My apron is on it's way!

My apron is on it's way to my swap partner! I hope she likes the apron that I made for her and all the goodies I sent also. My swap partner doesn't drink alcohol so I was thinking more of a refreshing cool fruity drink when I picked out my fabric for the apron. I really had a hard time finding any fabric in my area that really spoke to me when I was thinking cocktails. As soon as I started thinking about other cool drinks I saw lots of fabrics that would work.



I made it a flirty and kinda sexy apron though! I of course had to add a little lace ruffle also as I love ruffles and lace! Pink and orange make a nice color combination. There are two pockets on the front also. I also cut the bottom of the skirt into a couple of curves- kind of ruffly on it's own.



I made some cloth coasters out of some fabric I brought back from my last trip to Hawaii when I was there visiting my daughter. Of course I had to include some colorful umbrella picks that she can either use in her fruit drinks or she can use them as picks to decorate her food. I also sent her two palm tree dish towels that I found at a local store. I liked them so much that I also bought some to include in my Aloha Flirty Apron Swap package and a few for myself!



In keeping with the pinks I also sent her some cloth placemats and coordinating cloth napkins. She could use those anytime to cheer up her table.



I'm linking up to Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch To Yours

Aloha Flirty Apron Swap

I just recently participated in another Flirty Apron Swap. This time round the theme was to be an Aloha Flirty Apron that you sew especially for your secret swap partner. You are also suppose to include a few tuck in items as gifts for your swap partner that go along with the theme. You can make any style apron you like but the swap coordinator does supply us with information about our partner with their likes and dislikes, style they prefer and favorite colors, etc. Usually you can go and look at your secret swap partner's blog and kind of get a feel of what you think your partner would like also.

So this time I was to make an apron for Grace in Washington. This is the apron I made for her. She seemed to be a outgoing fun lady and I wanted to make her an upbeat and happy apron with bright colors. I knew she also liked pink so I went with this pink and green floral fabric.
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In addition to sewing the apron for her I also made her a set of 4 fabric criss cross coasters out of fabric I got when I was in Hawaii on my last trip. I included 2 dish towels with palm trees on them, another set of coasters, an aloha themed note pad and 2 small scented candles.

I wrapped everything individually and then threw in some metallic Hibiscus flowers to help decorate the box. I wrote her a little note letting her know that I enjoyed making this package especially for her and I hope she enjoys all the Aloha spirit I was sending her!

These apron swaps are so fun! I of course have so much fun receiving a special apron made just for me and all the fun little goodies that go into it but I really have just as much fun creating a special apron for someone I don't know. I like to try and think of clever little tuck in gifts to go with it. Goodness knows I really don't need another apron but I've already signed up for another apron swap in the near future!

I hope Grace doesn't mind but I'm posting the pictures that she took and put on her blog as I'm having camera issues at the moment.

More Fun Apron Swaps

I know I said I wasn't going to do it but I did! I just couldn't help myself! My name is Donna and I'm addicted to aprons! I've participated in Val's apron swaps before and they have always been so much fun. I love creating an apron for someone else and thinking of clever tuckins to go along with the theme. I of course love receiving my package too but I kinda think I like making up my package just as much. I always try to find out about the person that I'm secretly making an apron for. So I can see what type of things she likes and dislikes. I will then read her blog if possible and try to get a sense of who she is and what she likes.



I'm also in another apron swap right now that is called The Summer Fun Aloha Swap over at the Flirty Apron Swap website. I should be getting my information in the next day or so as to who I am to make an apron for. I've been thinking about the fabric selection and what kind of apron I would like to make. I have to wait to see the information about what my swap partner likes first to see if it would be something she would like. I've already been looking around getting ideas as to what I want to put in as my little tuck in gifts. Since we have a theme we kind of know at least what types of things to look at.

So in the near future I will be the proud owner of not one but two new aprons made especially for me! Yeah!! I need a bigger closet to store all the aprons I've received from the apron swaps I've already participated in.

I can't wear cute shoes but I definitely can wear cute aprons- and I do!!

The Case of the Missing Apron!

I'm so jealous of all the great aprons that everyone on the Flirty Apron Swap blog has been receiving and posting. All of the pictures of their unique aprons have me drooling and green with "apron" envy! I also love looking at all of the creative things that they have been showing that they have received as their tuck ins. There are some very creative and thoughtful swappers on the Flirty Apron Swap blog. It never ceases to amaze me at how creative and clever my fellow apron swappers are.

It seems that the apron swap package that I was to receive has disappeared. The coordinator let me know that the delivery confirmation said it had been delivered to me but it is no where to be found! I live in a very quiet court and know all of my neighbors so I don't think any of them would walk off with my package. I've scoured the plants and bushes and looked all around my front porch hoping that somehow the package would be found. I even went door to door asking my neighbors if they had happened to see a package delivered on my doorstep or someone removing one. Unfortunately it has gone "missing" and I will never know what the package contained. The funny thing is that I was home all day long the day the delivery confirmation says it was delivered. My little Chewbacca usually notifies me if anyone dare steps on the porch and I don't remember him barking at all that day.

So are there any CSI investigators out there in Apron Swap World that I can hire? If I had Nancy Drew's phone number I would hire her to look into the Case of the Missing Apron!

Another Apron Swap

Shawnee over at Flirty Apron Swap is hosting a Spring Fling Apron Swap. You need to hurry over and sign up if you want to participate because the registration is over on March 31st.

We will be creating a handmade "Spring Fling" apron – a special apron that has something on it related to a springtime theme – flowers, a cleaning apron, Easter, or gardening. In addition to the apron, we will be tucking in three little gifts with our boxes, one for each letter of our partner's initials.

All of the tuck-in items must be handcrafted, new from the store, or thrifted (but only if they are in “better than new” condition). Each participant should plan on spending a minimum of $10 on tuck-ins in addition to our apron and the postage (boxes MUST be sent 2-day priority w/tracking). Then we should make it into a special box – gift wrapping, bows, the whole nine yards!

I can't wait to get my swap partner's information so I can get started on her special apron!

Spring Apron Swap and Easter Basket Swap

I love swaps! I love aprons and I love Easter baskets so I signed up for a swap for each. Sue over at Country Pleasures is hosting the Spring Apron Swap and friends Alli and Paula are hosting the Easter Basket Swap at Perhaps Today or On A Rainy Night.

For the Spring Apron Swap you are suppose to hand craft an apron, full or half depending on your swap partner's preference, and include at least 2 tuck ins. Tuckins are simply goodies to tag along with your apron and they should match the theme. Some suggestions were coffee, tea's, mugs, tea towels, etc. Although the deadline to join is already past the aprons need to be mailed out by the 15th of March. So I have a few days to get my stuff together and get it all packed and on its way to my swap partner Mary Ann. This isn't a blind swap so Mary Ann and I have sent a few emails back and forth getting to know each other. It's great that she is also a fellow quilter as that makes me feel a little bit more confident as to what to send to her.

For the Easter Basket Swap I have to send a basket to my partner and include at least one Easter decoration - what kind of decoration is up to me and my partners likes. I also need to include an Easter card. I am also to include some type of chocolate or other yummy candy. I also need to send something that signifies Easter to my partner and I can include and other goodies that I think my partner will enjoy. The idea is to pamper your partner. At least one of my items that I send has to be homemade. I have to have this in the mail before April 4th.

So I need to get my thinking cap on real soon and get busy sewing and crafting up some great goodies for these nice two ladies. I don't know who has my name for the Easter Basket Swap so that part is still a surprise.

Another Apron Swap - Yeah!!

Shawnee over at the Flirty Apron Swap is hosting another apron swap that I just had to join! I mean I love aprons and I also love Fall so it was 2 of my favorite things so of course I had to jump right over and join.

I really need another apron like I need a hole in my head but I just couldn't help myself. I've been trying not to join any swaps lately, and I haven't for quite some time, but I just did it anyways. I already got my swap partner's information about her likes and dislikes and her preference for what style of an apron she would like me to make. So I'm making a full bib style apron with a ruffle and a pocket.

Finding the fabric was fun. I couldn't believe it when I found what I wanted at my first fabric stop. I had a lot of different choices to pick from. She didn't want a Halloween apron, and would prefer a more Thanksgiving or Fall type apron, so that is what I chose for her. I think she'll like it. It is a Debbie Mumm fabric with little pumpkins all over it and a cute border of a bunch of squirrels wearing pilgrims hats and holding pumpkins. It is so cute! I'm also using the border part of the fabric for the ties and for the pocket.

Now I need to go and finish finding all the little tuck in gifts to go with it. I'm planning on making her a pumpkin pincushion in addition to a few other things I plan on making for her. I'll post a picture when I get it finished!

Flirty Apron Swap

I recently participated in another Flirty Apron Swap. The theme this time was Cupcakes and/or Mary Engelbreit. I know I said I wasn't going to do another apron swap because I already own a zillion but I couldn't help myself! I love aprons and I loved that the theme was cupcakes so I went ahead and signed up again.

Being the procrastinator that I am I waited until the day before the apron had to be made to start it. I work well under pressure! I had already purchased the cupcake fabric that I was going to use but I of course changed my mind as to what type of an apron I was going to make and at the last minute had to run to JoAnn's before they closed to get enough fabric to finish the project and make a ruffle. I always like my aprons to have a ruffle and extra long ties so that if you want you can wrap the ties and tie it into a nice bow in the front. I had already picked up the little extras that I was to include as a gift in addition to the apron so that wasn't a problem.



I decided at the last minute to add the little pink pom-pom trim to the top of the apron and again on the top of the pocket. I thought it just added a little extra to the look of the apron.



Here is all of the goodies I included with my package. I of course had to send one of my all time favorite apron patterns as part of the gift. I included a roll of Mary Englebrite ribbon, some colorful candy or muffin liners, a magnetic note holder that I made and a few other little things.



Here is me modeling the apron. I fell in love with the cute cupcake apron and didn't want to give it up. I always do that. I should just know by now and buy enough fabric to make 2 of them because this has happened the last couple of apron swaps.

Arpon Swap

I just signed up for a Valentine's Apron swap over at the Sassy Flirty Apron Swap http://sassyflirtyapronswap.blogspot.com/

Apron Swap

I recently participated in the "Hot Drinks for Hot Mamas" Apron Swap. You make an apron for a "secret" partner and someone else "secret" makes one for you. There are usually other guidelines to the swaps as to what the theme is and such.

I have so much fun participating in these exchanges. I'm bad though cause I'm a horrible procrastinator some times and wait to near the deadline to get started. I work well under pressure though. I always have it all planned out as to what I'm gonna make, which fabric I'm going to use and what other little things I'm going to send with my gift.

We were given some information about our partner: favorite hot drink, favorite and least favorite color. Apron could be a full coverage or a half apron. Package should include 3 little extra somethings and apron should be wrapped in tissue, tied with ribbon.

My partner loved chai and other teas. I found a cute fabric with all different colored tea cups and teapots on a cream background. She was a tiny little thing so I made her a half apron so I could somewhat gauge what size to make it for her. I of course forgot to take pictures of the apron or the goodies I sent. I sent her a small china tea cup and saucer, some teas and chocolate.

My swap partner got me perfectly. She made me the cutest pink apron with tea cups all over it. It was trimmed with white lace and looked so feminine and cute. She sent me a neat tea cookbook, another little tea book, a bookmark she made for me, and a few different kinds of teas. She makes and sells aprons on Etsy. Thank you again Nicola!

Flirty Vacation Apron

I participated in the Second Flirty Apron Swap that was hosted by Shawnee. The theme was where I wished I could have gone on my summer vacation. We had to list a couple of places we would like to go for our secret swap partner to choose from.

I said I would like to go either to Italy (again- please!!) or to Paris. Either place would be a great and wonderful experience. It also asked you to tell about the colors you like and anything else you would like your swap partner to know about you. I also said I loved all things girlie, pink and feminine. I also love old and vintage things.

My swap partner made me the cutest apron out of pink gingham and a cute floral on a white background. It looks very vintage which is something I love. She had also sewed little appliqued flowers around the waistband. It turned out really nice. She sent me a recipe for some French Chocolates and a wonderful book that takes place in France. Now I just have to take the time to sit down with some cappuccino and delve into the wonderful book!