Kitchen Fashion AND some Giveaways!
Years ago, you wouldn't find the "woman of the house" caught dead without an apron...or two or three! Aprons weren't just a way of protecting their clothing from dirt and cooking splatters, it eventually became a fashion statement in the kitchen!
As you can see, I am a huge fan and collector of vintage aprons...to me, each one is a little piece of history and I'm sure if they could talk, we would be amazed at the stories they could tell!
I have collected many aprons from my Grandma, Mom, Aunt and friends and have a large stash from second hand stores, auctions and antique shops that I can't stop myself from buying when I spot a beautifully hand crafted piece of art...because to me, they are just that...art... scraps of material, leftover bits of ribbon and lace, stitched neatly into place.
Our Great Grandmother's would have donned an apron from the time they lit the predawn fire to cook the morning meal, until they blew out the oil lamp before turning in for the night...
...an excerpt from the "The Apron Book", by EllynAnne Geisel, (which my Aunt June bought for me, because she knows her niece!) explains the importance of the apron for early settlers in one simple paragraph...
"Worn by pioneers on the westward trail, these aprons were front and centre for all the high drama and hard work it took to invent this country. Homesteading alongside the men, women tucked their dresses into apron waistbands to clear and plow the fields, then unfurled the aprons to carry grain to the chickens, gather eggs and harvest vegetables from the garden. The apron was wrapped around the hands to remove a pan of hot biscuits from the oven, it shooed flies from the tables and waved from the porch to signal that dinner was ready. On a single day, an apron might wipe a child's tears, the sweat off a brow and flour from the hands, plus ward off a chill or hide a rifle. Now that's multitasking!"
During the Depression, scraps of leftover fabric from old clothing, linens, flour and sugar sacks were all used for various sewing projects, including aprons and during the war, this practice was encouraged as a way to conserve and salvage in the Nation's war effort for victory.
When electric household appliances began to make their appearance into many homes, it also marked a new era for the apron. With the use of these time saving tools, women had more free time and many took to sewing themselves pretty articles of clothing and frivolous aprons which became quite a fashion statement in the kitchen.
Lace and floral patterned material was pleated and carefully sewn into a basic waist apron by my Mom...she made this pretty apron and you can see how meticulous she was with her stitches...everything my Mom did, was done with love and pride.
So many different styles of aprons began to emerge from sewing rooms into kitchens everywhere...
Every occasion suddenly required an apron,
...from Bridge Club luncheons,
...to holiday parties....
....even little girls and their dollies were sporting aprons for helping out in the kitchen or just for play.
Suddenly, when the 60's rolled around, the female race tossed out their aprons and burned their bras as the Women's liberation movement swept the nation...believe me, I am proud to be able to have the life choices and voice that I do as a woman "of today", but I think that perhaps we could have it all. As a woman that clomps around in work boots Monday to Friday and totes a gun during hunting season, I still like to strut my stuff around the kitchen in one of my beautiful, frilly vintage aprons...why? ...because I can!
...and because you can, I'm giving away some of the aprons that I have collected over the years!
Four lucky winners will be drawn to win and randomly given 2 handmade, vintage aprons each! ...the deadline to enter the draw will be 12 noon on Monday, August 8th, 2016.
The following photos are of the aprons that I will be giving away,
Prize number one
Prize number two.
Prize number three.
Prize number four.
If you wish to enter, simply follow the rules below... *This draw is now closed...Winners are Leslie D., Bev. M., Donna P., & Helene D...congratulations and thank you to everyone that entered!*
Giveaway Rules
1. Simply type in your first name and your email address (with or without a comment) in the spaces provided in the "comments" section at the bottom of this page. Your email address will not be made public...only I can see it, **providing that you don't add your email address to the box where your name or comment goes...there is a separate box for your email address**
2. If you do not enter an email address, your entry will not be considered as it is necessary for me to contact the winner.
3. You do not need to be a subscriber to win, anyone may enter.
4. The winners will be randomly drawn on Monday, August 8, 2016...the winners will be contacted by email for further shipping details.
5. Only one entry per person, thanks! :)
6. Good luck!!
Official Rules and Regulations
1. This contest is sponsored by The Rustic Wife
2. The chance of being selected in the prize draw is dependent on the number of entries entered during the contest period.
3. All contest entries are the property of The Rustic Wife and none will be returned. Entries which have been obtained or made through fraudulent means or which are illegible, altered, reproduced, mutilated, or irregular, are subject to disqualification. The Rustic Wife will not be responsible for entries lost, destroyed, misdirected or delayed for any reason whatsoever, or for any incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, technical malfunctions, human or technical error, visual or printing errors, or garbled data or transmission, omission, interruption, deletion, defect or failures of any telephone, computer line or network, computer equipment, software or any combination of thereof. All decisions with respect to this contest are final. The Rustic Wife does not accept any responsibility, in whole or in part for loss, damage or injury how so ever caused in connection with the prize or the conduct of the "Kitchen Fashion" Giveaways.
4. The Rustic Wife is not responsible for commencing, continuing or completing the “or awarding prizes" in the event of circumstances beyond The Rustic Wife control, and may, at it's sole discretion, change or alter this contest, as deemed necessary.
5. These Official Rules and Regulations govern this promotion and must be followed, and by agreeing to participate in the promotion, all entrants agree to comply with, and be bound by these Official Rules and Regulations.
6. All references to times and dates reflect Eastern Time.