Making gifts and an overnight trip

 I don't really have any photos of the overnight trip. I went with  my SIL to drop my nephews off at their summer camp for the week. As you can see, they didn't wait for us! They were anxious to get checked in. This is the oldest nephew's third year to attend and the younger nephew's first year. You can see how hot and dry it is. The grass is all crunchy! We stayed with my SIL's Aunt Jan that night. She is so much fun. We then shopped a little in Austin before heading home. We spent a little time at "The Domain" shopping center. We spent our time mostly in the M.A.C. store and a Sur La Table. We passed through the Macy's. We arrived home late Friday evening. My niece had a Regional swim meet the next morning. She placed 1st in her division in breast stroke, 2nd in butterfly and her freestyle relay team placed 1st. There will be a trip to the state meet in Corpus Christi in a few weeks!

 The week before the little trip, I was busy getting a wedding gift ready. I wasn't able to attend the celebration, so I sent the gift with my oldest son. The gift consisted of an apron from her Uncle's jeans, an embroidered tea towel, a cookbook of family recipes and a chicken feed bag tote bag (I forgot to include it in the photo). I have a stack of washed bags and plan to make more.

 Here is the apron on its own.

 A close-up of the embroidery. The pattern is from the Hobby Lobby website.

 I decided to include quotations about "family" in the cookbook of family recipes. I was thrilled to find polka dot looseleaf binders and polka dot border paper at Wal-Mart.

 The bride is a fan of "The Office" so I included some Dwight Schrute quotations!

 I used black and white polka dot for wrapping since the invitation was black with white print.

I've got a long to-do list. Hopefully, I'll get something done and have more to share soon! The Double Toe Jam is also coming up! I will be going to Waco to attend with several others from my clogging group!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Two Aprons-New and Vintage

    I finally finished this apron during the summer. I think I started it LAST summer!

 I think it is such a feminine and flirty pattern.

 This sweet vintage apron was a gift from my sweet SIL. She gave it to me after the first week of school.

 I love the color and print of the fabric.

   I'm starting to catch up a bit at school. Things have been extra busy at home. My bottle tree fell. We made a concrete base for it to replace the wooden stand.
   Our garage/egg/drink fridge went out. That meant fridge shopping and swapping. We moved the kitchen fridge that is 13 years old into the garage and put a new fridge in the kitchen.
   My son is also attending his first homecoming dance. This has meant shopping for some dress clothes. I am also making my first Homecoming Mum. According to information on the internet, this is a tradition that is observed in the states of Texas and Oklahoma. Hopefully, I will manage to take photos and share!

1st week of school and an apron!

Boy, I am so behind on blogging! The beginning of the school year is to blame. I found out the evening before teacher-inservice began, that I would be moving to a different classroom. The custodians had already moved the furniture. Thankfully, my teaching partner helped me clean out the walk-in closet and cabinets and move two bookshelves. We worked from 5:30 until 10:30 p.m. that evening. It has been a stressful first week of school. I awoke this morning aching all over with a scratchy throat and headache. I dosed myself up on an antihistamine, decongestant and ibuprofen and attacked the laundry and housecleaning.

I had some thrilling news amidst the chaos! I was the winner of the Senorita Apron Giveaway at Glimpse of My World. Thank you Valarie!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Jackpot!

Well not exactly the jackpot, but a good haul! I went to the local Quilt Guild quilt show on Saturday. I arrived much later than I had hoped because Mom duty called. The quilts were beautiful. I'm sorry I didn't take any photos. My friend, Martha works for a local sewing shop, and was working in their vendor booth. They had several quilting and embroidery machines to try. I was able to embroidery my initial onto scrapbook paper for the cute keychain. Now I want one of those machines, but it will have to wait awhile. I found the bracelet and Volume 3 of Apronology at another booth. I have been looking for Apronology for over a year! I was thrilled! I love the apron made from neckties! Y'all Come Back, Lorilee

Ice, crafting, and shopping!

The cold winter weather made it all the way to South Texas. We didn't get any snow, but we had ice. It had us shut down most of Friday! I looked at it as a reason to stay indoors and work on a new project.

Samson took advantage of the soft bed in my craft room, and kept me company.

I am making banners for Easter. I hope to include them as part of the prizes for Bunco when I host in March. I am hand-cutting all of the letters since I don't own a "Cricut" or one of the other nifty computerized cutting appliances!
On Saturday, I received an email on my phone from my baby brother. He and my SIL were at an awesome Estate sale. He sent me two photos showing all the glassware that was for sale. Of course, I had to drop what I was doing and rush over! I didn't buy any of the dishes. I liked some, but I didn't like the prices! I may go back when they have marked everything down, and see what is left.

I thought this overnight case was worth $4. I can think of plenty of uses--craft storage, craft tote, camera case, or even toiletry case!

The inside is even in good shape. It also has the plastic tray and two soap containers still in it.

I also found a flower frog ($4), nail clippers ($1 each) and a 100 foot Lufkin aluminum tape measure for ($12). I didn't find any dishes, but I left a happy shopper!

Our DVR has been freezing up. We have a new one on its way, but we weren't able to watch the Super Bowl. Instead, we watched "Julie and Julia" on Net Flix.

Y'all Come Back,

Lorilee

After several days of intensive sewing, I finished the aprons just in time for the wedding. We traveled 6 hours to Allen, a suburb of Dallas, for the wedding.

Shadow, a.k.a. Beasty, kept me company much of the time!

I made matching his and hers Texas A & M aprons. This is the "hers" with the lace on the pocket! "His" was plain! Both the bride and groom are Texas A & M students.

This is the "fancy" apron! It was such fun to make!

I love poofy bows!

The wedding was beautiful. It was great to spend time visiting with family. It also wasn't too bad staying in a hotel with fresh towels provided and beds made--all not my ME!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Purse paraphernalia!

I just adore this compact! I found it in one of my Granny's purses. Her name was Elenora. "Yardley" is engraved on the back.

Here is the lipstick.

Of course, there is the powder!

Behind the mirror is the rouge!

I can't imagine that color on me!

This compact belonged to my husband's grandmother. Her name was Marjorie. The powder puff inside has the word "Volupte" on it.

This was another of her compacts. It is "Max Factor".

She also owned this lighter.

Here are the last two of my collection. The rectangular shaped compact is "Merle Norman" Lash Creme. The round compact is "Plough's" Black and White Beauty Creations.

Pretty Things.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Gator Gourmet! Say what?

The elementary school where I teach Pre-K is having a Winter Festival to raise money! Each grade level is asked to create a themed "basket" for the silent auction. We invite parents to donate to help purchase the items. I made the apron with a matching towel to include in our "Gator Gourmet Bowl". Our mascot is the Alligator.

My teaching assistant and I searched the internet for "gator" kitchen items! We found the cookie cutter (http://www.thecookiecutter.shop.com/ ) and oven mitt (http://www.cajunfoodandgifts.com/)

Sugar Cookie Mix, green sprinkles, and a silicone baking mat complete the collection. Shall we start the bidding?

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

New Apron

My sweet sister-in-law, Marie, gave this darling apron to me! She shares my appreciation for aprons!

I love it. Thank you, Marie!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Christmas Apron

I made this apron along with 2 more like it last year. Two were given away as Cookie Exchange Party prizes. It was a cut and sew panel.

I love vintage jewelry too! I also received an apron as a gift. I will post it soon. I just figured I better hurry with the Christmas stuff!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

A Frenzy of Projects!

I mailed out the invitations to the cookie party that my sister-in-law and I have each year--well this is the 5th year! So I guess I better get busy on the prizes and favors, not to mention the menu and MY cookies to exchange!

Oh yes, and I need 32 mini stockings for my Pre-K students. I better get busy cutting out and sewing those!

Don't look so forlorn, Honey. I will have time for a belly rub soon! You are getting to lounge on the one and only quilt that I have made!

I have made aprons as prizes for the "Most Spirited Outfit" and the "Best Presentation of Cookies" each year. I decided to try one of these patterns this year. Can you tell that my least favorite part of sewing is searching for the pieces for the apron that I am cutting out? I prefer to dig through them ONE time.

Back to those stockings. They are sewn. The "cuff" is just a strip of felt hot-glued around the top. Time for a break to admire the pedicure I gave myself the other evening.

Meg at Whatever posted a wonderful gift idea. She made crayons with silicone letter molds that are meant for baking. I was wandering through Target and found a Christmas silicone mold. I tried these this evening. I think they are precious! My sweety was even impressed when I showed them to him! Thanks Meg!

I am also finished with my students' stockings. They will hold a crayon (if I can get enough made!) and a wooden spinning top that flips over as it spins. The stocking is a great size for a Christmas tree ornament. I have been making these for 23 years. I started out making them for my oldest son's cub scout group. I made them the colors of each years uniform kerchief.

I have started the prize aprons. In the past, I made Christmas aprons. I decided to make "anytime" aprons this year! Well, I fell in love with this fabric and decided to make "anytime" aprons!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee