Jocelynn Brown: Handmade

Kids will tie one on -- apron has crayon slots

For Mary Horvath of Lincoln Park, the thought of an apron brings back fond childhood memories.

"When I was small, my mother made me a red one that was a half apron with an embroidered rooster on it. I still have it in my hope chest. It means the world to me," Horvath says.

She remembers how much fun it was having the pocketed apron to keep her crayons right at hand. "I don't know what it is with pockets," she says, "but little kids just love pockets."

During a recent visit to a Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts in search of new crafting projects, Horvath says she happened to spot some child-size denim aprons that made her remember the one she's treasured since childhood.

Recalling how much having her own apron meant to her as a child, she decided to start making a modern version by embellishing premade denim aprons with print fabric, decorative buttons and fancy trims to sell at local craft shows.

"At first, it started out with eight big crayons with very little embellishment, but I find people like the 24-crayon (aprons) better than the eight big ones and with a lot of embellishments," she says.

Horvath, who sells her aprons for $15 under the name Mary Makes It, says a woman, purchased one from her last year as a gift and came back to buy two more because it was such a big hit. "The child she bought it for refuses to take it off," she laughs.

Detroit News staffer Jocelynn Brown is a longtime Metro Detroit crafter who knits, crochets, beads and makes soft-sculpture dolls. You can reach her at (313) 222-2150, jbrown@detnews.com or visit her blog at detnews.com/craftblog.