Aprons are one of my first sewing memories. Every spring, my grandmother (Ethel) would send a box of handmade aprons for our elementary school fair. I remember watching my mother (Dora) unpack that box, pulling out hundreds (or so it seemed to me) of fanciful aprons. Gingham checks and calicos. Rick rack and appliques. The creativity expressed on such a simple canvas stays with me to this day.
Of course, times and fashions change; women left their aprons behind and moved on. Tying on an apron became a metaphor for tying oneself down. A pity. There may not be much glamour in prepping a meal or cleaning up, but why not look and feel good doing it!
Aprons offer a unique opportunity to combine the frivolous with the functional, and, at a reasonable cost. (Those Jimmy Choos are fun, but….) And putting on a stylish apron might just inspire some untapped domestic creativity to share with friends and family. After all, the kitchen has always been the most popular gathering place in the home.
So, tie on an apron and make some cookies, a gourmet meal, or just heat up some pizza, Invite the neighbors and create some memories. I think it’s these simple memories, created in the everyday moments, that stay with us for a lifetime and give our lives a wonderful texture.