I post today of this adorable little company I stumbled upon at the annual Homespun trade show a few weekends ago.  I am just ecstatic to announce that these ladies not only have beautiful product but that they are from Montmartre Saskatchewan which is my neck of the woods as well!  A hearty WOOT WOOT for home grown talent!

While at the trade show I hummed and hawed over the bags for quite some time.  Visiting the booth several times… On my third pass I was given a very wise tip…  “Buy the bag!  You’ve been by this booth three times already!”  And so I did!  Here are some wonderful pictures and don’t forget to check out Dragonfly Designs.

….. I bet my husband would like to see me baking in this little number. But seriously people, I would like to bring up an “Apron Issue.”

I used to work in a department store that had big graphic banners for their promotions and at the end of the promotion the staff could purchase the banners for a buck. So one day there was a particular graphic that appealed to me. It was of a 50’s housewife – the apron, hair, high heeled shoes were polished and distinctly feminine. She was carving a ham. Yes, a ham. A big smile on her face while her adoring daughter looked on. I’ll admit the graphic was pouring it on a bit thick. Honestly – if I was wearing those shoes I would be wincing…

So I overheard my supervisor one day saying – “I’ll have to make sure to tell my daughter that becoming a housewife like that is unacceptable.” What she said really stayed with me. I had never had a stay at home mother – I had a stay at home father. Keeping in mind that a daughter’s biggest hero is her father, I always admired what my father did and aspired to be a stay at home parent myself.

So when my supervisor (A real puffed up, no man can walk on me type of lady) said this I thought to myself – is it wrong to be happy staying at home?

It seems as though “The Apron” is a symbol of this female conflict with ourselves. At one point the apron was a symbol of shame – the symbol of a dissatisfied, minimized housewife and now it seems to be reemerging as a symbol of rebellion against the feminist movement. Saying – “Look at me, I’m in an apron – I’m sexy, I’m happy and I’m my own woman.”

In my opinion – Staying at home or being a working woman are both equally unbalanced. There are more important things in life than to worry about what certain groups believe to be right or wrong. If being at work makes you feel happy and empowered within the self then so be it – but don’t go telling your daughter you have to be a certain way or do a certain thing to be empowered. The key to our own happiness is as unique as we are people. However I do love the idea of wearing a retro apron and feeling sexy doing it. Nuff said.

If you want to wear a sexy apron too – maybe to the office? Then you can check out these smart little numbers at Carolyn’s Kitchen. She has gloves to match.