| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| shelley ginger |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 05:02:39 AM
[black][size=3]Hi Everyone...
Lately, I've come across some pretty nifty aprons out there and I realized that there are b'zillions of styles and colors.
What used to be a staple in every home and a "signature piece" for Moms everywhere slowly got set aside for a time. It is sooo nice to see them making a resounding comeback.
My favorite one and the one that I reach for most often is best described as a navy blue heavy cotton "smock" style. It goes over the head nicely covering front and back and tieing on the sides at the waist. It has two pockets in the front that are great catch alls.
I'm pretty casual when it comes to aprons. If it's practical I love it!!
I have a couple of pretty ones...but guess what?? They're too pretty to use, lol. I'm afraid that I'll get them dirty. Sigh. 
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CabinCreek-Kentucky |
Posted - Nov 25 2005 : 09:24:27 AM
i especially love my homespun check aprons from the 1800's .. but i also have some wonderful red/white ones that are quite olde and charming too. these are more 'woven' than like the later printed ones. i have lots and lots of 'printed feedsack aprons' too .. but have slowly and surely released those to friends and my treasure seekers. |
| Coffee and a Muffin |
Posted - Aug 15 2005 : 9:05:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by TheSoapMaven
Here's a picture of my past and present favorite aprons! I have some lovely vintage aprons that were mine that my granny made me...even one my great granny made me. My girls all have aprons made for them by me or their grandmas. I NEED the full coverage kind! Messy, messy cook!
Blessings & Bliss!.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ .·´ -:¦:-~Susan~
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´*
Wife, Mother, Natural Woman, Savonnière, Writer, Baker, Gardener.
Wife to Jerry for 27+ years
Mom to Zach, Gesikah, Nathan, Hannah, Rachel and Benjamin
Yetta to Sam
Proprietress of Dahlem's Soapworks
http://www.thesoapmaven.com
"It's no bad thing to celebrate a simple life" ~ Bilbo Baggins
Oh, Susan! I just now saw these pics of you as a child! How utterly adorable!!! |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jul 30 2005 : 08:20:01 AM
Isn't it amazing that if we had not shared our love for aprons, some of these stories would not have been told?
I love realme's story of her aunt. I really believe that we have that brief chance to say good-bye when our spirit flies.
Bramble, I also loved your story, because it speaks of the very real way children have of sifting the wheat from the chaff!
Meadowlark - your story is so full of the love your husband has for you, and it gently shows.
Thank you all so much for sharing and I hope that MJF uses some of these stories in her apron book or mag issue. They are wonderful.
jpbluesky
Heartland girl |
| mollymae |
Posted - Jul 30 2005 : 07:15:18 AM
Bramble, I loved your story, that is so adorable!!!!
Cead Mile Failte,
Molly
"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the Aching or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain" ~Emily Dickinson
**When life throws scraps your way ~ Make a Quilt!**
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
| sleepless reader |
Posted - Jul 29 2005 : 11:31:47 PM
Bramble and Realme, wonderful stories! I just found my childhood "Christmas Apron" today while cleaning the tablecloth drawer. I think it will still fit my daughter by Christmas. If not...well, I'll be sewing! I made an outdoor chore apron for myself today. I have a great pattern for a full, covers from neck-to-knees apron. I made it, then turned up the bottom 1/3 and stiched it into a giant pocket. I decided to "subdivide the pocket, and now there are three big pockets on the front. I may make more and try to get a few of them into a friend's shop.
Sharon |
| realme52 |
Posted - Jul 29 2005 : 5:15:10 PM
Bramble, that story is so heartwarming! I'm sitting here with a big smile on my face. How all these people must have loved you! You are truely blessed.
And yes, I found comfort in my aunt's "visit". It always seemed the most "natural" thing to me: she crossed the miles as soon as she could to (like you said) let me know it was all right.
from this hour i ordain myself loss'd of limits and imaginary lines -Walt Whitman |
| bramble |
Posted - Jul 29 2005 : 4:49:39 PM
I love all your apron stories, they are just so personal and special to each of you, thanks for sharing! Susan your pictures made me smile!
Realme52 I believe your Aunt came to tell you she was going away and that it was alright. Did you find comfort in the "visit"?
Here is another story that I hope will make you all smile. My Mom was 8 mths. pregnant with me when my Dad was sent to Iceland. No one in the family thought she should be alone so close to her due date so she went to live with her favorite sister and her family. There were 2 boys, 4 girls, my Mom and Aunt and one very crabby Uncle always yelling. After I came home from the hospital I must have gotten used to all the women taking care of me (in their aprons) and I would cry whenever someone approached me without an apron! Boy cousins wore aprons, big 6'6 Uncles...wore aprons, visiting neighbor men...wore aprons! When my very shy German Grandfather came to see me for the first time they say that he didn't even come into the house until he had put an apron on because he didn't want my first memory of him
to be a bad one! He turned out to be one of the dearest people to me I have ever known and if he hadn't put on the apron I might have never found that out! My Dad came back just before Christmas the next year (I had just turned 1) and he too had to wear the apron!
Thank goodness it didn't last any longer once I was walking and talking ,I guess I figured I could escape the "apron free" person!
We talked about my "lack of apron" phobia some years ago and we all came to the conclusion that as a baby I must have figured out that the apron people were the "good" people and the apronless (my yelling uncle) were the bad! Some things never change , hey girls?!!!
And in case you are wondering...you may now approach me apronless and I won't have a fit! So ladies.. we have to chalk this apron story up to the men in my family who loved me enough to " put on the apron" to keep the peace!
with a happy heart |
| realme52 |
Posted - Jul 26 2005 : 1:01:17 PM
Thank you all for the feedback! I love your comments. I have not told this story to anyone in 20years. Thank you for letting me share it with you.
from this hour i ordain myself loss'd of limits and imaginary lines -Walt Whitman |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 25 2005 : 11:29:35 PM
wow..the Aunt Eli story gave me goosebumps...what an experience!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Jul 25 2005 : 8:35:35 PM
Realme52, A very powerful story...Your Great Aunt Eli was a strong spirit...I believe. Strange that you could not locate that apron...
The flowers flee from Autumn, but not you-
You are the fearless rose that grows amidst the freezing wind. Rumi |
| mollymae |
Posted - Jul 25 2005 : 6:26:55 PM
Wow Realme52, I LOVE that story!!
Cead Mile Failte,
Molly
"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the Aching or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain" ~Emily Dickinson
**When life throws scraps your way ~ Make a Quilt!**
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
| cheryl sisk |
Posted - Jul 25 2005 : 6:01:11 PM
i love all your apron storys thats what life is all about. they make me smlie iam working on 2 new ones i have a 1950s christams one i found at a rummage sale cheryl sisk |
| realme52 |
Posted - Jul 25 2005 : 5:47:12 PM
My favorite apron is only available to me in my memories. But there it will never fade, tear or get stained. It is a simple jet elegant white cotton apron with a completely rectangular bib and a very long straight skirt (the kind that oldfashioned housemaids used to wear). It was worn by my great-aunt Elli who raised me when I was a small child and my mother was off to work. She ALWAYS had it ironed and starched so heavily that I was sure the apron would stand up straight when Elli took it off. The starch was so strong that it surrounded Elli with a cloud of starchy scent wherever she went. Many years later, I was all grown up and had a family of my own, I woke up one morning and the scent of starch lingered in the air. I immediately thought of my aunt. I was 500miles away from her. A moment later the telephone rang. It was my mother who informed me that Elli had died in the early morning hours. I knew: she had "come to see me" before she left this world and the scent of starch was her way to let me know....(by the way, we never found the apron when sorting through her belongings!)
from this hour i ordain myself loss'd of limits and imaginary lines -Walt Whitman |
| shelley ginger |
Posted - Jul 24 2005 : 4:34:46 PM
Susan...sweet, cute and A-dorable!! ...and just like Aunt Jenny said..."now and then"!!
Hugs...Shelley
ps...I'm on a mission to find a great vintage apron pattern.
We'll be friends until we're blue in the hair. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 24 2005 : 4:09:54 PM
cute cute cute...now and then!!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Jul 24 2005 : 09:01:44 AM
Susan you are a diva!!!! That red gingham is precious! You are lovely! Thank you for sharing!
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. http://www.xs4all.nl/~josvg/cits/sb/sb101.html |
| mollymae |
Posted - Jul 24 2005 : 06:56:48 AM
Susan, how adorable!!! I LOVE your red gingham one! Thanks for sharing the pictures 
Cead Mile Failte,
Molly
"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the Aching or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain" ~Emily Dickinson
**When life throws scraps your way ~ Make a Quilt!**
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
| TheSoapMaven |
Posted - Jul 24 2005 : 06:29:38 AM
Here's a picture of my past and present favorite aprons! I have some lovely vintage aprons that were mine that my granny made me...even one my great granny made me. My girls all have aprons made for them by me or their grandmas. I NEED the full coverage kind! Messy, messy cook!
Blessings & Bliss!.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ .·´ -:¦:-~Susan~
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´*
Wife, Mother, Natural Woman, Savonnière, Writer, Baker, Gardener.
Wife to Jerry for 27+ years
Mom to Zach, Gesikah, Nathan, Hannah, Rachel and Benjamin
Yetta to Sam
Proprietress of Dahlem's Soapworks
http://www.thesoapmaven.com
"It's no bad thing to celebrate a simple life" ~ Bilbo Baggins
|
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Jul 23 2005 : 10:10:45 AM
That is cute Holly! Your apron sounds really unique!
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. http://www.xs4all.nl/~josvg/cits/sb/sb101.html |
| ArmyWifey |
Posted - Jul 23 2005 : 09:28:53 AM
I would love to make a big old fashioned one but the one I have right now is a camo one.
It's a BDU top that's been cut to make an apron with the collar intact. It has stars on the collar and says Household Six on the chest pocket. IT's a running joke in the Army.......see the commander's call sign in the field is _____ Six (as in Cougar Six, etc) so Household Six is the joke for your personal commander being your wife.
Blessings,
Holly
¸...¸ __/ /\____ ____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | | | | | | || |l±±±± |
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
|
| FarrarFarmgirl |
Posted - Jul 22 2005 : 6:42:36 PM
I bet that will be a really good way to make an apron - half the work is already done and you already have the straps built in. It would actually be a really cute working apron! :o)
Share pictures of it or at least how you did it when you get it done, you just might be onto something. Good luch with your re-construction and fun apron!
Blessings on your creativity.
In His hands,
Lynda
Pray in faith and you will not live in doubt. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 22 2005 : 5:52:57 PM
I have been thinking of making a working apron (for shearing, milking and like that) from an old pair of my overalls. Hate to part with overalls no matter how bad they get...the knees and leg bottoms usually get the most worn out..heck..plenty left for an apron!!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jul 22 2005 : 1:55:44 PM
Wow, lynda - I just thought through a lot of things with you reading that post! That is a great gift idea for your son - how perfect for a new chef! And a wonderful story about the matching aprons from your grandma. Aprons surely mean a lot more than we give them credit for huh?
jpbluesky
Heartland girl |
| FarrarFarmgirl |
Posted - Jul 22 2005 : 12:42:44 PM
Meadowlark & JP, if there were a contest for best apron story - you would both win hands down, they are both so sweet and endearing. Thanks for sharing such special memories.
I don't know that I have a favorite apron I wear. There are 6-8 aprons hanging on a hook in the kitchen, so which ever one is on top is the one that gets my attention first. I have a few that I bought at yard sales, one that is a leftover from working at a meat shop and then 3 that I made. They are all mostly butcher style aprons - my favorite kind.
I have one that someone made by taking the backside of a pair of jeans, hemmed around the edge and added a nice wide cotton ruffle. They made the tie long enough so that it strings through the belt loops and ties around the back. The back pockets are still in tact. It is the cutest thing - I don't wear it.
My absolutely favorite apron is way too small for me. I have it saved among my personal treasures. It is one that my grandmother made for me when I was a little girl. It is varigated green and purple striped with paisley print scattered all over. It's a half apron and then she made a matching one for the doll I had at the time. It was the greatest thing. Grandma is now in heaven so I will cherish her gift to me always. The gift was so much more than the apron because I know each stitch was sewn with love, little did she know all the memories of her that are wrapped in that apron as well. It is so special to me and it will be passed on to my daughter with as much love.
I don't know if they will ever be favorites, but in an effort to revive the use of aprons, that has become my standard wedding gift. I make at least one for the bride, but if I know the groom enjoys sharing the kitchen, I make a matching set for the couple. It's fun to do and I hope that it's not just a cover-up to use when they cook, but a "kitchen tool" they can use to create many memories for their own family through the years.
Here's an idea that can help create a lot of fun and special memories to use with your families. I do this for brides-to-be at Pampered Bride shows. I give the bride-to-be an apron with fabric markers and each of the guests at the shower sign the apron.
Wouldn't it be a great idea for a birthday party for your son or daughter/grandchildren? Make a special birthday apron, the kids could make their own treats with simple recipes (personal pizzas or decorate cupcakes), and then they all sign the birthday child's apron. Of course, all of this is supervised with mom in the kitchen. Or you could be real energetic and make an apron for each of the kids to take home with a take-home bag of some of the treats they made. I think it would be so much fun to do. Or you could do the same thing for any other family member's milestone celebrations, especially if you have a family that likes to cook like ours does. You could date it and write what the menu was or who brough what dish and then have it signed by everyone. The possibilities (and memories/traditions) are endless.
Oh, Wow! I just realized something....that's a perfect gift to give our son, who just became a chef, for his 21st birthday!! You know how hard it is to buy for kids sometime, okay, he's not exactly a "kid" anymore, but you know what I mean.
Well,we are having a huge backyard BBQ for him with about 100 friends and family. I can make and extra long apron and have everyone there sign it with special birthday greetings on one side and match it up with a chef print on the other side. Oh, thank you ladies for letting me think this through and come up with a memorable gift idea for him. I don't think I would have come up with that idea if I hadn't been wrtiting this post. I owe it all to you all! I'm so excited! I can't wait to get home from work so I can dig out the sewing machine. Whoo-hoo!! :o) (Oh dear, that means I'll have to go to JoAnns.....again.) LOL
Have a most blessed day.
In His hands,
Lynda |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Jul 22 2005 : 09:49:10 AM
Love reading all these apron stories...JP your turkey gravy stained apron story brought tears to my eyes. An apron like that signifies home, motherhood and love...
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. http://www.xs4all.nl/~josvg/cits/sb/sb101.html |
