Sunday, June 5, 2022

AROUND THE KITCHEN TABLE: APRONS, YES OR NO? + 6 Book & Apron #Giveaway

 


MAYA: We talk a lot about what we cook, but not about what we cook in. Do you wear an apron while preparing food? If so, what kind? If not, what's your secret for avoiding or getting rid of food stains on your clothes? I cherish my collection of aprons in different styles, all home-sewn, from three generations of my family. 

My grandmother made the bib apron on the left for herself. An excellent seamstress, she sewed wedding gowns, including my mother's, and clothes for the whole family. I can't wear her apron unless I alter it because she was a large woman with a substantial bosom, and I'm not. So it just hangs on my apron hook to remind me of her. My mother made the waist apron during her home ec class in high school. I folded it over so you can see that it's reversible, with a different pattern and different types of pockets on each side. Really cute, but I don't wear it because I need more of me covered when I cook.

I sewed the teal apron as a gift for my mother-in-law because she couldn't find her favorite cobbler-type apron with big pockets in any store. After wearing it for decades, she returned it to me when she stopped cooking in her 90s, and I've used it ever since. I wish I'd aged as gracefully as this apron. It looks nearly new. Stains disappear from it, and it comes out of the dryer unwrinkled. I have to believe that the cotton available in fabric stores in the 1970s was far superior to any cotton I've seen lately. Easy care, good coverage, big pockets--what's not to love about this apron? 

I also have my father's apron inscribed with "Grill Sergeant." It was a gag gift, chosen for him because he'd been a drill sergeant in World War II. He got together with the men and women (nurses) in his unit for a reunion every year starting in 1946 and went to the 62nd reunion three months before he died. I'm not sure if someone in the reunion group or my mother bought this apron for him. He used it, not just when grilling, but when he took up cooking in his 80s. He's the inspiration for my sleuth's grandfather, the proud owner of a similar apron inscribed with "Codger Cook." Granddad wears his apron at the start of Scam Chowder (part of today's giveaway) to convince his dinner guests that he, not his granddaughter, cooked the meal, but his scam backfires.   


🍒 🌷 🍋


VICKI DELANY: I have to confess, I have absolutely nothing to add to this conversation! I don't wear an apron when I cook, I don't have any heirloom aprons, I have no memories of mothers or grandmothers wearing aprons.  How, then Maya asks, do I keep my clothes clean when I cook.  I can't answer that either. I guess I just try to avoid the spills and spatter. And when I don't - into the wash they go. 


🍳 🍴 🍲



LESLIE BUDEWITZ: My mother, who was a tremendous baker, often wore aprons she'd made and made me a couple of child-sized versions. In about the 5th grade, when I was learning to sew, I made one in the style that you slip your arms in and tie in back---the pink and white paisley fabric lives on in a Sunbonnet Sue block in the only quilt I ever made! I also made my dad a shop apron from a maroon and blue patterned cotton, almost denim, in a cobbler style that he wore until his fading eyesight forced him to give up woodworking. I confess, I'm not in the habit of wearing an apron now unless I'm making something particularly spattery. Until recently, I'd pull on the red-and-white striped bibfront model I use for watercolor painting. But then friends, who've been to our home for dinner or holiday brunch many times, gave me an apron emblazoned BOOKS ARE FOOD FOR THE SOUL. (Here I am wearing it at a cooking demo last summer at the grand opening of the new Missoula Public Library, in the demonstration kitchen.) Perfect for a writer, don't you think?     

 

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PEG COCHRAN/MARGARET LOUDON: Almost all my aprons were gifts except for some plain chef's aprons and one from New Orleans with a recipe for rice and beans on it that I bought myself. I have a red and white toile apron, two aprons with a wine motif (hmmm...is there a pattern here?) and this super cool one from my sister-in-law. It has all sorts of measurement on it and they're printed upside down so the cook can look down and read them!


 I've turned this picture upside down so you can read it.

Ironically, the only time I wear an apron is when putting the finishing touches on a holiday or company dinner when I'm already dressed up. The rest of the time I wear jeans and sweaters or tops that can be thrown in the wash so I generally don't worry about it!



 

 



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LESLIE KARST: Like Vicki, I'm not an apron-wearer. Never have been. In a pinch, I'll tuck a handy dish towel into the waistband of my pants to protect me while frying something especially spattery, but mostly I simply wear my "play clothes" (as my mom used to call them when I was a kid) while I cook, then change into my party clothes for dinner. 

But I do have one apron that I adore. I purchased it for a Halloween week Mystery Writers of America panel that I was on a few years back, when we were all asked to wear costumes for the evening. What do you think? 


🍸 🌺 🍜


TINA KASHIAN: My favorite apron belonged to my mother. A friend had made it for her and wrote her name, Anahid, on the apron. I lost my mother when I was young, in my twenties, and eight months before my wedding. Every time I reach for her apron, I remember her humming and cooking Armenian and Mediterranean dishes. She was a talented self-taught cook who owned a successful restaurant for thirty years. I’m not as talented as she was in the kitchen, but I enjoy cooking. If I don’t wear her apron, then it’s a guarantee that I will stain my clothes. Here I am wearing my mom’s apron.


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LUCY BURDETTE: I don't wear aprons either, though I love all of these so much! I do have one vintage apron--I can't remember where I found it, but I'm afraid to wear it and ruin it. (And as you can see in the photo below, it needs to be ironed!) I enlarged the photo so you can see the tip pocket and the other with a skull and bones. Perfect for a mystery writer....


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MADDIE DAY: We are a big apron-wearing family. I grew up wearing ones made by my grandmother Ruth, and still have one of them. 

Maybe I'm just a slob, but I much prefer to cover my clothing when I cook. The apron doubles as a hand-wiping cloth (instead of my jeans, for example...), and it hits the washing machine when it needs to. I love this pic from Mother's Day this year, with both my adult sons and their sweethearts aproned up! I guess I trained them right.


I love aprons so much that a few years ago I ordered a few dozen as special giveaway prizes. I eventually sent all those out and recently ordered a new batch. Here's my younger son's love, Alex, wearing their new apron last week in their open-air kitchen in Puerto Rico.


I'll give away an Author apron to this month's giveaway winner, but only if you promise to send me a picture of you (or someone) wearing it. 


🍀 🍒 🍇


MOLLY MacRAE:  I love all these aprons and the apron stories! My mom and dad were apron wearers and so am I. I even wear one when I'm just washing dishes. I wish I had a picture of Mom in one of her aprons, but here's Dad doing the dishes, circa 1976. And I just realized that my five siblings and I are all now quite a bit older than Dad was in this picture. Yeow.

I have half a dozen aprons that I rotate through, between wash days, but here's one of my favorites. 



🍓 🍭🍈


VALERIE (V.M.) BURNS: I don't wear an apron when I cook, although I should. My clothes (and the floor) are often covered in flour afterward. My poodle clean-up crew takes care of anything that finds its way onto the floor. That's their territory. I didn't realize that they'd migrated to my personal cleaners until I caught one of them licking food from my pants after I cooked dinner the other day. I had (or at least I used to have) a really nice professional apron. However, I moved last year and between the movers who packed everything and the personal organizer I hired to help unpack, I have no idea where it is. I looked in all the logical places, but couldn't find it. I'm going to call this a shopportunity and buy a new apron or two! In fact, I think I'll get some for giveaways for the upcoming release of my new book, TWO PARTS SUGAR, ONE PART MURDER.


☕ 🌹 ☕


CLEO COYLE: My husband and I are happy slobs when it comes to cooking, but we don’t wear aprons. We wear old T-shirts. Our motto. Go ahead, SPLATTER ME, baby! 

My mother, Rose (who was born in Italy) never wore aprons while cooking, either. Neither did my beloved Aunt Mary who lived with us (and taught me much in the kitchen, click here to read more about that and see one of the many recipes she inspired).

Thanksgiving Day was the only occasion I recall mom and Aunt Mary tying on aprons, and that was only after guests arrived and they were dressed for dinner. 

As for Marc’s memories, his mom occasionally wore an old butcher’s apron when she did the dishes, but that was it. Aprons weren't a big factor in our lives, but it was lovely reading how important they were in some of yours! However you cook—aprons on or off, neat and tidy or crazy sloppy—we absolutely hope you will eat with joy! 




GIVEAWAY!

To be entered in this week's drawing
for an Apron from Maddie +
6 terrific mysteries listed below,
join us in the comments...


Do you wear an apron? 
What's your favorite if you do

Do you have one that has sentimental value or reflects your interests?


Join the
conversation!

Include your email address,
so we can contact the winner!


> SCAM CHOWDER by Maya Corrigan

> DEADLY EVER AFTER by Eva Gates

> ASSAULT AND PEPPER by Leslie Budewitz

> ON THE LAMB by Tina Kashian

> ARGYLES AND ARSENIC by Molly MacRae 

> TWO PARTS SUGAR, ONE PART MURDER (ARC) by Valerie Burns

👗  + AN APRON from Maddie Day! 👗



Comments open through
Tuesday, June 7

Don't forget to include
your email address.

📚

 


108 comments:

  1. I love aprons but don’t wear one. I don’t remember ever seeing my grandmother without hers. What a great memory. Debdesk @ outlook. Com

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  2. I wear an apron sometimes. I have a few different ones. I have one from my grandma. I remember her wearing aprons or a smock when she cooked.
    bmedrano34 at yahoo dot com

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  3. I am not an apron wearer but I need to get one. I loved all these apron stories! Thanks for the chance.
    Jess
    maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  4. I need a good apron lol, I'm a mess when I cook! I have an old plastic Christmas one which is too crinkly to use. When I was little, I had a cute blue one with a lamb embroidered on it. I love that Grill Sergeant idea, too!
    Kathylynn103@hotmail.com

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Kathy. I'm a messy cook too. If I don't put on an apron, I'm guaranteed to get grease or tomato sauce or whatever on my clothes.

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  5. I definitely wear an apron so I don't get all messed up. I have one I got for Christmas from my grandsons. Thanks for this amazingly generous giveaway. Linda May Maycarlson6848@gmail.com

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  6. While I do love aprons, I'm the worst about actually wearing one. Probably because the ones I have hold such special memories that I can't think of doing anything to stain them or wear them out. Instead, I do three things in preparation to cook if I know it's going to be messy or fried foods. Having long hair, I make sure it's pulled back into a ponytail out of the way and no lose hairs anywhere. Then I grab my standard grab t-shirt that I slip on while cooking that I quickly change out of before sitting down to the table (also when I let my hair down). And lastly, I make sure the old hands are washed and clean.

    I have such fond memories of aprons. My Granny always wore the bib aprons. In her senior years, she made a lot of the short aprons out of the gingham check and then did cross stitching on them giving them as gifts. I have some of both the gifted ones and the one she wore so much. My Mom wore the shorter aprons during my growing up years, but later in life turned to the aprons that where full length type with pockets that you slipped into with a snap at the back of the neck. Again, I have some of both of hers. The ones I treasure the most are mine from my childhood that my Granny made for me when I was about 3. They were miniatures of my Mom's that she had also made.

    This post has me re-thinking about my aprons and allowed me a stroll down memory lane. What am I saving them for? I'll be 70 this year and no one to pass them down to. I'm going to get them out and enjoy them - both in wearing them and the memories they will evoke with each wearing of the fun family times of being in the kitchen and around our dinner tables. Thank you!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Thank you for commenting, Kay. You do use an apron when you cook. . . it's a T-shirt apron. How great that your aprons bring back memories and you'll use them to remind you of the people you love.

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    2. Lol, Kay! That's the way I feel--don't want to get any stains on those beautiful aprons I have! Ha!

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    3. Love this, Kay -- and I'm laughing, realizing I was baking and cooking yesterday, testing recipes, and even though we'd just had this conversation, I STILL forgot to wear one! Let's make a deal: We'll all make an effort to wear them more often!

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  7. I wear an apron I received from my nephew.
    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  8. I love aprons but do not wear them like I used to. I remember my great grandmother always had an apron on. I loved her soft aprons with pockets.

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  9. At home, I don't wear an apron. If I am at a church function, where I am serving food, I do wear an apron.

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  10. AmaryChapman@facebook.comcomJune 5, 2022 at 8:53 AM

    Not any more, but when I did it was a plain one

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  11. I have an apron but I never wear it because I don't want to get it dirty. But this has inspired me to start wearing it. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. :-) Not wanting to get an apron dirty reminds me of a story my husband tells about a man in his army unit who objected to the other guys putting anything in the trashcan because he wanted it perfect for inspection.

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  12. What wonderful stories about aprons! I love hearing how they were passed along or given to someone as a gift. I don’t wear aprons although I am often covered in spaghetti sauce. I did learn to sew an apron in high school. We had to sew it in sewing class and then wear it in food class. Our grandchildren will wear aprons when cooking, but I think the whole kitchen needs an apron because it’s a disaster when we get done. But we have so much fun, I don’t care about the mess. Thank you for the chance to win. moonwisp@gmail.com

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    1. A whole-kitchen apron -- too funny! (Says the woman whose last step in kitchen clean up is to wipe up the sugar, flour, and salt that fell on the floor!)

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  13. I sometimes wear an apron depending on what I'm making. I really should every time, I aways manage to get something on me. My favorite, which is now far too small for me, is the one my aunt made me as a kid, out of a dishtowel and potholder set with a cow on it.
    kozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Alicia. How creative your aunt was to make an apron out of a dishtowel and potholder set!

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  14. I'm afraid I don't wear an apron as often as I should! But at least I keep it handy. My mother and grandmother and aunts all wore aprons, all the time they were in the kitchen. More often than not their aprons were made from feed bags. When I was in seventh grade homemaking class (as it was called then) we made aprons for our mothers, using Christmassy fabric. My mother seemingly loved hers and wore it every single Christmas thereafter. It wasn't a full-length apron, what I call a half apron but one of my college professors called a stomach apron. aylasgram (gmail)

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Judi. I prefer calling a half apron a "waist apron" rather than a "stomach apron." ;-)

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  15. Thank you all for sharing your apron stories, which I found fascinating...no surprise, since you are all brilliant story tellers :-) In our household, we don't wear aprons, though we have a drawer half full of them. Most of them are with us for over 30 years, and were handmade in Chile, but we do have one we found while traveling through Nicaragua, which is also handmade, but quite elaborately made with ruffles and different pockets...this type of apron is typical of the countryside, where ladies go to market daily, and the big pockets hold their money, or small items. We would not use this just because it is so pretty, and it is also impractical, as the fabric is white with soft yellow accents. Thank you for the opportunity to read about your lives in addition to your fun books! luis at ole dot travel

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    1. Luis, you're reminding me of our travels in Mexico and the older women at the markets and street corner stalls. The aprons were their uniforms, so bright and colorful! And yes, pockets for coins and other small things!

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  16. I'm enjoying all these apron stories! Thank you for sharing!

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  17. My mom loved collecting aprons, though I never saw her wear one. I've since inherited them, but only wear a basic white for baking, and a Christmas themed one at the holidays. I continue to add to the stash, and hope to pass them to my daughter in the future.

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  18. My mother and grandmother both wore aprons. I have a set of two that my grandmother made for my mother.and me when I was a child. Mine of course is quite small but the two of them are in pretty good shape. I won't wear my mother's apron for fear of something happening to it..conney.parkhurst@gmail.com
    +

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  19. I fit somewhere between my grandmothers who always had one on and my mom who rarely wore one. I do sometimes, no real consistency to when. I have 4 or 5, all bib style, two are wine-themed (hmmm), one was a fund-raiser, one is a simple striped apron and one is kind of rude, but funny... as in "Who invited all these tacky people?" Most of the time I end up wearing the striped one or the fund-raiser because they have the biggest pockets! Happy Cooking!

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    1. Oops, forgot my email, makennedyinaz@hotmail,com

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  20. I don’t usually wear an apron. Only if I’m already dressed up and don’t want anything to splatter on my clothes. Otherwise, splattered clothes go into the wash.
    Wskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  21. I remember both my grand moms wearing aprons. I wish I had one of theirs. I have savedfor my soon to be born granddaughter an apron that was her Aunties. We also just gave said Auntie an Apron for her birthday. Nancy macmom57@verizon.net

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  22. I love aprons. My grandmother always had one on. I wear one when baking but not so much on a day to day basis. When in the 7th grade my first sewing project (in Home Ec) was an apron--still have it to this day (I know I'm dating myself). My favorite is the one my mother wore during the Christmas holidays. My daughter and grand daughter are now using it!! email: lsum1258 at aol dot com.

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  23. I also love aprons. I have some seasonal ones that I made - Christmas/winter, summer and an apron that my father had for barbequing from the 50's.I guess the one I use the most is one I bought up in Canada since I am Franco-American.

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  24. Don’t have an apron of my own but I have one of my grandmothers that I have put up in a hutch with glass doors so I can still look at it and remember times my grandmother wore it while I “helped” her cook growing up. I’d love to be entered to win! Thank you for the chance! Luvs2read4fun (at) gmail (dot) com

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  25. Even though I have an awesome grease remover that works every time to get rid of oily spots, I do wear a bib style apron when I’m cooking anything that spatters oil. I can’t say I wear an apron every time I step foot in the kitchen, but typically if I’m cooking something that spatters I grab an apron. I prefer bib aprons because of the better coverage of my shirt since that’s where most of the stains that I get end up. Now, as far as my favorite aprons, I’ve got several. My favorite, favorite bib one is Disney of course, it is from the movie Ratatouille and says “Anyone can cook” on it. I also have Tinkerbell, Mickey(of course), and Minnie bib style aprons. As for regular waist aprons, all the ones I have are vintage, and come from my mom, grandma, great and great-great grandmas. I use mom’s and my grandma’s aprons sometimes but the others are on the fragile side so I mostly display them with my Fiesta dishes. One that my mom had has this slit at the top that this plastic strip slides through and kinda hugs you around the waist to stay in place. The plastic piece kinda looks like an embroidery hoop that has been cut apart.
    Mickeymania1@aol.com

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    1. An awesome grease remover? Do tell!

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    2. Leslie, I have an awesome grease remover. It's the Carbona Stain Devil for Fat and Cooking oil. It comes in a 1.7 ounce yellow plastic container on the laundry aisle. When I spilled bacon fat on an almost new T-shirt, 1/3 of the front was soaked in grease. The Stain Devil got it out. There are also other Stain Devils in the little yellow containers. The one for "Coffee, Tea, and Wine" works well for tea stains. I haven't tried it yet on wine. Also, there's one for blood, but we don't want the bad guys to know about it. The instructions differ for each type of stain, so you have to read the small print on the back of the container.

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  26. I do not wear aprons when I cook. I have collected vintage aprons I have come across over the years. I like the thought of wearing aprons more than the actual wearing of the garment!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  27. I don’t wear aprons as often as I should, but I have some. One favorite is a terry cloth one with a cat, which a student gave me, with a big tear in it. She said, “I thought you could fix it,” and I did. <3
    My BIL suggests that ties be long enough to wrap around and tie in front . . .

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  28. I do wear an apron, but I didn't start wearing an apron until a few years ago and now I wear an apron whenever I cook. My Mom and Grandmother both wore aprons when they cooked and I wish I had some of their aprons.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  29. I wear aprons every day! Love my aprons. My mother and grandmother wore them, too. Thanks so much for the chance! Another amazing giveaway!
    jarjm1980(@)hotmail(dot)com

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  30. I made aprons for my daughter's bridal shower. We tied them to the back of each chair. As no two aprons were identical and I used a huge variety of fabrics, the setting was very colorful! I made many extras to be sure we didn't run out, and though I gave many away after the shower, I still have a couple of those aprons that I wear.

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  31. I have several bib aprons, all gifts. I've never worn an apron in my life. I just take my chances! But if I did wear one it would be Moon the Cook! patdupuy@yahoo.com

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  32. I usually wear an apron when I bake. Although I still seem to manage to get something on my shirt. bella_ringer@hotmail.com

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  33. Aprons make great gifts, I think, but I don't really wear them.

    I think my favorite-ever apron was this very nice apron that my mother sewed out of dark blue denim for my father to wear. He rarely cooked, but when he did, it had to be "gourmet."

    jsmith[delete brackets]3may[delete brackets]2011

    [at symbol]

    yahoo[dot]com

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  34. I don't wear aprons but my mom always does and my Grandma always did. Aprons bring back a lot of good memories and I wish I had a bib apron like my mom wears. I usually just wear clothes that I can spill on without worrying when I cook.

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  35. Oops, forget my email. clugston.kathy@yahoo.com

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  36. I must confess that I too do not wear an apron, but I believe I might need to. I try my best to avoid splashing things, but I am not super coordinated, so I may have to switch it up! tmleafs42 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  37. I'm like Vicki, Leslie K & Lucy: no aprons. I do curse softly to myself when I decide to wear black while baking but I usually don't make much of a mess. I own two nice aprons and my mom used to always wear an apron while cooking.

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  38. For every day cooking I do not wear an apron. I wear them sometimes when I bake and during the holidays when I am cooking and baking up a storm. I have a variety to choose from, but no particular one that stands out as my favorite. cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  39. I don't wear them often but my mother and aunts always did

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  40. I have many of my grandmother's aprons, but my favorite is on display in my dining room in a display case next to one of her rolling pins and the red pepper chime that hung in her kitchen. ❤

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  41. Aprons remind me of my mama. Somebody took a picture of her some years ago and she was smiling happily at them.

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  42. I have a few but don't usually wear one, unless I'm finishing up something and have already changed clothes. I think I will try to wear one more often! (vplus10@earthlink.net)

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  43. This was such a fun article. I love aprons and enjoy my holiday aprons very much. I usually wear waist aprons- made from old towels! angie.quinby@gmail.com

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  44. My family wore aprons. I have two with flowers on them that I alternate. Thanks for the chance.

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  45. I have several aprons, but I must admit, I don't wear them, and when I splatter myself, I regret that decision. Thank you for this chance!

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  46. I have a few aprons but I don't wear them

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  47. My email is rmward92@yahoo.com

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  48. I used to tease my mom for wearing an apron but the older I got the more I realized I needed one, too. (I'm from Brasstown NC and recognize the possum apron) jax1215@gmail.com

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  49. I have a favorite apron with cats on it that my late friend Connie made for me. We used to bake cookies every Christmas. Bears4kris@msn.com

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  50. I don't usually use an apron though I do have a red & black floral one.
    Kaomelunna88@gmail.com

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  51. I grew up wearing an apron everyday. I watched my mother and grandmother cook and bake and they always wore aprons. The bib type which protected your clothes. I still have them and treasure these beautiful and special aprons. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  52. I was fortunate to have an opportunity when I was young to help out in the kitchen since my grandmother lived with us for seven years. She wore aprons and I followed suit. This was necessary and she insisted upon this. Aprons are to me a memory of such importance. Cooking together and food is meaningful. I have full bib aprons and cute small ones which tie at the waist. Very nostalgic for those days. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  53. I do not wear an apron but I realize that I should. I am getting more adventurous with my cooking and I seem to wind up wearing some each time!! egoehner(at)roadrunner(dot)com

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  54. I have two aprons - one is made by niece when she was about 8 yrs old. And the other is a gift from my sister that I wear all the time.

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  55. I don’t wear aprons, but I should. I put on one of my husband’s old shirts, that I don’t mind if stains get on it, when I cook. I have wonderful memories of my grandmother in the kitchen with her apron on. They were functional aprons with big pockets and always had a dusting of flour on them. She was the best cook ever.
    free1723@icloud.com

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  56. I have aprons, but never wear them. suefoster109 at gmail dot com

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  57. I have several aprons with foxes on them (for my maiden name) which I wear all the time as I am quite a messy baker and I can’t begin to cook bacon without splattering grease on myself. I also have one apron that was my mother’s, but I don’t wear it.
    Freelsda@hotmail.com

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  58. I always wear an apron when making Christmas cookies because my mom would wear one and she had kid size ones for me and my sister when we did Christmas cookies. I'm not so much of an apron wearer for daily cooking and I probably regret it 50% of the time. I do pull out the aprons for holiday meals and baking- I guess it's for the memories. I have some vintage ones and some new ones that were holiday-ish that I love. Now my young kids wear aprons when we decorate cookies and my youngest son has even added a chef's hat just for fun! Thanks for the giveaway! kjp1025(at)Gmail(dot)com

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  59. Place me solidly in Camp Apron. I’ve got three in my current rotation. The newest is one I purchased from the Yiddish Book Center that says, “She swallowed books like dumplings.” -Lisa Kermish, lkermish@yahoo.com

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  60. I do not wear aprons, but I am thinking about wearing one since I seem to get much of my meal on my cloths

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  61. I grew up with my paternal grandmother and she always wore a waist apron. She was an excellent seamstress, so she made all her and her daughter's aprons. Since I am getting back to being in the kitchen more, I will be in need of some aprons! I do have a couple, but I will want one for every day with spares for wash days! Thanks for the chance! teddi1961(at)arcemont(dot)com

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  62. I don’t wear aprons but I remember my grandmama wearing one to hand wash certain clothes or to peel peaches !! I have done but I have kept them for sentimental reasons! I am sloppy so maybe I should start wearing them ! Mwutsey@aol.com

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  63. yes I wear an apron. I have multiple and love them! My daughter also wears one when she is baking her horse treats.

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  64. I don’t use Aprons. Thank you for the chance gogo2007@rocketmail.com

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  65. My mom and grand wore aprons and sewed them ,too.I wore one most days when our children were home. Now it is when I am making dinner for guests and don't want to get dirty.I do have one of my grand's aprons and one of my mom's,too.
    lindasjohnson54@gmail.com

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  66. I am a fan of aprons, but I don't wear one often. lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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  67. I do wear aprons but not all the time. Anything involving frying is a must for wearing an apron as is baking which gets messy- all that flour and eggs you know. Plus soups and sauces. I’ve sewn a few of my aprons and bought some during travels. No heirlooms, however. I do have warm memories of my grandmother always wearing an apron and she was a great cook. Kwest2008@aim.com

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  68. I like wearing aprons when I cook or bake a recipe with many steps, I can be messy when I cook. My mom always wore the skirt style aprons when cooking for guests. My favorite apron is from my days selling Longaberger, it’s a Cookie Celebration apron.

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  69. I love aprons, I’m in the process of making 2 now, for our youngest granddaughters. I always wore them when helping my grandma in the kitchen, and I still wear them today. I’d love to win a new one, and these books. I’d read them, then donate them to the library, so others could enjoy them too.

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  70. I love aprons as they remind me of my grandmother’s. They always had extras for everyone helping in the kitchen. s_warshawsky@yahoo.com

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  71. Hi! I have an apron I wear that was a gift from a little girl I taught in preschool! Cozy mysteries and aprons!! ♥️ Thank you for the chance to win this awesome giveaway!!🍪 jcbuckmark@yahoo.com

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  72. I just tend to wear an old t-shirt. sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  73. Only wear an apron while baking. Cooking is a tshirt activity. My grandsons gave me my favorite apron s few years back.

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  74. Idon't wear aprons anymore but I did when I was a teenager. It was a red and white gingham that I made in home ec. Then we had to wear it when we got to the cooking part. I eventually took it home for when I did some of the cooking to help out my mom. I would ask if I could cook supper and surprise, surprise she always said yes. Thank you so much for this chance at your giveaway. pgenest57 at aol dot com

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  75. I usually don't wear aprons, but my mother did and I have several of hers. My usual cooking clothing is a t-shirt. I loved your stories.
    kaye.killgore (at) comcast (dot)net

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  76. I don't wear an apron when I cook, but I have one or two that were made for me. I wear them when company is over. We used to get aprons as gifts for helping serve at weddings or showers when I was growing up. I remember making a couple with my Mom. Loved to hear about your apron wearing! ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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  77. I think aprons are so fun. I have made a few, including my favorite which was made from a WWII era pattern that only uses 1 yard of fabric to help with the rationing of the time. I would love to read this lovely collection of stories! amberholland400 at msn dot com

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    1. I didn't know about fabric rationing, but it makes sense--all those uniforms to sew. thanks for your comment, Amber.

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  78. I have a few favorite aprons from Maine places (YEA!!) and several that I made years ago. Since I tend to spill things in general, they do save some of my outfits. I also love to bake, so sticky stuff needs a place to be wiped off. I love these blogs on food themes, and our Mystery Buffs Book club enjoys all the talk about food, which inspires our treats at gatherings! Thanks much for the great stories.

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  79. I had an blue and white gingham apron when I was a kid, that my great-grandmother had made and cross stitched Along the waistband. It was a prized possession. Unfortunately I lost it in 2005 in our house fire. I was able to save a quilt she had made, as it only had a little water damage. Janet.lomba@snet.net

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    1. Ooh. I'm sorry you lost an apron that meant a lot to you.
      ~Maya

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  80. I wear aprons when I know I’m going to make a big mess. My favorite one to wear is covered with handprints from my kid’s school. Second is the apron I wore in the late 70s working for Burger Chef. Most sentimental and stored in a shadow box are the ones my mother hand embroidered - one was hers and one was my dad’s.

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  81. I always mean to wear an apron and never remember too. My clothes would probably thank me if we’re better at remembering 🙈

    Melissaann522@gmail.com

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  82. Tracy Jean MichaudJune 6, 2022 at 8:03 PM

    I love aprons, just wish I remembered to wear them more. My girls and I had matching ones when they were small. (meracyg@yahoo.com)

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  83. I have an apron for gardening that has lots of pockets which is great. Unfortunately, I don't have one for cooking. I love the look of vintage aprons though.

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  84. I have more aprons that I can probably count, some were gifts and others were treats to myself. My mom always wore one when cooking and so did my grandmother so putting one on reminds me of them. My great aunt made them for all of us and when we had family dinners, someone would always have one of those aprons on! Funny how we forgot to take them off for those around the holiday table photos. I always took aprons to my class when I had my students bake as part of our story projects, but my favorite apron has to be a gift from my volunteer one year with my picture on it with my students that year! sharonrizzo@hotmail.com

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  85. I don’t wear an apron when I cook, and my mother didn’t either. I usually just wear an old T-shirt when I cook so if something splatters, it’s no big deal. I do have an apron that my great-grandmother wore. It was passed down to me from my mother. cking78503(at)aol(dot)com

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  86. Many of us have a grandmother's apron or memories of our grandmother's aprons. I think aprons were essential in the past because clothes were more expensive and not necessarily wash-and-wear. Also women didn't wear T-shirts. These days it's easy to throw our relatively cheap casual clothes in the washer and dryer.

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  87. I wear aprons whenever I cook! I have many, some new, some old, and i wear a different one for each time I cook. My dear friend, a woodworker, made me an apron rack from cherry wood, with a black walnut stain, both from my own trees. He had me sign my first name, then he enlarged and burnt it into the wood plaque on which the hooks are fastened, so that my apron rack bears my own signature. The rack has 8 hooks; there are about 30 aprons on it!

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  88. I wear an apron that has a design with vines and tomatoes all over the front. I've always wore it, it is my favorite. It reminds me of growing vegetables with my mum, my mum loves to garden. Thank you for the chance. ines.haddock@gmail.com

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