Make New Friends, but Keep the Old.

One is Silver,
and the Other Gold.

That's a song we use to sing in the Girl Scouts.

Today I am SO EXCITED that I am LITERALLY jumping for joy!

Yesterday I made two new friends. Roxie I met at the laundromat, only to discover that she just moved into my apartment complex (in fact, I have her moving boxes from beside the dumpster!) She has two boys, ages 2 & 4.

Amy I met online yesterday and in person today. Her 5yo son is actually over playing with my boys. We hit it off SO WELL! AND... while giving her a private, 2-hour-tour of Rock Springs, she loved the houses for sale on our street. She took her hubby over, and, well, they are writing a contract with the developer in about two hours! I've actually called the developer and left a message... I'm going to ask him for a Referral / Finder's Fee... I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

It is just SO COOL to be making new friends! I now have four great lady friends here in Rock Springs with a total of eight kiddos (5 girls and 2 boys) to hang out with me and my 2 boys... hey, we've got a balance of genders now! I've also met several other ladies, but I can see that I'll be getting together with these ladies A LOT!!!

Oh yeah! Amy, who's buying a house just down the street, has been homeschooling her oldest for two years, and our 5yo's are both going to be in Kindergarten this year. We're already talking about sharing teaching responsibilities. I'm just SO EXCITED and I HAD TO SHARE it with you!

Also, I mailed off my Summer Sassy Apron Swap items today. So, that's a relief! I had fun making them and hope she enjoys them.

:D

Sassy Packing

So. Today I stopped doing this packing long enough to do this:


In this day of rotary cutting, I always am surprised at how good it feels to lay out fabric (on the floor) and put the tissue down, with a few pins, then grab an actual pair of scissors to cut through it all. It's always so... so... exciting?, no.... I can't put my finger on the word. There's just a certain joy and anticipation in cutting through the fabric and tissue, knowing you're about to CREATE something. It will be something new and different and "YOU" or rather "ME", because it's entirely my creation! Anyway, I always enjoy doing that... cutting out the carefully chosen fabric with the pattern that speaks to you.

I also started the required "embellishment" phase of the give-away apron. While I was waiting to have my fabric cut, Tom actually found some ADORABLE little appliqué flowers. I ironed them on to the pockets and one of the back shoulders. Tomorrow, I'll top stitch them, then put ric-rac on some of the pockets before starting the garment sewing. It's gonna be SO STINKIN' CUTE!!! :D

Sassy Apron Swap, Summer Update

So, I joined the Spring Sassy Apron Swap and the next week Tom broke his leg. Shortly after joining the Summer Sassy Apron Swap, we made an offer on a house and started another move. So, thinking about the aprons has been challenging, but also a welcome relief from the other things I "HAVE TO" do.

I did get an unexpected chance to go to Salt Lake City this past week and my top priority was to find fabric for the summer apron swap. I'm SO DELIGHTED with what I found!


The fabrics on the left are seer-sucker and they are for my swap partner. The ones on the right are shirting materials for me.

I actually bought the hand towels and dish clothes at the stop BEFORE the fabric store. I REALLY like these Kitchen Aid dishtowels. I have several already. They are waffle weave on one side and terry cloth on the other. I get them at Target (in stores only). I found these and thought "these are bright and Summer-y, I'll see if they will match the fabric I find."

I think the fabrics will look so cute with The Paisley Pincusion's Scalloped Apron pattern. It's a reversible pattern I found recently at Valley Fabric Shop (Lyman, Wyoming). Actually, I'm going to get off the computer and layout the fabrics to cut the patterns. I think I'll be able to lay them out and cut both aprons (all four pieces of fabric, eight layers) at one time.

I'm A Winner - Thank you Kind Ladies!

I have been VERY remiss is offering up thanks to several EXTREMELY generous ladies!

Way back in February, I told you that I was a winner of several give-aways. Well, then I went on a trip, and when I returned, I had a pile of boxes full of prizes. I snapped pictures of the contents, fully intending to post and thank the ladies, and I’m just now FINALLY getting around to it!

I’ve been participating in Lucy's Sassy Apron Swap this year. There are four swaps planned, one per season. You may join any or all of them. For the Spring Swap, I made these matching Mom and Daughter Aprons and sent them to Murray of Studio Domestique.

When I returned from my trip (in March) I had received my Spring Apron from a very kind lady, whose contact info I can't put my finger on. Also, I received both of the prizes from the One World – One Heart Giveaway. They were from Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist and from Teresa of Moonvalley Quilter.

I continue to enjoy the gifts, especially the bright and cheerful items from A Fanciful Twist. They bring a touch of cheer to a gloomy little galley kitchen.

Yesterday, I received my Summer Apron from Valerie of Yarni Gras! I just peeked at her site and I think I'm going to enjoy reading it. It looks like she has a lot of fun with life! She's also the only other person I know who has her own business cards with just her name, phone number, and email/blog address. Too fun!

Here is a picture of the apron I received on Monday:

Look at all the fun stuff she included! Cupcake wrappers (to match the theme), a hot-pad made of scraps, plant stakes, measuring spoons, several recipes on handmade cards (also to match the theme), and hand towels… all tied up with some ric rac. VERY fun to go through… and my boys have already claimed their SWAG from the bag! I really like the fact that the front is actually a SUPER-HUGE pocket!

I have the pattern for my Sassy Apron Swap recipient, and I’ve been trying to decide just what specific theme to do for her… she’s in another country, and so several of our Summer holidays I associate with are American, so, I’m thinking of some other themes (watermelon, picnic, ants, “cute” bugs, etc.)