Friday, March 27, 2009

Sewing this and that ...

I love to sew.
My grandmother and my mother taught me to sew when I was a kid.
When I was younger my grandma used to make shorts, tops and dresses for me.
My mom was more of a Vogue seamstress.  She would make her own gorgeous, fashionable dresses.  I still have some of her patterns.  But they're like a size 2 or something insane like that.

In junior high I took Home Ec.  One semester of cooking and one semester of sewing.  Mrs. Meadows was our sewing teacher.  I loved her.  I think we were required to complete 3 projects.  I, of course, over-excelled and made about a dozen outfits!  I wish I would have kept some of the culottes I made way back then.
(my oldest daughter will have to look up culottes when she reads this;-)
Speaking of oldest daughter ... I made a lot of clothes for her when she was a baby and toddler.  Then along came my son and I just didn't find the time to sew much anymore.  I still made costumes for them at Halloween though.  The mermaid, pirate, medieval princess and the gallant knight were so cool!

Anyhow ... I just don't get to sew as much as I used to.  And I miss it.  But I've got my machine out now and I'm working on costumes for our drama production of The Secret Garden.  And of course it makes me want to start sewing cute outfits for my almost 4-year old now.  

I made a trip to the fabric store, just to get some elastic and thread mind you.  
But I got so incredibly side-tracked ... look out ... my heart started racing and my mind was spinning and I had to touch all the fabrics.  It made me very happy.

It makes me wonder why we tend to let go of things.  We all have hobbies and creative outlets that nourish our souls.  But why do we let them fall by the wayside?  I know life gets in the way, but there has to be a balance.
I'm still trying to find it.

10 comments:

Robynn's Ravings said...

People like you, with your talents, are the BIGGEST blessing to productions! Whenever we've heard about things and they ask for volunteers I study my shoes really hard and hope no one notices me.

I made little sleeveless dresses for Hannah when she was two and then got too big for my britches and tried to do something with sleeves. I will NEVER be able to fit a sleeve. I threw the whole thing away - pins, pattern, fabric and all. It was very freeing and I've never sewed again.

You can see my gift is patience. lol

Robynn's Ravings said...

P.S. What are the production dates? IF we're able I'd LOVE to see what you've created and your little ones in it. :)

noble pig said...

Do you know I cannot even sew a button...let alone some chicken legs together, I have other talents. So to complete my lameness in the sewing area of my life, I married a surgeon. He can hem pants like nobody's business. However, I don't think he'd create an outfit for me. He did sew some snakes onto my Medusa costume one year.

Selena said...

Hey Mom. Guess what? I looked up culottes. lol I have a pair-I didn't know that's what they are called. And I'm sorry I don't share your sewing flair gene. I love looking at fabrics and browsing through all of those catalogues, dreaming about all of the possibilities; but when it comes down to making them happen, I'd rather you do it. =) LOL Love you Mommy!

teters4 said...

I'm right there with you! I don't have many "skills" as Napoleon Dynamite might say, but I do love fabrics and sewing. It seems straight stitching is the best for me. LOL I've talked about taking up a sewing class for years, but have never done anything about it. I think it's that life is already full and I'm not willing to make it fuller. But maybe I need to rethink that a bit too. Like free reading...I just don't do it enough, but it settles my soul and brings peace to my spirit when I do! Love your writing!

Anonymous said...

"California dreamin' on such a winter's day..." (Sorry, I'm listening to the best radio station right now. KMJ-FM 105.9) Anyhow, yes, I know what you mean about sewing. I've been working on sort of a quilt, but then I had to put it away. Where do you set your stuff up? That's my problem. I wish I had an extra bedroom.

oº˚ Homeschool Mom˚ºo said...

Me and my daughter are learning to sew together -- not going so well. LOL -- We will work more on it this summer.

Sondre Lyn said...

I love to sew as well. When I was about 8 or so, I started sewing doll clothes on an old machine my grandmother had given my mom. It was so much fun probably gave me more skills than anything else. I love fabric stores. I love to touch every single fabric in the store. And don't get me started on the button counters they used to have 'back in the day!' Ha! :D

Unfortunately, I don't sew much any more. Maybe when grandbabies start coming along... in... YEARS! :D

Lula! said...

I would love to learn how to sew. I actually have my great grandmother's old Singer machine...and the table...it's over 100 years old and is still fully fuctioning...but I'm afraid to use it. Sigh...

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I wish I knew how to sew. It would make Halloween so much easier. I can mend. Sew on a button. But follow a pattern. Not so much. My domestic skills are sorely lacking!