fabrics and ribbons and trims...oh my!

i had an incredibly creative weekend.

i had so much fun creating the happy bag last week, that i thought i would try my hand this weekend to see if i could get creative like that again. 

i was like a kid in a candy shop searching through my personal stash of fabrics and trims, pulling out stacks and stacks of stuff until i narrowed it down to this happy pile to start.

i once i had the fabrics determined, i started by tearing a strip of each.

and then tearing each strip into squares. this is the really fun part!

looking at the piles, i decided to go back into my stash and find some more fabrics that added texture into the mix and found these. that top one is called "monks cloth" and i have no idea why or what it is used for. i bought a yard of it about 8 months ago at hancock fabrics and have been using small bits of it here and there. the other 3 are colored canvas that i bought in san francisco over a year ago. feels good to use stuff!

i tore each of them into squares and was really happy with just my pretty piles of stringy fabrics!

then i began arranging them onto the apron. couldn't decide what to do about the pocket at first, but simply decided to pretend it wasn't there. so the apron does not have a functional pocket.

once i had the squares of fabric in place i glued them to the canvas apron with 450 quick dry and sewed each one in place. just like the happy bag i ended up sewing all the horizontal sides of each piece then the vertical sides.

i decided it needed an extra ruffle at the bottom (and i love any excuse to use my serger).

then ran the top edge of the ruffle through the machine on a loose stitch setting and pulled the top thread to create the gathers for the ruffle sewed the ruffle to the back of the apron with wrong sides together .

then folded it over and ran a second stitch across the back so that the ruffle would lay flat behind the original canvas ruffle.

this was the really fun part...then went through my stash of stuff and came back with yellow 3/16" eyelets and these adorable new vellum butterflies by jenni bowlin. the pearls on the butterflies totally make me happy too.

it is a really good thing i took out those butterflies too because see that second butterfly there? it is hiding the hole i made in the fabric with the cropadile as i was going punch happy on the canvas ruffle. NEVER MISTAKES...just opportunities. the butterflies on the ruffle make the whole apron for me!

then glued down some fancy new beaded fringe and some of my favorite lace trim above the ruffles and LOOOOOVE IT!then i began pulling out trims for the waistband. not in a million years would i have ever thought to put these 3 ribbons/trims together (peach bloomers, light green ribbon, yellow ball trim), but it totally works and because i love the pearls on the vellum butterflies so much i decided to hand sew some pearls on top of the green ribbon. that makes me really happy too!

if bill thought that i was over the top excited about the happy bag, he sure got an earful of squeals as i was working on this. i was so excited to share it with you, i couldn't wait to get this post written and ready for view. (like a little kid wanting to show everyone what she made in school today).

i might be addicted?

Comments

[Erika]

So beautiful! I love all the texture. Do you sell your aprons, wear them to teaching events, give them as gifts, etc.?

I'm inspired to try something like this now. Thanks for the inspiration!

[jane]

Make me one please....

Thanks for sharing I just love it!

[bettyann]

Wow love the apron..no wonder you were squealing..you have inspired me to give it a go with a child's size apron....

[Shemaine Smith]

I love love love this Donna! I have been inspired with all the sewing I see out there now that I posted a message on a local mom's board here in LA asking if anyone had a sewing machine that was just sitting around they'd like to donate to a crafty mom and wouldn't you know someone answered me! Yes I am now the proud owner of my first sewing machine. So...I decided that my first project would be making my own camera strap. I'm thinking stamps and glimmer mist...I'll let you know how it turns out.
P.S. great to see you in Chicago. Thanks for your sweet comments on my apron.

[jessica gabriel]

oh my goodness!!!
I am new to sewing so I am collecting every little scrap I find and am SO excited that now I know what I can do with them!!! Thank you for sharing this project with us!

[debbie McIntyre]

I thought I heard you squealing!
The apron looks great, and now I want to work on mine this week and see if I can add some squares. I have some stamping on it already, so I might just have to paint my squares and add some trim. hmmm...you've got me thinking. Again.

[Toni Kwaiser]

Love it! A happy apron!

[Christine Campbell]

Awwwww.just beautiful!! YOU, my lady, are ADDICTIVE!!!! and your enthusiasm just bleeds through...thank you!!!

[Angela C.]

Love your Happy Apron! Hmm...the monks cloth...I remember using that for cross stitching with embroidery floss in Home Ed class in high school.

[Teresa Wilkins]

OMG, Donna, THAT apron is amazing. I wished that I could sew and I would make me one....hum....want to sell that one! I love it so much. Butterflies and ALL!

[Jennifer]

Love it!

[Larissa Heskett]

DONNA you are so amazing!! I totally LOVE the apron. I really like the color combo!! I think it is so awesome that you took the time to share with us!! Also I was wondering about the Big Picture classes. Are they live or are they recorded?? I mean if they are live and you miss one do you record them just in cause we miss them so we can watch them later?? This is my first class like this and I'm worried about missing some of them. Also, do we need to have any special programs or anythign?? Hope these aren't dumb (?'s) but I was just wondering. Thanks again and LOVE the fabric squares!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

[Irma]

What you do is simply magic...I love it!!!

[Michelle]

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!! Can i have it please?? Im soooo not talented enough that if i even attempted to make one it would definitely not turn out anything like this lol..

[francesca dileo]

she's a beauty Donna!! love it.
btw, for the pocket, you could have sewn everything down, then slit the sides where the pocket opens and then restict... this would have made the pocket useable, and you wouldn't have lost the pattern of your squares.. I think I may give this one a try.

Francesca

p.s. I wore the skirt I made (using raw canvas, and your foam stamps), and got SOOOO many compliments.

[jerusalem]

oh that is adorable!! Love it!

[donna downey]

larissa these are great questions. the workshops are not live. i am currently recording them now and they will be yours to access at any time during the 12 weeks.
this way you can watch them and create on your time schedule. no special programs just a computer.

let me know if i can answer any more questions. it is going to be an amazing 12 weeks.

[Halle G]

This is so beautiful!

[Teresa]

Love you, love the apron, love your excitement! Cannot wait for the kit to get here and the 12 week class to begin.

[Tammy Hall]

OMG I love it!!!! I love the butterfly's and the pearls!!!! It's so girly!!! I love girly!!!! It's the prettiest apron ever!!!!! I must have one, I must try to make one, wait I can't make one, I don't have fabric! Crap!

[Kristina]

Oh my that is just breathtakingly gorgeous! I was seriously holding my breath while reading your post. I wanna run down to my craft room and make something RIGHT NOW!

[Tiffany]

Love Love Love the apron!!! I have so much fabric... I could totally do this! I do miss the pocket, though. I think I would have seam ripped the pocket off, covered it and then reattached.

Way to go!!!

[Maria Levine]

OH MY! This is BEAUTIFUL! LOVE IT!

[Larissa Heskett]

Donna!!
THANKS for the answers. I am SO EXCITED about the classes and I can't wait to get my kits. Thanks again for offering the kits to make all of the amazing projects you have planned. I know you are busy and doing that helps all of us out!! Thanks again, have a GREAT DAY and can't wait to see what you'll come up with next!!!!

[Jen Clark]

Gorgeous, Donna!!! I was thinking this exact idea when I saw your Happy Bag - because I don't have a blank messenger bag, but I do have one of your aprons in my stash!! LOL You totally read my mind - and it's beautiful!!!! LOVE!

[Jen Clark]

Oh, and how did you get your serger to do the two lines on top of the bottom hem of the ruffle??? Which stitch is that? (I have one, but mostly use it either for just regular serging or for rolled hems.)

[valentina]

This post is cute land to my eyes :) Love it!

[kitty]

Monks cloth was used to do swedish weving. the thread that you use is the embrodery floss goes over and under the threads on the monks cloth and almost never comes out on the back side. it is used of baby bibs, table cloths, afghans.I taught a group of girl scouts how to do it many moons ago.
KItty

[Candy]

Adorable.

[ida]

What a moment...I can't believe I might be teaching you something...In reccent times, monks cloth is used very fequently for counted cross stitich. Each square on the pattern grid corresponds to a square on the cloth. The cross stitiches are formed by stitiching the floss through the holes in one in direction to form one part of the X, then stitiched back on the same row forming the other part of the X. You can find monks cloth on vintage samplers as well as on more modern motifs.
The apron is a beauty! You make it look so easy Donna. Looks like having the kids in school has given you some wings!!

[Kim]

It's beautiful!! Love all the texture!!! You rock Donna !!

[Karen W]

Love the apron (and others I have seen)! Can hardly wait for Big Picture class to start!

[Michelle M]

AGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! Love it! Not that I don't like ALL of your aprons... but WOWZA! This one makes me want to rip, glue, and sew. Question though, do you ever have any problems with your stuff coming un glued? I guess I am asking how durable are the glued on items?

[donna downey]

hi michelle! great question...actually the helmar glue is even washable so you would really have to rip in order to get the fabric off!

[Linda]

I would be squeeling with joy too! I LOVE IT! I'm going to have to copy this idea;D When I do, I'll email you my version:D

[tracey@ Bella Skys]

that is breathtaking, you are so frikkin talented! I was telling a friend about you the other day...as if I know you...in person which i almost kinda do, I saw you at the CKC in charlotte nc one year at the end of the day, you were with your hubby & kids so i didnt want to be all star struck stalker crazy scrapbooking lady up on you & your family.....ok, how did i go off on that tangent....the apron, perfection, just makes me want to smile! thanks for sharing your amazing work!

[Jenny L]

Hi Donna. I would be excited about this too. Girl, you are an amazing artist!!! I am blown away with this beautiful apron. All the detail is just amazing. I love the trim at the bottom and how you added the eyelets. The butterflies were the perfect touch. Thank you so much for being such an inspiration to me. Also, thank you for sharing your beautiful creations. Take care, Jenny L :)

[Silvia]

Amazing! Is really cool!
Donna you are a big artist!

[Tracey Ireland]

Just beautiful! Did you sew the squares of fabric over the pocket on your apron?
Love the frayed edges of the fabric and the ruffle at the bottom!
You've made my day!

[Apple]

So cute!!!

[Kelly Massman]

This is beautiful!

[peggy forma]

donna
i thought i heard your enthusiasm all the way here in new jersey. or was that my brain screaming when i saw this gorgeous apron! you just never cease to amaze. it is not just beautiful - it is more than that. cannot wait to try it. i love collage and this brings it to a whole new dimension. i remember you talking about monk cloth a long time ago. maybe your brain is just too full to remember. thank you for always sharing and inspiring.
hugs and more
peggy

[Rita]

Love it! Love it! Love it! (Feet kicking in the air.)

[Angela W]

I adore it! Awesome, wonderful, and beautiful!

[Debbie Olson]

This is SO beautiful--definitely a happy bag! Thanks for sharing it!

[chantal johnson]

It is wonderful! FYi, monk's cloth is for an embroidery techniques such as swedish embroidery, cross stitch or even drawn thread. It is used to make afghans, soft towels, anything drapey...I am ready to try a happy apron, happy bag or anything that is Happy!! Thank you -

Blessings,
Chantal

[Greta]

I might just be able to do something like this. I have an apron ready and waiting for me to find my sewing gene. I do so love your work Donna. Please Please Please come back to Australia next year, I was so disappointed that I couldn't come to your classes this year because of work :-(