An Apron...and a Realization

First, I thought I'd show you a sewing project I recently finished. A vintage-style apron:

The front:
And the back:
This thing really covers you up. It's practically a dress. The pattern is Simplicity 3544. After seeing some aprons online, I got the idea that I needed to make one. I really like the vintage styles and found the pattern and material at Wal-Mart. The material for this apron somehow just shouted 1950s to me with its bright yellow background and red flowers. I haven't been much of an apron wearer in the past, but probably should have been, seeing as how anytime there is flour involved, it usually seems to go everywhere. I haven't actually worn the apron yet. I'm thinking I may have to tie a dish towel around me to keep my apron from getting dirty. :)

If you haven't looked lately, you can't imagine how many aprons are sold and available for sale at Etsy! I didn't realize they were so popular now. I bought some more material, and would like to try and come up with a pattern similar to some of the ones I've seen on Etsy.

And now...The Realization. It seems like every time I post, I've become enthralled with some new hobby/craft. I go surfing around the internet and think, "Oooh, isn't that cool?! I should try that!" Then while looking up information about that hobby, I come across something else and think, "Oooh, isn't that cute?! I should try that!" And so on. And of course, you have to order the equipment necessary to try it. I've often wondered why I can't seem to stick with a particular craft without trying out something else before I've hardly learned the first one. Is this weird or what?

The first "needlework" type crafts I remember doing are probably embroidery, crochet, and sewing. Since then, I've made miniature quilts, appliqued on sweatshirts, done counted cross stitch, and, of course, there's the whole fiber thing: knitting, spinning, wool dyeing, carding, wet felting, needle felting, weaving. And this isn't even counting photography, genealogy, soapmaking, digital scrapbooking, papermaking, and who knows what else. I think sometimes even baking and trying out new recipes fall under this category. Then a couple of weeks ago, on a trip involving my latest project (I'll save that for another post), as I pondered all of this "first-one-hobby-and-then-another" and "why-don't-you-stick-with-one-hobby" business, I came to the realization...I have stuck with one hobby all this time. My real hobby. Yes. My real hobby is...Trying Out New Hobbies.

Wow! It's kind of a relief in a way, figuring this out. A little hard on the pocketbook at times, but nice to know that maybe it's not so weird after all. I guess the excitement is in the learning.

Next time, I'll try to show you my latest "new thing." :)

Sewing Project

I did something a little different the other day...sewing. I keep noticing that everyone seems to be carrying around these giant purses lately. I usually try to carry a pretty small purse because I have a tendency to fill them up no matter what size they are. So a big handbag could make for a pretty heavy load. But one has to be fashionable once in awhile, right? So I bought a pattern that had several sizes of purses, from regular size to enormous (Simplicity 4117). I chose kind of a mid-sized one to start with.

I used what I would call upholstery material. It's red with a little gold and black and lined it with some red and black cotton fabric. The pattern called for just an "O" ring at the end of the tab in front, but I attached a hook instead. The hook doesn't stay hooked as well as it should, though, so I'm thinking about trying to add a zipper. It might keep things corralled better in case I drop it. :)

The huge purse on the front of the pattern is made of faux fur. I may get really wild and make one of those next!