Dressaday Special

Readers of the Dressaday blog can get a free dressmaking themed collage card when they buy a pattern from my shop and use the top secret coupon code (found in today's post on Dressaday). If you are not a reader of Dressaday, why not?! Go over there now, and read, for heaven's sake.

The coupon code goes in the "notes to seller" section at checkout.

Technically, Not an Apron: LoriK's Potholders

Potholders are not aprons, but they're in the kitchen and made out of cloth, which is close enough for me (By that token I guess tablecloths and napkins are close enough for me. And placemats, and toaster cozies.) I guess they seem related to me because my mom had a matching apron and potholder set that was given to her as a gift. And in 4-H, which was where I made my first apron, I also made a matching potholder out of the same material (mint green gingham, if you care). Potholders and aprons just go together.

Anyway, LoriK has some cool potholders. Not only hamburgers, but religious icons, baking pan conversion charts, and sugar skulls. Lori told me "I began making potholders because i knew that people don't bring huge amounts to the craft fairs. It was a way people could get practical mementos to take home with them. It is also a great way to use up some scraps! Scrap quilts are great, but they can get overwhelming."

And potholders make great gifts. Maybe I only say that because I give them a lot as gifts, but they are practical, and often overlooked when someone is stocking their new kitchen. My mom made a lot of denim potholders as gifts, too. It must be genetic.

And Now For Something Completely Different: Etsy Seller IHeartMies

This is another new Etsy seller, though she's made a good start. Some of my favorite items from her store have already sold. Stephanie was kind enough to answer some questions about her art for me.

You use a lot of interesting materials in your jewelry. Where do you get them?
the architectural people are left over from my schooling and have been screaming at me to use them for a few years. i have always wanted to make them into jewelry, clocks and dishware.
its like having a little friend with you all the time.
that is why i give them names and stories in the descriptions.
i have been finding and gathering keys for years not knowing quite what to do with them.
and i like wood, so the wood pieces i have collected and gathered from other etsians

What things are important to you as you are making an item?
i really try to focus on simplicity and structure.
i find beauty in things that are simple and do not have a lot of pieces.
and i ask myself
is it functional?
does it make a noise?
will this start a conversation?
who will wear this?
is this an interesting use of material?

What are your influences or inspirations?
well my namesake iheartmies comes from my love of mies van der rohe
he was my greatest influence during my architectural education and still continues to be.
and i really like wood
in a strange way that influences me quite a bit
as i strive to make nice simple modern things with wood

How has your life experience influenced your work?
my architectural background has definitely influenced my work as it gave me a sense of purpose.
that is when i learned importance of function and form.
it is also how i discovered my aesthetic.
and finally it helped me address my disdain for capital letters.

How did you discover Etsy?
from a design blog, i forget which one but it was a link to some cool wood jewelry.
then i just looked around at it for months.
then i started buying stuff
then i started making things
then i started selling things

Click the banner or the jewelry to visit her shop.

Eye Candy for Apron Lovers

Here are some blogs that showcase aprons. All have met my stringent "ooh, pretty" requirements.

Tie One On

The Apronista

Apron a Day (and she posts pics from a lot of Etsy sellers, too!)

Frills, Frocks, and Fancies

Etsy Seller DianasDarnings' Aprons

This is my favorite apron from DianasDarnings. Not only is it blue and brown, which is my current favorite color combination, bu it has big pockets (I love pockets). I also like the clean lines and that her aprons aren't over-the-top frilly.

Diana told me "I'm inspired by my brothers. That sounds a little strange, but I have four of them, I'm the only girl. My mom is a HUGE tom boy. Growing up, I tried really hard to not be a tom boy and was in the kitchen helping a lot. It's important to me to embrace my femininity, so I try to feel pretty while cooking and in the kitchen. I think my aprons do the trick."

Click on the apron to visit Diana's shop.

(On a personal note: I am glad to see someone who doesn't confuse "feminine" and "frilly". Not that frilly things aren't feminine, but they aren't the whole definition of feminine, either.)

Etsy Seller Diamondmeenah's Aprons

These aprons on Etsy caught my eye. Not only does the seller make them from scraps, one of my favorite materials to work with, she sews them completely by hand, which boggles my mind. A couple are even made of recycled clothing.

I asked Julie Ann about her aprons, and she had this to say:
"I don't believe in things that can't be used for the purpose they were intended for. If all you can do with something is look pretty, to me it's pointless (with very few exceptions, since I've got a rather large collection of other wise pointless ceramic frogs). In the case of aprons, the reason most people wear them is to protect their clothing. With this in mind, my aprons are designed for people who craft with messy stuff as well as cooks who cook like me; I wear as much as I get into the pot or onto the plate.

The aprons are all made of scraps of fabric literally quilted together as you would a quilt for your bed. They are normally a bit irregular in their shape due to using scraps and a homemade pattern, but the are very durable. More often than not, you'll tear the fabric before you'll rip out my stitches. I use two pieces of thread when I sew instead of one like a sewing machine does. I also do what I believe is called a blanket stitch on the edges of the fabric to prevent it from fraying. I'm not sure of the stitch name because I taught myself to sew by looking at clothing seams and copying what I saw. I simply call the edging stitch a 'no fray stitch' because the fabric doesn't fray when I do it.

The aprons are designed as wearable art that you can take off and clean the counter or floor with if you need to. Any stains you acquire just add to the aprons charm, and they are designed that way. They are also designed for those with physical limitations like arthritis or a disability of some sort. Most of my apron ties will wrap around and tie in the front of most body types. So, if you've got arthritis, you don't need to strain yourself trying to tie the apron in the back when you can much more easily tie it in the front. This also works great for wheelchair users who find knots in the middle of their back as uncomfortable as I do. The straps are wider than the standard apron straps to make it easier to grip with arthritic or wet hands. The neck straps are also wider so that they don't cut into your neck with extended periods of wear and it's also easier to get over a freshly done head of hair, or not tangle in really long hair."

I like her philosophy on things being useful and practical. I know it is something I try for in my store. I don't have anything of purely decorative function. I don't consider toys purely decorative, since play is important for children, and sometimes for adults. :) Click on the apron to visit her shop and see the other aprons available.

Free Apron Patterns!

I looked up some free apron patterns online for everyone's edification. Some are plain, some are less so, and a couple are vintage!

Quilt Block Apron (girls): http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/quilt-block-apron.shtml

Plain Historical Apron : http://www.1771.org/cd_apron.htm

One Yard Apron: http://sewing.about.com/od/aprons/ss/oneyardapron.htm

Apron Bonnet Pattern (vintage) : http://tipnut.com/vintage-apron-bonnet-pattern/

Make your own vintage style apron pattern: http://www.girlistic.com/diy/apron.htm

Ten Vintage Apron Patterns (must be printed in miniature and transferred by hand onto grid paper. It would be a pain, but they are pretty cool.): http://www.dorothyshomegoods.com/articles.php?tPath=12

Oh, and a bonus oven mitt pattern: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/oven-mitts.shtml

Also I found this excerpt from a vintage sewing lesson book on aprons:

" Did you ever stop to consider how many different kinds of aprons there were? A great, big, roomy, coverall apron for mother when guests are expected and important things are happening in the kitchen. A wee bit of a lace apron for the person who is in charge of the tea-urn at five o'clock. A smart bungalow apron to make household duties seem pleasant, and a rather petty apron with deep pockets for the sewing room. And, of course, sweet little aprons for the kiddies—gaily colored and bound with an almost grown-up regard for smartness."