Wedding Aprons

Finally I have arrived at my favorite part, designing. Me, Mary and Ruby playing dress up and pretend to create a new line of new Wedding Aprons. Mary is draped in the first lines of what will come. And what will come? It’s always a surprise even to me.But I am happy with our first steps.

New Wedding Aprons, a beginning

Brides Wedding Aprons

 

I am about to make more Brides Wedding Aprons. We had hoped for a rather lavish wedding photo shoot but now a simple bride with pretty flowers in gorgeous Vermont scenery will do. My issue becomes the wedding dress the model wears. I long to make gowns and miss making them so badly. I tell myself the apron is the focus, not the gown, any gown that is white and pretty would do….. check Salvation Army, used clothing shops, Craigslist. Don’t wrap up your time in making a wedding gown!…..*sigh*… my imagination runs in so many directions and the gown in my mind is beautiful, distinctive and lavish. Maybe I have ADD. It’s not wedding gowns, it’s about Aprons, Susannah! Aprons!

Here’s the photo of our traditional Brides Wedding Apron, upon which we intend to expand.

Brides Wedding Apron

I suppose I could make the apron look like the front of a gown….(she says, compromising with self)

Ready to Sew

Tomorrow I get to sew all day. I love days like this. I love waking up and have nothing calling to me or distracting me. I even have special comfy clothes and shoes that I wear in the studio as I plod around from cutting table to sewing machine. I wear my hair in a ponytail that looks horrid but here in the studio I get to be comfy with no one judging…. well, the outcome goes up for judging, doesn’t it? The work gets judged, critically so, and that’s Ok. The work is what matters, not how I dress.

It’s hard to sleep I am excited and filled with enthusiasm. I have two new designs to try out on the dress form and new fabric to order. Additionally, I also want to make some new dresses for simply the sake of playing with design. I do miss dressmaking. I have never done anything so fulfilling as crafting out a new dress, that one wonders if anyone would dare wear it.  I made a pumpkin dress once for a girl who dared to be a pumpkin. She looked like the Good with in The Wizard of Oz except in bright Orange. I loved that dress and loved her for being so excited about wearing it.

I also miss making dolls. I miss making dolls that explode with emotion; sadness, despair and hopelessness. Women connect with those emotions. Women all share moments of crying out in despair. We all know what it feels like to not have what we need. I better try and sleep if I am to be productive tomorrow.

Here’s a photo of Aprons and outfits I designed for Thanksgiving one year. I enjoyed making these and miss window dressing.

Thanksgiving Aprons

Making a new Apron design

I live at the cutting table. Its mess is a reflection of the workings of my mind. Its layers speak to me alone and form a language only I understand…. another designer may be able to come in and pick out enough of that language that they would understand… or maybe not.

My Work Table

I know I want to work in trees and that the lime looks like a perfect compliment, so I keep it on hand.

Mary, The Dress Form

Finally I drape my choices onto her to mimic what I am about to sew. I am happy with my decisions and I love how everything  looks under the skylight. I love how the sun and shade dance over everything, like deep in a forest.

Mary tries on the Woodland Apron

The dress form and I are best friends. She holds my designs as best she can and demonstrates what it will look like on a person. I love her. Sadly, I spend more time with her than anyone alive. She holds the pieces I have cut, just to fit her. I can’t decide on the lime or graphic brown and white for the waistband. She holds my choices while I sip coffee and decide.

  She is so patient with me and never seems to tire.

Woodland Apron

Even once I am done, I long for the lime print and ache for a place for it to reside. A large bow on the head would present so dramatically. Lovely, here in the studio, but I hardly perceive anyone cleaning with a lime print perched theatrically upon their head. I could be wrong. It has happened.

Joy and Peace, Susannah

Fat Girls

I make Plus Size Aprons. I really want to call the line Fat Girls. I think it gives power to the term, as if to say “Here I am, I’m not going anywhere.” My fear is that few people will follow my thinking. So until I feel otherwise, we use the lame term “Plus Size”.
When people follow your new idea, its called revolution. When they don’t follow you, its called, odd man out.

Creativity

My creativity has existed within the confines of the tangible; fabric, walls, clay, roving, and quilting. I never intended to be a graphic artist. I still don’t want to be one. But living with a near empty wallet causes certain truths to exist. One of those truths is that I cannot afford a web designer. Unfortunately, it must be me. Intentional or not, I seem to be getting better at the task. My latest efforts.
http//www.vermontapron.com/

Happy Halloween!

As I get older, I appreciate this holiday more and more. I find myself exploring the religious aspect of it as friends treat it as a religous holiday. I also appreciate its playfulness. It is the one day each year we can truly dress as we want with nothing less than applause from our community.

Blessings to all.