Hey all! It’s Meg here again with the keys to the wonderful Benfield Blog for a day, honored as always.
So, January rolled around this year as did resolutions, lists of things done, longer lists of to-dos and I really had to take a look at myself and ask: what are some basic things I can actively improve? No more general resolution statements like “eat healthy” without a follow up goal like “cut sour patch kids out of your diet” (this is only an example, I would never cut sour patch kids out of my diet). The two broad resolutions I set for myself were to create more and become more generous.
Now, if you know anything about me or have read the Benfield Blog for awhile (huge shout out to the constant support Dale and Mere give me) you know I operate a not-for-profit called Art Feeds. A quick rundown for those of you who don’t know is that Art Feeds exists to mobilize creative healing. We do this by giving free therapeutic art and creative education to over 2,600 children weekly, you can read more about it here. I had to take a look at myself in the 2013 year and realize that I’d become a bit of a hypocrite. Something we teach our students every day in Art Feeds is to continually create, move, mold, express and stir the stagnant. Although since I started Art Feeds 4 years ago my creativity has been used in the not-for-profit setting, it had been a long time since I created anything just for me--for the sake of simply making. So I decided to create more and pair this with the other half- become more generous. My continuous ambition is to do exactly what that last sentence says. The follow up goal to my broad resolutions was simple: create something and give it away. This has been revolutionary for me. Since January 1, I’ve been making at least one creation per day and giving it away on Instagram in what I call the #createandgive giveaway to a random “Liker” at @artfeedsmeg . No gimmicks. No hidden fees. It is what it is. I get the joy of making something and giving it away each day and a random Instagram user gets a surprise present. I don’t know how long this will last, but I’m having so much fun with the challenge now I don’t know when I’ll want to stop. Here are the #Createandgive giveaways to date:
One of my recent #createandgive giveaways was a sweet little apron I re-purposed out of my Wedding decorations. This apron was a play area for children in its (most recent) former life.
Transformed into this:
I’m going to give a tutorial on how to make your own. It would be a great little apron to wear for upcoming Valentine’s festivities- cooking for your husband (are you reading this husband of mine? Are you snorting with laughter?), baking with your girlfriends or even to finish off an outfit for aSecret Session (I 100% recommend you book one with Mere now!).
Materials Needed:
Vintage Lace Curtain (or any sort of fun lace or chiffon material)
Ribbon or Lace
Small Fabric Heart
Scissors
Thread
Needles
Fray Stop
Sewing Machine
Step 1: Carefully cut the curtain to desired length. I found this curtain at a garage sale and the detailed scalloped edge was the perfect length for an apron, if you are just working with material 16” is a good length. Use the fray stop to save the scalloped edges from fraying.
Step 2: Fold 1/4 “ seam around the perimeter of the apron and pin. Then run a seam straight line around the entire border with your sewing machine.
Step 3: Take your ribbon or lace and measure it around your own waist to be certain you have enough material. Create pleats in the apron fabric by folding it under itself and secure with pins. More pleats= more poof. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. Then carefully sew the apron to the ribbon or lace.
Step 4: Add any sort of embellishment you like. I chose a heart cut from vintage fabric. Some other ideas would be a vintage hankie or vintage dish rag. I placed the heart where I wanted it on the apron and used the sewing machine one last time, running a border around the heart. All done! What types of things will you be cooking in this? (I’m gonna be honest, I’d do what I do best in the kitchen, which is pour a bowl of Honey Crunch cereal with almond milk)
Enjoy!
Xxo meg
To follow along on my daily #createandgive giveaways follow @artfeedsmeg on Instagram. As a special gift to all the Benfield Photography Blog readers, I will give one random commenter this Sweetheart Apron! Just leave a comment below telling how you will use the apron if you win (comment by midnight tonight!!). Be sure you’re email is connected to the comment!
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