Rediscovering Aprons

It seems that one of the most popular items people want to make today is an apron. Mostly fancy ones that are retro in style, but if you're going to actually use them a simple apron works wonders. Here's my latest creation and there are two of them. A his and a hers. I made them for some special friends. I hope everyone is having as much fun sewing aprons as I am.

Keep smiling.

Just a quick note to say hello to everyone and keep smiling. Life is and always will be great no matter what we have to deal with. Do a little crafting, cooking or just spend some time with a friend and the world is your happy place. SMILE!

My name is Mariosal.

Hello. My name is Mariosal. I'm a new creation from the Craft Zone. I'm part of a round robin altered doll project that is underway to create a doll and story so that our imaginations can fly. This has been great fun for Elaine because she didn't think that she could be so creative. It's been more than she ever expected and her creative juices have just been flowing. The story she has created for my journey into this round robin will make her and her friends laugh and she's left me open for the adventure of a lifetime.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13 CRAFT ZONE SWAP

This is the date and I can't wait. I have invited more new people and I hope it will be as much fun as the past swaps. Bring whatever you don't want any more and take what you think you can use. It's time to move on to new projects and maybe you'll find that treasure to do the projects you always wanted to.
This is an early fall Sunday and it will run from 1-5 pm and most of you know that we usually go a little longer.
Refreshments will be available with time to gab and craft or just exchange ideas. I hope to see you all there for the third annual Craft Zone Swap.

The Craft Zone Swap

Once again its time to clean house. Do you have craft stuff that you no longer use? Maybe someone else has something that you need. Start cleaning now and bring your bags, boxes, baskets, whatever filled with what you don't need any more and swap it for something that you do. All things crafty welcome. Some suggestions: craft magazines, sewing items, yarn, paper, stickers, wood shapes, rubber stamps or whatever you have. I'm sure you have things to clean out that are not ready for the trash. Everything can be given new life and we need to save the landfills for stuff that's really trash. This is a free fun afternoon and light snacks and beverages will be served. We look forward to seeing you and if you would like to bring friends please do. Everyone is welcome.

Black and White

Black and white kitchen attire. That was the gift for my nieces wedding which was beautiful. Her colors are black and hot pink, but her new home will have black, white and gray tones. Staying with this color pallet I decided to make them something they could use every day. For the groom I chose an all black barbecue apron. Simple, practical and not embarrassing to wear. For the bride a favorite apron with a beautiful flounce which will meet her very feminine side while working in her new kitchen. To finish the gift I made a quilted table topper that was a project at the American Sewing Guild meeting, a pair of solid black oven mitts and a pair of pot holders made from the remaining fabrics. A white glass two tiered serving tray completed the gift. I had fun making this personal gift and I know this couple will appreciate them.

Staying Busy?

With all the warm weather that we've had up until today it's been hard to want to stay busy. It's been a challenge to be disciplined, but I keep going. As a result I have been using some of my creative spirit to refashion items into something new. My mind keeps thinking of things to do with all the stuff that I have around, but to put them in a separate pile would probably fill a room. I do a few and stack a few and it's working out that I am at least completing some tasks and at the same time having fun doing it. I guess in the long run it's fun we should be having isn't it? What's the sense in doing something if we're not having fun? At the same time there's so much stuff in the world that we can't throw it all away can we?


So here are three of the latest projects that my mind and hands created. I hope you can have fun too doing something creative with something that you already have and you can see more creations at butterflyplace.etsy.com. See you there!


Keep in touch and happy spring to everyone.

Damn It Doll

At the last play day the discussion of stress dolls came up, and we had all had some type at our disposal at one time or another in our lives. I remembered that I did have something in the form of a pattern for one, but of course with all the stuff in the Craft Zone where could it be? Well the organized person that I am, had put it with my patterns. If this isn't original I don't know what is and it only took half an hour of searching everywhere but with the patterns to figure this out. Was this a senior moment or what? We took the pattern that we had and altered it to come up with the above doll and I gave it to Jill because she seemed to be most interested in it. She said that her mother had just made herself a new one and found the information on line. Well the doll has gone with Jill to Arizona and from what I hear is a big hit. Pardon the pun. We sure hope it's getting her through the rough moments that she is dealing with and it doesn't get too worn out with use.

The following is the poem that goes with this doll:

When you think you want to climb the walls

Or jump right up and shout

Here's a little "Damn it Doll"

You cannot live without

Just grasp it firmly by the legs

And find a place to slam it

Then as you whack it's stuffing out

Yell "Damn it, Damn it, Damn it"

Midwinter Play Day

What better way to cure the winter blues than to have a play day. It was a blast. Five of us got together to laugh, enjoy some lunch, sew, create and just spill our souls with friends. I couldn't have had a better time. We will be doing this more often I promise.

Since this meeting some of us have been together again over coffee and a light sandwich and done some more laughing and have promised to stay in touch more often and take more time to be creative.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Jill whose son has been in a terrible vehicle accident and it has taken her to Arizona to be by his side. She is remaining positive and we have good vibes that he will be okay. With all that life has to throw at us it is important to take care of one another and remember that without friends some of us could not make it. We owe a lot to each other. May the fun continue despite our difficulties and may we all offer help when it is needed.

Latest Creation

Who says that waiting for the cable guy has to be boring. He was due to arrive between eight a.m. and noon. What is a person to do? Well I started working on a new bag. Just for me too. Unheard of to say the least, but I did it. I started early and kept going until the cable guy arrived. This was about eleven. By this time I was about one third of the way done. While this poor soul, (Keith by name), was out in the bitter cold wiring the house from the pole with his companion cable guy, I kept going and by the time they were ready to come in and hook up the TV it was after one and I had quite a bit more done. I had it pretty much sewn and pinned together by this time and was almost ready to finish the job. When Keith finished getting the cable in and I had signed off on the job there was time for a quick bite to eat and it was off to the sewing machine because by now I was hooked and wanted it finished. I worked along for about another hour when the phone rang and it was the cable company. They needed to inspect the mornings work and review with me a few questions, but this couldn't be done over the phone they needed to ask me personally and check the hook-up to the TV. Well my hands were sore anyway and I needed a break and fifteen minutes later I was going over my experience with the cable company for 45 minutes. It is now 3:50 in the afternoon and I'm torn between finishing the bag and preparing dinner because Lisa would be home in a little more than an hour. My choice was to finish the bag and I did. I prepared dinner later.

So now let me tell you about the latest creation. Jill will recognize this fabric right away. It is an upholstery fabric. Quite thick too that has been bonded with a knit on the back. I lined it with a coordinating gabardine and included three pockets inside. I added a tab with a hook to attach my keys and this way I won't be searching for them on the bottom of the bag. I made a smaller bag with a zipper for my medications and personal care items out of the same fabric to keep order in the bag. I used a magnetic fastener to keep the flap closed and added a butterfly pin for embellishment. This pattern is the one I have used in the past with the exception of the longer strap. As I am getting older the over the shoulder bag has bothered my arm and I was getting to the point where I would feel vulnerable and feared someone pulling my bag off of my shoulder. The messenger style has freed up my hands and taken the stress off of my body. Okay I admit I am getting older, but it was such a simple solution. This was a very difficult fabric to work with because of it's thickness and turning the handle was the hardest part. My hands ached for a day.

So next time you need to wait for the cable guy and need a project why not make a new bag for yourself. I had more fun organizing myself and figuring out what to put in and take out of my purse and now I can even keep my coupons with me. This makes it all worth while.

What's going on?

Well haven't I been away for a while? So much is happening and so much more will. Most stories to long to tell and better left untold. It's a new year and a new time and with today's economic situations what can be said. I have been taking all of the positives in life and throwing them into the Craft Zone.

Being one of those persons without a "job" isn't easy, but it's not the end either. It's another door opening and it's what I want to do any way. I am learning more about business every day and learning to get it more organized, although you'll see by the updated pictures that this doesn't look like it's happening. The organization is coming with the bookkeeping and filing and controlling the business end of the Craft Zone. I have installed new bookkeeping software and created the spreadsheets needed for 2009 and feel at least like I can perform end of month duties on time. I'll just have to stay disciplined and it will all happen.

As for the physical side of the Craft Zone, you'll see that the fabric and projects keeps rolling in and I have purchased brand new machines. Six in all, but one was given to a supporting member for her dedication to me. These are inexpensive but good machines that should stand up for a while as I take the Craft Zone to the next level. Advertising is the next step and so far I am relying on word of mouth and any where I can post an ad for free. The budget is not quite set for anything more at this time, but time will change that too.

So as all of the business and physical aspects of the Craft Zone develop there is still one part that needs work. This is the scheduling of events. I have been trying to come up with new events and I hope to add one to this years calendar. We are working on a date for the third annual swap and as soon as we can we will print the fliers for this event and give everyone time to prepare. The other event we are thinking about is the Linus project. We have been doing this on a personal level. This project creates blankets for needy children and children in hospital situations. As we all know there are many in need and we can all do some small part to help, so I'm looking forward to scheduling this sort of event maybe twice this year. There are several other ideas, but so far they are all in the planning stages.

Well enjoy the updated pictures and feel free to pass this site on to all of your friends. Who knows who will come to our next play day. See you soon. I promise