Worth The Wait? Boxer Shorts

Worth The Wait? Boxer Shorts

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When my son, Joe, came over for Christmas 2014, we bought some Alexander Henry, Hurry Down The Chimney fabric and I promised to make him some boxer shorts.

Everything Stops For Tea

Oh, the factories may be roaring with a boom-a-lacka, zoom-a-lacka, wee,

But there isn't any roar when the clock strikes four, everything stops for tea

Jack Buchanan, 1935

Time to share a few more project photos from last year that I've found still on the camera.  This time, it's kitchen accessories - oven gloves, tea cosies and trimmed towels - last Christmas was definitely the year of the tea cosy for my kids and Mum - we all loooove our tea.

Earlier that year I made these aprons for everyone and blogged about them here

Guests, Like Fish, Begin To Smell After Three Days

For Christmas I had the idea to make everyone a matching set of kitchen accessories - this is the set I made for my eldest son's partner, Ana.

It was the first set I made and there's lots of pics of the finished pieces.

Fabrics:

"paseo de los muertos", De Leon Design Group for Alexander Henry and Belle Epoch by Kaffe Fassett.

Oops, seems I forgot to take pics of Joe and Katie's sets, though I do have a couple of phone photos that I sent to my daughter, Flicky, to show her what I was making at the time.

The Alexander Henry fireman fabric always makes me giggle.

Fabrics:
"ready for action" Alexander Henry; 'Keep it Sassy! Olive Sandwiches for Moda; and 'Labrinyth - Charcoal', Ikebana by Dear Stella
Lotta Jansdotter glimma 'Marby'; Amy Butler Alchemy 'Queen Ann's Butterflies'; and Dear Stella 'Confetti Dot - Peony'

On the phone, I found this pic of trimmed towels,

and I was surprised to discover more on the main camera too.

There's an extra towel in the pile - it's one I made for my Mum to add to her accessory set that I've already shared with you - how come I remembered to share these here and forget about the others I'd made?!!!

I did find this pic of Mum I haven't shared before, it's a great one of her wearing her apron - love this, she's so happy.   

To wrap up with that 1935 song by Jack Buchanan, I found the original version on YouTube and here it is - how very, very British!

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This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.

 

Craftivism At Its Best - Helping The Homeless

Whenever I get the chance I join my fellow knitty friends at our Jersey City Crafty Knitters Meetup group and right now we are working with Knitting For Good to assist Jersey City's homeless.

A call was put out by my knitty friend Debora asking people to use their favourite hobby to help someone in need.  Donations of items are to be auctioned off at the local church Bazaar to raise money to help fund the soup kitchen and buy supplies for the homeless folks.  I won't be able to knit an item in time for the auction but I was able to whip up this make-up bag and tissue case on Sunday morning before heading off to our Meetup group in the afternoon.

I decided to use this Folk Art fabric by Timeless Treasures because it's so popular right now with the customers at The City Quilter and I hope that's a good sign that it'll spark a fair bit of interest at the Bazaar auction.

I fussy cut the front and back of the tissue case:

added detail to the zipper ends using the same fabric as the lining;

and quilted/top stitched in Aurifil 40/2 2770 - Very Light Delft

I'm not a 'skull' person myself, far from it, but recently I'm starting to learn more about the Mexican holiday Day Of The Dead and I've just watched the movie Frida about the life of Frida Kahlo and have to admit that I am fascinated by her and would love to see some of her actual work.  

My first introduction was the skeleton fabric that I used to make an apron for my son's partner, Ana, Paseo de los Muertos for the Folklorico Collection for Alexander Henry.  I chose this fabric purely because the skeleton's were dancing flamenco and that reminded me of Ana's fabulous flamenco dresses and Seville's Fair, Feria, and the time I've spent with them in Seville, but now I'm understanding more about it!!!

Are you a fan of skulls, Day Of The Dead and other folklore, what's your favourite legend?

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Guests, Like Fish, Begin To Smell After Three Days ...

... but fortunately on this occasion, Benjamin Franklin was proved wrong.  My son, Joe, has just visited us from London with his girlfriend, Katie; they stayed 11 days without even an odorous whiff and we were sorry to see them go.

During their stay they celebrated their first anniversary so, as they both love cooking, I made them each a reversible apron to say 'congrats'.

 Up first is Katie modelling her apron.  Her chosen fabrics are Lotta Jansdotter glimma 'Marby'; Amy Butler Alchemy 'Queen Ann's Butterflies'; and Dear Stella 'Confetti Dot - Peony'.

 fussy cut front pocket

 pocket detail

 

Next, we're loving Joe's apron with a couple of fabulous 'tongue in cheek' fabrics: "ready for action" Alexander Henry; 'Keep it Sassy! Olive Sandwiches for Moda; and 'Labrinyth - Charcoal', Ikebana by Dear Stella.

 Fireman Sam close up detail ;)

 back fastened tie detail

 front fastened tie detail

 "You had me at Merlot!"

and then I made a third apron ably modelled here by Flicky.  This is also to be a gift and my chosen fabrics are "paseo de los muertos", De Leon Design Group for Alexander Henry and Belle Epoch by Kaffe Fassett.  Unfortunately, I don't know what the lilac straps are as I made them from a fat quarter that didn't have the printed selvedge edge.

 Flamenco dancing skeletons!

This whole 'photo shoot' was thrown together in less than five minutes as Katie had to get off to see a Broadway Musical Theatre Casting Agent - I don't think I've ever snapped so many photos so fast.  I did get the three of them to pose together though before we finished.

You may remember My Mini Adventure cushion and also my Roses For A Drama Queen quilt - well the cushion was a gift for Joe and the quilt was my welcome gift to Katie as, though we do chat on Skype, Facebook and Twitter, this was the first time we've actually met each other!

The pressies were a huge hit and we all had the best time together

and check out us girls jumping on Brooklyn Bridge!

It was all over way too soon, can't wait for them to come back and visit again - please don't leave it too long Joe and Katie, you really didn't start to smell ;D

You might be interested in seeing some other aprons I've made too, just click on an image below to read more about each one :)




Disclaimer: 
This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.