Spring 2011 new apron styles ….

Yes I am thinking about spring apron styles, though you wont have to wait until spring for me to release new aprons in these styles … of course I’m months behind the fashion industry but I’ve been busy launching my new aprons for Plus Size Women business and have been pleasantly surprised at how well they have been doing. I have met so many wonderful ladies that have had great things to say in regards to finally finding attractive aprons that actually fit their plus size frames.

For the last month I have been working on an apron pattern from this pattern which is a 1970’s version of a 1920’s style, no ties in the back. This pattern calls for buttons on the shoulder tabs, but I have been working on variations that will allow for some flexibility in fit and ease of getting in and out. I am on my 3rd version of it and the day that I finished it, I put it on to see how the fit was and I didn’t take it off until bed time … I absolutely love this apron for it’s comfort. One of the modifications that I made was to add pockets, I added 1 on each side, nice big roomy ones … this is my all time favorite for serious work.






I’ve completed the pattern for an apron that is very similar to this one … there are shoulder straps that go down to the waist band in the back. To make it adjustable to fit a wider range of women, I am adding D rings at the waist so that the straps will fit through them. Once you’ve adjusted it to fit you, it’s very easy on and off and so comfortable …


I am planning on making the pattern for the red and white check in this next picture …



I do have some really fun styles in the work for Valentines and some great fabrics already in stock that I’m anxious to get started on, look for them starting in January …

and I have some thoughts for garden aprons, nice sturdy and functional aprons that you can wear while working in your gardens...

Please feel free to leave a comment or suggestion about an apron style that you would like to see me make for us plus size ladies...

as I complete the samples of the new styles, I will be posting them here http://www.timelessaprons.com/p/spring-2011-fashion-preview.html

Win a Custom Apron! Your choice of Size, Style and Color

I'm currently listed on etsy stalker from 11/10 through 12/9 in thier November shadow box. As part of this promo I am giving away a custom apron, any size, color or style. Please visit http://etsystalker.com/?page_id=13751 to participate and to find out the rules.

Aprons make great gifts, so if you don't want one yourself, there is probably someone on your gift giving list that would love to have an apron. Not only are aprons pretty but they are practical, what more can a woman ask for? Also, you don't need to know someone's exact size to get one that will fit.

So visit etsystalker today to enter to win. The drawing will be held on 12/6 so don't delay.


We have a Winner, Natalie, post #44 ....


We have been working out her fabric and style choices and within a few days I will be posting a picture of her final selection ... it is just too adorable ...

Here is the custom apron that Natalie decided on ...

Cranberry Relish

1 2/3 cups sugar
3/4 cups water
1/2 small orange
1 12 ounce package fress cranberries, washed (3 cups)
1 3-inch cinnamon stick, broken
4 whole cloves
1/4 c. brandy or curacao liqueur (optional)
I've made it with out the brandy and it is just as good!

In a heavy sausepan, combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil and boil without stirring for 3 minutes. Finely chop orange including rind. Add orange, cranberries and spices to syrup. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until cranberries break, about 4 or 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in optional brandy or liqueur. Cool; remove cinnamon and cloves. Ladle in sterlized containers; cover and refrigerate. Serve at room temperature.
Makes about 3 cups.

I’ve been making this recipe for years and it is always a hit.

Introducing: The Egg Gathering Apron

Do you have a few urban chickens?



A friend has a few chickens and she needed something that she could wear when gathering and feeding her chickens so I a made her an egg gathering apron.

The Chickens are more like pets so she likes to have her hands free to pet them and feed them raisins when gathering her eggs.



Her husband is modeling the apron while she took the pictures ;)


There are 5 pleated and lined pockets with elastic across the top edge so that the pockets will stay closed once the eggs are safely nestled inside.




You can get at least 2 chicken eggs in a single pocket.
So there is plenty of other pockets to stash treats for your hens and still have your hands free to carry a water pail or jug and to pet your girls.




Update:  Please see my more recent blog posting at http://timelessaprons.blogspot.com/2015/08/update-on-egg-gathering-apron.html

Don’t Mix Plaids with Polka dots …. Not!

Did you hear that when you were a child and starting to pick out your own clothes? I did and for many years I followed that fashion rule. It was a struggle but I finally shed those outdated fashion do’s and don’ts and have found that I love mixing prints of all kinds.

My favorite part of sewing projects is to see how many prints that I can mix together and still haqve a cohesive and coordinated look.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall …. a Story of 2 Sisters

The mirror doesn’t lie but often our eyes do deceive us. This post doesn’t have anything to do with aprons but all about our perceptions of ourselves. I need to back up a bit and let you know a little bit about me. I’ve always been large, I was a larger then average child and teen, but was I really fat? It’s hard for me to look back and decide, but yes I was at least somewhat over weight. The reason it is hard for me to know for sure is because I was always considered fat, but the reality is that I am a very large boned woman and I have broad shoulders and I grew up to be what is considered a full figured woman. Right after high school and when I was out on my own for the first time I started to loose weight and then I actually went on a pretty strict diet and was successful but the smallest I could get was 135lbs and a size 12, well if the dress had a stretchy bodice and was sleeveless .. lol .. I couldn’t get smaller then that because my body just wouldn’t let me. I did manage to stay around that weight for a couple of years but as I matured I found that it was easier on me to maintain a weight of about 145 to 155 and I did maintain that size with a few slip ups, for at least a decade or so, but as I’ve gotten older my weight has climbed and we wont discuss the rest of my store because what I really want to talk about is how we perceive ourselves and are we seeing what other people see? Every time I looked in a mirror I still saw myself as being fat, sure at times I realized that I looked pretty good but generally I still saw myself as being fat and over weight.

My sister was just the opposite, she grew up as a pretty typical size for her age and every one told her that she would never be fat. Why she believed them I really have no idea considering that both of our parents and almost all of our grandparents were way over weight. But because she believed what every one told her she never really watched her weight and as she got older she kept gaining more and more weight

One day there was a special event and she had on the most hideous dress for her size, everything about it was wrong, from the high neckline to the cinched in waist. Being a nice sister I didn’t say a word to her about it and luckily she didn’t ask for my opinion. I never learned if someone did say something to her or not but a few weeks after that out of the blue, she said to me that she didn’t have to worry about every being anorexia because every time she looks in a mirror she sees herself as still the skinny girl that she was growing up.

That comment made me think about how we perceive ourselves and how some times our eyes lie to us. I would like to say that after that I stopped seeing a fat girl in the mirror every time I looked, but that would be a lie. I do try really hard to see the truth what ever it may be, whenever I look in my mirror. OK, honestly I avoid mirrors these days. ;)

Memories

One of my fondest memory as a child was wearing one of my mother’s big, soft aprons while helping around the house. Of course I wasn’t thrilled with helping with household tasks but I certain appreciated the apron. ;)

Both my mother and grandmother were large women and they often made their own aprons. They had every day aprons and pretty hostess aprons that were wisps of nylon and lace. They both had a large stack of pretty hostess aprons in all different colors and I would oh and ah over how delicate and pretty they were.

Holiday dinner at my Grandmother’s house often centered in the kitchen; where the ladies in the family would gather to prepare and put the finishing touches on the big meals. When they changed from their work aprons to their holiday hostess aprons, we knew that it was time to start serving the dinner.