giving from the heart | Apron Memories

Tie One On Day Kindness Catch-Up!

On November 16, 2017 By EllynAnne In Blog

Despite the recent events to the contrary, acts of kindness abound! To lift spirits, be encouraged, and find inspiration by others,

1. Visit the Tie One On Day page on EllynAnne’s website and honor #NancyZieman

2. Enter the Bernina USA / Tie One On Day apron event and giveaway

3. Join the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation’s #CaptureKindness Campaign

visit apronmemories.com to participate and enter the TOODay 2017 Giveaways!

TIME IS A-DWINDLING to participate in the 12th annual TOODay!

Tie One On Day’s loving sponsors are tied together by the belief that through kindness there will be change.

To bring attention to TOODay and encourage participation, sponsors Bernina USA, MikWright, Colonial Patterns, Heirloomed Collection , Amy Barickman/Indygo Junction, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Sarah Stitham-Workday Wear, author Paul Samuel Dolman, author Sherry Gore, Nails magazine, Union Stitch and Design, author Jill O’Connor, The Vintage Apron, Taste of Home, Schmetz Needles, Country Woman Magazine, American Sewing Guild, Cultivar Wine/Caspar Estate, and SewNews provide giveaways of their products, which are divided among four (4) randomly selected winners. Twelve years of TOODay giveaways = lots of very surprised and happy folks. To put your name in the giveaway hat, CLICK HERE FOR INFO AND ENTRY!

And this:

Gratefully, EllynAnne

Tie One On Day 2015

On November 4, 2015 By EllynAnne In Blog

“Women clad in aprons have traditionally prepared the Thanksgiving meal, and it is within our historical linkage to share our bounty.”

November 25, 2015 - Tie One On Day — Tie One On…Give from the heart…Then give thanks

On the eve of Thanksgiving some twelve years ago, I wrapped a pie in an apron with a handwritten note of sympathy slipped into the pocket, and delivered it to a neighbor experiencing more heartbreak than should be. Her response of delight and warmth was unexpected and very touching.

In offering a small gesture of recognition to the family’s situation, I was surprised at the unexpected joyfulness that I experienced. The win-win of the exchange was so memorable, I knew it had to be shared. So I created TIE ONE ON DAY™.

Celebrated on the eve of Thanksgiving – Wednesday, November 25 this year – TIE ONE ON DAY is an annual opportunity to share our good fortune by wrapping a loaf of bread or other baked good in domestic cloth and tuck in a sweet note; then tie one on…an apron, of course! and deliver the offering to a neighbor, friend or charity in need of a bit of kindness.

ENTER! ENTER! ENTER! ENTER! ENTER! ENTER! ENTER!

To encourage y’all adding TIE ONE ON DAY to your holiday tradition and embracing its message of sharing and gratefulness, a dedicated group of generous SPONSORS are putting some fabulous “give” into the TOODAY 2015 Goodie Giveaway!

To enter the TIE ONE ON DAY Giveaways, leave a comment at the end of this blog posting, sharing with others how you plan to be a part of this year’s TOOD. Your comment is your entry into the November 24th drawing for the giveaways. Four (4) Giveaway winners will be randomly selected and contacted via their provided email.

*TIE ONE ON DAY Giveaways are open only to entrants living within the United States

Thanksgiving is a holiday known for recollection, making new traditions and sharing. The apron symbolizes these concepts. A small bit of your time will make someone else’s day brilliantly brighter. And the more who participate, the more who receive. Such is the win-win of TOOD.

So please join me and tie one on…an apron, of course! and through Tie One On Day, make a difference in someone’s life.

Tie One On…Give from the heart…Then give thanks

xoxEllynAnne

To accompany your Tie One On Day delivery, this complimentary note card is available to download HERE.

PLEASE INCLUDE AN EMAIL WITH YOUR COMMENT, SO I CAN LET YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE A GIVEAWAY WINNER

TOODay 4th Giveaway Winner!

On November 27, 2013 By EllynAnne In Blog

Happy Wednesday, #99 Jennifer! You are the 4th Tie One On Day Giveaway WINNER.

Jennifer will be making someone’s day brighter: Kindness is a good thing and for TOODay, I am hoping to get my sewing machine out and make an apron with some cool fabric I pick up and then “file” and forget about. It will be given to someone who needs it for many reasons other than just protecting from the food splatters.

The generous sponsors of this fourth giveaway are: Cultivar, Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking, the American Sewing Guild, Stampington & Company, Emily Ellyn Retro Rad Chef, Simplicity and My Memories digital scrapbooking.

Without hesitation, sponsors responded to Tie One On Day as consistent with the heart of their companies, and I am extremely appreciative of their support.

MyMemories is also providing its giveaway of the My Memories Suite v4 and two Gift Certificates to four additional randomly selected winners:

#44 Terri K #165 Colleen

#15 Judy K # 81 Kimberlee

I titled this blurry Kodak moment “Waiting for the Doorbell to Ring” because it so perfectly represents that moment when all is at the ready – the gravy is simmering, the potatoes covered and warming in the oven with the vegetable casserole, the turkey plattered, the whipped cream for the pumpkin pie in a stainless container chilling in the refrigerator. Father is proud of the Mrs. for setting this beautiful table while she is likely exhausted from the preparation. Yet all is well in this home, where a feast awaits and thanks will be given.

To all who participated in Tie One On Day 2013, and through acts of kindness made someone’s day brighter, thank you, for giving from the heart. May all be well as we prepare to give thanks on Thanksgiving.

xx EllynAnne

Filling a Home with Cloths of Comfort

On November 21, 2013 By EllynAnne In Blog

When I approach a company or individual about sponsoring Tie One On Day, it’s because I believe they are perfectly aligned with the message that is the heart of TOOD: the value of kindness is priceless.

So when 2013 TOOD sponsor Kate Payne reached out to her hip girl’s community to bring light into a friend’s family’s darkest hours, I was immediately on board.

Victims of a flash flood, the family managed to salvage pieces of their lives, but lost forever were the mama’s sacred stash of recipes, handmade and family heirloom napkins, beautiful vintage aprons and tea towels…a household’s comforting cloth. Kate’s call-out asked for donations, to bring back a little handmade and vintage love into their lives. “This family of four will be adjusting to so many things over the coming weeks and months, let’s give them something to cherish.”

To replace the irreplaceable for a stranger gave me pause.

The selection of napkins was simple – a set so pristine they were likely never used; the selection of the apron required much consideration. From numerous possibles, I chose this one – a classic Fifties gingham with flowery cross stitching, tacking at the waist, and a pocket in need of minor mending – because as in life, it is less than perfect but gets the job done.

The homemaker who sewed this apron over sixty years ago would be flabbergasted that it still exists, much less that it will yet be worn again by a loving wife and mother.

A handwritten note accompanied the bundle, my message inspired by the apron story told to me by Vonetta Lee, the woman pictured: …when life happens, get your apron on and get goin’ !

Tie One On Day is the day before Thanksgiving because it offers an opportunity to give from the heart and then give thanks.

As I packaged the apron and mailed it to Kate, I could not stop smiling! and as I write this, my heart is filled with the happiness that comes from making someone else’s day a little brighter. Such is the win-win of TOOD.

xx EllynAnne