Tuesday 18 March 2014

Mother's Day apron and giveaway

First off, can I just say a massive THANK YOU for all your kind words and wonderful comments about my Georgia dress. The style was a big departure for me, so to receive such encouraging comments really meant a lot - thank you!

Right, back to apron making. Actually the title of this post may be a bit misleading. I have made an apron for Mother's Day, but it's not actually for my mum, it's for my mother-in-law. The reason? Well, despite being totally awesome in about a million different ways, the one thing my mum can't do is cook. If you ever watched the 1970's sitcom Butterflies, then my mum's cooking skills are right up there with Ria's i.e. non existent (soz mum!) Ever the unconventional one, my mum has her eye on my tube map travelcard holders, so that's what she'll be getting for Mother's Day!

I decided to make an apron anyway, for my mother-in-law Audrey, who certainly can cook and is often seen sporting an apron. She chose Flea Market Fancy Leaf and Dot from Purple Stitches. This fabric includes all my favourite things in one go: red, polka dots and retro florals, so was a great choice!


I tried to tempt her into a fifties-style half apron, but she's a serious jam maker and needed an apron with full coverage. Now I've made lots of full aprons in my time, but usually for little girls. To make an adult sized one, I drafted the pattern myself, based on my own apron at home.


As the fabric is quilting weight, I added a lining to give it a bit of structure and used cotton webbing for straps. I always leave apron straps loose so they can be tied to order - much easier. The edges are simply pressed and folded twice, then topstitched.


 I'm rather partial to the finished apron - I may just keep it for myself…

It doesn't get much more glamorous than this….

If you'd like to try your hand at a bit of crafting for Mother's Day, Vivian from Purple Stitches is very generously giving away a metre of fabric to one lucky winner. There are some seriously lovely quilting cottons and home decor fabrics in stock here. To enter, just leave a comment on this post, telling me which Purple Stitches fabric you'd choose if you're the winner. The giveaway is open worldwide and closes at midnight GMT on Thursday 20th March. The randomly chosen winner will be announced on Friday.

Thank you Vivian for such a generous giveaway and good luck everybody!





139 comments:

  1. Very nice! You've reminded me I should get on and make something for my mum too.

    I'd take Flea Market Fancy if I won, it's so pretty and springlike.

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  2. Great apron coverage for a jam maker! I'd love one of the Madhuri range, but so many gorgeous fabrics to chose from.

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  3. LOVE & JOY DOTTY BIRDS - GREEN

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  4. I would choose the beautiful
    BUTTERFLY - & CHINTZ
    and recover mum's stool and ottoman

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  5. Flea Market Fancy love this one.

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  6. What a fantastic idea for a Mothers Day gift, my Mum would adore a hand made apron. The fabric for the apron would have to be Bake Recipes in Blue, it's pretty & practical!

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  7. I would choose the Wildwood Forest print to make a little frilly apron for my friend's curious, and. inevitably messy, toddler!

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  8. Lovely apron! I would choose Heirloom in Jade. So pretty.

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  9. The apron is stunning! I'd chose flea market fancy bequest in grey.

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  10. I would choose Petite Street House - so cute.

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  11. We celebrate Mother's Day in August here (it's even just an Antwerp thing, as far as I know) so I still have some time!

    I'd choose the Wildwood fox fabric, because FOXES!

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  12. After browsing all the beautiful fabrics I think I like the Alchemy Flora Aqua best.

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  13. flea market fancy please tis gorgeous

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  14. love this would go fab in my red kitchen

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  15. I like the flea market fancy in red - the orange background is lovely and I have some of this range of fabric already - it's so pretty.

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  16. Wife would like the Cocoon Cashmere - Ruby White

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  17. There are lots of great fabric, but I think I would choose Petite Street - House - it would make a nice fabric shopping bag.

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  18. Ooh! I'd love Flea Market Fancy Bouquet in Grey. Your apron looks both lovely and very functional :) I make jam too, so I know full coverage is a necessity! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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  19. Gypsy Mum - Peri - would make some lovely cushions :)

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  20. I'm partial to half aprons myself; but this is a lovely apron! I immediately fell in love with "Enchanted Forest Snail Cream." Quirky and cute and includes my love of purple, grey and teal!

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  21. Beautiful apron! I'd love to win the Enchanted Forest Snail in cream - such a fun pattern!

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  22. beautiful apron fab job love it!!! i would love to win the enchanted forest snail in cream would be ideal!!!

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  23. Thanks for the few hapy moments I spent there browsing that fabric!! Cocoon Liv in coral would do it for me :)

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  24. Oooo I love the Chinese Lanterns!

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  25. FLY A KITE STRAWBERRY STRIPE - PINK :) love it!

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  26. This is a beautiful make! I'd choose Love & Joy Cheery- Aqua if I won, oohhh and how I'd love to win!

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  27. That's really, really cute! What a great gift! I love your dining room, too- how pretty!

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  28. Metro Living Orange
    Thanks Jane!

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  29. I love the Peacock Feathers Blush - ticks all my colour boxes!

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  30. I would love the Evening Blooms Main - Yellow! It could look great covering the throw pillows in my living room.

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  31. Fun apron! I just made myself one in a fun cat fabric. I went for full coverage too.
    What a lovely shop. I think I fell in love with this fabric! http://www.purple-stitches.com/avignon-vines-cream/

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  32. Lovely fabric! A pretty apron always cheers up the kitchen!

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  33. I love the flea market fancy bouquet in grey (and looking at the name, it now makes perfect sense why!). :) Thanks for the chance to win!

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  34. Love the apron, I think any mum would love to receive it as a gift. I'm also loving Wildwood Forest - Teal.

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  35. What a sweet gift, and a lovely giveaway. I like 'Chinese Lanterns- Grass' and would be very tempted to steal your style a little and make a vintage peter pan collared sleeveless top with it.

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  36. I would choose the Butterfly Chinz. It is gorgeous.

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  37. I would definitely get Enchanted Forest - Trees and Squirrels purple. It's super cute and I used to work at a place called Enchanted Forest :-)

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  38. So many lovely fabrics I think this one as a little summers top
    http://www.purple-stitches.com/products/wildwood-fox-cream.html
    or maybe this one
    http://www.purple-stitches.com/products/wildwood-forest-teal.html

    http://docksjo.com

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  39. I would choose STAMP - MUSTARD & GREY to make a pillow-cover for my best friend's birthday, since Mother's day is not until august here :). And nothing says quirky and fun as a stamp pillow :D (and with 1m I could make a matching one for myself as well, and we could be quirky and fun together even if we do not live in the same city anymore)

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  40. What a lovely apron, I am so after an apron make and this is a great inspiration. Being newly married with my new Foxy surname I would have to choose 'Wildwood Fox - Cream'

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  41. I love this.... http://www.purple-stitches.com/products/alchemy-flora-aqua.html

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  42. I love your apron although I agree you need to make another for your mum in law and keep that one... it ties in with your polka dot chinaware!!! How completely awesome is that!?! Same fabric only the green version would be great in my kitchen...hmm..I feel a new project, only for me this time.

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  43. Ooh, thank you for the lovely giveaway! The apron looks fabulous. It was hard to choose one favourite from the Purple Stitches website, but I think Petite Street - Flower is the winner :).

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  44. I would love campervan blue - just perfect for me!

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  45. I would go Wildwood Fox in cream...it's some foxy looking fabric! I think I'd use it to make some shorts for summer...I really want it to be summer again please!

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  46. It's a toughie! I'd go FLEA MARKET FANCY BOUQUET - GREY

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  47. I'd love bake recipe blue -it would make a fab apron.

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  48. http://www.purple-stitches.com/little-red-riding-hood-main-pink/

    This fabric is so cute! Adorable!

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  49. I like the Wildwood Forest - Teal fabric

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  50. WIND FLOWERS - STAINLESS - very pretty

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  51. Hollyfield Red and Blue. My fav.

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  52. The Wildwood Forest - Teal would be perfect!!!! Just the colour i've been looking for & our family name(mine soon too) is fox so it makes it even more special :)
    @emmav6

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  53. Petite Street Flower please .. for my first tunic dress for my little one, Thankyou.

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  54. Beautiful fabric! I really like the Enchanted Forest Snail in cream. So pretty!

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  55. I'd choose the butterfly chintz ;)

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  56. I think 'Flea Market Fancy Boutique' it's lovely:)
    http://www.purple-stitches.com/flea-market-fancy-bouquet-grey/

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  57. Ooh, lovely! I've been meaning to make an apron for ages and never got round to it. I think an apron would be really cute in the Funbot - Summer fabric. :) Thanks for the giveaway!

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  58. Great apron Jane and lucky MiL. I hadn't heard of Purple Stitches before and it's always good to learn about another online fabric shop! I'd choose Sasparilla Bandana - Teal.

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  59. Fly A Kite Floral - Yellow fab

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  60. Ooh I think Dashwood Studio's Wildwood Mushroom in Purple is v lovely, I'd take that!

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  61. I could make some really sweet stuff for my grandaughter using Tabitha. jennylarking at gmail dot com

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  62. I love how the apron goes with your polka dot dishes ) Great job!

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  63. I'd love to make something for my daughter with the Petite Street - Clouds fabric, it's beautiful!

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  64. I think I would choose Remix - Summer.

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  65. I really like the pattern of Love & Joy Dotty Birds - white

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  66. I love the 'Stamp' print in purple & orange (Prestigious Textiles) - would make a beautiful quirky skirt.

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  67. I'm not putting my name down for the giveaway, but wanted to say what a lovely apron that is!

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  68. Your apron turned out so cute.. Know your mil will love it.
    If I won, I would like the Little Red Riding Hood -Red.. So cute.

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  69. I think I would get: ENCHANTED FOREST TREES & SQUIRREL - PURPLE If I won. Thanks for the chance! ksmith8@emich.edu

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  70. I love the 'Fly a Kite' design - I'd like to make an apron for my little lady and a matching one for her teddy.

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  71. Such a cute apron! I keep meaning to make myself one before getting distracted! But if I were to make one, it'd be with the sasparilla bandana in teal... that print makes my heart sing!

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  72. http://www.purple-stitches.com/little-kukla-bright/

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  73. Petite street flower - this is lovely!
    Your apron is rather fab too!

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  74. Somehow that apron just looks like jam! It's perfect! What a lovely gift.
    If I should be so lucky; Avignon Vines- Cream.

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  75. Boys chevron blue... So beautiful!!!

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  76. The apron is lovely - good coverage for all that jam! I would choose geekly mustache and make something for my 15 yr old son. he always complains that I never make him anything (but then can't actually name anything sensible he wants).

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  77. I'd pick Evening Blooms Floral - White as I fancy making a monochrome quilt.

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  78. Oh wow, what an amazing collection! I have fallen for Love and Joy Bird Green. So sweet, and such an intense grassy colour, it really appeals to me!

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  79. Chinese Lanterns- Grass is fantastic!

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  80. Oooo, Love & Joy Bird - Aqua would be my choice. Thank you so much for this chance! :)

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  81. I would choose Campervan - Pink and give it to my mum who's Campervan mad :)

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  82. Wildwood fox fabric is so lovely

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  83. I would choose Campervan - Pink. It is absolutely wonderful!

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  84. I would go Wildwood Fox in cream...it's some foxy looking fabric! I think I'd use it to make some shorts for summer...I really want it to be summer again please!

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  85. I would go for the Petite Street - House, so cute!

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  86. I would go for Little Mushroom in white. I know I'm an adult (supposedly) but I'd love a dress out of it. Or, how about making bias tape with it, so that the inside of all my garments would be cute as a button, er, mushroom?

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  87. Oh this is such a good idea for mothers day! thanks for the thought. I would either go for the flea market bouquet in grey or the bake recipies in blue - perfect for an apron!

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  88. Wild wood mushroom in purple or mustache or modern lotus or ..... You seriously rocked the Georgia !! So inspiring

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  89. boys chevron blue! I love it! it my birthday and mothersday in the same week and my 4 year old keeps asking if she can have presents as well. I would make her and my 5 month old a simple pretty dress I think this fabric would look stunning (also have my eye on another 6 just for dresses for the girls haha) your apron looks great you should make one for yourself too the colour really suits you.

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  90. That is a glam apron! I've just taken up sewing again after a long break so it's baby steps but I'd love to do something with the Wildwood Trees multi fabric.

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  91. I would choose Wildwood Fox. Thank you.

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  92. OMG have you seen this fabric http://www.purple-stitches.com/products/geekly-tv-aqua.html AWESOME! I want to make a skirt from it!

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  93. Lovely fabric, hard choice! But the Love and Joy Daisy - Green will match my room perfectly!!

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  94. Lovely apron - not surprised you want to keep it! Lots of pretty fabrics to choose from, but I think my favourite is Petite Street Clouds. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  95. Cocoon Coral. Lovely. Thanks for the chance K xXx

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  96. Thanks so much for the giveaway! The fabrics are all so lovely--I think I like the Cypress Paisley - Blush the best!

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  97. They are all so beautiful and it's a hard decision. I would pick the Happi Chevron Stripe - Blue ☺

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  98. Goodness! I had a hard time picking just one fabric that I'd love to get! But I think the one that stood out to me most was the Enchanted Forest Snail! I have a few ideas in mind that would be really cute out of this fabric, but I think one would be a drink cozy or a tote bag!

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  99. A tough job but a fun one. really like the Fly A Kite Main - Blue

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  100. Flea Market Fancy love this one.

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  101. I would choose Campervan in blue if I was the lucky winner

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  102. Marigold pure organic cotton <3

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  103. Evening Blooms main - yellow I'm trying to brighten up my daughters bedroom, we're renting so its the classic rental magnolia everywhere!

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  104. Enchanted Forest Snail - Cream

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  105. Trees and Squirrels is wonderful!

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  106. I think I'd pick this one... http://www.purple-stitches.com/fly-a-kite-main-blue/

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  107. Really pretty fabrics - I'd like Little Kukla - shame my work seems to think the website contains "adult material" and won't let me take a proper look round!

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  108. I would love to win.. Bake Bowls - Pink :)

    Good Luck Everyone x

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  109. Cocoon Liv- Coral. My daughter would love those butterflies :)

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  110. So many to choose from! It'd have to be Kashbah - Midnight though - it's gorgeous!

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  111. Oooh, there are some lovely fabrics to choose from.
    Love the apron.
    I think I would pick Wind Flowers-Linen

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  112. Spoilt for choice! Petite Street in grey is my favourite. And I do like your apron...!

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  113. I would choose the Heirloom in Jade - gorgeous!

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  114. Too hard! But probably the Love & Joy Dotty Birds in green. :-)

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  115. Ooh, that's tricky - but think I'd choose 'Amelia's Attic Daisy - Tea Stained'

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  116. What lovely fabric! I love Campervan Blue which would look great in the bunting I'm making for my boys' room x

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  117. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  118. The wildwood forest. My daughter would love something made of this

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  119. I love the Petite Street House print! It's gorgeous! Would be perfect on a little project I'm thinking of doing :) x

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  120. I would choose Love & Joy Bird - Pink - It's so cute and would make something lovely for my daughter's bedroom.

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  121. Wildwood Forest print..i have a brilliant idea now! :D

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