For My Mama

As I have stated before, everything that I create, craft or re-purpose I prefer to give them life with meaning. The details, time and love that goes into what I do means a great deal to me, and hopefully to the people the gifts are given to. That is how I show love. That is my love language when it comes to giving love. To meet people's need right smack dab in the middle of their heart. That is success!
So this attempt to love on someone came around Mother's Day. So I had a challenge in front of me because my mom can out craft, out paint and take on Martha Stewart and win by a land slide with one hand tied behind her back. She is good! I learned sooo much from her!  On top of all that, my mom is one of the most loving, beautiful, caring person you could ever meet. She makes Paula Deen look grouchy. :o) If you could not tell, I love my mom!
None of the ideas that I could come up with were even remotely close to how much I wanted to express my love to my mom.
Then I was walking around the wonderful land of Hobby Lobby and inspiration filled me.
Mom is always in the kitchen coming up with yummy and health recipes. Check out her blog for recipes at nannaskitchen@blogspot.com. She has had different aprons through the years but it was time for a new, sassy apron!
The fabric at HL is so stinkin' cute and I found three different patterns that just looked like my mom. I used one of my current aprons as a template and added my own touches to given her new apron significance and love.

My mom's office at home is a bright pink, gray and black so I couldn't really go wrong with these colors. Plus how cute is polka dot, hounds tooth and damask together. So pretty! 

 I pre-made pockets and apron ties so that they could be sewn between the reversible pieces for clean look. 

 Now how could I pass up a little bit of tasteful bling. :o)

 Here is the finished look on the front, complete with a sufficient amount of pockets and frill!

 I added embroidery to the pockets but forgot to take a picture before I sent it. :o/ Next to the flower on the top pocket I embroidered Nanna Jo (which is what my little girl calls my mom) and the name of her grandkids on the pockets. (My sister's idea!)

 Here is the reversed side. My mom's style can go along with how fun or stylish she feels when she cooks!

This apron was my second attempt at an apron. I made one for my daughter a while ago and it does not look this nice. :o) My advice when you attempt a sewing project like this is take your time and add as much love as you can. I'm sure the person you are making the apron for is worth all the love and effort you put in...I know my mom is! :o)
Hope love fills your day,
Sarah
P.S. Mom loved her new apron!

Too much color can be...awesome!

"Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing?"
Pablo Picasso

I have been off blogging for a little while due to... well... life. But I had a little fun and I documented that fun to share with you all! All my crafting was to try to create some new life for our house that seemed to become dreary over the course of the winter. Is my house the only one that does that?
I am so inspired by the beautiful blossoms of the crab apple trees outside my window, the bright yellow and pink of the tulips popping out of the ground and the gorgeous shade of spring green (which is my favorite) of the trees that line our street. My home needs color! The kind of color God created. Color that makes you sigh, relax and appreciate life in all its shades!
My first victim... my daughter's room! I went color overboard in her room! I converted her toddler room to what we now loving call the Big Girl Room. Out went the convertible crib and in came two matching antique twin beds soon to be painted a bright color of which I cannot decide. Her matching bedspreads are three shades of pink laced with green, orange and yellow in square patchwork designs. Of course these coordinated with the two shades of pink on her walls in horizontal stripes and checker board squares! The bed skirts are polka dot green and white and the compliment the polka dot pillows in brown and white. My favorite pillows are the green and white polka dots and yellow lemons! The fabric is adorable. Did I mention the pillow cases and bed sheets are aqua blue? Her room is very happy!

I honor of ALL the color in my sweet baby's (who often tells me "I'm not a baby!") room, she needed some artwork to tie it all together. I was inspired by many different types of children's artwork that I researched along with the blossoms on our crab apple tree. (And the blossoms are the only thing good about that tree!)

I found a huge, old (of course) cork bulletin board for $4 at Goodwill and I painted the frame white to contrast the pink of the walls. 

 I used different colors and patterns of scrapbook paper to make the blue sky background, the brown branches of the tree, the green, leaves and the orange, white and pink blossoms. The birds were made of yellow and bright blue paper so that they would stand out and be a focal point of the artwork. 

I want everything I do to have significant meaning to the person I do it for and for my daughter, I chose a verse from Ephesians that was her daddy and my prayer over her life.

 

 The white and pink dots are just acrylic paint but I'm not convince I love it. It may change to something like scrapbook jewels or pearls.

    The finished product!
Next blog: Pictures of the Big Girl Room!

One thing God has taught me through the process of loving color is that color doesn't have much meaning if you don't know the Source of its brilliance.
Have a color-filled day!
Sarah