Thursday, November 19, 2009

Good Day! Hope you are doing well!

Well as promised, I am going to blog a spot about my dear daughter, Syd! She is my model for my aprons. I am so lucky!! Not only is she beautiful, but she has absolutely the best personality and disposition ever! I have never met a more contented, and assured person in the world! She is my gift from God!! (I think that way about all my kids)...ok, I'll stop! hehe!


So, I have had a remarkable week! Not only did I get 6 custom apron orders, (pausing to glory in that)...but I got an order of 15 aprons for a fund raiser in California. Here is a spot about it:

"Banteay Srei is a youth development, asset building organization that is non-judgmental of young Southeast Asian women who are at risk of or engaged in the underground sex trade. We seek to provide the resources that support their healthy development through self empowerment and self determination."

So, every year they do this fund raiser selling aprons and including recipes to complete a sweet package for the recipient. I am very honored to be participating in a fund raiser like this. If you would like to contribute, just let me know, I can get you hooked up.

I'm excited that my business is growing! Thank you, God!

Here are some pics of a couple new aprons~





Stop by annabelsaprons.com or annabelsaprons@etsy.com

So, after posting my blog, my daughter, who I DID mention was the most contented person in the world, informed me that this blog was unfair!!...for my son, there were pics. And yes, I do have pics of her, but she wanted one of her NOT modeling aprons. And she also stated that I wrote much more about my friend Moranda than I wrote about her....
So, I am here to edit my blog post!

A very wise person told me that you should say 20 nice things to help build someone up!
Syd, this is for you! I love you, dear!! You know I love you more! You are amazingly smart! And thoughtful! And generous!! And SWEET! And welcoming to strangers! And very stylish! And a BIG help in the kitchen! And a great companion! And a wonderful encourager! And oh so funny! And fun to chill and watch movies with! And a graceful dancer! And you have a pure heart! And you have a heart for your friends! And you have the most beautiful HAIR! And your skin is like the most beautiful bronze tan! (ARE YOU MINE?) And you are a great fish caretaker! And you are the best chocolate cake baker! And you are fun to talk to! (love your imagination~dragons and magic mushrooms)! And you are my best friend!

And best friends are always there for each other!! They never get mad! Even when one posts a pic like this:



Love you, Babe! muah!! xoxo!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Ok!!! I am so excited, I can hardly stand it!! I wonder if this will wear off?! But for now... I'M SO EXCITED!! LOL!

Anywho, I am finally finished...well almost, with my very own website!! I made it myself, and I am very proud of it! I'm sure it's not the most eye catching or has the most "wow" factor, but I guess I don't care! It is "me". So, if you have some time, I would love for you to check it out!

Thanks, in advance! And btw, I am gonna be making a blog post soon about my darling daughter, so...watch out world!! haha!! Hey, I wonder if you are able to tell I am just a little nutty!

Here is the web address:
annabelsaprons.com

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Good evening everyone! Hope everybody is doing great! I don't have any aprons to post, but I wanted to introduce you to my very, very, favorite....well almost favorite girl in the world!! My daughter is my favorite! But this girl is my second favorite girl in the world!

Her name is Moranda! But she goes by Mory, Mo, Noramba, M, and more I suppose, but I call her Mory...so endearing!

I met her on a mission's trip last year, and we have been best buds ever since. We talk EVERY day, multiple times a day, even though she is going to school in Florida!! :( ..so far away!!
Thank God for unlimited texting..and yes, we got that package after me and Mory met, because she is a textaholic. Which by the way is how she got to know my son. :D, who also is a textaholic! haha!

So, now Mory and my son, the one who went into the air national guard, are "good friends" ..lol!! *wink! and my hope, upon hope is that one day...well, i better not go there...hehe!

So, here is a pic of my friend, Mory!! And in this way, you just got to know just a smidgen more about me! More to come!



Talk soon!
Annabel

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Good Sunday Evening to you! I thought I would take a few moments to let you all know what's going on in my world.

On Tuesday, our third son, left the nest and started a new chapter in his life...in the military! When he left for boot camp, we knew we would not hear from him for a couple days, and when we did, it would be from a scripted phone message, basically just to let us know he was safe, and to give us his address. After two days of not hearing from him, I was becoming ever so slightly concerned. (understatement!) Because, on Thursday, news broke of the mass killings at a military base in TX, which is where he is stationed. Thank the Lord, he is NOT on that base, but is not far from it. I am assuming all bases were on lock down after the incident. So, on Friday, bright and early, he DID finally call, and he is safe, and sound! Now that we have his address, letters from us and his gf are shooting out to him. I guess you could say there might be a little contest to see whose he gets first. He will be gone until June of next year. Oh we will miss him!! But we get to see him in Dec. at his graduation! I'm told that if I think I cried a lot at him leaving, just wait until his graduation!! Oh boy!! *buying stock in Kleenex now*

Here is a before and after pic of him...
I think I like HAIR better...sorry, Trey! ;)


So, life goes on, I suppose! I have been sewing along, and getting ready for a show in Dec. Here are a couple of new half aprons. These sweet aprons are for sale on Etsy for $28. Check 'em out!



I'm really super excited to let you know, I am making my own Annabel's Aprons website. I have been hard at work creating it. I spent all day last week re-shooting pictures of my headbands that will be available for purchase on there. Here are a few of them.




Long Tie Headband





Expandable Headband


Twist Tie Headband

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Oh what a beautiful morning! Oh what a beautiful day!..etc... *singing*

I figured that will help me out just a bit. I need to deter my mind! I just sent my 18 yr. old son to boot camp on Tuesday! :( Cried just a lil'.....fine! I CRIED A LOT, OK?!

Hopefully I get to hear from him today, to let me know he made it ok, and to give me the address to write and send things. But it is a scripted message. I can't talk to him at all! So, I have to make sure I carry a pen and pad of paper with me at all times to write it when he calls. Anyways, I AM so very proud of him, and his decision to do this! I know it is a huge character growth time...probably for all of us!

On the productive side of things, I have made a couple of custom craft aprons for some customers, and wanted to show you how they turned out.


This vendor apron is for a customer who sent me the fabric, and that is all. It was fun to design it. The back is lined with the red fabric too, just to give more sturdiness. I think it turned out pretty cute.



This one is for a customer in Sweden. My first overseas customer! Yeah! She also bought a smock shirt using the red flowery fabric.


Check out my shop for more from Annabel's Aprons! And thanks for following!!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Good morning to all you wonderful people! Wonderful, in that you manage to follow my blog, even though I neglect it terribly! I just can't seem to come up with anything creative to say! I'm not a writer, so I struggle with feeling like I need to keep your interest! But if you have time, and can manage the slightest interest in what my world is like, then continue on!

Have you heard the statement, "necessity is the mother of invention"? Well, because of the economy fallout, our construction business, of 22 years, has gone into the drink. Not ONE call since last Oct. '08. Ah, necessity! We still found it necessary to eat, to pay for our dwelling,...etc. Our lack of income did not change that very simple fact!

So, my mind has been wheeling, my thoughts have been churning! What can "I" do to help with this grave situation? I have always been creative, (a God thing I think) and throughout the years I have been drawn to color, whether in the form of custom art, painting, interior house design,...whatever...now, more recently, with textile. Oh, I LOVE textile!! This has sparked something in me, that I am now thinking, what can I do with textile that could possibly turn into being a viable contributing factor in our finances?

My invention? I developed these "Lucy" Bands, I call them. Headbands that are encased with wire, so you can twist them on, kinda like what Lucille Ball wore back in her day. So, they are a little retro in style, while using coordinating fabrics for a reversible feature. I'm not sure that I am the originator of the idea, but I certainly have not seen them anywhere else.






You can wear them twisted up at the top of your head for the full "Lucy" look. Or you can twist them at the base of your head and conceal the twist tie, for a more modern, sophisticated look. Either way, they are super comfortable, and add style to your wardrobe!




The look? Fun or Sophisticated!

I'm really hoping this idea will take off, and many people will find this little invention something they must have! "Necessary", if you will! Sold for $10, they are quite a deal! Being reversible, it's like having two headbands in one!

Check out my store on Etsy for more fabric choices! Don't forget, I can custom make them with ANY fabric choice. Just let me know!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6874586

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Yes, I have been busy yet again, sewing some cute novelty aprons! Sometimes I can't stop myself! I get so excited about the possibilities when I first see the fabric in the store, I have to buy it, and get home and make it right away! Nothing stops me until I have it in my etsy store. Someday, I'm gonna chronicle my adventures, and show pics of the process! I'm pretty sure you will feel the same excitement that I feel after you see how it all goes down! ;) In the meantime, here are my newest aprons! Check out my store for more from annabelsaprons@etsy.com


Vintage Christmas fabric, with checked pockets and lining


Chicken and egg fabric

Fall Charlie Brown fabric



Beautiful multi colored circle fabric
with black and white accent color