Just look at all these fun aprons! I've been busy busy busy during my free time. I can't keep my hands off this sewing machine! Now, I just need some other ideas of things to make. Until then...

...there will continue to be aprons and more aprons! Ha!

Cute Mother/Daughter sets

Fall owl aprons - This Chi O loves some owls!

Fun and bright owl aprons!

Cute and colorful aprons!

Aprons with colored towels and white towels!

And aprons-in-progress!

I have already had several orders for these adorable and fun towel aprons, and I'm loving making them! I've also been working on some full aprons shown in my last sewing post in different prints. So cute!

One thing I know...

I have a problem. And the first step to recovery is to admit that you have a problem, right? I admit. I have an addiction to cute fabric. I am not kidding when I tell you that I get a new package of fabric each week! I just cannot resist!

Sew me! Oh my! I'm having a blast with my new hobby!

Oh Sew Happy!

Yes, I'm happy! Not just regular happy, but Oh SEW Happy to be using my new sewing machine! I had big plans to take weekly lessons on the basics of sewing. But, instead...I just jumped right in there! It helps when you are living with your in-laws...the mother-in-law who has sewn all her life, the sister-in-law who taught herself to sew and now appliques, makes outfits, and anything else cute, and a father-in-law who embroiders! Yep. I'm immersed in a sewing culture here at the Johnson household. Ha! Just for the record, I DID ask my mom to take a sewing class to which I got this response: "No." That was it. Never spoken of again.

My first task on the sewing machine after that tiny witch looking stocking I made on the first day...was a cute apron!

Jenny taught me how to ruffle, and I examined her straps enough to figure it out....and voila! Cute aprons! I've also become addicted to cute fabric during this little hobby of mine. Oops! That costs money. Good thing I've already had some people buy some already. I just keep making them and making them. Because I'm pretty good at this project. And why stop a good thing, right?

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I decided it was time to step out from behind the aprons. So, I signed up for a dress class. Where they teach you how to make a little girl's dress. Now, we all know I don't have a little girl to dress. So, I did the next best thing. Made one for my niece. Just because she lives the closest and her mom helped pick out the fabric. I was so happy to have Mary Elizabeth in the class for both moral support and complete hysteria! We had SO much fun!

We made some pretty cute dresses too! Grace wore hers to church that next Sunday.

Next on my list...following a pattern by myself. I picked up a pattern at my new hot spot, The Treasure Chest, and began the process. I only had to ask my mother-in-law and father-in-law a few questions about "pattern lingo" and I was off to sewing on my own! Reminds me of that jingle, "I'm a big kid now!" Ha! I sewed my sister a cute little contemporary apron.

That's not where the madness happiness ends! This past weekend I did the unthinkable. I became a grandma! I joined a quilting class! Yep. That's right. I am now officially constructing a quilt. It just so happens that I wasn't alone! The mom of one of my best friends from high school was in the class with me. All I can say was that she was the last person I expected to be in there!

We had the best time! There were four other women in the room, and we had a ball! Laughing at ourselves and each other, getting to know each other, and mix/match/stitching all the while.

The hardest part was picking fabrics to piece together. We had 20 different fabrics and 80 different pieces to put together. By the time we left, we at least had a few blocks completed. Pam's quilt was just beautiful! I loved her fabric.

Then, I went home to work on the finished product. I can't wait to see it with the border and quilted!

Do you understand now? Why I'm SEW happy! I'm using that machine up! I probably sew everyday at least a little. I have piles of fabric on the table and more on the way. I'm a little obsessed. But, I'm thinking it's a good obsession. Like one of our older church members told me in the fabric store a while back, "If you learn to sew, you will never be lonely." I guess that's why I'm SEW happy. I will never be lonely!

My New Friend

Yes. I have done something that may completely surprise some of you! I should probably start from the beginning....

Jenny has always been extremely cutesie and crafty. She always has a project or new outfit for Grace that she has created. Well, last week she brought over something that I just died for. It motivated me. Jan, Jenny, Russ, and I went to Meek's to look at sewing machines and to see about sewing classes. And this is what happened...

That's correct! Russ purchased a brand spanking new sewing machine just because he loves me! And I love him! This sewing machine not only sews, but also monograms (or embroiders)! Woo hoo! I'm so excited! Russ's dad was even more excited I think! Ha! He loves embroidering! I immediately brought it back to the Johnsons' house where Jenny had already brought over and set up her own sewing machine. I sewed and monogrammed all weekend!

Jenny was making stockings for her upcoming Christmas Open House she will be hosting in October...and I began monogramming them.

Grace also sewed some. With very little guidance...the girl can sew! She would tell me exactly what I was doing wrong when I got off track.

After a few stitches on scrap fabric and LOTS of monogramming, I cut, pinned, and sewed my own little stocking. Or as Russ's dad calls it, the Wicked Witch of the West's stocking.

Grace made me one too!

Yes, the girls had a blast this weekend sewing, chatting, and monogramming! Prentiss even brought her sewing machine over Sunday to play. The boys, however, were not the least bit interested!

Thanks babe for my new friend! I can't wait to learn more!