…

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.  Proverbs 10:12

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I Feel Like Making…

something today, but time does not allow for it, so I’m sharing something I recently made.  Last month I hosted a “Because I Have Two” giveaway.  The very humble gift was recipe index book.  I planned an unannounced surprise to accompany the book…unannounced mostly because I had not decided what the “surprise” would be…and a surprise is never a surprise if you know what it is.

Lennie, a new on line, blogless friend won the giveaway.  What I knew about Lennie was basically nothing so I prayed about what to surprise her with.  I decided on an apron and conferred with someone (Patty) who does know her well to see if my decided upon surprise was right for Lennie.  It’s likely I could not have chosen anything more appropriate.  She has a collection of more than 50 aprons and always has room for one more.

After deciding on what to make I switched trains and worked on how to make it.  I’m forever bringing home pretty discarded linens from thrift stores and had recently claimed a lovely white cotton curtain embellished with appliqué and cut work.  It’s become very fashionable to remake old things into new things…hence called “repurposing”, but I’ve been doing it for years out of necessity and good stewardship.  I paired it with a piece creamy peach organic cotton and placed it together and looked at it for several days to make sure I was pleased with the color scheme.

This is what I came up with…

After receiving it Lennie took several pictures and shared them with me. (The padded mailer I used was also salvaged.  It looks pretty rough, but it got the job done.  :))  The apron and book were wrapped in vintage pattern pieces and secured with a pink flannel selvage scrap.  I’m sure there are sewers out there who would openly chastise such a use of an uncut pattern, but I assure them I’ll continue the practice.  I love the idea.

The package opened and the gift revealed.  The tea bags were tucked in the pocket of the apron for a little added surprise.  After all, apron pockets should hold treasures.

Lennie and her daughters were taken by the little homemade tag pinned to the pocket.  (My sister loves the tags, too, so there must be something special about them.)

Lennie told me our new friendship and her apron have been recorded in her journal.  I’m touched, honored and pleased.  I’m glad Lennie won the giveaway, because meeting her has enriched my life.  I hope she enjoys her apron and the little recipe index book.

Time for me to get hopping…when my DH returns from physical therapy we are headed to my parent’s house.  I’m still in my pajamas and really should get ready.

Until next time…

Good thoughts are blessed guests, and should be heartily welcomed, well-fed, and much sought after. Like rose leaves, they give out a sweet smell, if laid up in the jar of memory.  ~ Charles H. Spurgeon ~

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Polka Dots and Peppermint

Polka dots and aprons go together like peanut butter and jam.  The pink stripe reminds me of peppermint candy.  The combination makes this half apron really sweet.  The recipient loves quilting so I added a patchwork pocket using the two fabrics to make it more personal.  It is Pay It Forward gift for another lady who lives in Texas, and if all goes according to plan it will reach its new home next week.  Pink is the new owner’s favorite color so hopefully she’ll be pleased.

Because I constructed this apron using only fabric from my stash it is eligible for Angry Chicken’s current Tie One On theme…No Money.

Until next time…

There is no negotiation with truth. . . . ~  Ferdinand Lassalle ~

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Tie One On – 3 09

Angry Chicken hosts a “Tie One On” apron-crafting challenge.  This month the theme is “make an apron using materials from your stash ONLY”.  Several days ago I selected an old (not vintage), embroidered muslin pillow sham from my reusable linen stash.  I picked it up at a close-out store years ago with making something out of it, because the sham was not made for practical use.  It was designed like an envelope so I cut a bib, skirt and two pockets from the embroidered portions of the sham.  I used a lavender blender the back of the bib, the neck tie and the ties.  Here’s what I came up with.

If you are a sewer…why not join in the fun and tie one on?

Until next time…

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow. ~ unknown ~

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A Spendid Giveaway!

Time is running out so don’t delay checking this giveaway out if you love aprons and books.  I confess I really hope I win this one, but I must let y’all know about it.  June says it best…Now

Here the skinny: To be entered in this giveaway, leave me a comment.  Tell me about your very favorite apron.  Even it it isn’t yours.  Even if it is an apron you saw someone else wearing.  Share your apron story. And if you would mention this giveaway on your blog that would be extra sweet of you.  The button is below.

If your name is drawn from my very special mason jar, you will receive one copy of (apron*ology) magazine and a OOAK NotQuiteJuneCleaver Apron.

The deadline for entering this giveaway is the morning of  February 23rd.  I will draw the winner at noon CST  February 23 and as soon as I get that lucky person’s address info, I will send the package right out to you!

Now scoot on over to June’s place for the rest of the details, and get your name in the pot.  While you’re there check out her blog.  It’s a great place to visit.

Until next time…

The best way for a woman to have a few minutes to herself is to start doing the dishes.  ~ unknown ~

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