The first batch of Aprons - DONE!

Before I start giving these away to my darling friends, I wanted to post my handiwork. I got the bug to sew aprons a few weeks ago, and I've had a blast putting fabrics together, tinkering with hems and sashes... I went into this project with the idea that these would be fun gifts for my lovely girlfriends. As they came together, I could tell which one of my friends they belong to.

This was my first attempt - it will be sent to my sister-in-law Kendra out in California. She is the most laid back mom of two I've ever met. I adored hanging out with her at 4th of July. I only wish she was closer.

This one is the Carol... I think it suits my mom wonderfully, it is classy, flirty and girlie, just like her. I LOVE reversible aprons - you only have to wash them once BOTH sides are dirty. :)

This looks like something my friend Amie would love - she looks fantastic in red, and her cooking is amazing.

I can see Elaine wearing this when she is whipping up some of her famous dip. I love the fortune cookies on this - it reminds me of our favorite restaurant - Green Tea!

Next is darling Cindy, a girlie girl through and through - I think the beachy plaid and polka dots would suit her.

I made this one with my son's Mimi in mind - Becky is the most wonderful southern cook. She'd give Paula Deen a run for her money, her biscuits are divine.

This is my "pirate-meets-samurai" apron. I can't part with this one, sorry ladies. In fact, I wore this last night while I was making dinner. Doesn't the red sash just make you want to say "Argh"?

Is a little bit of OCD okay?

I have to admit to a little bit of OCD when it comes to keeping my carpet clean. I love to vacuum. I'm not sure where it started, but it is probably why I love mowing the lawn too. Now that I have a wonderful yellow Dyson (it kinda looks like Wall-e from that Pixar movie) the obsession has gotten worse. I whip that vac around my apartment and am amazed that there is that much "stuff" on the floor. OK, most of it is hair, and I can't blame the cat for all of it. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a ton of hair, and I shed just as bad as the cat does. Aha! So there is my excuse for my twice a week, gotta have it, vac fix! I love the perfect little lines in the carpet when I'm done. I love/hate seeing the little bitty cat footprints in it the next morning - it is kind of cool (yet annoying) to see that she really does just wander around without much purpose.

Only my cat knows how bad it really is - although the Dyson is quieter than the mammoth thing I had before, she still runs and hides. I thought I was the only one, living with this weirdness/quirk?, keeping it to myself because my friends look at me like I'm crazy... But then my Mom and I got to talking. I think I have found a kindred spirit, enabler, call it what you will. It started with my son spilling soda on her new carpet. And ended with us buying a home carpet steam cleaner. She took it for a week and cleaned all the carpet and rugs in her house - just as a frame of reference, it is a brand new house, she and my stepdad moved in to it in January. If it wasn't the middle of summer, I swear she would have done her car too. I picked up the heavy contraption from her house last Sunday. After dragging it up to my third floor apartment, I wasn't sure if I was even going to bother with it... But then, who am I kidding? It was the best of both worlds! The instructions TOLD ME TO VACUUM FIRST. WOO HOO! An hour later I had cleaned 3/4 of the carpet in my apartment. I think the only reason I stopped is because I couldn't feel my right shoulder anymore. Fast forward to Tuesday morning, my entire apartment has clean, beautiful carpet. Uh oh, it just might be time to vacuum again. LOL

For those of you about to send the men with the butterfly nets and the straight jacket out to my apartment, don't get me started on how to make the bed...

Introduction

Hi there!

I have wanted to start on this blog site for a while, but couldn't come up with a good name. I know, it's kind of silly, but I wanted something... just right. I have been addicted to the Apronista, Apron-a-day, and several other Blogger sites which gave me motivation to start my own.

"Dot & Glady" is a tribute to my late grandmothers.

Dot (Dorothy) was an amazingly creative and talented artist, seamstress and cook. I got to know her more when I was in college. After being practically on the other side of the country from that set of grandparents for most of my childhood, I moved within 15 minutes of them when I went away for school. I could tell very quickly where my mischievous streak comes from.

Glady (Gladys) was a wonderful woman who's generosity of spirit was boundless. My brother and I enjoyed summer and winter vacations at Gladys' house, we'd watch deer walk right up to the back deck, we'd play piano (badly) in the room off the garage. I don't think I'll ever forget being wrapped up in a blanket in front of the TV to watch cartoons on a COLD winter morning.

I lost both of these wonderful women to cancer. But I hope that their spirit lives on in not only my generation, but also the next. There are times when my son will look at me and I will swear he looks just like Dot. His belly laugh reminds me of Glady.

I am not the domestic diva that these women were, but I certainly try. I balance my computer geek day-job with a random set of quirky hobbies that I truly enjoy. With the sewing machine, I make quilts, aprons... the occasional sock monkey. In the kitchen, I love to come up with fun recipes, amazing desserts with chocolate are my favorite. Now that summer is winding down, it is time to turn my attention to the quilt I've promised my Mom for about a year... I'm working on it, Mom, REALLY!