From this weekend until the end of August is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world.

For over 50 years Scotland’s capital city has seen a unique explosion of creative energy within the Fringe and it takes place for three weeks every year.

Thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over Edinburgh to present shows for every taste; from big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers. The festival caters for everyone and anyone including dance, comedy, theatres, musicals, exhibitions and music.  So get inspired to do your own arts and crafts and then let the creativity flow with Ulster Weavers PVC aprons.

HISTORY

The event started back in 1947 when the newly formed Edinburgh International Festival was crashed by eight theatre groups, who turned up uninvited to perform. The initiative was created to celebrate and enrich European cultural lift in the wake of Second World War. Year on year more and more performers crashed the festival until 1959 when the Festival Fringe Society was set up in response to the success of the growing trend.

So join in the celebrations of arts and entertainment at the 2011 Festival Fringe with the help of our gorgeous arts and crafts aprons. We have a wide variety of cotton, PVC and childrens aprons with just about every style you can think of; so if you want to express your inner creativity by painting or drawing you can do and protect your clothing at the same.

Tea Party Cotton Apron

Bliss Cotton Apron

Home Sweet Home Child's Cotton Shaped Apron

Being a good host to family and friends is just as important as the food in which they’ll eat. Having superb culinary skills can only go so far if the party atmosphere is bleugh! But you can entertain the guests, cook up a storm and look sensational all at the same time with Ulster Weavers aprons.

Some are in fact BBQ themed and others come in fun summer designs and colours so with just about every style you can think of, you’ll definitely find an apron to suit you and the kitchen.

As well as the design our aprons also come in a wide variety of materials from cotton and PVC aprons, to shaped aprons and childrens aprons. So you needn’t worry about getting burnt from the BBQ grill splashback as the apron will protect your skin and your clothing.

Just because you need to wear an apron to cook doesn’t mean you still can’t dress up for the occasion. Our aprons are practical and functional as well as fashionable. They can be long or short depending on which you prefer but bear in mind the longer the apron it will prevent splashbacks on your clothes. However, try to get a size that will not drown your legs because you don’t want it to get caught under your feet and cause a trip up! Party embarrassment or what!

And regardless of gender, the vast array of apron ranges comes in so many different colours and styles there is definitely something for both him and her.

Just as you would decorate your outfit with earrings, a belt, a handbag or with shoes- do the same this summer with the ultimate seasonal accessory; the apron. 

Chambray Red Cotton Apron

Licensed To Grill Cotton Apron

Master Chef Cotton Apron

Tantalise your taste buds and fill up on Omega-3 this month as it is National Fishing Month in the UK.

Starting from the 16^th July to the 14^th August 2011, the month is designed to encourage every family member to have a go at fishing from whatever cultural or social background they may be from; so when you dabble your hand at angling bring home the bait and cook with Ulster Weaver’s aprons.

There are tons of varieties of fish to cook so whether you like fishcakes, fish fingers, scampi, mussels or salmon- just put on one of our PVC aprons and get practising those expert culinary skills.

Eating fish on a regular basis is said to protect from a range of diseases. Fish is a super-food that is packed full of vitamins and minerals and can prevent arthritis, cancer depression and heart disease. And a French study showed that those who ate seafood at least once a week had a significantly lower risk of dementia over a seven-year period than those who didn’t.

As well as being healthy, fish is also said to be great for skin; smoothing out aging lines on the forehead and eyes. Never cooked fish before? Fret not because fish is hugely versatile and can be oven-baked, barbecued, microwaved or steamed.

There are reportedly 32,000 species of fish in the world but just check out some of the following examples to cook this National Fishing Month.

Creamy Mussels

Cooking mussels is cheap, exciting and super quick but please be wary that if they are not cooked properly, you can develop food poisoning.

Make sure you thoroughly clean and rinse them before cooking to prevent any contamination.

They are a great recipe choice for anniversary meals as they are believed to be natural aphrodisiacs. A study has revealed that mussels have chemical compounds that release sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen.

 Fish Pie

A fish pie is very simple and quick to make and can be packed full of healthy vegetables which is perfect for the kids.

Put in potatoes, carrots and serve with a scrumptious parsley sauce for a good homecoming meal.

It can serve the whole family in one dish and only takes an hour to cook- perfect to keep the little ones quiet when hungry and moaning.

 Fish Parcels

Want a dish that can be made in just 30 minutes and is ideal for a healthy lunch?

Fish parcels is really easy to make and can be packed full of tomatoes and red and yellow peppers for a tangy twist!

They are really low in fat and can be flavoured with whatever you like whether it is lime, chillies, parsley or lemongrass stalks.

Olive Oil Label Cotton Apron

V&A Portofino Cotton Apron

Doris Shaped Cotton Apron

Kate Middleton painting, pity she's not wearing an apron

A celebrity doesn’t really have much spare time on their hands what with being a celeb and partying and working; but how do they relax when they have precious time off?

Some famous stars have openly spoken out about getting some down time by knitting, listening to music and hanging out with friends and family. So it may come as a surprise that a bunch of icons also enjoy doing arts and crafts.

Richard Madeley who is widely known as being a British TV presenter, who fronted the show This Morning with his wife Judy, reportedly loves arts and crafts. His daughter Chloe Madeley told Heat magazine that her dad hearts biros and bits of paper and that he loves making banners.

The Londoner’s big secret has been let slip that he makes his own banners with multi-coloured biros, not paint or crayons. Awww bet he got tons of practises in when Chloe was taking part in the ITV reality television show “Dancing on Ice”!

And even the royals have been publicly showing off their artistic talents whilst painting with school children on their visit to Los Angeles, America.

HRH Prince William and Kate Middleton promoted a visual arts and performance organisation during their royal tour by sitting down in a classroom and creating their own art pieces.

Will, the future King of England, painted an abstract square whereas Kate painted a red snail.

So express your inner imagination and have fun getting creative with the help of Ulster Weavers and our fantastic aprons. And get the kids involved too to pass the time on these hot sunny days with our cute childrens aprons- they are brilliant to protect clothing from paint splash backs!

Painting Child's PVC Apron

Domestic Goddess PVC Apron

Betty Shaped Cotton Apron

This July Marie Curie Cancer Care is encouraging all tea lovers across the UK to pop the kettle on and host a blooming great tea party to raise money for charity.

Thousands of people up and down the country will be trying to generate as much money as possible for terminally ill people with cancer and other illnesses in their local areas.

And what do you have to do? Simply don some aprons; get your tea cosies at the ready and gather the girls round to have a natter over a brew- it couldn’t be easier!

No matter what size the tea party is whether it is just a few women or the whole street round, have a good old chin wag  and gossip whilst drinking tea and raising cash for a good cause.

Last year the hosted tea parties raised enough money to fund over 30,000 hours of care and every £20 raised will pay for one hour of nursing care for ill people who spend their final days at home. So let’s beat the record and raise much more in 2011 by putting out cosies and getting immersed in the cancer mission by drinking tea.

You can even go the whole mile by making cheese and crackers and biscuits to eat, becoming ladies that lunch. With Ulster Weavers fantastic homeware ranges that include coasters, placemats and trays you can present all the delicious delights beautifully! But don’t worry if there is any food left over as our cake tins are perfect to store all sorts of buns, biscuits and cakes. And you can drink out of our delightful bone china mugs!

Make it the social event of the season; for more information on how to get involved and get a free fundraising pack simply go to mariecurie.org.uk. 

Cassandra Rose Small Tray

Flower Pot Shaped Cafetiere Cosy

Victoria Bone China Mug

Today, in 1643, the famous mathematician Sir Isaac Newton was born. The mathematician and physicist, who was born at Woolsthorpe, near Grantham in Lincolnshire, is one of the foremost scientific intellects of all time for over 300 years.

He is well known for the discovery of gravity, with the iconic apple falling from the tree to the ground scene as well as experimenting on the composition of light, discovering that white light is composed of the same system of colours that can be seen in a rainbow.

He died on 31 March 1727 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

So, to celebrate the infamous mathematician why not grab your Apron on and make some arts and craft numbers?

You can draw big numbers on card and use paints, or glitter, colouring pens or materials such as feathers or string and decorate the number figures. It is a great art past-time for the kids to do inside whilst on a rainy day and also a fantastic educational technique for them to learn their math.

And by getting the little ones to wear Childrens Aprons, you can be sure that no mess will get on their new clothes from Christmas.

Just follow these simple instructions and remember, have fun!

What To Do:

1. Choose a number, maybe their favourite or lucky number, or even their age.
2. Draw the number on cardboard or poster board, or A4 paper.
3. The number should be quite large and bulky, so it is easier to colour in or hang up when finished.
4. Cut the number out.
5. Outline some fun designs on the number shape or different coloured sections.
6. Using pens or paint, fill in the numbers.

Ulster Weavers have some fantastic Aprons for you to choose from, which are perfect for those grubby little monsters!

Animal Farm Child's PVC Apron

Painting Child's PVC Apron

Over 100 years of memories hangs from the clothesline stretching across the exhibit room in Vandergrift Museum, Pennsylvania, USA.

The Victorian Vandergrift Museum and Historical Society transports visitors through the apron eras in its new “The Apron Chronicles” showcase, which will be open until spring 2011.

It takes people of all ages through the times when there was the nostalgic ‘washday Mondays’ and when the family used to hand out all the laundry in the back garden to dry in the summer time.

LOCAL PARTICIPATION

It asked its local residents to send in an apron associated with their life to display and to share in writing why it was so meaningful.

The museum received a record number of replies and aprons sent in, so much so that the original exhibition date was extended for several months.

The display was inspired by a similar apron showcase in Myrtle Beach last year, in which the importance and story behind the apron such as who wore them and whom passed them down, comes to life.

Most of the aprons displayed were homemade and of different eras, for different occasions. There are festive ones, cooking, men’s occupational, laboratory, and other.

DISPLAYED APRONS

An apron believed to be more than a century old, has a quirky drawing of clothes pins with legs and contains a large pocket across the front to hold real pins on washday.

Barbara Ferrante of Vandergrift, a ways-and-means committee member, said: “People keep these tucked away as family treasures. The important thing is the story, what it tells us about the person and the family.”

One member praised the exhibition calling it “a study in perseverance, patience and perfection” and another said “It’s our past, and not-so-distant past. It’s good to look back and see it.”

Mrs Ferrante thinks the exhibit could be the catalyst for families discussing what life used to be like, saying: “Today, some kids might not even know what an apron is.”

View our excellent varied range of Aprons at www.ulsterweavers.com.

The history of the English word ‘apron’ originates from the old French word ‘naperon’, meaning napkin or small table cloth.

Traditionally when we think of aprons we imagine them being used for cooking however, there has been some research to suggest aprons were referenced way back in Biblical times when Adam and Eve sewed together fig leaves to make an apron to cover themselves.

We also stereotype them being associated with women but it was actually men who wore aprons first as an item of hygienic protective clothing. They served as a cover-up for tasks that tend to be messy, in occupations such as butchers, welders and bakers to protect both their clothing and bodies from their work.

Throughout the centuries the style and usage of aprons has adapted to reflect society movements and trends.

YEARS OF PROGRESS

In the fourteenth century dark-coloured aprons started to be worn tied around the waist whereas 10 years later the colour of an apron started to become more apparent; with barbers wearing a checked pattern, butchers wearing green and masons (stone builders) sporting white.

In the seventeenth century romantic connotations derived from the apron and it wasn’t until a decade later that the pinafore apron was pinned to clothing.

Over the years long aprons were created to cover but protect your attire, and going into the twentieth century creativity blossomed with beautiful prints with bright sashes and knitted aprons developing.

During the 1950s aprons gained huge popularity with regards to being used for cooking as they donned appearances on television.

Women were portrayed as homemakers and perfect mothers who always wore an apron, no matter what. Until this time, the apron had only been thought of as a functional piece of the wardrobe.

In the 1960s half-aprons with attached hand towels were sure-fire hits, along with aprons sewn with plastic hoops or decorative material.

PRESENT TIMES

Nowadays, they are often used when grilling a barbecue and are very popular with modern-day themes. They are much more stylish and are quite fashionable, even being used as ‘muses’ for fashion designers for their collections on runways.

They continue to be used in the work sectors, with nurses, waitresses, dentists, and cleaners wearing them as a guard against dirt for hygiene and damage.

Check out the wide variety of cotton, PVC Aprons and Children’s Aprons at Ulster Weavers, with just about every style you can think of. You’ll definitely find an apron to suit you and your kitchen.

We’ve got the very plain to the shapeliest retro designs, all with matching coordinates at www.ulsterweavers.com.

Halloween is a spooky holiday time in the year. Filled with superstitions about witches and cauldrons and things that go bump in the night, most people celebrate it on October 31^st by dressing up in a scary costume and trick-or-treating round the neighbourhood.

Ever since childhood, it was the one time of the year you could get all excited about putting on a witches hat and broom and ‘flying’ around the house or cutting up that spare duvet sheet and pretending to be a ghost; and more traditionally carving pumpkins out into menacing faces and lighting them up in the hallway window with a candle inside.

Many play practical pranks, go apple bopping, visit ghost tours, tell ghost stories and watch horror films.

You would walk from house to house down your street, knocking on each door shouting ‘Trick or Treat’ and filling your Halloween pumpkin bowl with candies, chocolates and sweets.

But is this what it is about? What are its’ origins?

History of Halloween

Halloween, also called All Hallows’ Eve, is a mix of ancient Celtic practises, Catholic and Roman religious rituals and European folk traditions that blended together over time to create the holiday we know today.

The myth describes it as a day when the dead can return to the earth and ancient Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes and masks to ward off these roaming ghosts. The Celtic holiday of Samhain, the Catholic Hallowmas period of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and the Roman festival of Feralia, all influenced the modern holiday of Halloween. Nowadays, it has lost its religious connotation.

It was intended to give rest and peace to the departed. Participants made sacrifices in honour of the dead, offered up prayers for them, and made offerings to them.  The festival of Samhain celebrates the beginning of the ‘darker half’ of the year and is regarded as the “Celtic New Year”. It was also a time of the year to stock food supplies and slaughter livestock for the winter months.

Traditional images and symbols include; black cats, bats, werewolves, witches, skeletons, vampires and ghosts.  Black and orange are dominant colours representing the darkness, fire, autumn leaves, jack-o’-lanterns and pumpkins.

If you want to get into the spooky spirit for Halloween, why not check out the following items at Ulster Weavers to accessorize your kitchen when making witches brew & toffee apples.

Black Plain Dyed Tea Cosy

£8.99

Black Plain Dyed Pott Mitt

£5.99

Black Plain Dyed Cotton Apron

£13.99

Black Plain Dyed Double Glove

£10.99

All this month has been the official Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with major public state buildings and towns being lit up or painted in pink to create global publicity. 

And the purpose of the campaign? To raise awareness of breast cancer, encourage women to be breast aware and be a crucial fundraising opportunity for charities, such as Breast Cancer Campaign.  

People have worn pink ribbons and dyed their hair pink, but the official Wear it Pink Day is on Friday 29th October 2010. Team up everyone in your office or classroom, wear something pink and make a donation of £2. 

Many stores and companies are jumping on the band wagon, with all proceeds going to research for the charity. Debenhams are selling pink candles and breastfeeding covers; Pink Jelly Belly Sport Beans can be purchased online and designer Barbara Hulanicki has created  four stunning pink t-shirts for Asda’s Tickled Pink campaign. 

Facts about Breast Cancer 

-  Breast cancer is the most common cancer and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women in the UK. 

- One woman in nine will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. 

- Every year around 12,000 women will die from breast cancer. 

- Men can also suffer from breast cancer. Although it is rare, almost 300 men are diagnosed each year in the UK. 

- The survival rate, in recent figures, show around 80 per cent of women in the UK diagnosed today will be alive in five years time. 

How to be breast aware? 

To be breast aware means becoming familiar with how your breasts look and feel, whatever your age. Understand how your breasts may change at different times during the month (when you’re having your period) and as you get older. 

These are the changes to look for and if you are in any doubt, visit your doctor: 

•  A lump or thickening which is different to the rest of the breast tissue
• Continuous pain in one part of the breast or armpit
• One breast becomes larger or lower
• A nipple becomes inverted or changes shape or position
• Skin changes including puckering or dimpling
• Swelling under the armpit or around the collarbone
• A rash on or around the nipple
• Discharge from one or both nipples

Remember the breast awareness five-point code: 

1. Know what is normal for you
2. Look and feel
3. Know what changes to look for
4. Report any changes without delay
5. Attend routine breast screening if you are aged 50 and over

How to raise money? 

You can donate several ways;  

Donate by post
Corporate donations
Payroll giving
Trusts and foundations
Donate shares
Pink Ribbon Tribute Funds 

How will your money help? 

Money raised will help the charity fund ground-breaking research, campaign for better services and treatments and promote the importance of breast awareness. Ultimately you are saving lives. 

Here are Ulster Weavers we are supporting this next week and all wearing something pink and have some fun suggestions for getting pink around the home to support the cause. 

Domestic Goddess Shaped Apron 

£14.99 

Charlotte Muff Tea Cosy 

                          £10.99 

Visit the official Breast Cancer Awareness website here.