Sassy Swap

Yesterday was a crazy day. Caroline had a recital (I'll post later), then we had a punchneedle class at my house. During that time I got a box in the mail, it said Sassy Mail on it so I assumed it was my apron but I couldn't open it then so I put it aside. The day just kept going and I kept not opening it. I saw it again right before bed and had to open it. I gasped out loud (aren't all gasps out loud?) and hugged it to me. It was so like a '50s movie. I couldn't believe this

and here is another view (the first color is the closest match, I just couldn't take a picture that would show the whole embroidery or do it justice)

and here is the full apron

and lucky me, it is reversible.

I love, love, love the apron by Yetta. She put so much thought into it, it is totally personalized, my embroidered children have initial on their clothes. I'm still giddy about it. Thank you so much Yetta for sharing your talents with me. Caroline and Eli thought it was quite wonderful, too.

And, tomorrow I will be sending this one to the land down under. I wasn't able to see who my gal was, she doesn't have a blog, but the theme is summer and I love this old print and these colors make me think summertime. Strawberry reds, greens and pinks. I added yo-yo's to it for some fun. I hope she likes it.

My apron has arrived

I got my apron last week and only now have found my camera to document it. I love it. Tracey from Itching 2 B Stitching made it for me. It is so cute, lots of flirtiness in it like a tutu, great pockets, love the ric-rac. It came with a great chicken soup recipe. Thanks Tracey - it is wonderful.

Sassy Apron Swap

I maybe have blogged about this before but here we go again, with a little more detail.

Somehow, through craft blog surfing, I found a post about a certain apron swap and for some reason joined in the fun. Why? I don't know, I don't have the time, my sewing machine stays inactive a good portion of the time and I have other crafty obligations that I am currently procrastinating. In any case, I went to the blog that was hosting and signed up.

A couple of days later I got my gal that I would be making an apron for and went to check out her blog to get a sense of who she is and what kind of apron I should make. I was reading one of her posts and she mentioned a pattern or recipe (I can't remember) that was her Grandma B_____. That last name is my Grandma's maiden name, ok, small world, not a common name but she is in the Western US, distant relative probably. I read further about how she and her family went home to Missouri. Hmm, my Grandma's brother lives in Missouri, still a small world. Then through further investigation (blog nosiness) I clicked from here to there and found that this gal who I am making the apron for is the grand-daughter of my Grandma's brother! Out of over 150 swap participants, the organizer not knowing me and me not knowing her, I am linked with a second cousin? And this will maybe give it away if by chance the recipient finds my blog before the package gets to her, the organizer is my Mom's cousin! My Grandma's niece.

What is even more coincidental is my Grandma had been talking a lot about this brother because he had just had a heart attack and was not doing well. Through this weird connection of the apron swap, I contacted Lucy, the organizer, about the relationship and she thoughtfully kept me updated on her father so I could keep my Grandma updated. Unfortunately, her father passed away a couple of weeks ago (about 4 days after this connection was made).

It was great to find this family connection through random circumstances and made this swap a lot more fun. The theme is Spring, so I thought a bright and colorful apron would be great to pull anyone out of the End of Winter Doldrums. And include a soup recipe. And it needs to have a pocket. Here is mine. The bird's name is Skippy-loo.

I just finished an apron for Caroline and need to make 2 more for little girl birthdays that are coming up.

I am also including in the pockets pictures that I borrowed from Grandma and scanned and printed. My grandma is the only girl, with four brothers (one was in the house reading). They called her Mimi. The gal's grandpa is the one right behind Grandma. The little boy in the front is the youngest and they called him Whitey. Their dad (Glynn) would make up stories about the Adventures of Mimi and Whitey. Their mom, Lucile, is who the organizer of the swap is named after.


My Great-Grandpa was a farmer/rancher. They kids would spend time out on the ranch and in the city. My grandma is the little girl on the left, the gal's grandpa is sitting next to her with the hat pulled over his eyes.

And these are the Great Grandparents on their wedding day. Glynn and Lucile. I grew up hearing story after story from Grandma about the adventures that she and her brothers created. So many stories. She has always told us family history, connected the dots, given us all a sense of who we belong to, where we came from.

I hope this gal likes her apron, it is BRIGHT!!! but it was fun to make and even more fun to prepare the whole package. It was fun for my grandma to go through pictures with me and tell me more stories, some repeats, some new.

Family Apron Strings?

A couple of weeks ago I signed up for this, an apron swap. I don't know how I came upon it, I signed up on just a whim knowing that I have zero time to do this, but here it is. I then got my partner, who must remain a mystery until I send the apron. I decided to have a look at the woman's blog that set up the apron swap. As I was reading, I saw this. If you notice on the mug there is a symbol at the bottom that resembles a Y. This is what my second cousin Joe "brands" his pottery with, a symbol for Yahweh. He is my mom's cousin, his dad being my Grandma's older brother. I decide do a little investigating.

In connection to all this, my Grandma has been calling me quite a bit the week before and the week of this occurrence giving me updates on her brother who has suffered another heart attack. My Grandma is one of five, the only girl with three older brothers and one younger brother, all of whom she loves and speaks of fondly.

In the investigation process I find out that Lucy, the swap organizer is my great-uncle Owen's daughter, her brother is Joe the Potter and she of course is my mom's cousin and my grandma's niece. I have since had a couple of great email exchanges with her. I have told my Grandma about these happenings and she is "so tickled" about it all. It has brought a sort of comfort to her.

I think it is quite amazing that I have never met this woman, that I know of, though I have met her father a handful of times, and have now "met" her through this. I hope to get to know her better. I would also like to let her know how sorry I am about her father's passing on Friday. I know how much my Grandma loved her brother and how much this upsets her. Lucy and her family are in my thoughts and prayers.

I couldn't find the picture of my Grandma and her brothers, but have one of her and one of her father and mother (but you can't see her face) out at the ranch.