Hello!  I’m so happy to share the second part of my apron series (click here if you missed Part 1).  Part 2 features aprons that have been given to me for many occasions.  Some of them I “gave” to myself!  I never get tired of seeing and receiving new aprons.  This collection is very special to me and I hope you can get lost for a few minutes in my little apron world!

 

 

The first is one of the most cherished aprons in my collection.  Hannah brought this back from one of her high school mission trips in Liberty, KY.  It was made by a Mennonite woman.  I love the bright colors and the simplicity of the design.  It’s modest and sweet.  When I wear it, I feel like Ma on Little House on the Prairie!                  This cute blue and white apron was given to me by a dear friend.  I love the shade of blue combined with the bright red rick-rack trim.   There are little red sombreros on the patterned squares.  The apron shape, colors and patterns make it whimisical and fun!

               

The next couple aprons were given to me when I started Floured Apron.  Hannah ordered this one and it has been my go to working apron when I have a lot of things to bake.  It’s soothing and brings me thoughts of her and all the times we have spent baking together.  I’m pretty sure she bought this one because of the chocolate cupcakes and cherries!  It’s a cute pattern but not super frilly and it was just what I needed in those early trial and error days of Floured Apron!

This one is from my sister-in-law and my niece and nephew as a “congrats on starting your business” gift.  I have worn this a lot and it shows!  I feel like a professional baker and, of course, love that it has our name on the front!  Boy, it’s a mess, huh?  Rightfully so!  This apron has seen me through several test recipes, the good, the bad and the ugly!  We bonded early on in my learning process and I refer to it lovingly as my friend!

Casey, my husband, is so supportive of what I do and he enjoys surprising me with new aprons from time to time. He purchased both of these at Sur la Table.  If you haven’t seen their aprons, you won’t be disappointed!  Whenever I walk in that store, I run right to the clearance section to see what they have.  After that, I go look at the full price aprons and find myself lost in the cuteness!  He gave me this bright red one for Christmas.  Aren’t the little pom poms adorable?  The whole design is just FUN!

                                          

Casey gave me this delightful apron for Easter.  I just wore this orange and mint green one today while making St. Patrick’s Day cupcakes.  It screams spring and I’m more than ready!  Isn’t it pretty?  Both the red and orange aprons are so feminine with their necklines and ruffles.  Confession:  When I wear these, I do twirls around the kitchen because they make me feel like I should dance!

                                          

My mother-in-law and I share a love for baking and she rarely finds an apron (or a piece of pottery, but that’s an entirely different post!) she doesn’t buy and send me.  Each one is unique and I’m not certain where all of them came from but I’m thankful she spots them!

She loves nature and the environment.  This apron sums up many things I associate with my mother-in-law: natural, beautiful, sweet, gentle and LOVELY!

                                          

Here’s a beauty she gave me for Christmas a couple years ago.  It’s covered in cherries and the little polka dot and outline details really give it character!  Can you see the big red buttons at the top?  Look for a couple more like this in my final Apron Strings series.

                                          

Here is the most recent apron she gave me for Valentine’s Day.  The note she included was very sweet.  Since we moved, I have told everyone we do not want more stuff.  I’m trying to simplify and not collect so much.  Her note acknowledged that wish with a caveat that it’s fairly small and she couldn’t resist.  Thank goodness because this is SO STINKIN CUTE!  Right?  The color, the sweetheart neckline, the stripes, the cupcakes.  It’s perfection in an apron!  They really don’t take up that much space and I secretly hope she never stops finding  aprons for me! 🙂

                                          

                                                 

Get ready to step back in time!  Think 1950’s soda fountain and ice cream parlor.  Helen, a member of our church in Cincinnati, made several of these many years ago for an ice cream parlor type function.  I was introduced to this apron when we had a cooking theme for Vacation Bible School last summer.  Helen kindly shared these wonderful pink beauties with us to wear during VBS.  I told her I collect aprons and she knew all about Floured Apron and we exchanged a few stories.  The Sunday after we announced to our church family we were moving, Helen handed me a gift.  As you’ve already figured out, it was one of her adorable aprons.  I cried.  It serves as a reminder of our church in Cincinnati and sweet Helen!

                                          

I bought this apron on a trip (not to North Carolina, believe it or not!) to San Francisco last summer.  I always wanted to take Hannah and Carrie to San Fran and, with Hannah leaving for college, I decided to do it.  We covered as much ground as possible: Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, cable car ride, Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods and Ghirardelli Square.  We spent a few days in San Fran then drove down the coast to Santa Cruz and took a whale watching cruise in Monterey Bay.  It was a blast and we had many adventures and even more laughs!  This apron captures several California memories, including where Casey and I were married (hint:  it begins with a Y!).

                                          

                       

Last, but not least, is a darling pink, cupcake covered, ruffly apron.  I also bought this for myself.  I keep this one hanging in my kitchen all the time and wear it frequently.  I immediately get in my baking zone when I put it on.  I can’t explain it but it’s the one I turn to time and time again when I really have to crank out some cupcakes.  Plus, it’s precious (and pink)!

                                          

I thought that was the last, y’all!  As I was finalizing this post, Casey returned from a business trip.  While traveling, he found himself in Savannah, GA and grabbed a bite at The Lady & Sons (Paula Deen’s restaurant).  He also grabbed this sweet thing!  Our kitchen is yellow with accents of blue and this definitely belongs with us!  Thank you, Honey!

                                         

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into some of my apron gifts.  I love each of them for so many reasons.  You won’t want to miss my next and final piece to this series!  I’m sharing all the fun kid aprons we have.  I would still love to see any of your aprons and please feel free to share this with your family and friends so they can share as well!

From the heart, Shannon