Posts Tagged ‘apron’

Posted by Colleen     June 8, 2009

Girls Just Wanna Win Swag: Bags by AnnieG. Apron Giveaway

This week’s featured company is Bags by AnnieG. The store’s owner and designer AnnieG. specializes in creating vintage, shabby and retro style aprons, handbags, market bags and laundry bags for women and little girls. I asked Annie a few questions about her business.

What inspired you to design these products and start your own business?

I’ve loved sewing ever since I can remember. I got sidetracked for many years when I had to go to work and raise kids. About fifteen years ago I took a quilt class and fell in love with it. That’s where I learned to pay attention to detail! While learning to quilt, another class was being offered on fabric handbag making. I took it, loved it, and that was the beginning of my passion. I started my website thinking all I’d be offering would be handbags and totes. Well……….my shabby chic loving daughter bought me a book by Christina Strutt called Romantic Home Sewing. I made the classic apron that’s illustrated and then made a few more for my daughter to sell in her shop. Before I knew it, I was completely hooked by aprons and all they represent. Now aprons are by far the best seller on Bags By Annie G.

How do you fuel your creativity?

My creativity is fueled in so many ways, but primarily by memories of being in the kitchen as a little girl in the late 40’s and 50’s. Ours was a house filled with mostly women…..Mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt…and not one of them would think of doing anything in the kitchen without an apron on. I can remember almost every apron that was worn and that’s what I draw on when I’m creating a pattern for one of my vintage style aprons. I also get inspired by some of the terrific magazines that are out there now as well as books on the history of the apron in American culture.

What sets your store and products apart from the others out there?

I think what sets my products apart from others is, like I said before, the attention I pay to detail and the fact that not only are my creations pretty to look at, they are very practical and easy to care for, two things that are very important to today’s busy mom. Just a couple examples would be that I pre-wash all the fabrics and I do not use trims that will not hold up in a washer or dryer.  I make every order as if I were making it for myself and I take a lot of pride in what I do.

Annie’s attention to detail is evident in one of her favorite aprons, The Blue Barefoot Roses Vintage Style Chef Apron.

The apron has simple classic lines that never go out of style. The pockets are lined, turned down, and finished off with vintage buttons. I use vintage buttons wherever possible for my aprons and my handbags. The neck and waist ties are plenty long to make this apron adaptable for most sizes and I’ve finished this project off with my signature bow on one of the neck ties. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t make a fashion statement in the kitchen!

Win It!

Annie is giving away your choice of an apron from her shop to one lucky reader. To enter visit Bags by AnnieG., then come back here and leave a comment on this post with your favorite item (not mentioned above) from the store. The giveaway is open to internationally. Enter by Midnight June 16th.

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Posted by Colleen     February 12, 2009

These are not your Grandmother’s Aprons

Aprons are back in a big way! Not only are they practical when it comes to staying clean and dry in the kitchen, doing housework, even giving your kids a bath, they’re hot! I mean have you seen all the flirty aprons out there?

This is my favorite apron because it’s the only one I have.

(Hey, this picture isn’t bad when you consider my four yr. old took it.) I love my apron because it’s pink, it’s pretty and it’s made out of oil cloth. The oil cloth wipes clean, and water and splatters don’t soak through.

I wouldn’t mind having a sexy apron like this from Carolyn’s Kitchen though.

Comfort Joy Designs is giving one away. Head on over to enter and win.

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Posted by Colleen     January 27, 2009

Sew Easy Even I Could Make It Kid’s Apron

David has been bugging me to make an apron for him ever since I started my apron project back in – well – September and it’s – ahem- still not quite finished yet.

Anyway, I found this sew easy (pun intended) kid’s apron tutorial online last night after he asked me again for an apron.

It took me less than 2 hours to make the apron. And at least 30 minutes of that was spent trying to remember how to wind the bobbin on my infrequently used sewing machine. I also had a lot of interruptions, like having to explain to David about a million times why he shouldn’t put his fingers near the rapidly moving needle. So someone who knew what they were doing, and didn’t have a curious child to fend off, could make this in less than an hour easily.

Granted it’s completely imperfect and would not win any big purple ribbons at the 4-H fair, but David thinks it’s fantastic. And he thinks I’m fantastic because I made it for him. That’s all the really counts!

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Posted by Colleen     September 18, 2008

Misadventures in Sewing

Well, the project sat on the corner of my kitchen table for several days, but I finally got out my sewing machine and started putting it together.

No, I’m not sewing my own bikini. It’s the beginnings of an apron. There are all these great blogs dedicated to the pursuit of cute and flirty aprons, The Apronista, Confessions of an Apron Queen, The Secret Stitch Club and many more. It looked so fun, and I wanted in on it.

Now, I read somewhere that an apron is a good, simple project for the beginner. But I think I went out and bought the most difficult apron pattern ever devised by man. I envisioned cutting out one large piece of fabric and maybe adding some ties and few embellishments.

As usual my lack of attention to detail (The reason there are so many typos in my posts. To think I once was an editor.) got the best of me. I didn’t study the pattern very well before I purchased it. I just thought the pictures on the front were pretty. When I got the pattern home I discovered that these aprons were rather complex with all sorts of bands, and trims, and a myriad of other little pieces. They’re more like dresses with out backs.

As you can see, I’ve managed to get something together that resembles the top. The trim on one side is wider than the other, because I didn’t fully understand the directions when I began the execution. Hmm, it looks better in the photo than up close.

I also forgot to change the thread in my sewing machine from white to black initially. I know, amateur mistake. Look, I still have to read the diagram on the machine every time to remember how to thread it.

Well, do you know how I took care of that white thread?

Black Sharpie.

Yep.

I colored over the white stitching with a permanent marker.

Oh, yeah!

I am so resourceful.

The ties were my next dilemma. I sewed two inside out, then I was supposed to turn them so the seams were on the inside. The stinkin’ things are so narrow, it was almost impossible to turn them. After 10 minutes of trying, I found some polka dot ribbon scraps I had, and used those. I just just have no patience for things like that.

I have to say as bad as I am at sewing, I’m having fun, and already thinking about what to make next.

After I finish this.

Next year sometime.

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Posted by Colleen     September 12, 2008

Win an Apron from Carolyn’s Kitchen

Didn’t win my Carolyn’s Kitchen giveaway last week? Head on over to MomDot.com for another chance to win one of Carolyn’s Aprons.

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Posted by Colleen     August 14, 2008

Vintage Thingies Thursday

I found this apron at a thrift store. I’m not sure how vintage this is. The tag said it was old and collectible, and it only cost $3, so I figured why not? I thought at first it was homemade on a sewing machine, but taking a closer look I think it was factory made. I thought one of you might have an idea of how old it really is. Anybody have an idea?

Visit Confessions of an Apron Queen for more Vintage Thingies!

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