Special Guest: EllynAnne Geisel of Apron Memories – Aprons & Brides

The Indie Wedding Guide would like to welcome our first special guest, EllynAnne Geisel, author of The Apron Book, Apronisims and The Kitchen Linens Book (all soon to be reviewed on Vintage Indie.) She is also the proprietress of Apron Memories. She joins us today to offer some fun insight on the history of aprons and brides. We think an apron would make a great gift for the bride to be, don't you?

In the 1950s, a young bride was showered with a boat load of gifts for her new role as a wife, companion, homemaker and mother. Set-up for life with a set of “good” china, sterling for twelve, everyday ware and a cache of small appliances, she also received a trousseau of aprons. Usually custom made by the bride’s mother, grandmother and aunts, each apron was for a different use, from full coverage for heavy-day chores to short and flirty for serving cocktails.

VintIndy_Bride mag cover (Large)

Married two decades later, I received a dozen crock pots – the latest convenience appliance – and not a single apron. Out of favor at the time, it’s taken thirty + years for the old-fashion icon for domesticity to reincarnate into modern Domesti-Chic.

As an apron archaeologist and prima apronista, I have a collection of hundreds of aprons, and it is from their various parts and purposes that I draw inspiration for my apron designs. I love choosing the fabrics and digging through my bin of vintage hankies for the perfect pocket embellishment. Each “Erin” is unique, as is each bride.

VinIndy_Erin front (Medium)
 

“Erin,” my bridal apron, is tailored to match the Victorian good luck saying: “Something old”is the vintage fabric of the pocket; “Something new” is the apron itself;

VinIndy_Erin Pocket 2 (Medium)

“Something borrowed” is the recipe and advice that are laminated and slipped into the pocket, and “Something blue” is the antique button. Packaged in a pretty cloth envelope, “Erin” is of heirloom quality and sentiment, intended to be tied on for generations.

ElleyAnne2

With all the fuss and flurry bestowed upon the bride, a tid bit of groom recognition is only right! It’s my pleasure to provide the Only Marriage Advice Ever Needed as wearable art pins, by Colorado artist Louis Recchia to the first ten “Erin” orders received through my website.

She ties one on, he pins one on… together, may the garden of their love always be in bloom.

Love, EllynAnne

Apron-Button_190px

Tie One On…an apron, of course!

     www.apronmemories.com

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