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Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that for the longest time I detested thrift stores. Just thinking of them brought the mothball/sanitizer/old lady smell to my nose and images of peg boards filled with headless Barbies danced in my mind. I hated some of the ugly (to me) clothes that my mom picked out and forced me to wear and there was never any of the cool stuff that all the other kids had.

I’ve decided recently though that I like thirft stores now that I’m in charge of what I buy. Did you know that Goodwill carries Fabric, notions and other crafty bits? Totally! That’s how Mom got me in there in the first place.

These were panels that I also found. Declan loves the little map blankie I made him.

Other nifty stuff:

(As always, click for bigger pictures.)

I used a pattern from Hip Handbags and love the way it turned out. I’ll definitely be using the pattern over again, as both my mom and myself really liked the size and shape.

Only problem is that it’s more of a medium purse than a market tote.

I went ahead and put a regular double welt pocket in it anyway, using matching piping from the outside. The lining is the Sage Kleo from Alexander Henry’s Fashionista line that I am totally in love with.

I totally love the way it came out, but I realized I could really use one of those itty bitty mini irons. I just could not get the wrinkles out of the bottom corners. It got pretty mangled trying to sew the bottom on. Apparently my machine does not like tight corners when using buckram and heavy interfacing. Who knew?

I hope you enjoy Elizabeth. I’ll get it in the mail as soon as I have someone to watch the kids!

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On another note, here’s the ironing board cover I did recently. Cute, no?

I really need to work on taking pictures indoors. Summer sun is just too harsh to take stills outside.

Evar!

Isn’t he the cutest sewing buddy to have? He pre-chews everything for me. Yum!

"Phew!" with a dramatic swipe across his forehead.

I’ve actually been pretty busy of late. Remember those 17 loads of laundry stuffed on the couch that I mentioned? ALL folded, hung, sorted, organized and put away!! After 3 weeks it was hard to come up with excuses for why it was still there. But I’ve also completed 2 more aprons - one for Grandma Betty’s birthday, along with matching placemats and one for Nicky’s birthday. I finally got a new ironing board cover made. It’s super simple but took a day because of the nooblets… I mean the kidlets. (Does anyone remember Sixlets? Those were awesome!) I started a third apron for Ann today. Next up is my bag for the Market Tote Swap. I have the idea all worked out in my head, I just hope I can transfer it to reality easily.

So after all that’s done I’m going to start working on some smocking and shirring and posting items to my Etsy shop. I promise. No more swaps or birthdays and whatnot. I’ve found some gorgeous designer prints mixed in with the cheapy cottons at JoAnns and have totally scored bolts of them with 50% off coupons. I’m afraid to cut some of them up.

I’ve also been comtemplating getting a cottage license to sell the aprons that I’ve been making. The thing is it’s $100 for a year but I’m not sure if I could cover the cost with any profit I make, ya know? The license gives me the right to make and sell anything by Sew Liberated, formally Montessori by Hand, where as now I can only make and give such as all that I’ve made so far. It takes me about a week of fiddling to make an apron because of… interuptions. The hardest part is choosing the fabrics - I always worry that someone will get their apron and go "WTH was she thinking? This isn’t me at all!" I’m debating on just going it alone, or using someone else’s patterns. Any thoughts?

Here’s Grandma’s Apron. The reverse is a very pretty white Poppy print.