Aprons

Several months ago when Miles was really sick an unexpected gift from an unlikely place has blossomed into a refreshing hobby for me.
Randy was out working in Clyde one day around the time the hospice nurses said (for the 1st time) that Miles probably would only live a few more days. Randy ran into a man that he's done some work for/with. I can't remember his first name, but it's Will Stallings Dad. Anyway, he told Randy that he heard about his son, told him he was sorry and gave him I think around $65. He told Randy he could take his family out to dinner or something. Well, Randy had come home and he hadn't said anything about it yet. It was a particularly extra stressful time, especially for me because I was having to monitor Miles all day long in his room and help him if he needed anything.
Well, the next morning when I woke up I literally felt like it would be impossible to make it through another day that felt like a week. Before Randy had left for work I was talking to him and begging for him to somehow make things better. That's when he remembered the money that Mr. Stalling's gave him. He mentioned something I could do with the money (I can't remember what it was) but all the sudden I knew what I wanted to do with the money.
For quite awhile I had been noticing how aprons were making a comeback. The problem was they were so dang expensive. I had looked at several and had decided that I could totally make aprons for a heck of a lot cheaper than what they were asking for them.
I took the money, got a babysitter for Miles and I ran to Hobby Lobby like a crazy woman. I found a simple pattern, found some fabric, dug my sewing machine out of storage, wiped off the dirt and began to sew like it was my salvation. I was able to sew in Miles's room so I could still be near him and take care of him, but I was also distracted which helped tremendously. I was able to focus on something else besides sickness and it felt so good.

This is the first apron I made with the money. Up close it really does look awful, but it was just what I needed at the time. I learned a lot on that one. When I was working on it the thread kept bunching up so it looked terrible, but I just kept sewing and reminding myself that it didn't matter. I just kept right on and I could feel the stress leaving my body as I sewed. That feeling has continued as I've gotten much better!


Here's SOME of the aprons I've made. Some of them I didn't get pictures of before I gave them away. They make wonderful gifts. After each one I decide it's my favorite one. Currently my favorite is the cowboy apron. It's so adorable!!!








My friend Tommye sent me an email about aprons when she heard that I had been making aprons. I thought it was sweet. It's called The History of Aprons.

The History of Aprons
I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons 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 occasion 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 weather was cold Grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those 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 folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.










I'm glad we didn't go out to eat with that money that day. Investing in that pattern and hobby has continued to be healing for me. As I sit at the sewing machine I catch myself praying and feeling the stress leave. So, Mr. Stallings...THANK YOU!!! I would make you an apron, but I don't think it would be your thing. : )