I am in total shock that it is already February!  Does anyone even remember January this year??  It just seemed to fly by.  I have all sorts of personal projects going on, crafts and cooking, working and volunteering.   And pinning on Pinterest.  That seems to take on a life of it’s own, at least in my household.  Be watching for a chance to share your favorite Pinterest project with fellow Apronistas.  I think that would be fun, plus we can find new friends to follow.  I love seeing the beautiful and original projects pinned by crafty friends.

Anyway, I recently received such a fun email that I’m happy to share!  Two dear friends are teaming up with a special Valentines Giveaway.  One of my favorite Apronistas, Cynthia from D-Lux 57 is giving away one of her Valentines Cookies Designer Series Aprons:

Don’t you just LOVE the leopard trim and accent??  Plus, her D-Lux 57 aprons are all crafted in the USA.  AND, she offering an Apronista discount code apronlove, worth 20% off til Feb 15, 2012.  

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Look what’s in our Flickr group!

Feel free to join the group to share YOUR creations!!

Happy New Year!! We are kicking off the year by highlighting one of my favorite Apronistas, Marla from Sugar Baby Aprons.

Sugarbaby showcases a trust zest for life, family and the kitchen through their inspiration. The founder, Marla Fortier has an incredibly inspiring story about how through coping with the loss of a child, she turned to baking and Sugarbaby as a sense of regaining her life and showing that you can slowly learn to live and dream again and fulfill your dreams (which Marla did through Sugarbaby). She hopes to one day spread the message of inspiration and homemaking to others and build family and relationships to a closer level.

I love how Marla is constantly adding new goodies that are fun and fresh.  This month’s giveaway is just that, this POLKA DOTTED Kitchen Mitt.  Do you know how much I LOVE polka dots???  Check it out:

Squeeeee! Not only adorable, but they are lined with satin, are 100% cotton, machine wash and dry, AND they really work.

Look what else she does:  20% of the purchase price of THIS cutie went to the Cancer Angels of San Diego this past October — LOVE that!

Great sense of style AND a philanthropist! What’s not to love?!?

EXTRA BONUS: Discount code is “apronista” for an extra 15% shopping discount for the month of January!  Talk about a wonderful Valentine’s gift!!


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There’s still time for you to join the “31 Days to Pray for Your Spouse” Challenge.`Do you have about 5 minutes a day to spend praying for your spouse? Did you know that doing so each day over the course of 31 days can improve your marriage?!?  This group encourages daily accountability via either Facebook or email.

Looking forward to blessing my sweetheart. Comment if you join, too!!

My friend Karen is hosting a fun event — a 2012 After Christmas Sew Along!

#1. Sew anything you like.
It can be Christmas themed or not.
I’ll be sewing Christmas decor for my home
since I never have the time to do that.
Most of us are constantly sewing for others
and seldom get the chance to sew for ourselves.
You can even get a jump start on gifts
for next Christmas if you want to.
It’s totally up to you.

#2. Every Monday, begining January 2nd for 4 weeks,
I will post a link to a flicker group
for you to share photos of your creations.
Each Monday there will be a completely new group
for that week only.
A winner will be chosen at random every Friday evening
and I will post the winner on
this blog on Saturday.
You can join in at any time!

That’s it….easy peasy!
Just have fun!!!

Let me know if you join in — I’m thinking about it, too!  She’s offering lots of discounts and weekly giveaways as well.

Today is a rainy day which means it’s a soup kind of day. I prepare my soup differently every time, but here’s what I did today:

Navy Bean and Ham Soup
1 lb. white beans, soaked and drained
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
two large carrots, diced
two stalks of celery, diced
leftover diced ham (the more the better)
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules (or 1 qt chicken stock)
8 cups water (reduce accordingly if using prepared stock)
2 teaspoons rosemary
1 teaspoon thyme

Soak beans overnight in bowl with water covering; drain. (If you forget to soak the beans overnight, bring white beans to a boil in water for 2 minutes. Let soak 1 hour. Drain and set aside.)

Stovetop: Heat oil in large pot. Add onions and chopped ham. Cook over medium heat about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beans and remaining ingredients. Bring soup to a boil. Lower the heat and cover the pot with a lid. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.

Crockpot: Heat oil in skillet. Add onions; when golden, add garlic, carrots and celery. Once all caramelized, place in crockpot. Cook ham in same skillet until browned, five minutes or so, and transfer to crockpot . Add remaining ingredients. Cook on High for 4-5 hours, low for 8-10. ENJOY!!

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve. I have a delightful gift for you – a wonderful tutorial from Mama Byrd for a sweet Apron and matching Stocking made from a simple dish towel. LOVE this!!! If you need a quick gift, here you go. This would be a fun apron for Valentine’s, too, with the darling heart motif.

Dish Towel Apron and Stocking Tutorial

by Lucy at mybyrdhouse.blogspot.com

Materials
Apron:
1 dish towel
10” square of Fabric for casing
2 ½ yd 1/2” Grosgrain ribbon or twill tape
Thread

Stocking:
½ dish towel
fat quarter of muslin for lining
Thread
5” ribbon or twine for a hanger loop

¼” seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
Pre-wash and dry all fabrics being used.

Cutting and Sewing Directions for the Apron:

Print and cut out pattern pieces for the apron.

Place the pattern piece A in the top left corner of the apron and cut on the line. Turn the pattern piece over and repeat for the other side.

Cut out two Piece B from the 10” square of fabric.
Serge or Zig-Zag finish the outside curve of the casing pieces.
Fold under each end ¾” and stitch.

Place the casing pieces on the front of the apron and match up the curves. Sew in place. Clip curves and press toward the back of the apron. Press. Top stitch along the edge of the curve. Stitch Piece B along the outside curved edge ¾”, forming the casing.

Take the two corner pieces you have left over. Center them on top of each other with right sides together. Draw a 45 deg. Line on them and sew on the line. Trim the seam to about ¼” and press open.

Cut out a “heart” shape.

Unpick the seam down ¼” to ½”. Fold these edges down and press.

Center the heart on the apron front bib. Top stitch in place

Starting at the bottom of the casing on the left side of the apron, run the ribbon/twill tape through the casing and back down the right side casing forming a continuous piece forming the waist ties and the neck ties. Fold the ends of the ribbon/twill tape under and stitch in place OR tie a large knot in them to finish them off. To prevent ribbon from unraveling, you can lightly burn the edges.
Cutting and Sewing Directions for the Stocking: (1 dish towel should make 2 stockings)

Print off the Stocking pattern piece. Extend the top edge of the stocking to 2 ¼” above the dashed line at the top of the stocking.

Cut out 2 stocking pieces from the dish towel fabric. Line the decorative stripes in the towel up with the dashing line on the pattern to form the “cuff” of the stocking. (Be sure that when you cut out the stockings you have the toes of the stocking pointing opposite directions, or your stocking won’t have a front and a back.)

Cut 2 Stocking pieces from the muslin, lining fabric. Trim a ¼” off the tops of them.`


Print a second copy of the stocking pattern. Add ¼” to the straight edges of each piece (for seam allowance). Cut out these pieces.

From the dish towel scraps cut 2 toe and 2 heel pieces. ( Be sure to turn the pattern piece over when cutting out the second piece so there is a front and a back piece.)

Fold under the straight edges of these pieces ¼” and press in place.

Place the heel and toe pieces on the stocking front and back and stop stitch, or appliqué stitch in place.

Fold the piece of ribbon/twine in half and pin in place on the stocking front, outside corner. Place the lining pieces on top with right sides together. Stitch across the top edges. Open and press the seam toward the stocking lining.

Place the front and back pieces with right sides together and stitch all the way around the edge, leaving an opening in the lining about 2 inches wide. Clip curves, and turn.

Stitch the turning hole shut.

Fold the lining inside of the stocking. (Because we cut it slightly shorter, the top edge of the stocking will roll slightly to the inside. Press and top stitch if desired.

** Optional mitered Heel **

Take the the left over scraps of the edges of the dish towel. Place them right sides together and align the stripes. Draw a diagonal line (45 deg).

Sew on the line, trim the seam and press open.

Center the heel piece on the fabric over the V. Cut out 2. (Be sure to turn the piece upside down for the second heel.)

Here’s a special treat for the crafty Apronistas – a bundle of patterns that are downloadable just in time for last-minute gifts (or jump start for next year)!! Those fun gals over at You Can Make This have pulled together a super special bundle just for one of you!

Super quick turnaround on this giveaway, so you have plenty of crafting time — comment by 12/23!!

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I’m so excited to share a few more fun posts before Christmas!  Can you believe we are only 10 days out?!?

FIRST, one more exciting apron giveaway, this time from the outrageous Cupcake Provocateur.

Check this out!   I absolutely adore this “Letters to Santa” apron!  The gingham!  The vintage Santas!!!  Red & White (my fav colors)!!!!  I want.

Naughty or Nice?

AND not just an amazing high-quality apron! We have an entire BASKET full of goodies.

Here is this Christmas gift basket, “LETTERS TO SANTA”.  The basket includes the Betty apron – Letters to Santa as shown, matching dish gloves, tea towel and potholder! More than an $80 value!!

EASY entry, since life is busy enough right now! Only mandatory entry is to tell us who you’d give this wonderful prize to … or if you’d keep it yourself!

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Be sure to check out our other wonderful sponsors at the Gift Guide — you can STILL give the PERFECT gift and make someone an honorary Apronista!!!

We have another great apron giveaway from a super special sponsor — Carolyn’s Kitchen. Her sexy aprons have been gracing the internet, and both film and print media for years. Carolyn’s Kitchen is a designer, manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of retro aprons, vintage inspired kitchen aprons, glamour hostess aprons, sexy aprons, kitchen faux fur gloves, leopard kitchen gloves and sexy romantic gifts.

If you will blog about the Gift Guide and/or post the badge for it, you could win one of THESE – Turquoise Asian Flowers Apron from her newest line:

Here’s the code for the Gift Guide badge – I know not everyone can do this, so it’s not mandatory. But I would still appreciate your help talking up all the great deals available to Apronistas.  I really love to show to support to businesses that WANT our business.

<div align="center"><a href="http://apronista.com/gift-guide" title="Apronista Gift Guide"><img src="http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m568/shawneeapronista/giftguide125-1.jpg" alt="Apronista Gift Guide" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

As an extra thank you to Carolyn, please first visit her shop. She, too, has a spot in the Gift Guide:

We manufacture, design, wholesale, and retail glamour girl vintage-inspired aprons. We sell worldwide!  Perfect for upcoming holiday hostess gifts and entertaining for spouses, sisters, mothers,etc.

Here’s how to officially enter  - lots of options through Rafflecopter but only ONE is mandatory: