We last visited Patrick Craddock in June of 2013 with an article on Freemason Information that you can see HERE. Since that time Craddock has increased his product line.
While he may not make all his accessories personally they are his design. Everything on Craddock’s Site for sale has been personally designed by him and for him. They cannot be found elsewhere.
“Throughout the early 1990’s to 2009, Patrick produced aprons in the evenings and on weekends as a sideline business. From a hobby born of necessity, The Craftsman’s Apron has become the foremost purveyor of quality Masonic regalia in North America. Today our aprons are worn in twenty-seven States and two foreign countries. In addition to our aprons we have increased our product line to include custom ties, Lodge banners, cuff links, t-shirts, officer jewels and collars.”
Of course, Craddock’s mainstay is still his handcrafted, hand painted aprons. A large portion of the aprons Craddock makes are custom designs special ordered. Whether you want to design your own apron or just give Craddock some of your favorite Masonic symbols and let him work with them to make a one of a kind creation, you will be hard pressed to find anybody else in the United States that can do that for you.
Craddock also delivers lectures, most often a power point presentation of the Evolution of the Masonic Apron in the United States. He travels to many Jurisdictions to their Grand Session and he is available to speak anywhere upon request.
To contact Patrick Craddock visit his wonderful website: https://www.craftsmansapron.com/ and The Craftsman’s Apron Facebook page.
I’m going to get one of those firing glasses! It’s awesome!
Beautiful work!
Original and hand-decorated aprons are a time-honored tradition of the Craft: one long neglected and now making a comeback in modern times. Unfortunately, the practice is not one that can be part of the expression of pride in the Fraternity or the aesthetic sense of Brethren in the jurisdiction in which I reside and hold membership…at least not and be in compliance with Grand Lodge rules!
In 2009, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Colorado pronounced an edict, referred to as the “Apron Decision” (http://www.coloradofreemasons.org/scratchDocuments/apronDecision.pdf), which forbids Colorado Freemasons wearing aprons which do not comply with the regulation promulgated under this edict. All aprons are to be simple variations on the “plain white lambskin” presented upon initiation, with Grand Lodge Officers and Past Masters of Lodges permitted the addition of an appropriate emblem of their office.
In Colorado, as I learned upon visiting and then affiliating here, visitors (i.e. from other jurisdictions) are welcome to clothe as they are accustomed to doing “at home.” Upon affiliating with a local Lodge, whatever apron they wore that may reflect their previous travels or honors, must be shed in deference to the priorities of the Grand Lodge. I can no longer wear the Past Master’s apron presented to me by my home Lodge in Ohio, nearly forty years ago, unless I travel outside Colorado. That is the (willing) price I pay for membership in my new home…but is it a rational requirement?
A Grand Lodge may set rules for the Masonic conduct of members, within its jurisdiction, as it sees fit and to meet the needs of the Craft. Certainly, regulation of what apron is worn in Lodge is a small thing compared to the abuses of some grand authorities. Still, it is difficult to imagine how a Grand Lodge might justify restriction upon individual expression and aesthetic sense (or even artistic skill, if a Brother produces his own artwork). Certainly, the admonition to “meet upon the level” should not be so meanly interpreted as to forbid ‘freedom of expression!’