America Comes Alive | Apron Memories

Global Apron Love

On February 10, 2011 By EllynAnne In Blog

For a while I’ve been thinking about the universality of aprons, and how in every major language, there is a word for apron

tablier – French

schutzblech – German

grembiule – Italian

エプロン – Japanese

앞치마 – Korean

avental – Portuguese

фартук – Russian

delantal – Spanish

停機坪 – Chinese

and that everyone, everyone (!) knows what an apron is and everyone has a story to tell.

Such musing has finally become a new apron initiative, where I will share aprons and stories collected from around the world. I’m very excited to debut…

by Marianne Katte

I was born into a family nuts about boat races. Both my parents were quite into water sports (Father rowed in an 8-man boat and Mother was a member of the Otter swim club), and my grandparents had a villa on the Dahme where regattas were held.

In 1936, the family had the chance to attend the Berlin Olympics. Everyone went, except for my mother, who was pregnant with me. In those days, pregnant women did not go out, so mother was pretty much housebound. Had it been winter, she could have worn a large coat, but there was no such camouflage in the summer. So she stayed home, and never really forgave me for it.

Mother (Eva Erika Ilse Katte, nee Lehrmann, at age 21) worked very hard to be the perfect housewife; she even ironed my diapers. In this photo, she is wearing a kittelschuerze – a full apron – to protect her clothing while bathing me. Berlin, 1937

My cousin Sigrid and me, dressed in dirndls and aprons. Berlin, 1938. I was so blond that I had practically no hair showing, and it was a trial for me because I also wanted to have such a wonderful bow in my hair.

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globalapron™ stories and pictures are welcome & may be submitted via my website. The direct link is here. I’ll contact you when your story will be posted.

I’m always seeking to connect through the humble icon. I hope you will enjoy this new segment of my apron journey.

xxea

P.S. I must note that the globalapron™ logo is the design of graphic artist Mackenzie Miller. She is also responsible for my adorable Tie One On button. I’m such a visual person and Mackenzie deserves this shout out.

Oh! And there is time left to enter to win the Sew-Lovely Giveaway and the $25 amazon certificate courtesy of Kate Kelly. Entry for both giveaways here.

Tie One On…an apron, of course!

a Sew-Lovely Giveaway!

On February 7, 2011 By EllynAnne In Blog

a Sew-Lovely Giveaway!!

When I was invited to be a guest on Ellen March’s new PBS show, SewItAll!, there were multiple tapings scheduled for the day. My segment, Awesome Aprons!, began the marathon. Following set-up, run-through and make-up, there was lunch, and the opportunity

to visit with the next-up guest, Steffani Lincecum, whose segment is titled Knockout Knockoffs, where she teaches how to duplicate a favorite skirt using a paper rub-off technique.

Steffani knows her stuff. Just visit her website to learn of her background as a wardrobe designer in movies, television and for celebrities (Madonna!). Despite my love of all things Hollywood, it was her technique for creating a pattern of a beloved skirt (and who doesn’t have one) to be sewn over and over that really caught my interest.

Steffani has a gorgeous book just out that outlines exactly how to apply the rub-off technique to more than just a skirt, including an adorable purse, which I am bent on making.

Happy news here: Steffani has provided a copy of her book for me to give away. But that’s not all…

Ellen March is also offering a copy of the latest issue of SEWiTAll

So, to one lucky winner, Steffani’s book and Ellen’s magazine!

To enter, just leave a comment on this blog entry. Deadline for comments is late Sunday evening. Winner selected by Random Human and posted Monday, February 14th.

If you haven’t already contacted your local PBS station about carrying Ellen’s show, please do.

ONE MORE HAPPY ANNOUNCEMENT

Storytelling is a major component of my apron journey. I never tire of listening to an apron recollection nor the process of translating the story into a unique voice. My friend, Kate Kelly, also uses storytelling within her niche project America Comes Alive! Kate has a way of making sense of today’s events through stories from America’s past. She is an accomplished author and writes about very interesting topics, like today’s magicians and Houdini, the American vacation, and air travel, when the skies were friendly.

Kate has a Valentine’s Day Giveaway going on. For a chance to win a $25.00 gift card to amazon, simply email Kate your favorite Valentine memory (kate@americacomesalive.com). The winner will be chosen on February 13.

I wouldn’t recommend Kate’s site if I didn’t enjoy it! Nor would I promote books or other such media if I didn’t believe there was value and entertainment in the selections. I feel very lucky to meet such talented women, who are also so sweet and generous.

xxea

Tie One On…an apron, of course!