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Not your Grandma’s apron

Featuring styles ranging from skull-themed to vintage 1950s, Laura-Jane Benoit and her funky Hinny Pinny Aprons & More will be showcased at Saturday's Arts & Crafts Show

When most people hear the word “apron,” mental images of checkered gingham hemmed with ruffles spring to mind.

St. Catharines seamstress Laura-Jane Benoit sees things differently.

Skulls, whimsical cats and adult sayings adorn some of her one-of-a-kind aprons, while others come in plus size, vintage 1950s-themed, and even costumed varieties. Her matching apron sets for parents and their budding junior chefs are also popular.

Benoit has an adopted toddler from Bulgaria, a demanding full-time job, and completes triathlons to “relax;” still somehow finding time to sew to “decompress.”

The multi-tasking mom told ThoroldNews she has a “fabric addiction;” storing precious finds in closets, crammed to capacity.

“Everywhere I go, I bring a suitcase for fabric,” she said of her collection, which includes exclusive floral patterns from Hawaii, Malaysia, and Amish markets in Pennsylvania; in “everything from gingerbread to Batman,” to prints with comical sayings, such as, “Put on your big girl panties and deal with it.”

Benoit's hobby has blossomed into a sideline sewing business called Hinny Pinny Aprons & More, which will be featured at the 41st annual Thorold Arts & Crafts Show this coming Saturday. Hinny is a synonym for “stubborn” in the UK, she explained. “I figured I was pretty stubborn, and ‘pinny’ means apron.”

Benoit said she added her plus line “in the saucier stuff,” since plus-size aprons are hard to find. “I started making oven mitts for fun, and I’m doing costume aprons” for the increasing realm of fantasy fans. In addition to creating for craft shows, she plans to attend a Comicon convention, due to hit Niagara this August.

And while decidedly unique and designer-like in terms of fabric and fashion, her aprons are also practical.

“I’m a huge proponent of washable. I’m hard on my things so my aprons are built pretty tough. If they can survive my life, they can survive a war zone,” she mused. “I’m really careful about making sure kids are safe and won’t get caught” in anything while wearing her creations. "I used to wash dishes every weekend at my church’s soup kitchen, and for people like me, who wipe their hands on their butts,” she invented a special type of vinyl backing to keep derrieres dry.

Her prices are as follows: $40 for parent/child apron sets, $30 for deluxe aprons (with multiple layers), $25 for simple adult aprons, and $15 for children’s, with size 2T being the smallest size they come in.

A native of Ottawa, Benoit’s creations have been highlighted at many shows in her hometown, but this will be her first craft show in Niagara.

“People were impressed I got into the Thorold Craft Show,” she said. “It’s well-known for being hard to get into.”

Long-time organizer Cathy Henderson has built the show’s stellar reputation by limiting its exhibitors to quality juried artisans.

Look for Benoit and her funky pinnies in the Thorold Arena on April 27. She’ll be joined by approximately 70 other artisans from across Ontario, featuring everything from crystal to quilts to homemade strudel. The annual show supports the Thorold Community Activities Group, and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.