Aprons feed into the passion of Helen Gage.

There's no doubt about it -- not when she can claim more than 1,000.

She sees aprons as high art even though most relegate them to the kitchen.

``I've been collecting aprons since the late '70s,'' said Gage, of Perrine. ``Something just drew me to them when I started antique shopping.''

Her treasurs date as far back as the 1800s to the modern day.

``I have one from the slavery times,'' Gage said, ``but my favorite is the one I got from the Cohiba Market in Havana, Cuba.''

The Cuban apron features a female fruit vendor juggling a bevy of tropical produce on her head.

``I just love it because of the colors and the details,'' Gage said.

Color plays an important part in Gage's decision-making to get a certain apron to add to her collection. Price is another big factor. The most she likes to spend is $10.

``Usually if it's a new apron, I'll watch till it goes on sale,'' she said.

At the moment, she has her eye on two at The Disney Store that are Earth Day themed. She says she wants to get them for the Bethel House African-Bahamian Museum in Perrine, where she hosts several Earth Day activities with neighborhood children such as planting seeds and community clean ups.

Gage opened the museum back in 2006 after saving the 1937 16-by-25 shotgun house from demolition.

Although Gage admits she likes being frugal when it comes to apron-shopping, she confesses that occasionally she will splurge -- like when she purchased a dainty black and pink apron called Domestic Diva.

``It was $20, but I had to have it,'' says Gage who quickly adds that she used a 20-percent-off coupon to buy it. ``I liked it because it's cute and it shows you how women's roles have changed throughout time. During the '60s, aprons disappeared during Women's Lib, but today they are back in style.''

Gage says aprons have made a huge comeback. ``So many stores are carrying them now, and some people have started hosting `Prairie Parties,' where you have to wear an apron to attend,'' she says.

She quickly pulls out a magazine article to prove this because she hasn't exactly attended one. It shows a group of young women in Washington bedecked in aprons, which apparently is the uniform one has to wear to the party.

``You see they are really coming back in style,'' adds Gage while sticking the magazine back into a pile.

Anything that revolves around aprons Gage keeps -- whether it is a magazine or a book or a tiny miniature Christmas tree ornament.

``I want to start collecting pictures of people wearing aprons next,'' Gage says. ``Maybe I can write a book,'' she ponders out loud.

Gage gets her aprons from thrift stores, dollar stores, garage sales, church bazaars and chain stores like Walmart, Target, Michaels, IKEA and Ross. If there is an apron she wants, but can't find, she will get it made.

Her most recent apron of President Barack Obama is proof of that.

``I got the fabric from Jo-Ann Fabrics and sent it to my friend Ashley Tanner to make it,'' Gage says.

A gingerbread apron and flower apron with big bows are two others that she has had made. Mostly, though, she buys them or friends and family give them to her.

Three years ago, Gage recalls having about 500. Since then she has doubled her collection.

``I'm always shopping for them,'' she says. ``I just get so excited when I find one.''

She says she doesn't discriminate when collecting, either. Her collection features all types of prints and patterns. She has whimsical children's aprons featuring cartoons and men's worker aprons, such as the one that she got for free from Home Depot.

But her biggest set would be those styled for women.

In two large trunks, where she keeps them, are layers and layers of cloth that represent the past and present from psychedelic aprons to frilly ones to more contemporary ones you'd probably see Martha Stewart donning.

``They mean so much like history, art, culture and the olden days,'' says Gage. ``I know what I have is so valuable.''

While she doesn't have a set goal for the number she wants to collect, she does say she wants to share her findings with the community.

``I'd love to host an apron fashion show and hopefully make some to sell and raise money for the [Bethel House] museum,'' she says.