"Apron strings"

Hi AFFs!!! "Apron strings" is the name of my pages for Kathi's journal. It is all loosely based around this pair of pink and white polka dot apron strings that I took from a 1940's vintage apron. The rest of the apron was used in a quilt I made for my daughter several years ago. I had always just loved this little apron...love polka dots any time!

So, I kind of thought I was going to do something steampunky on Kathi's pages...was I ever surprised when this piece of pink upholstery fabric that Kathi sent along grabbed me and wouldn't let go! I knew it had to go on my page. So that is really the start of my pages...the pink fabric centered on the front of the front page.


Next I thought it might be fun to stamp on the canvas...my SS last year gave some stamps and pads and I had never used them on fabric so thought I would give it a try. There is actually a smudged print on the canvas beneath the pink fabric also. Had thought of leaving the pink loose...kind of a flap or door...but decided the smudged piece would just have to live underneath, never to be seen, so I stitched the pink stuff down. The beaded motif on the pink fabric is a necklace pendant I had made several years ago. It actually did have a beaded neck part but I took that off. The center of this pendant is a piece of resin-like plastic with an embedded greeting card in it that I found in a friend's grandmother's button box...I think it must be from the 40's ish also. Anyway, it has always been one of my favorite pieces. I just decided it really needed to go on this page. I did a mild gold/green treatment on the canvas to add color but it was not much and really looked washed out. Finally I decided to be brave and give it a bit more color with acrylic paints, green and a gold blended together. I am now happy with the front.



The back of the page contains a big, green velvet, garrish looking embroidered piece. This piece was something I found in a box of stuff I brought home from an auction...about 20 years ago! It was fully embroidered on a large, square of green velvet. I decided to trim the velvet to the shape of the embroidery and used a blanket stitch to attach to the canvas.

I also used a piece from a yellow dresser scarf...that I also have had about 20 years or so!...and then just did some random stitching and added crystal beads to make little pink flowerettes. I then painted the areas around the dresser scarf in Pepto Bismol pink to add some dimension to the piece.

My binding edges are the apron strings. Decided not to paint them...just left them with the original rick-rack and all. I have tried and tried to iron the wrinkles out but they just won't budge...must have been wrinkled all these years.

That is about it. It is nothing like I was planning but I am pleased with the finished product! I felt like I really let loose and let the art just take me to the finishline. Kathy, hope you find something interesting in it!