cut, sew, freak out...repeat

remember the sweet monogram appliqued aprons I made for my daughter's birthday party last month?  i'm getting pretty good at them from the 9 i made for the party and the 4 requests for a custom aprons from the show i participated in. 

i have received so many nice compliments on them that i decided to throw them on my etsy shop to share the love.  


fast forward 2 weeks later to when i actually got around to listing them.


the *very next day* i got a request.  great! 

from a mom in texas.  great!  


who was planning an art party.  great!  


for her daughter's 7th birthday. great!
  
she'd like me to make aprons for party favors.  great!


she needs 23 of them.  gulp!
  
for a party in a week and a half.  double gulp!


my inner monologue:  "i have to do this.  i can do this.  i CAN do this.  can i do this?"


complicating factor #1:  i have a full time job outside of the home


complicating factor #2:  my husband just left this morning for a business trip and won't be home until Sunday (no help with the kids!)


complicating factor #3: i cannot say no.


so i said yes, absolutely, no problem...then i freaked out a bit. that was yesterday.  


tonight after work, i got to work.  my awesome mom pressed 20 yards of fabric today that i pre-washed last night so it'd be ready for me.  i cut and cut and cut and cut and cut.  


i'll update you on my progress. 


if anyone has tips for fulfilling a large order, working under pressure or a deadline, consuming more than 1 grande americano from starbucks (in my near future), etc., please leave me advice!!

i dig on these...

what am i diggin' on right now?  

check 'em out.  

these are great!

Cassie over at Something from Cassie made this Roy G. Biv cake for her daughter's birthday.  

A very practical and pretty idea for upcycled candy jars from Amy at Increasingly Domestic!

love this fabric and paint transformation at Seven Sisters

perfectly adorable (and practical) shelves for little ones.  see how from Tricia at The Sweet Survival

my daughter would dig on this angry birds inspired hair bow!  see the tutorial at Hello My Name is Momma




another great chair transformation!  see the before at Three Boys.

laptops shouldn't go sleeveless :)



so I whipped up a few sleeves so the laptops won't be self-conscious about their upper arms.  ha!

the sleeves with the flap open

i used elizabeth hartman's pattern that she shared on sew mama sew.  It was very easy to follow.

i *highly* recommend picking up a walking foot for your machine, if you don't already have one.  (i wish i'd learned sooner about this little work horse!)



photo from kenmore.com

 it makes easy work out of sewing (straight!) through lots of layers because it adds another set of feed dogs on top so the layers don't bunch up or shift (as much).  i ordered mine online for less than $20. 

a perfect fit!

the exteriors (dots) are michael miller quarter dot in clementine and kiwi.  interior is michael miller flower shower black flannel.

tip:  if you're running short on yardage, look for ways to improvise.  i didn't have enough of the flower flannel for two sleeves, so if you take a look inside, you'll notice the bottom half of the interior is white flannel!  no one noticed!

i skipped the velcro closure and just left it without, b/c i didn't care for it.

the first one i made (flowers below) was rather wonky and i think the magnetic closures made the problem even more obvious so i left the polka dotted ones free from closures at all.

eek.  the magnetic closure required a firm interfacing which caused a ridge in the flap that i don't like. 

the flower one is a fun print i found at hobby lobby. interior is white flannel.

these sleeves will keep your laptop modest and free from fashion faux pas.