Everything Old is New Again

In today’s episode, we find Susie back in the sweatshop staring contemplatively at her stock of half aprons. “Need something else – something new – something different,” she mutters.
Rummaging through her box of patterns, Susie comes across a vintage pattern (yup, check the price: at 35 cents, that puppy HAS to be vintage)! The half apron is just what she’s looking for: new (well, really old) and different.

Vintage “Advance” pattern – just 35 cents!

She takes the plunge – she makes the apron – it’s darling!

The finished old/new apron!

When men were men, women wore aprons and notions were 19 cents!

Sometimes I crack myself up when I see the things I have in my sweatshop! I’m not one to throw something away if I think I could possibly use it at some point in time. But, that can lead to crowded spaces. Then again, it does give me a chuckle now and then.
Digging through my notions the other day, I found I still had some of my mother’s sewing notions. I’ve been using them – I really have, although they’re probably in the vintage category by now. Seriously, check out the prices on this stuff:

Before there was Velcro, there were hooks and eyes!

Can you see the football helmet?!!

Do they even make these any longer?

Takes me back to the days when ‘men were men, women wore aprons and notions were CHEAP!’

Boomer Aprons

Many ‘baby boomers’ (like yours truly) love strolling down memory lane, remembering the fun stuff and revisiting favorites. I love doing it myself and the popularity of aprons made in flashback fabrics assures me I’m not alone! Here are a few of the aprons I’ve made in these fun fabrics

I Love Lucy sexy halter apron.

Betty Boop classic full apron with triple polka dot ruffles.

Elvis half apron. Jailhouse Rock extra large pockets on a multi dot background.

Retro half gathered apron with I Love Lucy print over black and white polka dots.

‘Blue Hawaii’ ruffled full lady’s apron.

Betty Boop checkerboard print with dotted ruffles.

and here are some new prints I’ve recently found. Can’t wait to decide on the styles and trims and get going!

Farm Fun

The farm!

The farm house – a wonderful classic farmhouse with 3 floors and a cellar – tons of room for visiting grandkids to run wild!

My mom grew up on a farm in Wolverton, Minnesota, and some of my fondest memories are of the visits to her home!

Grandpa Greenfield (kneeling) with his son, Roland, and Roland’s wife, Maxine c. 1957.

My family – mom, me, Tom, Jim and Dad, visiting the farm in 1957.

Grandpa and me (on the pony) c. 1955.

Nothing better than a tractor ride with Grandpa!

And, my favorite farm pic is of mom (c.1942) weeding her garden – go, Farm Girl!

Recycle-Reinvent-Reuse

I inherited some wonderful vintage linens and handwork pieces that I love!  Those that are still in good shape, I make an effort to really use – I have a couple of Grandma’s doilies out and I use embroidered pillowcases whenever and where ever I can.  I love old tablecloths, hankies, dresser scarves and the like.  BUT, some of the pieces, while beautiful, were in poor shape due to holes, stains, or other problems.  Still, I couldn’t quite part with them and wanted to find a way to use them.  I made a few pillows incorporating beautifully embroidered scraps and, when I started making aprons, I experimented briefly with using these pieces.

One of the first used pieces from a small tablecloth to adorn the pockets of a retro-style bib apron.

A bit of rick rack – a little vintage embroidery!

Pocket detail.

I later used the remaining corner of the same apron in a similar fashion on a smock apron.

Embroidery piece appliqued onto smock pocket

A larger tablecloth had several stains that weren’t coming out, so it became a half apron.

Tablecloth/apron!