Kids' Halloween Dish Towel Aprons

These are so easy to make, you just might want to make one for every holiday!  To make one, you will need:

1 new Halloween dish towel (I would avoid the terrycloth kind)

2 yards of coordinating ribbon

coordinating thread (plus needle or sewing machine)

*if you want to add embellishments, try rick rack, felt to cut into ghost, bat, spider shapes.

1.  Lay out your dish towel and establish the "top" of the apron.

2.  Make a template of a right triangle (I used cardstock) that is approx. 3"x9".

3.  Place the triangle upside down (3" at the top, 9" at the side) lined up with one of the top corners of the apron.

4. If you trust yourself, cut the towel along the diagonal line of the triangle while holding the template in place.  If not, trace the line lightly and then cut.

5.  Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the opposite top side of the apron.

6.  Fold the cut edges over 1/4" and press with an iron.  With your sewing machine (or a needle and thread), sew along the folded edges.  I used a zig zag stitch to prevent fray, but you could use a simple straight stitch.

7.  Cut your ribbon into 4 18" pieces. 

8.  Sew one ribbon to each of the top corners of the apron.  Sew the other two to the middle sides (the other end of your newly sewn seam).

9.  To prevent fray on the exposed ends of the ribbon, take a match or lighter and GENTLY hold the ribbon above the flame until it melts it and seals it.

10.  Embellish as desired!

I'm linked up at:



Attention Fabric Lovers...

Oh, danger.   DANGER!!!  Oh, the danger of reading other creative people's blogs.  Lindsey over at The Pleated Poppy has just introduced her readers to Hawthorne Threads - an online fabric (and more!) shop that has taken my breath away with its darling factor.  Oh!  I am so in love.

I won't bother to re-invent the wheel but instead will send you over to Lindsey herself to sell you on why the shop is so great.  It's worth a look.

One thing she doesn't mention, however, is their incredible selection of patterns.  Amy Butler, why oh why must you tempt me with your darling patterns?  Now I have to learn to sew FOR REAL!

Book Review: The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

This was a great book.  I love all books set in the Depression era.  It makes me want to do my dishes by hand.  This particular book also made me want to take up quilting again...it's been a while.  It was entertaining and kept me guessing until the very end.  If you're looking for that boost of charity that makes you want to serve others, pick it up.  You'll feel sisterly in no time.

Evolution of a Craft Room: Part One

I'm cheating on my kitchen.  Seriously, I was in there yesterday to make dinner and had to say to it, "Hello, old friend!  I've missed you!"  The other lover?  My new craft room.  Or office.  Or croffice, as we have been calling it. 

We have been madly involved with making our former guest room into a real, live, place for the lady.  Our former "croffice" is now the new guest room, and both spaces are so much happier now.  I debated about whether or not to wait on posting and make it a "big reveal," but in reality I'm too excited about the little changes happening to be patient.

Weekend One:  I wish I had done a better job of taking "before" pictures, but here is the one I do have of the room, just before we Peter painted:

Just imagine a treadmill stuffed in there, a table with a t.v. and LOTS of crafting supplies piled on the bed.  That's how you would catch this room on any day of the week.  We sold the treadmill & t.v. on craigslist, tried five different "tiffany blue" patches on the wall, and came up with this:

EXACTLY the color I was looking for - Benjamin Moore's "Waterfall."  I didn't have a Tiffany's box to compare, but if my memory serves me correct, it's a perfect match. 

Weekend Two:  Find & install my girlie chandelier.  I found it at Home Depot and it had everything I was looking for - a white antique finish, crystals, and the ability to hold 60 watt bulbs.  I think every lady needs one of these somewhere in her home - especially if she does not have girls!

Peter painstakingly made my dream of crown molding come true.  I wanted something simple, and this was perfect.  And we learned that we need to invest in an electric miter saw for any future projects :).

I found these faux red tulips on clearance at Wal-Mart yesterday and knew they belonged in here.  My overall color scheme will be the Tiffany Blue with black, white, and red accents.  This purchase confirmed my vision of splashes of red!

Peter also put shelves up in the closet - but I'll post pictures on that when I am done organizing...and oh yes, it will involve me getting mean with a clearanced-out label maker I found at Target!

One Moment in Time

Today is the day!  We are so excited to have our first quarterly activity this year in Primary - the Primary Olympics!  Our themes is "Go For the Gold."  I have been a part of this before in other presidencies and it is always a favorite.  With events like "Who's on the Lord's Side" Ice Hockey, "Good Samaritan" Bobsled Racing (using sleeping bags on the gym floor) and "Lengthen Your Stride" Figure Skating (using washcloths), not to mention the "Word of Wisdom" Smoothie Bar, how can it go wrong?  We're stoked.  

Our awards ceremony promises each Olympic athlete one of these gold medals made from cookies. 

We all know that "real gold = sugar" for Primary children.

Primary Funny

Today I had sharing time in Primary (the organization for the children of my church).  I shared a story about a time when I was moving to a new place to go to college and how lonely I felt not knowing anyone.  I let them know that I knew in that sad time that I could pray to Heavenly Father, and that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, that He would know how I was feeling and would comfort me.  I testifed of how I did feel comforted after praying one particular time over my loneliness, and how it helped me to know that Christ's atonement was real.  There was silence in the room after my remarks, and all eyes were on me.  Then, slowly, a 9-year-old boy raised his hand and asked:

"Were there telephones way back then?"

Tiffany Blue

My taste is evolving on the craft room decor.  Actually, I would say it is revolving.  Last night I got a replica paint sample of "At Sea" by Benjamin Moore (the color in the Country Living office I featured a few days ago), painted, and decided that yes, it is too light.  I want more pop.  So I am re-volving back to my original color choice, Tiffany Blue.  I want a craft room that makes you feel like you walked right into a Tiffany's Box.  I am inspired by the color in photos like these: 

Most photos found at House of Turquoise.  What a pretty blog. 

Back to Home Depot I go for more paint samples!