It's giveaway time!

Hi everybody! Well I got myself organized just in time to be included in the Sew Mama Sew giveaway! Today only (December 3rd) I will be giving away one of my Sweet Jayne Aprons to a lucky reader! You will be able to choose from either pink or blue styles that are still available. Sound good? All you need to do now is leave me a comment right here and I'll reveal the winner tomorrow December 4th. This contest ends tonight at midnight, is valid only in the continental USA (I will only ship to a US address) and I will be posing the winning comment tomorrow morning. Thank you for joining in all the fun and good luck, please go tell all your friends about Panhandler and thanks for reading my blog!

tiny bubbles

cocktails anyone?
Originally uploaded by *Panhandler*

Happy Thanksgiving! Even if you don't drink (like me) I'm still raising my glass to all my friends and family! Cheers! Clink! ta ta fo now ~

crafty bird apron, I'm going to scream

detail of crafty bird apron
Originally uploaded by *Panhandler*

Yes, it's Thanksgiving break around here and the little munchkins are getting crazy. We're in the heat of the moment so to speak as tempers flare up often, I get nothing done and messes everywhere!!!! How can one little house fall apart SO fast just because preschool is on hiatus for one week......at least daddy only works half a week and we'll all chill out together soon! Oh and this is my little crafty bird apron, I like the cut because the pockets are BIG and there's even a center seam that holds a paint brush or pencil or whatever I'm creating.....not that I have time to paint or draw anything leisurely, someday someday....

it's beginning to look alot like......

three cheers holiday apron
Originally uploaded by *Panhandler*

the holidays!!!! They are literally right around the corner and I'm on a crazy train trying to squish all of this into my schedule. We all have colds today so doing much of anything is challenging, and forget leaving the house today, I'm done. But I did manage to take a quick photo of my newest creation! I heart ric rac!!!!

Pink Little Chic Apron

Pink Little Chic Apron
Originally uploaded by *Panhandler*

I dig these little chic's! Chirpy happy prints just in time for the holidays. Now I"m dragging my tired butt to a friends house to watch Top Model!

Sweet Jayne ~ Rock Solid Pink Apron

Sweet Jayne ~ Rock Solid Pink Apron
Originally uploaded by *Panhandler*

I'm feeling sort of sweet with my newest creations! I can't wait to finish them all! No time - until my pumpkin goes to preschool! xoxo

mr. robot-o Boys Apron

mr. robot-o Boys Apron
Originally uploaded by *Panhandler*

Every little boy needs a robot apron, especially a Mr. Robot-o style! Haaa ~ now I've got that song in my head.....who sang that? Styx? I'll have to research it. Having fun, my munchkins are both napping and it's Friday! Woooo hooo!

holiday cheery bird apron

holiday cheery bird apron
Originally uploaded by *Panhandler*

tweedly deedly dee! I'm so happy with my newest bunch of holiday cheer. I'm tired now too, going to get some much needed rest....I'm so looking forward to the weekend! xoxo

sew much to do!

there are ten hundred ideas rolling around in my brain at all times lately and you know what ~ i love all my new little projects!!! My newest one is the snowflowers apron I just posted on etsy...check out the double pockets on that baby! I'm on a roll and i"m not stopping. Now if I can just get the gifts done in time for my nieces and friends I haven't seen in a millenium! (We're heading out on the road, 9 big days with my family in one vehicle!). We're heading home for the holidays and my kids are going to see their grandma and meet a bunch of mommy's friends (some who also have kids now and haven't seen me or my family in like ten years or more!) WHERE DOES THE TIME GO PEOPLE? Ahhhh, well it's raining but at least we're back to normal as yesterday was a holiday and nothing was open, my son is off to preschool this afternoon and I'm hoping to complete one or two more little goodies! And hey! I had my first sale in my etsy shop, yeah!!!! That rocks!

xo

lil welder

So I finally completed a toddler boy apron! Whew! I was pondering for a while about what image to transfer.....and I got inspiration upon finding my hidden holiday bag of fabric yeah!!! Tartan plaid monkey wrench ~ how can you go wrong! I'm going to play around with denim some more this month and see what else I can conjure up! Oh and this welder apron will fit a size 2-5T nicely as the ties are long enough to accommodate that size range. I love the holidays!

pot holder party

So I had a bit of a potholder party this afternoon as I realized I don't have any matching things in my collection! Potholders are no easy thing either as I've found out the hard way.....but so cute when completed. Now I can feel good about going to vote for Obama tomorrow! And my kid starts preschool, oh it's going to be quite a day tomorrow!

xoxo
Claire

toddler time!

Here is my pint sized version of Swizzle Sticks, such a fun little ditty!  The peppermint candy trim makes it perfect for a party!!!  My daughter is going to have one heck of a dress up time with all of these aprons I keep making!  I've noticed lately that my kids are always running around with bits and pieces of thread hanging off their clothes, so I was a good mommy today and got out the vaccuum to help eliminate the fuzz.  Well it's going to be another busy day around here and I've got my next pattern cut and ready to sew, I guess I'm in a toddler mood since I've been making so many misses sized things lately....next I'll have to take a picture of these sets together and if I venture out to the fabric store again (big no no because I spend way too much money there) I need to get batting to make some potholders.  Who's got time for all of this??? Not me, but that what I hope will keep me busy in the evenings....

I love the holidays!

I'm thinking about making a turkey apron as I now have images of all things Thanksgiving-ish in my head.  I really do love the holidays and if I weren't so tired tonite I'd elaborate more!  I finished my new toddler apron tonight, it matches my swizzle sticks adult one so that's good!  I'm feeling worn out and will get back on here sooon...

xo

hi!

I suppose I'll introduce myself to you, my name is Claire and I'm so excited about my little collection of things I like to call Panhandler.  I'm inspired by lots of things like vintage americana, music from the 30's,40's,50's,60's and 70's I like it all!  I'm fond of bold patterns and love mid-century modern design, I'm always drooling over new fabric and what I want to buy next.  Sewing makes me happy and that inspires me to the fullest degree.  I must say that aprons are my newest fling with sewing and I'm usually up at night thinking about what colors to put where and how to sew pockets on and how do you attach bias tape to a sculpted hemline.  I am no means a professional seamstress, but I was raised by a wonderful grandmother who taught me how to sew at a very early age.  Sewing has come back into my life after my grandmother's passing 3 years ago, sure I always knew how to put on new buttons or fixed shabby hemlines, and when I managed a vintage boutique in San Francisco we did constant repairs on all sorts of vintage fabrics so I guess you could say I've had a lifetime of experience, off the cuff of course.   My life is a whirlwind, I am a stay at home mom of two adorable kids, my son is 3.5 years old and my daughter is almost 2 years old (we share the same birthday!) and they are my world.  We live in Seattle and love the Pacific Northwest in spite of all the grey skies that cloud up the days sometimes.  What else about me???  I am quite grumpy lately because I can eat no sugar, caffeine, bread, animal fat, etc....I'm on a totally bland caveman diet due to a disgruntled gall bladder ~ sewing is my new dessert I suppose.  Without my crafty new little hobby I would go bonkers with all of life's up's & down's.  I'm not complaining, I'm happy to be basically healthy and love my crafty life!!!    Check out my collection on myspace!  www.myspace.com/gumdropgarden.

xo

Claire