Dear Readers,
When I wear an apron, it isn't necessarily in the kitchen. These days, It's frequently over a dress or a skirt. Aprons, in my opinion, are not just utilitarian objects that need to be confined to the kitchen. They are fast becoming fashion accessories that can help enhance almost any outfit that begs for a layer of color, texture, bling, or unexpected sass.
My passion for aprons originated from the time I was a little girl. I never viewed aprons as icons representing housework or other mundane tasks. Rather, I viewed aprons as extraordinary objects that could make the wearer look and feel feminine, grown-up and pretty. And so whenever I had the chance, I grabbed opportunities to prance around in them — both in and out of the house.
For more than a year, our team has been hard at work conceptualizing, recruiting, and executing this premier issue of apron•ology to demonstrate to the world what I have known to be true my entire life: Aprons are HOT!
An once you read through this issue, I am sure you'll agree that when it comes to aprons, the definition of "hot" runs the gamut. There is romantic-hot, as exemplified by the apron created by Dawn Edmonson (cover and page 12), where she uses a very minimalist color palette with subdued elements to transform a canvas apron into a work of art.
There's shabby -hot, as shown here and on page 14 created by Rebecca Sower, where sweet embroidery stitches juxtaposed with a collection of vintage bling gather to yield a composition that takes our breath away.
There's maximalist-hot, as shown on page 58 ... a creation by Michelle Ward, where she rocks out her studio apron with stencils, spray paint, and imperfect splatters that serve as evidence of one artist's journey. And the list goes on ... from knitted-hot to felted-hot, from altered-hot to paper-hot, and so much more.
From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all apronistas of the world, I'd like to thank all of our talented artists who joined us in strutting their imaginations onto the surface of all aprons in this premier issue of apron•ology.
Passionately,
Jenny Doh
Editor-in-Chief & Director of Publishing
PS: I hope you'll consider joining the fun as we plan for the 2010 issue of apron•ology. please read the Call for Artwork information found on the inside front cover or visit www.stampington.com.
[This letter was published in the premier 2009 issue of apron•ology. We are currently looking for the hottest aprons for our 2010 issue of apron•ology. If you'd like to submit an apron, they need to arrive at our office no later than September 15, 2009. If you have questions, please shoot an e-mail to Managing Editor Beth Livesay at blivesay@stampington.com.]
