New Apron Discovery!

Lucky for me the woman at the Sabbatus Antique Mall recognized me when she came shopping at Fort Andross. And super lucky for me that, when she leanred on that chance visit that I make vintage-inspired aprons, she put aside a special apron she thought might interest me.

My husband and I are regular visitors at her antique market where there can be found a wonderful variety of vintage and antique goodies. We make the occasional foray further a field to check out other markets but always find that her market is the most fun and has items we would like (and do) buy, all at reasonable prices. I’ve bought vintage aprons from her in the past and have used one to recreate an apron that I currently sell.

Upon walking in her door on a recent rainy Sunday she saw us and immediately said, “I wondered when you’d be back. I have something for you!”  That was an intriguing way to begin our visit. She pulled out a paper bag and first extracted a pile of vintage fabric that turned out to be two unfinished basic aprons. The ties were made, the pieces cut out and they were ready for assembly. Tempting, very tempting. But what she showed me next was the most exciting: an old apron made in a style I’ve never seen before. When I held it in my hand it resembled a pile of fabric more than an apron but once I put it on I realized it’s great potential and one that is totally unlike the other aprons I make. This one should be adaptable to any adult body size because of its fundamental feature: it’s a wrap. Think mink stole (without the dead animal – faux mink stole, please) as if it was hung around the neck. Those two sections that hang down in front make up the apron! Ties on one section secure the apron to tie in the back and the two sections in front can be adjusted to fit just about anyone. Quite ingenious!

I’m calling it Wrap it Up! and if I had to venture a guess, I’d say the original is an apron from the 40’s or 50’s. I love this apron. It’ll be fun to see how it looks made with different fabrics and even more fun to see how people like it. I'd love to know what you think so please let me know.

Warp it Up!

 

Yo Momma's Aprons & the Common Ground Country Fair??

 Well, I'm seriously thinking about it. 

We made our biennial pilgrimage to Unity this weekend to walk and walk, talk and talk and eat and eat. If any of my readers aren't familiar with the Common Ground Country Fair, I'll summarize in a few quick words: sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA, as it's more simply called) it’s "an event like no other, that brings together so many people from so many walks of life, all in the spirit of celebrating the rural and agricultural traditions of Maine.
Want to learn how a basket is created from log to finished product? You can see that here. What to see to yarn spun, rugs hooked, sheep sheared, solar water created, bees habitat(ed), sheep herded and on and on? You can see all of that here and more. It is a celebration of life and community and is an experience not to be missed. So, we don't miss it. You can get a taste of what it's all about by taking this Virtual Fair Tour.
Next year Zoe and I are thinking seriously about applying for next year's three-day event. There are many crafts people and small business owners exhibiting their goodies and I think my aprons and Zoe's jewelry a prefect fit. A few of my fellow Marketeers are already hard at it and feel it is an event quite worth the time, effort and exhaustion.
Any hesitation I feel is due to the fact that I will have to have a lot of aprons. Actually, more than a lot and the thought how to build a deep inventory of aprons while maintaining my market presence and craft fair participation is daunting. But right now I'm feeling like, "What the heck? Jump in and give it a try."
How to have enough aprons for some unknown percentage of the gazillions of people who will pass by our booth and will want to buy one? 

I need a plan. Gotta think about that.

Quick Note on Today's Freeport Community Market

For anyone looking for Yo Momma's Aprons Strings or Anne Bonny's Booty on this perfectly lovely Maine summer day, please note that the market hours have been tweaked a bit:

Start: 1 PM
End: 6 PM

This is to accommodate the showing of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" on L.L.Bean's Discovery Park. This is free to the public and, from what I saw of the setup last week, looks to be quite a production. A perfect summer's evening entertainment after our perfect market day.

Come and experience a full day's entertainment in Freeport today.

Yo Momma's Aprons Strings at the Yarmouth Clam Festival.

Just a quick post today.

Zoe (Anne Bonny's Booty) and I are setting up our space at the Yarmouth Clam Festival today. Three days of selling and do I have enough aprons and headbands ready for the hords? I have no idea but I have a feeling the answer is "NO!".

I've been sewing steadily, so much so that my poor Bernina gave up the ghost. I borrowed a machine from a neighbor that wouldn't cooperate either so ended up making a late night trip to meet my daughter in Freeport for a hand-off of my old machine. While the old White isn't as perfect as my Bernina (in its prior incarnation, that is) it gets the job done.

My daughter, Nyla, came to my rescue on Monday and we set up a headband production line, managing to increase my total dramatically.

I've made new signage for this sale. Here's a sample:

 I'm off!

Let us pause for a moment for this commercial interruption….

Holy Cripes, it's almost Mother's Day!

Have you remembered?

Did you find that perfect gift that tells her you love her?

Avoid that feeling of despair and of not knowing what to get by visiting Yo Momma's Apron Strings. An apron can be in the mail the very next day, winging its way to your mom in time for her special day.

Yo Momma's Aprons strings has many aprons in stock in a variety of styles. All that's needed is a quick communication describing a style and color preference, photos will be sent for choice and approval and the next day an apron will be in the mail. Priority or overnight shipping can get that apron where it needs to go.

Call 207 - 607-2111 or 

email apronstrings@suscom-maine.net 

for a speedy response.

And if an apron isn't your momma's cup o'tea then visit Anne Bonny's Booty and find unique and beautifully handcrafted jewelry made with semi-precious stones and sterling silver.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.