Seen What's Cookin' at Brown Gingham?

Have you seen what's been cookin' at Brown Gingham? As you probably already know I love vintage aprons. All types, colors, and motifs. I have begun collecting them to add to my line of designs.

I hand-embroider and embellish them

On this one I embroidered the cart and embellished with rhinestone studs and a 1940's button that looked like a wheelhub.With all the flowers, if you look closely I accented with butterfly appliques.

This fun find was tucked in some baskets on a shelf in a ladies storage area.

Its a 1940's souvenir apron from the Ohio State Fair. Its was a wonderful chiffon with a flocked design. I added little buttons where the ties and apron body come together for reinforcement. It still had the sale tag on it!!

I'm even getting ready for Christmas with holiday motif aprons. This was in good condition, but the flocking was worn..a few simple embroidery stitches and it's like new!

I was really excited by my newest find........

This Child's apron of spring green gingham was accented by matching cross stitch. Add some daisy appliques and utensil charms and it's a little cook's best accessory. I even found this to accompany it....

Doesn't it make a cute gift set?

All my apron creations come with a little vintage cook book...I think it looks so forlorn or incomplete without one. Truly I don't know which is more fun creating the apron or looking for the vintage cook books? And, Ive been warned about bringing in new cookbooks to my collection...we'll start to see some new Nascar collectibles and sports memorabilia if I don't' thin it out!!!!

My favorite creation with a cookin' theme has to have been the one that took me the longest to find all the components.

I began with the 1940's doll in her original tattered satin dress with plain apron. I reworked the dress, embroidered the apron with little daisies and added vintage hand-crocheted edging that matched the faded satin. Her maid bonnet missing, I replaced it with a new crocheted and beaded 'tam'. Her eyelet wings began as 1960's ruffles. The cutting board and wooded spoon were easy. The vintage recipe box was tricky to locate. I needed to find one to compliment the dolls color combo....voile'. A wonderful 1960's metal Stylcraft recipe box in a colonial motif fit nicely! It even still has the sale tag glued to the bottom with the Pogue's name and price! For those not from the Cincy area, this was a fashionable Department Store into the late 70's until after a couple of sales is now Macy's It even contained the original recipe cards that the previous owner collected. I tied it together with bits of the edging and eyelet. Weeks later I found this wonderful baking cookbook.........

It's 1940 Hostess Book of Baking Recipes distributed by the General Foods Corp. advertising the Swan's Down Cake Flour and Calumet Baking Powder. What makes it sooooo unusual is the vintage 1940's doll motif in the photo shots.

You all know how I love vintage cook book's so this was really hard to part with since it's so different! But, it really completed this design. I thought it'd be great on a kitchen counter..or remove the book and close the lid..it becomes a nice centerpiece for the kitchen or dining room table.

What do ya think?

My last little view is of a creation yet to be finished...didn't realize how much stitching would go into this!! but it'll be worth it....

The top picture is a 1930-40 apron that I will have to hand-embroider and embellish . Aren't those little flower carts too cute? The next pic is a wonderful 1940's card table cloth with napkins that matches the apron..won't that be a ....fun set? This is what I started on first...wow are there a lot of little stitches in this, but I will get it done..............before my next craft show......

I hope.........it'll definitely be on my Etsy site.(sigh)

Have you started a new project or found something wonderfully vintage you didn't expect to find? I'd love to hear about it!