Title Aprons

Special craft people from all over Australia known to Flossie were selected to hand work a letter(s) from the exhibition’s title, investing ability, creativity, time and energy into an important part of the whole project.

This aspect of the exhibition combined the Victorian era aprons with women’s home craft to make a statement about valuing everyone’s skills and contribution to their communities. It can also be seen as a decorative tribute to Caroline who, though living in a resplendent era, took little opportunity to settle into the frivolities of life.

Paraphrased Apron Stories

After much thought, I designed and embroidered this letter using Brazilian embroidery. I enjoyed it so much that I offered to do more letters.

I enjoy authentic craft so completed my apron using a Victorian crazy-quilt technique. Notice the spider and web, a required motif in this type of quilting. I worked the apron while visiting my father in Intensive Care. My letter was picked for my baby granddaughter. I included words that exist within our somewhat fragile life together.

The plaid letter I used I cut from the very first school dress I made for my daughters – worn by all four and now outgrown. Caroline also saw to the education of girls in her time. The glossy blue background is cut from the most expensive material I ever bought but had never successfully made anything from until now.

I used the colours of the feminist movement – green, blue and white.

Caroline always spoke of ‘Providence’ present in her life and in the situations she faced. Likewise, it was her Christian beliefs that led her to ‘provide’ homes for many.

I was a little shy about showing Flossie my letter until it was finished as I hadn’t followed the rules.

My mother raised geese. She knew them each by name. Touching the sensual downy grey trim so like the curved neck of a gander drew me back to a time that is part of my history and lost homeland. Caroline must have had many such remembrances too.

The vibrant magenta ribbon once wrapped a present from a distant friend. Long ago our children were in Playgroup together.

I had such difficulties with my cross stitch letter that I almost gave up but I’m glad I didn’t.

I picked red, white and blue. Perhaps it is because I lived in America for a time.

I thought I would show the only four remaining artifacts from Caroline’s humble home life but I settled for just one. It is her marble bust from the pope.

My apron allowed me to use a saved, maybe even sacred artifact from my children’s’ history. It is a superman cape from some favorite worn-out pajamas. It seemed a very suitable symbol for Caroline.