Fresh Squeezed

One of my favorite pies in the whole world is Lemon Meringue! Not the kind of pie you buy at the grocery store then thaw out, I'm talking about a real lemon merigue pie with a from-scratch crust, fresh squeezed lemons, and a big stiff meringue on top. That is what came to mind when I saw this fabric yesterday! Because I have Celiac, I can no longer eat a regular pie crust, but last Friday I discovered a recipe for a fabulous gluten-free crust that will certainly do the trick! I guess today I should've sewn a fall-themed apron since we had our first cool front; but all I could think of was a delicious piece of lemon meringue pie.

Día de Los Muertos

As a maker of aprons who truly tries her best to create something just a little bit different every time, I sometimes marvel at some of my inspiration sources. There is this little cafe that I like to frequent called Wildwood Art Cafe. It is truly an Austin original; however, it is also a totally gluten-free place to eat. For people like me (Celiacs) this makes it a safe haven for a little lunch.

Wildwood is no ordinary diner-style cafe; rather, it is one third cafe, one third bake shop, one third art gallery! Yep, this place is filled with Oaxacan art. So, when you're sitting there enjoying your hibiscus tea, gluten-free sandwich and gluten-free Ding Dong, you can also take in the the unusual carvings and colorful statues. Who doesn't love a cobalt blue and fuscia armadillo staring at you while you wolf down your lunch?

Fastforward a few days following a knoshfest at Wildwood...I was in one of my favorite fabric haunts and came across this Dia de los Muertos fabric. With Oaxacan art still noodling around my gray matter, I was quick to snatch up the last bit, not exactly sure what I was going to do with it. Skulls don't exactly scream out "apron." So, I held onto the fabric for a few months...

For many Americans, the change of seasons is pretty dramatic. Beautiful autumn colors are everywhere...just not here in Central Texas. Since Texans don't have such a dramatic seasonal shift, we have to purchase our autumn. You see people putting out hay bales, pumpkins, and scarecrows that would look perfectly at home in Wisconson, but are just a bit out of place in Austin. This makes it hard for me to actually purchase autumn-themed fabric in order to follow a certain theme. It just isn't what my autumn looks like. However, as we start inching closer to Halloween, there is one theme that does resonate here in Texas: Dias de los Muertos. The above-pictured apron represents my view of the seasonal change from summer to fall; a strange theme for most places, but perfectly at home here in Texas!

A long, long way to go

I first want to state that I did NOT make this apron. A dear friend recently sent it to me. It belonged to her sister-in-law's grandmother. While I consider myself proficient at sewing and mildly talented at apron making, upon receiving this apron I have come to realize that I have a long, long way to go.

Please take a moment and really look at this apron. It is made out of a tissue-cotton and finished with bias tape. First, notice the waist band which is what the fabric looks like when cut on the grain. Now, direct your notice to the skirt portion which consists of eight individual bias-cut pieces that have been sewn together so that the tiny little blue stripes line up into a "V." Each of the eight strips connects at these itty bitty stripes nine times, AND on the bias (which always stretches)! It is beyond words.

It gets better. The light green fabric at the hem is also separate pieces of fabric. What this means is that each of those connecting points have to line up perfectly or the whole thing is off! Best of all, this apron is "hand-serged" which means that every seam has been reinforced by hand. It is an incredible work of art and the apron-maker deserves to be recognized for her meticulous talent and devotion that went into creating this beautiful apron.

Now that you are acquainted with the apron, doesn't it make you wonder about the apron-maker. What was her inspiration? Was this apron for a special occasion? When (or if) did she wear it? This apron speaks loudly to me. It says that the person who made it was thoughtful and creative. She wanted something that would showcase both her talent as a designer and her skills at sewing. Who would she be if she were here today? Would she be a surgeon? She certainly is talented with a needle! Would she be an architect or fashion designer? She definitely has a keen eye for details. She was so devoted to the most minute details; I can only wonder.

These ponderings are what truly draw me to apron making. While I can only dream of having the talent of this apron-maker; I am truly inspired by the idea of making something for a woman that is uniquely personal to her. I want to somehow stay connected with our fore-mothers who eschewed any sort of career but never let their talents go to waste. This desire is what is sewn into each apron I make!