John Deere Queen ~ Apron Set

Here is the little darling apron that brought me to tears a few nights ago. It was late and I was tired, so naturally I hit a mental freeze and couldn't come up with a creative design. I walked away for the night. I woke up the next day rested & happy, and this is what I ended-up creating.
An apron fit for royalty, a John Deere Queen in a reversible skirt design. The apron has been adorned with bright pink tule and lime green rick-rack. Large roomy paisly pink pocket on apron front. Coordinating lime green & pink polka dot fabric on back. Includes a matching kitchen towel embellished with a John Deere applique, hot pink tule & rick-rack.

What do ya'll think?

APRONS - A REASON TO COOK

Pull out your old cookbooks or go to the bookstore to buy yourself the most current edition. Find any reason to put on a special apron and enjoy some family time. Be creative, look fabulous, and Bon Appetit.

JUNE 2009

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

The greatest memories I have of my dad are times spent around the BBQ grill. I remember huge family parties, when my aunts and uncles came over. We had so much fun and there was so much food. I never gave my dad a BBQ apron for Father's Day. So in memory of my dad, I have started to make men's aprons!!

The perfect example of Fatherhood is to be found in God the Father from whom all life comes. Indeed, the Scriptures tell us that all Fatherhood in heaven and on earth takes it origin from God.

MAY 2009

GOD KEEPS ANSWERING MY PRAYERS. I have started asking again, "What will I do when my kids leave to college?" He answered with a passion from my past.

GOD GIVES ALL OF US GIFTS AND TALENTS. Sometime we don't appreciate them or us them at all. ONE OF MY GIFTS IS ART. I always loved art classes from elementary through high school. I remember wanting to go to an art college, but life choices took me down a different path. Life has a way of making a full-circle.

DO I DARE TO DREAM BIGGER? I love my aprons and I loved painting. I NEED TO BE CREATIVE FOR ME AND MY GOD. I am going to put my heart into this new inspiration; artistic aprons. I will soon post my creations as they come to life and hopefully bring JOY to someone (http://www.joymaries.com/).

Yoli, your sister in Christ

MARCH 2009

March brought more sewing innovations. I turned the dinning room into a sewing room. My son Vinny calls it a "sweat-shop". I fully extended the dinning table. I purchased a couple of beautiful wrought iron mannequins. I am on way to great creations!!

I found gorgeous pillowcases at a local discount store. As soon as I saw them I knew they would make the perfect eclectic apron, which I named "Freedom of Speech". My fabulous friend Kay helped me sew men's aprons this month. We found the perfect sports-theme fabrics and made pockets out of them and put them on full-size black aprons.

During March I also bough an awesome book, A is for Apron. It was totally fun reading. I got a lot of ideas that I'm sure to use.

Also during March my daughter Gina got the creative-bug. She is making decorative felt "stuffies". We bought so many colors of felt, buttons, threads, and much more. She has donated several felt sheets to me for my apron designs.

Jessica signed up JOY Marie's Boutique to participate in our local Onion Fest next month. That means I need to get busy!!

JANUARY 2009

JANUARY 2009 - Joy Marie's Boutique opens for business and aprons were brought to life in south Texas. I prayed to God for passion and purpose, and he answered my prayers. At the age of 13 I hand-stitched my very first apron. It was a red skirt apron. We kept that apron for a very long time. At the age of 40-something, my sister Jessica invited me to join her successful business at http://www.joymaries.com/ and the fun started.

I have to also thank my dear friend Kay from Iowa. I met her January 2009 but it seems like I have known her a lifetime. She guided me towards greater serenity when I needed it the most. Kay also helped me improve my sewing skills and she gave me an appreciation for fabrics! Kay and I hit the craft stores in January and must have spent hours shopping around.

The Victorian Princess apron is the very first apron that Kay and I made in January. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21769858&ref=em

My friends please be sure to keep coming back! I can’t wait to talk to you again. ~~ Yoli

Welcome from the Apron Senorita

Hello friends, I am Yoli Kalkofen from beautiful south Texas. God is wonderful and he answers prayers. I asked for passion and purpose and he gave me aprons!

I hope to share my thoughts with you. I invite you to join and share your thoughts too. Keep coming back!

Yoli :)