A Note On Aprons

My grandfather gave me a little story recently on the history of aprons. I have been thinking for a while that I needed to add some mother and daughter aprons to my store, and this has really inspired me to get started on that for the new year. So, I share my inspiration with all of you:

I don't think kids today know what an apron is.

The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few. It was easier to was aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occassion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the wather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.
These big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields for dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.
Remember the love the aprons in your past hold.

So I leave you with that thought today. Aprons coming soon!

It's a Brand New Day

I am feeling very free and happy today because I am getting a much-needed day off. I have been gone or busy for the past two weekends, so my usual super-duper housecleaning routine has been interrupted. Which means basically that my house is a disaster area. Add to that the fact that I have been rearranging (again) and the house is driving me crazy.
I have been noticing for awhile that no matter what I did, my crafting space was a big jumble. I can't create in a messy space-all I can think about is cleaning it up! So I decided to jump in and reorganize. I moved my drafting table to the other side of the living room and put up two shelves above it, which got alot of the stuff of the table top. And I must say, I am pretty proud. I put the shelves up all by myself and even though it took at least two hours (much longer than if hubby J had done it), they are straight, they are sturdy, and I actually managed to hit wall studs with most of the screws. So here's hoping they don't collapse on me one day. LOL Death by craft supply-I guess there are worse ways to go?
Anyway, I have been working on some adorable baby booties and even managed to get one pair listed. Check them out at my Etsy store. Also, I bought some yarn and have been crocheting up a storm. I haven't crocheted in a long time, so it was fun to pick that up again.
And I was featured in a gift guide! Check it out here: http://livinginspired365.blogspot.com/2008/12/gift-guide-3-sugar-plum.html That little plum ring has really been popular! This has been a great week-my first treasury (other than my own), my first feature on someone else's blog, and the people who bought from me really like their stuff! Yay! I think I will go crochet some more!