My very special cooking-related Christmas gift

16 years ago

After all the gifts were opened, my mom gathered my SIL and I together to sit beside her on the sofa. She gave each of us a gift bag. Inside was a special gift that she had begun planning and assembling in October.

One of the items in the bag -- and the inspiration for the whole gift -- was a book: The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort. It's a delightful, colorful, and creative book about the history of the apron. The book also features several recipes, diagrams for making several different aprons, and a pattern in the back of the book. Inside the front cover, she pasted a photo of her own mother, taken in the mid-40s, wearing her apron while hanging the laundry.

Also inside the bag was an apron she made using the pattern in the book. My mom is not a seamstress, which makes this gift even more special. Each apron was different; mine has a white background with small blue flowers and blue piping around the edges, and pockets. It's me, and I love it.

Inside the pockets she stuffed additional gifts, tied with a strip of the fabric she used to make the apron:

- A stack of favorite family recipes, including one in my grandmother's handwriting; one I wrote as a young girl, one she collected during a family vacation years ago, and one with the recipe for gingerbread men which came on a Hallmark Christmas card my grandparents sent to me in the 60s. Each was wrapped in a plastic bag and included her own note about the history of the recipe.

- A kitchen towel with gingerbread men on it (gingerbread men are a HUGE thing in our family).

- A tube of gingerbread-flavored Chapstick (did I mention our thing about gingerbread men)?

- A pair of matching earrings

This will always be one of the most special gifts I've ever received. I'll enjoy wearing the apron for years to come. I plan to make aprons from the patterns in the book and give them to friends with their own copy of the book. Now I know what to do with all that fabric I've saved for years!

The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort.

Jen

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Comments (12)

vicki_lv_nv
16 years ago
Jen...this post brought tears to my eyes. What a very special gift. Enjoy your gift...and your Mom. I think it is very cool!
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wizardnm
16 years ago
That is very, very special, Jen. Very thoughtful of your Mom.

I have both my Grandmother's and my Mom's personal recipes collections and cookbooks. They mean a lot to me.

Now, I off to checkout the book... Thanks.

Nancy
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msafirstein
16 years ago
How very sweet of your Mom to do something so super special.

I collect aprons and with every one, especially the every day aprons, I think of the woman's life and wonder how her days were.

I could not get your link to work but here a picture of the book.

Michelle
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kathleen_li
16 years ago
Really nice! I treasure my mom's things, and the recipes in her handwriting are precious to me.
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annie1992
16 years ago
Jen, that's a wonderful, personal gift that you will remember. Your mother must have put a lot of thought and love into that.

I also have some cookbooks and recipes that belonged to my Grandmother and I treasure them so I know what they must mean to you.

Annie
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jenn
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm sorry about the link... let's try this one.
The Apron Book

It's very special indeed. Part of the reason for posting about it here is to honor her thoughtfulness and time she put into this gift. She has sewn some curtains and pillow covers but really doesn't care too much about sewing. And that just adds another dimension to the specialness of the gift.
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lsr2002
16 years ago
What a wonderful gift. It's truly a gift from the heart and I know you will cherish everything.

Gingerbread Chapstick, who knew!

Lee
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Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
How sweet..and what a wonderful gift of gifts!

I have some of my grandmothers aprons..they are truly cherished!
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nancylouise5me
16 years ago
What a great idea for a special gift from your mum. You truly will remember it for many, many years to come. She seems to have a sense of humor to boot....gingerbread chapstick. Didn't even know it came in that flavor! NancyLouise
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lyndaluu2
16 years ago
What a very special gift from your Mother.
Ginger men are cute, and who knew there ware gingerbread chap stick LOL

Linda
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natesgramma
16 years ago
When I have made special gifts for my daughter (replica of her in her wedding dress, baby quilt, stitchery, etc) I enjoy spending the many hours thinking of her. Of course I hope she likes what I do, but I think I get more from going down memory lane. It's a gift for your mom and for you. I'm glad you appreciate it so much.
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msazadi
16 years ago
What a lovely gift Jenn and as you say all the more touching since you know your Mom isn't a seamstress. Treasure it!
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My very special cooking-related Christmas gift

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My very special cooking-related Christmas gift

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