Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Kiss the cook

I often have fantasies about being "that" mom. You know, the one who sits on the PTA council; bakes cookies for class; comes up with fabulous, fun, MacGyver-esque crafts on a whim to do with her kids; and is always prepared with unique, hand-crafted gifts for the teacher, the bus-driver and the daycare lady. You know... that mom. The one we all secretly love to hate.

Despite my most sincere moderate efforts though, more often than not, I'm not that mom. I forget to check stuff (like, you know... the calendar?), I fall behind, and more often than I care to admit, Émilie and Maxime go off to school/daycare with gifts/cookies/accessories bought at the last minute (I'm talking "at the convenience store on the way to the bus" kind of late). Or worse, with no gifts/cookies/accessories AT ALL, and all because I couldn't manage to get my s%*t together on time (hate that).

Not this time, my friends. This time, I AM that mom. In fact, I'm SO that mom that "that" mom? She can just go home and make herself a nice cocktail. Move it along, babe. I've got it under control.

Émilie is starting a cooking class today in school and needed an apron. Did I buy her one? No. Put off buying one and just stuff her "house" apron in her bag? Nope. I made her one. Even though I don't "really" sew, and I've never worked with a proper sewing pattern in my whole, entire life, Émilie will be making her culinary debut this afternoon in a brand-new, one of a kind, made-specifically-for-her-by-her-Supah-Mothah-who-loves-her-to-itty-bitty-bits, apron. Behold, the stuff of kitchen greatness:




Pattern: Children's Apron (McCall's M6298)
Fabric: Riley Blake Designs Sweet Divitiny Sweet Flower (apron and ties) Kona Cotton Cactus (face and ruffle) and miscellaneous pink scraps (pocket and appliqué detail)

It's not perfect, and I know that making it doesn't qualify me for mother of the year or anything. But Émilie is really happy with it, and the fact that I made it for her feels as though I could be a contender for that award, you know? My kid needed something, and I delivered. I lived up to her expectations and - more importantly - my own. And that feels really, really good.



Happy Making, Everyone!

15 comments:

Chantal Boucher said...

hé..! Mais tu es remplie de talents!! Est-ce que le tablier aide à aimer popoter? parce que je me mets à ma machine à coudre tout de suite pour mon fils! lol!! ...il a 13 ans et a bien d'autres préoccupations!

kate-the-enabler said...

Magnifique - she looks delighted, and you, I can tell, are pretty proud, as you should be. It's adorable.
As you know, I have delusions of being THAT mother too (hommemade bread, yogurt and granola...sigh) congratulations on the project!!

Knit and Purl Mama said...

Wow... wow.... wow!

Mother of the year!

You rock. It's awesome. Looks like she loves it!

I try to be one of "those" moms too... sometimes it happens... and sometimes life just gets in the way...

Celia said...

That apron absolutely gorgeous!!

There is a commercial with the line, "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent." That's so true.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CQ29BCMb2g

Dawn said...

Oh my gosh that apron is so incredibly adorable!

Alrischa said...

A bright green cat! Awww... I have to learn to use that dratted machine out in the store room some day...

Hope she gave you your kiss for it!

Dad said...

A beautiful young lady, all wrapped up and prepped for the day in a mother's love. Is there anything better? Hugs to you both, with a tear in my eye...

Maryse said...

It's super cute! Nice fabric and I love the details like the pocket and ruffles! Good work!

Mrhide said...

Perhaps I'll let you try the Pfaff soon ;)

Cynthia F said...

Awwww! She loks so sweet and what a cute pattern!! You did an awesome job on it and love the fabric you used!

Tim Landry said...

My dear Tara - you are "Mother of the CENTURY" at the very least. It is FABULOUS

Sinéad said...

It DOES qualify you for mother of the year. Absolutely it does. It's really really gorgeous! I adore the smiley cat and the ruffled bottom on it! I bet Émilie just loves it. Fair play to you for finishing it on time! You deserve a big cocktail for that, or a Jameson's for St. Patricks Day. :)

Laurie said...

TOTALLY amazing!!! You rock the mom world!!! I think I never had kids because I knew my chances of being "that mom" were, well...less than nil...

audrey said...

Adorable :)

chudoland said...

I have talent! :-) Emily is so pretty! In russian we say: you have gold hands