Aprons, Appetizers and free paperdolls with lots of dresses!

Hello!

I hope your day is full of sunshine, whether outside or inside.
Our skies are gray, with big rolling thunder and a steady rain.
But that's okay!
It is a perfect day to spend inside with a sewing machine, vintage apron patterns, and my fabric stash.
Or...to chat about aprons with you!

vintage Singer sewing machine French ad

I had quite a bit of fun yesterday looking through my craft/sewing books, and browsing Amazon for apron books. I delight in showing you some of my finds!



http://www.amazon.com/Sew-Cute-Leisure-Arts-4809/dp/160140400X/ref=reg_hu-rd_dp_img

gotta love Mary Englebreit...

I really really like the feature on Amazon where you can take a sneek peak at what's inside a book, before you order. Don't you just hate it when you purchase a book, get it home, and it is not at all what you expected or wanted? I sure do.

"Worthy books

Are not companions - they are solitudes:

We lose ourselves in them and all our cares." 

- Philip James Bailey

http://www.amazon.com/Apron-Book-Wearing-Sharing-Comfort/dp/0740761811/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_1_dp

I have this book, and it is terrific!

A special feature -

the back has a pocket that contains a pattern of a full size bib apron!

EllynAnne Geisel, author, has filled her book with loads of photos of vintage aprons, vintage apron ads, stories from women of their apron memories growing up, history of the apron (starting with Adam and Eve!) and so much more.

Do I sound like a commercial yet?

But wait...there's more!!!  (My husband and I always laugh at those commercials.)

http://www.amazon.com/Feedsack-Secrets-Fashion-Hard-Times/dp/1935362313/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_4_dp

This book is definitely on my wish list now. It looks very interesting from descriptions and reviews.  I remember my grandmother talking about using feed sacks to make clothes. I also remember vaguely something made with a blue and pink design from a feedsack.  Long ago memories.

vintage Ivorine Soap ad

http://www.amazon.com/Aprons-Mid-20th-Century-Designers-Collectors/dp/076431341X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306180271&sr=1-6

Time for a Deep Fried Mozzarella recipe!

This is one of the appetizer recipes that was lost from yesterday's blog.

Enjoy...but be sure to wear an apron!

Deep Fried Mozzarella

from 'Cooking with Mickey Gourmet Mickey Cookbook, Volume II'

Caffe Villa Verde, Disneyland Hotel

1 pound whole mozzarella cheese

3 eggs, beaten

1/2 Cup flour

1 Cup bread crumbs

1/4 Cup parsley, chopped

4 Cups vegetable oil for frying

marinara sauce

> Cut mozzarella cheese into 3" sticks about 1/2" thick.

Combine bread crumbs and chopped parsley in a small bowl.

Set up beaten eggs in another.

Place flour on a plate.

First thoroughly dust cheese sticks in flour, shaking off any excess.

Dip in beaten egg, coating thoroughly, and then in bread crumbs.

Press lightly to ensure an even coating.

Refrigerate 15 minutes to allow breading to set up.

>In the meantime, heat oil in a heavy skillet (or electric skillet, my preference) just large enough to allow for 2" of oil.

When oil is hot, fry a few cheese sticks at a time to a golden brown.

Drain on paper towels.

Repeat until all cheese has been fried.

Serve hot with marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

- my additions....

We like Paul Newman's Original Spaghetti Sauce, or Blue Parrot Spaghetti Sauce, to use as marinara sauce.  We also like Ranch dressing to dip the fried cheese in.

vintage spice ad

Here are the paper dolls I promised from yesterday:

Check out the cute aprons these paperdolls have!

This next book of aprons I also own. It is full of pages of vintage apron photos, and has a large pattern index in the back. These are meant to be enlarged. I find this can be a real hassle, trying to get a full size apron out of a pattern that says "Enlarge 400%", but it is doable. Get your scotch tape out!

An alternative is to take it to a print/copy store (we use Kinko's mostly) and have them enlarge and print it on their 'big' machines for a small fee.



http://www.amazon.com/Apron-25-Fresh-Flirty-Designs/dp/B0032Z6YLY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306178071&sr=1-1

Don't let my comments about enlarging patterns scare you - this is still a super book, with really cute apron patterns.

vintage postcard, Spanish couple

Well, I think that's enough for one day.

I hope you have fun with the paperdolls.

Invite a child over to help you cut out and play with them!

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

Aprons and Appetizers

Good morning!

Wonder Bread apron for sale at www.loverdoversclothing.etsy.com



Today I will be exploring MORE aprons,

apron trivia,

apron adventures,

and

appetizers!

The two just seem to go hand in hand,

as I can seldom make an appetizer without making a mess.

kitschy retro Kitchen Apron for sale at www.puddintanes.etsy.com

Let's start with

Tempura Fillet Bites

"Mix Butter with Love" by Joyce Landorf

This recipe comes from my very first cookbook-that-was-all-mine.

It has a bit of history for me.

When we first moved to Arizona, we lived at a camp above Prescott -

'Ponderosa Pines Camp'. Dad was the Camp Director.

Then fall came, and I had to go back to school, in Phoenix, AZ -

yet another new school, trying to find friends, fit in, etc.

Ick.

I hated it every time.

Oh well- moving, new schools, new people - that is a big part of what made me who I am today.

At the time however, I sure didn't see the overall picture!

Fast forward 3 years -  now it was off to high school!

North (Phoenix) High School.

It was a few miles to the high school. Rather than ride a bus with a bunch of kids I didn't know, I chose to walk.  Most mornings either Mom or Dad would drop me off. Later, my sister would come pick me up in the morning and drop me off.

I walked home most of the time.

Well, as I mentioned, this was Phoenix, Arizona.

Think hot.

Think walking several miles on concrete sidewalks in the afternoon.

Think Phoenix reaches its high temperature around 3 pm.
Just the time I'm walking home.
Think hot!
Dad had an office about half-way home at the Baptist main office. Truly, I can't remember if it was Southern Baptist, General Conference Baptist, or some other kind of Baptist. But these were the Baptists that owned Ponderosa Pines, so Dad had an office in the Phoenix headquarters.
The first floor was a bookstore.
Yee Haw!!!
I loved books. I still love books!
There was a very very nice woman who managed the bookstore. Dad introduced us, and it was a friendship from then on. Funny quirk of the brain, I can't remember her exact name, but I think it was Mrs. Jackson.

Okay, long story trying to make it shorter.
One day I stopped in for a minute of air conditioning and cool water break. Dad was there, and came down to the bookstore. He said I could have any book I wanted. WOW.
I always looked at the books, so I knew which one I wanted -
'Mix Butter with Love' by Joyce Landorf
My very first, all my own, cookbook!
You see, I had been preparing pretty much all the meals for the family for around 3 years by that time. Of course, it was only Mom and Dad for the last bit, as Cindy had moved out.

Mom was in the hospital there quite a bit. So after Cindy moved out it was just me and Dad, when Mom was in the hospital. (Doctor's Hospital)

The house rule was that whoever cooked didn't have to wash dishes.

Oh yeah, that was good. I hated to wash dishes, so you can be sure I cooked all the time!  I still hate washing dishes!

One night I decided to try this recipe. This is where the apron adventure comes in.

I had never cooked fish (mom didn't like it). I certainly had never cooked anything with a batter like tempura.

Adventure!

After dinner - which was quite good by the way - Dad had to clean up, see house rule above. Poor Dad.

I had grease up on the ceiling. Tempura batter and frying grease all over the counters, the floor, the cabinets, the stove....what a mess.

And Dad never complained one little bit.  Miss that man.

On to the recipe!

Tempura Fillets:

1 lb. fish fillets, cut into 4 pieces, or smaller bite size pieces for appetizers

vegetable oil for deep fat frying

1 bottle soy sauce

1 package Japanese Tempura Batter Mix (look in the Asian food aisle)

with love:

Heat oil in your electric skillet or fry pan to 365'.

Whip up one small bowl of batter using box/package directions. Set aside in the fridge to keep chilled.

Cut fish into small pieces for handling. Coat lightly with flour.

(The success of tempura depends on icy cold batter and very hot oil.)

Dip floured fish into batter and fry in hot oil.

OH MY GOODNESS DID THIS EVER GET MESSY!!!!

tip:

Wear an apron!!!

Cook only a few minutes on each side using tongs. Batter will be crisp but not brown. Fish will flake easily with a fork.

Place fish on a warmed platter covered with paper toweling to absorb oil and set in warm oven (turned off).

Serve with a small side dish of soy sauce. Add a few drops of water to the soy sauce if it's too strong.

Dip battered, cooked fish into it and enjoy!

Additions:

You can use different vegetables and even bananas dipped in the batter and fried the same way. Some of Joyce's favorites are carrot and celery sticks, sliced eggplant, cauliflower, sliced zucchini squash, long fresh green beans.

The vegetables are cooked - but not to death! so they taste full of flavor.

vintage apron with embroidery detail, http://www.reginasstudio.etsy.com/

Okay, not happy.

blogspot is having issues

grrrrrrr

It only saved and published about half of my blog.

grrrrrrrrrrrrr.......

First I couldn't have any setting but the 'center' setting for type.

okay, I can deal.

But losing my blog? did I mention grrrrrr.....

Well, the upside is, you get some info but not as much chit chat from me!

EZ BREEZY APRON

Pre-purchase plain butcher style apron.

Here is a photo of 3 that are decorated, but in the butcher style apron:

Pre-wash apron, using NO FABRIC SOFTENER.

Now you have a blank canvas to have lots of fun with!

Some ideas:

Stamp with fabric ink and large stamps

Doodle embroidery - using embroidery floss randomly stitch motifs and fancy stitches all over the butcher apron

Doodle sewing - see above, only use colorful thread in your sewing machine.

Perfect time to play with all those fancy stitches you've never tried!

Using fabric ink pads, or acrylic paints mixed with a make-it-washable additive, (You can find these in the same aisle as acrylic craft paints.) make prints with cut up veggies and fruit. Here is a simple tutorial:

http://www.kinderart.com/printmaking/fruit.shtml

Colorful patches - cut cotton fabric into large shapes like triangle, circle, square, etc. Place randomly over apron; pin in place. Leaving a 1/4" border, stitch all around each shape. When washed, the 1/4" border should fray nicely.

Using fabric crayons, draw or trace from a coloring book a simple picture. Fill in with color, or just make the outline bright colors.

Here is a simple apron with applique from Crafts n Things, Dec 2010:

Click on the photos so you can read the directions.
Re-size the pattern to fit your apron.

Elizabeth, a vintage paperdoll

Jane in rain gear and apron, from The turned-intos vintage book:

I love the delicate watercolors in this book!
Well, since I've been at this blog for twice as long as normal, due to the re-posting, I think I'll quit for the day.
Tomorrow -

The Deep Fried Mozzarella recipe that blogspot lost,

2 FREE vintage paperdolls, with lots of clothes -
and aprons of course!

some apron trivia and.....who knows?

inkspired
http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/
dominoes@myinkspired.com

vintage paper dolls and aprons

bonjour!

Today we will be visiting aprons.

This will be my quickie intro, with more tomorrow!

Dolls of the World (DOW) Barbie, 2nd edition, Germany, 1995



DOW Barbie, Italian, 2nd edition, 1993

DOW Barbie, Spanish, 2nd edition, 1992

As the above international dolls illustrate, 

aprons have been a part of many many different cultures, all over the world.

Of course! They are so handy!

BUT

They can also be decorative...

www.4RetroSisters,etsy.com

They can be part of a traditional costume....

DOW Polish Barbie, 1998

They can be part of our work....

vintage nursery rhyme illustration



They can protect clothes from spills and poofs when cooking...

www.DizzyDames.etsy.com

They can be part of our play...

Kate Greenaway

They can be a part of gardening...

vintage illustration from The Turned Intos

There has been a revival in

interest of vintage aprons,

and all kinds of aprons, for the past several years.

There are specific books written just on the subject of aprons!

You can find free apron patterns all over the internet.

and yes, you can still purchase very vintage apron patterns!

Several companies have taken vintage apron patterns

and adapted them to an easier pattern for today's sewers.

vintage apron available at www.reginasstudios.etsy.com

This revival has brought more and more collectors

to the fun, kitschy, functional, crazy and beautiful heritage of

Aprons.

http://www.apronsandmore.etsy.com/

Liana has several beautiful and fun aprons as part of her large paper doll costume collection that she illustrates. Check out her blog to find more:

http://www.joechip.net/liana/

You can find the paper dolls that fit these aprons in many of my previous blogs,

or on Liana's blog site.

Let's finish up today with a little paper doll named Trixie,

based on the cartoon strip series 'Hi and Lois':

see you tomorrow, with recipes that you'll need an apron for,

some vintage apron patterns,

and more apron resources and history!

inkspired
http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/
dominoes@myinkspired.com

Time for a Tea Party!

Salutations!

Today we are going to have a tea party!

rubber stamp for sale, found at overstock.com

vintage Limoges cup & saucer from TheCottageWay.etsy.com

First, let's make invitations!

You can purchase pre-made ones, like this:

for sale at EspeciallyInvited.etsy

and this:

for sale by mulberrymuse.etsy.com

or

You can print out your own, like this:

for sale to digitally download from LandofEnchantment.etsy

or

you can make your own, using stamps like this:

hand carved stamps by cupcaketree.etsy.com

Don't forget to add in some sprinkles!

for sale by DanisWeddingPretties.etsy.com

"Come along inside...

We'll see if tea and buns

can make the world a better place."

- Kenneth Grahame, 'Wind In The Willows'

for sale by ElsiesFlat, etsy

I love this apron!

Here's the web site, if anyone wants to purchase it for me:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68854097/roses-and-magnolias-full-flounce-apron?ref=tre-4c61a2eaf7528eef5439e8b5-1

tee hee.

"Remember -

hot tea is always a good idea."

c. 1906

c. 1906

A beautiful teacup necklace:

for sale by CuteAbility.etsy.com

We will have to wear beautiful big hats to our tea party.

hats by AwardDesign.etsy.com

and of course, our prettiest earrings:

DesignsbyShauna.etsy.com

LiciaBeads.etsy.com

Have you rediscovered shoe clips yet? These will get you started:

http://www.finkshop.etsy.com/

www.HARTfeltart.etsy.com

Let's move on to the tea party food delights!

Here is a recipe for ICED ALMOND TEA

from Southern Living 1989 Annual Recipes



Almond Tea by Rhonda G. Ford, Tennessee

4 regular size tea bags

2 Cups boiling water

1 1/2 Cups sugar

1/3 Cup lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

2 quarts of water

Warm teapot by rinsing with small amount of boiling water.

Place tea bags in teapot; pour 2 Cups boiling water over tea.

Cover and steep 3 - 5 minutes.

Remove tea bags from teapot.

Add sugar, lemon juice, and flavorings, stir until sugar dissolves.

Add 2 quarts water to mixture, and stir well.

Refrigerate tea mixture and let chill thouroughly.

Serve tea over ice.

Yield: 2 1/2 quarts.

CozyTeaTreasures.etsy.com



c. 1916

Here is a simple recipe for Mint Daiquiris, from the same cookbook:

Mint Daiquiris

2 (6 oz) cans frozen limeade concentrate, thawed & undiluted

2 Cups light rum

1/2 Cup fresh mint leaves

Ice cubes

Fresh mint sprigs (optional)

Combine 1 can limeade concentrate, 1 Cup rum, and 1/4 Cup mint leaves in blender.

Blend mixture 30 seconds.

Add enough ice cubes to bring mixture to a 4-Cup level; blend until slushy.

Pour into large freezer container.

Repeat procedure with remaining limeade concentrate, rum, mint leaves and ice.

Freeze until serving time.

Let thaw until slushy (about 20 minutes).

Stir; serve immediately.

Garnish with mint, if desired.

Yield: 9 Cups

note:  Mint Daiquiris may be prepared one month in advance!

Let's have some fancy tea party food!

3 tier cupcake tower by mimicafeunion.etsy.com

The following are cupcake toppers - they are all edible!

sweetlydone.etsy.com

edible plumeria flowers by milisweet.etsy.com

Here are 3 lovely dresses to wear to the tea party, from Liana!

Check out more of Liana's paper doll creations - see side bar for web site.

To set a pretty tea party table, collect pretty tea cups from online sales and second hand stores. These do not need to match. The charm is in the variety!

TheVintageTeacup.etsy.com

PinkDahliaStudio.etsy.com

PeonyandThistle.etsy.com

ilovelucy8.etsy.com

Tired of all the negative death and doom news?

Here's an article about real people doing the right thing:

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_17981639?source=rss

www.designdazzle.blogspot.com

I think that is enough Tea Party preparations for one day!

inkspired
http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/
http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/
dominoes@myinkspired.com