Showing posts with label retro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retro. Show all posts

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Step Back in Time With The Carpenters - Reflect, Cry, Enjoy

 

Step Back in Time With The Carpenters - Reflect, Cry, Enjoy


Settle In and Relax with the Top 3 Songs by The Carpenters

If you're looking to wind down after a long day, few things are as soothing as the soft, melodic sounds of The Carpenters

Whether you're already a fan or just discovering them, these three timeless songs offer the perfect soundtrack for a peaceful evening. Their harmonies invite you to slow down, breathe, and simply enjoy the music.

Who Were The Carpenters?

The Carpenters were a brother-sister duo—Karen and Richard Carpenter—who rose to fame in the 1970s with their uniquely gentle pop sound. Karen's rich, warm contralto voice became their signature, backed by Richard's polished arrangements and piano work.

Tragically, Karen Carpenter passed away in 1983 at just 32 years old due to complications related to anorexia nervosa. Her untimely death brought public awareness to eating disorders at a time when the topic was rarely discussed. Richard Carpenter, her older brother, is still alive and has continued to preserve their musical legacy.

Despite their relatively short time together as a performing act, the Carpenters left behind a catalog of deeply touching and beautifully arranged songs. Below are three of their most iconic and beloved tracks.


1. We've Only Just Begun

Often considered their most enduring hit, We've Only Just Begun captures the essence of hope and new beginnings. Originally written as a bank commercial jingle (yes, really!), it blossomed into a full-fledged love song that resonated deeply with young couples starting their lives together.

Karen's smooth voice paired with the gentle instrumental backdrop creates an atmosphere of optimism and serenity. It's been used in countless weddings over the years—and for good reason. Its melody and message wrap you in a warm, hopeful embrace.




2. Close to You

"(They Long to Be) Close to You" was the Carpenters' breakout hit and marked their arrival on the mainstream music scene in 1970. It's hard to resist the gentle sway of this Burt Bacharach and Hal David classic, especially when delivered in Karen's effortless style.

This song has a sweetness that feels almost dreamy, as if it were written for quiet Sunday mornings or reflective evening strolls. Richard's arrangement gives it a simplicity that allows the emotion to take center stage. For many fans, this track embodies the essence of the soft pop genre itself.

I used to sing this song while rocking my babies to sleep. It brings back so many sweet memories of those early days.




3. Rainy Days and Mondays

For those quieter, more introspective moments, Rainy Days and Mondays is the perfect companion. The song beautifully captures the feeling of melancholy without becoming heavy or dark. It's the kind of song that makes you feel understood—even comforted—when you're not quite yourself.

Karen's voice here is especially moving, as she conveys vulnerability with great poise and grace. The lyrics touch on the universal experience of those off-days, but in a way that feels healing rather than hopeless. It's a gentle reminder that everyone has gray days, and music can be a soft place to land.




Let the Music Wrap Around You

These three songs by the Carpenters are more than just nostalgic hits—they're a gentle retreat from a noisy world. Whether you're reminiscing about the past or discovering their music for the first time, take a moment to let the harmonies wash over you.

Enjoy some nostalgia. Take time to relax. Let the Carpenters be the soundtrack to your calm evening.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Wednesday, July 14, 2021

How to Make an Apron Resource Page

A page full of ideas of aprons to craft. If you love aprons and sewing, you will be inspired, for sure!

A PAGE FULL OF RESOURCES TO HELP YOU MAKE AN APRON


This page is packed with resources for anyone wanting to make an apron. Whether you want to make one for yourself or for someone else, you've come to the right spot. It will point you in the direction of some wonderful resources that are available online for making your very own aprons.

I have included a few Youtube videos that show you how to make aprons, including one from Angel Fleece Aprons and one from the Missouri Star Quilt Company. I have also included links to pages with great apron how-tos an interesting apron-making book from Amazon.

The aprons shown above are from a vintage 1950s Simplicity pattern, number 4492. I love the turquoise blue one and the big pockets! You can find it on eBay by clicking here.

I hope this page inspires you to make an apron.

HOW TO MAKE AN APRON VIDEO FROM ANGEL OF FLEECE


This first video is inspired by the Baking Outside the Box cookbook. Angel of Fleece steps you through the creation of an elegant apron.



HOW TO MAKE AN APRON VIDEO FROM A TEA TOWEL BY THE MISSOURI STAR QUILT COMPANY (PARTS 1 & 2) 





HOW TO CREATE A RETRO APRON BY CINDY TAYLOR OATES

Cindy Taylor Oates has written a few retro-themed pattern books in this series that offers well written instructions and excellent illustrations. The patterns need to be traced because they are printed on two-sided paper but doing so is, according to reviewers, worth the effort. The author includes ways to make the apron look retro and ways to make it look contemporary so no matter your style, the aprons in this book can be adopted to suit. Click here to find these Retro Aprons books on eBay.

HOW TO SEW A FULL APRON VIDEO FROM PROFESSOR PINCUSHION



HOW TO SEW A SIMPLE APRON FROM MELANIE HAM



HOW TO MAKE AN UPCYCLED DENIM APRON FOR CHILDREN



BLOGS & POSTS DEDICATED TO MAKING APRONS


His and Her Aprons
Blogger Make it and Love It shares, His and Her Aprons.

Romantic Cottage or Shabby Chic Style Apron
Blogger Sew4Home shares how to make a romantic cottage or shabby-chic style apron.

How to Make an Apron on eHow.com
This page at eHow will step you through ow to make a simple bib-style apron. It is a good project for beginners.

Make A Make Do Apron
Mary Jane shows you how to make an apron out of a shirt. That reminds me of the aprons my great grandmother crafted from a worn out dress.

How to make an apron with one yard of fabric. 

An easy-to-make pattern.

An awesome project for a new sewer.

No pattern needed for this kitchen apron.

Martha Stewart shows you how.

A FEW APRON FACTS


Previous polls on this page when it appeared elsewhere online showed that 40 percent of the people who visited owned an apron and that 43 percent were looking for a new project or an apron inspiration. Only 19 percent of the visitors said that they ALWAYS don an apron when they're in the kitchen but 30 percent of them said that they should but only do so when cooking a particularly messy item. That is where I fit, in that last 30 percent. How about you? Do you usually wear an apron? Are you looking to craft a new one?

See you in the kitchen.
Hopefully, with your apron on!
Brenda

MORE APRON READING:







Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


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