Sweet treat

A few years back my sister invited me to attend a cooking class with her in the 'couve.  The woman who teaches the class used to own a catering company with her best girlfriend...how fun would that be?!  Anyway, they closed up shop and held monthly cooking classes in her beautiful home, and even more beautiful kitchen.  I secretly dream of living in her house someday, not only is it laid out nicely its tucked away in the woods which just makes it feel that much more relaxing. 

I digress... Her cooking classes cover everything from an appetizer, a few main dishes and desert. She cooks it all while the class watches on and drinks wine...yes, I'm going to give up the detox for the night to simply enjoy :) The best part is you walk away with a belly ache from laughing and eating all the wonderful food she has cooked and a stash of good recipes. Can't ask for more than that!


Gayle (teacher) loves cupcakes.  I found some cupcake fabric awhile back and bought in with the hopes of making her an apron.  Of course I had it on the back burner and finished it last night.  It was fun, and not like my usual aprons.

Can't wait to give it to her tomorrow night.  Here's to happy cooking...

BTW, potty training is going great.  Davis is in underwear all the time he isn't at school even during his nap.  We are having #2 issues, but we are working on it...as for the school....well whatever, I've given up on them at least I know he can do it at home.

PS...I really miss the spellcheck button :(

100!!

100 posts since I started this blog and I'm still loving it!  I've been a bit busy these last few weeks, but I promise I'm back in full force.   I have some projects that are already started and I have some great recipes to share.   I'm even thinking about selling a few things...more on that soon.

Before I get into the happs, I think its about time to do the GIVEAWAY!  I thought you all might need a Holiday Apron since Christmas is right around the corner.

To enter a chance to win, leave me a comment about your favorite Christmas tradition.  If you don't have a blog, email me and i'll post your comments.  Giveaway ends Friday, 10/6.  I'll be on my way to Hawaii but never fear, I'll have my laptop with me!

Or you can double wrap the ties

I'll just post a few pics from the past three weekends, 2 of which consisted of GIRLS weekends away!

My first weekend away was to run the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Fran.  I went with my girlfriends from work who I run with.  We ate at some fabulous restaurants, Nopa, Barney's Burgers after the race for burgers and champagne, and Bread and Cocoa for one of quite possibly the best latte I've had.  We also ventured to the Ferry Building and had a great breakfast at Boulette's Larder.  I had no idea there were so many great shops and small cafe's in the Ferry Building  But wait, although we had great food all weekend we went for the race.  It was wonderful, the weather was perfect and there were over 20,000 women running it! Unbelievable, I even got teared up at the start because it was so powerful.  The course was really hard but worth it at the end when the hot fireman were standing there in tuxedo's holding tiffany boxes!  Can't beat that!

Niketown had all 20,000 runners names on the wall, you can't see it, but obviously thats my name.  One of my only pics from the weekend.

Next weekend away was with my college girlfriends.  We headed to Flagstaff for Homecoming...what a GREAT time!  We partied like we were still in college, ate fast food at the end of the night and laughed the entire weekend.  There ended up being about 30 of us there and it was like we never left.  Definitely one of the highlights of my year so far.

And finally Halloween.  We had a good time celebrating Halloween Friday night at my parents with all the kids getting dressed up and pretending to trick or treat to see what treats Grandma and Grandpa had...boy were they shocked.  It was like Christmas! So much fun.  Actual Halloween was laid back as B was at the Duck game (YAY DUCKS!).  The costume was so fitting for the big win!

BTW, I must have been gone long enough not to realize that there are changes here with putting in posts...its ANNOYING! I hope they work the kinks out...yuck!

Latest project

With my hubby back from China, I was able to get some shots taken of my latest sewing project. If you been with me for awhile, you have heard me talk about the blog Tie One One. The most recent submission is for plaid. You can have plaid anywhere on your apron, while plaid isn't my favorite, it is very in this year.

I fell in love with the green Joel Dewberry line and had to use it, so I found a plaid to go with it. I was trying to figure out how to use all three of these together and then I came across this darling blog and this great apron pattern. It was a blast to make and I'll surely use it again soon.

This apron is for my fun friend Erica. She is in Paris right now....I know I'm jealous too :)

Rata-tat-tat

Isn't that what a rattle snake says?! OMG, I just thought of who said that...the mean guy in Strawberry Shortcake! What was his name?

Anyway, I like that word and felt like it was a good word for the day. I'm feeling a bit feisty, maybe its all the multi-tasking I've been doing all week or maybe its just that I'm drinking some lovely Kombucha.

Anyway, here is the latest project I've been working on. I attend a cooking class out in the 'couve 1x month. I've been doing it for years but took a little break while I was prego and getting through that first year. The teacher ordered an apron from me for her catering business partner. Their business is called Taste Buds. Kim, the one receiving the apron, lives in Arizona (hence the cactus) and is visiting this week.

I hope she likes it! And it doesn't remind her of taco bell with the cactus :) again...feisty.

Whats that you say?...GIVEAWAY?!

Its been a very busy April at the Simmons household, so I talked myself out of whipping up an Apron for the scrap apron theme (which I thought of) on the Angry Chicken blog.....that lasted about as long as my toe nail.

I spent 3 hours last night, give or take, working on a submission....I mean how could I miss out?! I bought this fabric for a few burp cloths I'm working on....what I didn't realize, until I went to cut it for the next burp cloth, was the direction was wrong. So...I made it into an apron. I used some tulle I had for gift wrapping for the bottom and a few scrap fabrics here or there, they will probably look familiar if you watch the video at the top.

I'm not in need of a new one, but are you? If so, leave me a comment on the latest book recommendation you have. I just finished the Twilight series and need a new book! Don't have a blog and still want a chance to win?! Simply email me, see address to your Right.

Updated**Chicken Little!

I found this fabric from the Metro Market line by Robert Kaufman at the Stitchin' Post in Sisters, Oregon. I fell in love with it and decided it would be an adorable apron.

Hubby took the pics this morning, they are a little dark! But you get the idea :)

Off to cooking class tonight! Looking forward to some good food and fun company, Its been a long and tiring few weeks. BTW, I'm taking Monday off work and taking Davis to daycare....I'm going to sew and relax....alone! Heaven!

** Update! I made my first sale! I sold Chicken little tonight at cooking class! Yeah **

Stash

One of the reasons I started this blog was to be able to put some of my sewing goodies on some of the fabulous sewing/fabric blogs out there....especially this blog. After the Gingham theme she had this past September, she took a hiatus. I anxiously checked back often to see if a new theme had been posted. Much to my surprise she posted this past month and said she would announce a new theme March 1st but wanted suggestions.

I suggested a scrap apron theme, you use your leftover fabric. This is good on the fabric cupboard and good on the wallet.

I won! She picked my theme. I can't wait to see the Vintage apron she sends...plus she lives in PORTLAND! Holla!

So friends....this is the time! Enter an apron, take a sewing class, or do whatever it takes to get moving. This is going to be fun!

It's up!

Head on over to the Angry Chicken Blog, the gingham apron submissions are up! And they are cute!!! People are so creative!

In reading it looks like she isn't going to have another round of themed aprons until January :(

Bummer!

One down, lots to go!

Yiiipppiee! I just finished a fun apron for the Angry Chicken blog. I found this blog a few months ago when I was looking for apron inspiration. While I was on there I noticed she had people submitting their adorable aprons all centered around a theme. This months theme was Gingham...I'm not normally a fan but on one of my many trips to Fabric Depot I saw this fabric and bought it in the hopes of posting it on the AC blog.

There is nothing better than watching the Olympics and sewing, this project was one of my most enjoyable. I didn't feel rushed to get it done, I didn't use a pattern and it all came together perfectly.

So whats next you ask? Lots, I have started on the sock monkeys (which I'll post another time), sock monkey table cloths, sock monkey pillows, a diaper bag, and one more bag for my SIL. Whew....I better find some time to sit.

BTW, I'm finally keeping one of my projects :)

Thats the pocket