First Place: "Here is an apron I made with some vintage fabric and a vintage pattern this past summer. I love wearing it! I don't have a blog, but I have enjoyed yours for a long time. (I even won The Mommy Manual from you just for being pregnant! That baby, our 6th, is now a beautiful 11 mo. old girl.) Thank you for encouraging us Mommies to be our best!" Visit Connie at http://www.smockityfrocks.blogspot.com/
2nd: "My sister made my daughter and I these sweet matching aprons as a Christmas gift. My daughter (3yr. old) loves to help me in the kitchen. Anytime she sees me working at the counter she runs to get her stool and asks to help. In this photo my daughter is showing off the tiny cookies she made in her new "Easy Bake oven". I have such fond memories of baking goodies with my sisters when I was a child using our old "Easy bake oven", so I bought this one for my daughter this year for Christmas." Sarah
3rd: "This apron was made for me by my step-mom and little sister last Christmas. I didn't know how much use I would get out of it, but it's come in handy, especially now that the pregnant belly tends to get in my way alot in the kitchen. Not that I don't have a lots of other "in my ways" under foot. 7 months pregnant, it's five o'clock and my twins (2 and a half) are pantless, and the baby(sixteen months) insists on being on my hip. (That's after he's hung onto my legs and untied my apron, of course. Can't tell you how many times a day he unties the thing. And if he doesn't do it, one of the twins is bound to.) I do love cooking with my kids, no matter how crazy it makes me. They've learned how to count in my kitchen, and they can identify all the major ingredients we use in any of our favorite recipes. " Visit Lora at http://www.vitafamiliae.com
4th: "This is one of two aprons that belonged to my husband's great-grandmother, Nunny: an italian matriarch in the best sense of the word. My mother-in-law gave them to me as a newlywed. I had fairly recently started wearing it again whenever I was in the kitchen because my growing belly was swabbing up whatever it could find on the counters when I cooked or baked! Very soon after I began wearing it again, your apron contest was announced. A philosophy behind wearing an apron? Great! I loved the new importance given to my little apron as I now felt like I was putting on my vocational battle gear to do my work in the kitchen or around the house for our family. It has made a surprising, positive difference in my outlook on what had been mere drudgery before." Melissa Schools
5th: "Here I am wearing my blueberry apron, serving up blueberry muffins to the kids for breakfast. I got this apron last summer, while blueberry-picking at a local patch. We love blueberries around here. There is a slight ultramarine hue to my hands in the picture; I had the bright idea of sprinkling the berries over the tops of the batter-filled muffin cups, instead of folding them into the batter while still in the bowl like I usually do. I didn't think about how that would stain my hands! The children appreciated not getting a mouthful of berries when they bit into their muffins this morning, so I guess the extra effort and mess were worth it. You might also notice our sixth little one "under the apron, due sometime in August." Visit Valerie at http://www.firstpeteronefour.blogspot.com
6th: "I love this contest, it is so great to see so many women wearing aprons in their day to day lives. I also rejoice that one of your rules is that it be feminine. I love wearing aprons and was blessed with a box of about twenty or so from a customer of my husband's whose wife had passed away, many of them are fifties style and cover only from the waist down about a foot or so. I love this one that was amongst them at this time because I am pregnant and a little bit clumsy and I need all the coverage I can get, especially with an ever expanding belly. I hope that this contest encourages women to rejoice in there calling, " to love their husbands, to love their children, and to be busy at home." It's amazing that a little thing such as an apron can help us to do those things." Rebecca Williams
7th: The wee chef on the right is wearing a paper apron and hat she received as party favors at a recent birthday party. The second wee chef in pink is wearing a smock my mom made for her. The next,um not so wee chef, is me. I am sporting my Edwardian apron. Let me count the ways I love thee, 1) I mastered homemade bias tape during this sewing project 2) It covers all of me! Really protecting my clothes 3) I instantly find myself speaking softer once I don it 4) I can wear my pj's under it and still answer the door! Next in the lineup is our faithful floor sweeper. Juliet (the dog) is enduring wearing one of the smocks my mom made. The dog handler and pancake chef wonder, is wearing a gardening apron my mom made me. I think the pancake chef likes to wear it because it is her mom's and I almost cry everytime I see her in it. We really love aprons around here. They are super functional and super-de-dooper FUN! Visit Eva at http://eva-forthejoyofit.blogspot.com/
8th: "My apron is very special to me because it was a Christmas gift from my oldest daughter, Sophie (8). Not only is special because she gave it to me, but, she also sewed it for me. This past year my mom has been teaching Sophie how to sew. Not only did Sophie make my Christmas present, she also made Christmas gifts for several members of the family. This was her first sewing attempt, ever. I am so thankful that my kids are able to be taught how to sew by their Grammy. Many years ago my mom tried to teach me how to sew and I had no interest. It is so fun to see my kids (Sam is learning to sew, too.) have the desire to learn this skill. I am so blessed." From Christa Mullins
9th: "I made this apron with towels my mother sent me for Christmas - 3 years ago. I always thought they were "too nice to use", but I am trying to change my attitude towards the blessings God has provided our family, and decided to make an apron out of them. I'm a big fan of towel aprons - they are easy to wash and I wipe my hands on my apron anyway. Also excellent for the beginning seamstress - they are already hemmed! The full story behind this apron is on my blog. Thanks for sponsoring this contest and encouraging femininity in the service of our families." Visit Lisa and see how to make this apron at www.milehimama.blogspot.com
Tie for 10th: "I didn't make this apron, as so many others seem to have done, but I do wear this every Christmas. My husband gets a big bang out of it, and it does make a messy kitchen a bit more fun :)" Visit Kristina at www.christianweddingtips.blogspot.com
Tie for 10th: "One of my readers sent me your contest, and I couldn't resist offering my picture. It's not exactly a holiday picture, although it was taken on Thanksgiving. It's an everyday picture because to me, Aprons are an everyday necessity. You may be familiar with my article Apron Evangelism. It's been online since 1999. One reader has even been calling me the grandmother of the Internet Apron Movement. I'm not exactly sure that's true, but my apron article has received over 700,000 hits since I wrote it and it continues to be one of my most popular articles. Here I am this Thanksgiving, in our nearly complete addition, holding my first grandbaby, Veronica. I appreciate you spreading the word about the pleasure and power of aprons. One mommy at a time, we are taking back our aprons and genuinely comprehending the value they add to our lives." Visit Maggie and her article at You may be familiar with my article at wwwhillbillyhousewife.com/apronevangelism.htm
"This apron was sent to me by a customer. She made it for me knowing I was having a hard time finding aprons. I posted on my blog that I really felt clothed in God's love that day as it was a particularly rough day of worries about Brian. I wrote a friend and told them that this is a current pic of me. They had not seen me since I was in court room attire in my career days as a social worker. I swapped out the brief case and the Dillard's wardrobe for the apron, t-shirts and shorts. The amazing thing is how my sphere of influence has increased exponentially since giving up the court room attire. Who woulda thought a stay at home mom and country bumpkin could impact anyone armed with a pot holder and sporting a cow apron? God has opened a tremendous ministry here for me in an apron no less. Gotta love his ways which are not our ways and so much higher than our ways too." Visit Christine (aka KS MilkMaid) at http://www.fullerfamilyfarms.com/topics/blog
"I'm going to have to get hubby to take a picture of me in my apron, I tend to be the picture-taker and don't have many. But I do have some of my sweet daughters in theirs -- beginning a new generation of apron-wearers! My mother made them from vintage fabric she found in my grandmother's attic. Oh, look, I found one of the three of us, although you can't see mine well. It belonged to my husband's grandmother -- I only met her once, she passed away the year we got married. But we were blessed to take care of my grandfather his last 2 years of life, and I started using the apron when we lived with him. It's very special to me and I use it nearly every time I cook! " Visit Jema at http://mysocalled.homeschooljournal.net
"This apron says “Love Mongolia” underneath the picture of the ger. My dad brought it back to me from his trip there a year or so ago. It’s a good reminder to my kids and me to pray for the people there (where it’s -28C today!). " Meg in NC
"I asked for a new apron for Christmas, and my daughters decided they wanted one to. SO, we got matching ones in red and decided to use them BEFORE christmas!!! They wanted the "hat" to go with theirs so we splurged and got them the baker's hats. They look so cute and the aprons say "Little Helper". I'm not much of a "from scratch" cook, so in this picture we're making cookies that you just slice and bake, but we have so much fun working together in the kitchen. I've been blessed by reading your website for about 6 months now and getting ideas etc. I am setting a foundation for a love of motherhood that I hope my girls will pass on to their kids some day." Angie Rangel, Cordova, TN
"I couldn't resist sending in this picture. It isn't a full shot, because I had to take it of myself! My son and I were baking Christmas cookies and candies this morning and having such a good time - as you can see! I love my apron, especially because my mom made it for me. It is fairly basic, but it has pretty little details like madras plaid edging that make it feel quite feminine. And best of all, it has long ties in the back so it fits around my very pregnant tummy!" Visit Emily at http://laundryandlullabies.blogspot.com
"I am a stay home mom and homeschool teacher to our (so far LOL) six children--8 1/2 yr. old son, 7 yr. old daughter, 5 yr. old daughter, 2 yr. old daughter (will be 3 in January), and 7 month old twin daughters! I am sending a picture along that my husband took tonight of my 3 older girls and myself in our aprons in front of some of our Christmas decorations in the hallway. (I also inset a picture of our 7 month old twin girls!) The 3 girls are each wearing matching handmade aprons with a victorian lady appliqued and embroidered on. These aprons were made by a dear lady in our church who has since passed on to be with the Lord. She was such a godly example, and a dear, dear lady. She was always VERY busy, and always had to have something to do. I would like to tell my girls about the sweet Christian lady that made the aprons they wear and of her godly example. As my twin girls get older, I would love to make two more "victorian lady" aprons for them to wear as well, starting a tradition!" Rebecca
"Here I am with my sidekicks--Aviana, 2, and Brielle, 4 months, making macaroni tuna casserole. I started wearing vintage aprons because they are free from older women in the family. I am wearing my husband's great-grandmother's and Aviana is wearing one that belonged to my grandmother. Aviana "helps" me in the kitchen with whatever I'm doing, a practice I started out of desperation, but have since read (thanks :-)) is highly beneficial for her. BTW, my parents gave me Lord, Meet Me in the Laundry Room last year for Christmas, and I am re-reading it, which is how I found your blog. It's helping me even more this time! Thanks!" Visit Jessica at www.farmfreshiowa.blogspot.com
"I'm a 24-year-old wife and mama to two little boys ages 2.5 and 11 months. We're a second-generation homeschooling family, excited about the adventures ahead of us. :) I spend a good deal of time in the kitchen, since we like to eat home-cooked meals made from scratch. My husband, Joshua, and I both love to cook! I'm attaching a photo of myself, holding Eliyahu (11 months), wearing an apron made for me by my friend at http://the-rabbit-hutch.blogspot.com/2006/08/just-sample-of-some-jumpers-and.html". I love this apron because it has a cute oven mitt pattern and it covers so much of my shirt when I'm cooking. :) Thanks again for sharing with your readers through your blog! :)" Visit Tammy at http://www.tammysrecipes.com
"For as long as I could remember,my grandmother ALWAYS wore an apron. Every day, for as long as she was alive at home, she put on a housedress and an apron. It was how she felt the most comfortable. My Greatgrandmother Wertie, (who was in her 90s when I knew her) also always wore an apron. She always wore a housedress, put her hair up in a bun, and then donned her apron! In my mind, to be domestic, was to wear an apron. Before I had kids, when I worked outside of the home, I didn't own an apron. I wore old clothes when I cleaned, which was always once a week on the weekend. I didn't even know where to buy an apron and frankly, it was not even on my radar screen of things to own. . . ." Read the rest of Elena's apron story at http://mydomesticchurch.blogspot.com/2006/12/aprons.html
"I remember loving my grandmother's aprons as a little girl, but somehow the art of the apron was lost as I grew up. I struggle with housework. I have gotten much better over the past two years of marriage, but it is an everyday battle for me. That said, I have been making a super concerted effort the past few months to do better. After reading the "apron ministry" story I realized what a great idea it was to have a uniform for my mommy job. I asked for an apron for Christmas, and my wonderful husband was happy to oblige. I'm so happy to report that my home has greatly improved with this small piece of fabric. I am able to do so much more with my new found good-spirit. I know that all of this is rather silly, and that I should be able to motivate myself without a "crutch" but the apron ideology really has helped me to be more a model of a biblical woman. Thank you for all you are doing to spread this 'good news'." Visit Lauren at http://mychoice-hislife.blogspot.com
"When I was first married, I wanted an apron to save on laundry costs. I looked and looked in Walmart and I couldn’t find ONE apron in the whole store. So I made do without. When your contest started, I remembered that I had some cute fabric that I was saving for something special. So I made my apron. Also in the picture are my two friends, Erin and Rachel. We all live in Romania and for Christmas, they both came over to celebrate. It is hard to be so far away from family [Monika's family are missionaries] So we started baking up a storm. Erin wanted an apron too, but unfortunately for her all I had was an all white cafeteria style apron. Rachel came later and didn’t want to be left out so she got my 3yr old sons apron he uses for art and baking with me. So here we are, three friends far across the globe, laughing and singing on Christmas Eve as we work in my tiny kitchen and remember the joy of Christs coming." Visit Monica at http://www.monicaklepac.blogspot.com
"This apron is small, but it is special to me because it was my grandmother's. The elf in the pocket is just like one we had when I was growing up. I couldn't resist when I saw it at a garage sale! I'm a homeschool mom of 5 - 3 boys, a girl, then another boy - the same family I grew up in, even the order! My daughter is 7 and wants to learn to sew. I bought mother/daughter apron patterns for our first project. It's been years since I've sewn, so wish us well!" Susan
"After reading some of your entries about your Apron Power contest, I told my husband that I wanted an apron. I love the idea that putting on my apron symbolizes that I’m ready to do my work as a wife and mom. For Christmas my wonderful husband surprised me with an apron which he and our 17 month old had worked together to personalize." Karen
"I was raised with an apron-wearing, cooking-from-scratch mom who is with the Lord now. I used to despise her for her selflessness, but now I find myself trying to emulate it." Marsha I have been so inspired by this apron contest! I felt underdressed while doing my Christmas baking. I found a pattern online at http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa041299.htm and made this apron from some fabric I had given to me yesterday while hubby was home.
"Here I am (in green apron with red trim) along with my daughter, Aunt and Mom. Wearing silly head gear and aprons while cooking Christmas cookies has become a family tradition. Afterwards, we reward ourselves with a little vino. I love aprons! Wearing an apron makes me feel more confident in the kitchen. I guess I feel it makes me look like I know what I'm doing! Looks can be deceiving sometimes though :-)" Visit KD at http://justabeachkat.blogspot.com
"This Christmas my sister made aprons for me and my middle daughter as we work together in the kitchen. I can't put it on without thinking of my wonderful grandmothers who always wore aprons! I'm proud and grateful to be training a new generation of domestic-minded women! A runner has his shoes; a painter has his brush; this mommy has her apron! " Visit Kim at http://www.reformedgrits.typepad.com/reformed_grits.com
"I have other aprons, but this one is The Favorite. It's quilted and has English roses on it. My daughter took this of me while I was preparing the last little something before Christmas Dinner was to be served. I'm hard-at-it." Jody Courtney, Montana Prairie Savage
"This apron also is a demonstration of how much [my husband] spoils me rotten. It's from the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England that I got when we'd visited five six and a half years ago. Only someone who loves me very much would agree to spend a weekend doing Jane Austen-y things*** " Visit Spring and read the whole story at http://spotzle.blogspot.com/2007/01/my-true-love-gave-to-me.html
"I wanted to be sure to send you this picture of my mother-in-law getting the hard sauce ready for the Christmas cake. She is wearing an apron she made for her mother many years ago. Her mom has since passed away and now the apron has a home with my sister-in-law. I asked MIL to put it on for the picture as she is the important family link in the life of that apron." Kelly
"Here' a photo taken by my 5yo of me wearing my "girly" apron. This is my newest (and favorite) apron! It says, "Born to shop. Forced to cook!" My dad gave me the apron for Christmas. I use it every time I'm in the kitchen (which sometimes seems like half my waking hours!). I feel more feminine and more serious about cooking when I wear an apron." Read the rest of Mrs. C's apron story at http://riverbend-ramblings.blogspot.com/2007/01/cooking-vs-shopping.html
"This is my version of Amy Butler's pattern, "Cafe Apron." The bright fabric mix is great because 1) it hides a lot of spaghetti sauce spills, and 2) my boys won't wear it." Read other reasons TC wears an apron at athttp://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TC/265321/Apron+Power.html
"Here is my entry for your apron power contest. Here I am, with 2 of my girls in my chili pepper apron. It's a little big, but it will do." Visit Ali at www.homeschoolblogger.com/aligirl
"Thanks to my new "Texas Cajun Blogger Apron", I actually am wearing an apron again. (Previously, the only apron I owned was a 20-year-old rust colored polka-dot teddy bear apron-- far too embarrassing for me to don even in the privacy of my own kitchen, although my 8-yr-old loves to wear it.)" Visit BJ at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/40winkzzz
"My apron was a wedding gift several years ago. I made Faith's apron out of a matching table cloth that I had also received. I struggle to connect with Faith because she is very feminine while I've always been a tom boy. I decided to make her this apron as a way to help bridge the gap between her and I and to help build in her ideas of the character of Godly woman." Visit Rose at http://www.mawhorter.org/blogs/rose
"This was my grandmother's. She handmade it. She was an Italian immigrant. She died in 1980 and my dad took possession of the apron. I always wanted it for myself. In 2004 when my dad passed away, I took possession of the coveted apron. It's funny how the crucifix in the background was also passed on to me from my grandma to my dad to me!" Michelle
"Praise God for naptime! Once I put an apron on in the kitchen, I usually wear it all day- so this is me "taking a break" with a book and a cup o' chai. I feel so feminine when I wear this one, it is my prettiest (thanks, mom!)." Bonnie in Tuscon
"My two daughters, 4 ½ and 2 ½, are wearing the aprons I made for them after being inspired by your contest. I only recently began wearing aprons myself, and it was not until I saw your blog on aprons that I realized I felt the same way when I wore them—feminine and ready to work! They have watched me in the kitchen from the time they were old enough to sit on the counter. My hope is that one day they will put aprons on their little girls and teach them how to cook. I have a 10-month old son as well, and while he is too young to help, he sure does like to watch everything his mommy and sisters are doing, and he “sings” along with us while we work. We serve in a foreign country, and so I am not close (physically) to good fellowship. I am so thankful to be able to find encouragement and inspiration from your blog as well as others. Thank you for all the help and encouragement to be the best mommy I can be for God’s glory. Sincerely, Sarah
"It is by the strings of aprons that my past, present and future combine to make sense. . . .I remember well both of my Grandmothers wearing aprons. They were a sign post that a warm and delicious family function was about to occur. . . It is these home aprons, the pretty ones, the colorful ones that show a true history of life in their fabrics. The special meals tenderly attended to with great detail for those I love. In my mind’s eye I see my ideal apron, which I have yet to own. It will be pink calico with a long full skirt and rows of pin tucks. The shoulder straps will be deeply ruffled. I see it as clearly as the person that I want to be when I wear it: feminine, yes, but much more. More gentle, more loving, more graceful, more sweet, more a reflection of Christ. The humble piece of cloth that unites my life- my past, my present and my future is not tied with a terse knot, but with a beautiful bow." Greta - Missoula, Montana
"I'm wearing this vintage apron while the family polishes silver for the holidays. I started buying aprons as a young woman, about the same time I began picking up silver for my own "hope chest." Even then, I was dreaming of a happy family, with all the gracious trappings of home. I'm still thrilled to find a grandmother's aprons selling for a quarter. That's okay--one day they'll be MY children's heirlooms! We didn't all grow up with silver spoons, dinner around a table, and two-parent households. That shouldn't stop us from celebrating domestic touches with our own children. Donning a flowery apron makes me feel like I've done this all along. " Visit Meredith at http://likemerchantships.blogspot.com
"Here are our useless, but lovely aprons. These two aprons along with a couple of other vintage aprons were in a box of fabric that was donated to our quilter's guild. Pictured is my oldest daughter, Olivia (16), and myself. We will be hosting a book study at our this coming Monday night (Biblical Womanhood in the Home), I think we will wear these to serve our guest in...not much else you can do in them! :o)" Visit Kathy at http://HigherGroundToday.blogspot.com/"
"I collect old and antique aprons. I enjoy wearing them and letting them do the duty they were designed to do. This is a picture of me and my 3 yo son. He calls this his apron. He will rush to grab it when he "helps" in the kitchen or when he eats breakfast on Sunday morning. All the little guys tie the aprons around their neck on Sunday morning after getting dressed for church as a bib. I didn't send the picture of the one with him with it over his head like Susanna Wesley praying. He does that often...so cute." Christi
"Here's my apron, handmade to match my kitchen. The neatest part is the woman who made it for me...Shannon from Rocks In My Dryer!" Visit Jules at http://www.EverydayMommy.net
"My sister & I have always loved to bake. Now, she has a 3 ½ year old & I have a 14 month old and we are so excited to have daughters to join us in the kitchen. I started wearing an apron after my grandmother passed away 7 years ago and I acquired her old apron. I decided to use it every time I was in the kitchen as a way to remember and honor her. I loved knowing that I was wearing something that she often wore while in the kitchen. It made me feel close to her. A few years ago, I decided to buy 3 vintage full-size aprons instead of getting a “brand new” one, because I liked the feeling of “wearing some history”. I am always more inspired when I cook while wearing one of these worn-in and faded aprons that was used by another woman in her kitchen somewhere else 20, 30 maybe 40 years ago. This photo is my sister, her daughter & myself wearing the vintage aprons." Christy
