I was in for a rude awakening this morning... when pricing felt. I have this basket 1/2 full of felt and scraps from years ago. I thought that I would like to have a few more colors...went to Amazon, the Felt Store, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and a couple of craft stores to look at bundles of different colored felt.It's much more expensive than it was years ago...as is everything else. I have always kept my scraps of felt, because of needing just a tiny piece for so many projects. I'll have to think this over...before I buy some.I guess it's the same with yarn and fabric prices. Used to be cheaper to make you own clothes...but not anymore.
My mother was a seamstress and made all of my clothes...including a couple of prom dresses. I didn't appreciate this, however. I always wanted to go to the dress shop and pick out a dress like the other girls. Instead, Mom and I would spend countless hours at stores having "yard goods" as she called it. The place where they had the pattern books was my hangout ,while she was looking at fabric. I can remember being just a little girl on those high stools with my feet dangling. Later in my life....she would come over to me and say, "I think this would make a nice blouse for you...what do you think." She probably got the rolled eyes that teenagers so often display....along with a sigh. When it came time for prom....she was so excited and kept bringing home little snippets of fabric. I told her that when I got a job...I was going to buy my own prom dress the next year. Little did I know then... that I was the lucky one. My clothes were one of a kind...and the prom dress was so different than anyone else's.It was made of polished cotton...a dress with a halter neck, waltz length....in white with a tiny red flower here and there and small red buttons (covered by her) going down the back.. A crinoline slip (made by her) was under...just to give it some fullness. After seeing the finished dress....I took back my cruel words and thanked her for taking so much time making this creation. As my teen years ended and I was going to get married...she stopped making clothes for me, but instead made little things for my house. Pot holders, placemats, table cloths and runners, aprons, casserole totes, and she embroidered pillowcases for me. As I put these pillowcases on the bed last night...I thought of her. Some say to save things for the next generation...but I love to use the things that she made for me.
Balisha
What a beautiful post, Balisha. My grandma was kind enough to sew for me when I was little. I'll admit that I did not know then how much skill, time and love went into those hand made treasures. I don't blame you for using what your precious mother made for you. I know you think of her each time you use one of her priceless heirlooms. Thank you for sharing today.
ReplyDeleteOh my
ReplyDeletehow I miss my mother soon to be gone 14 years.
She was sewing constantly
and my home is filled with her quilts, placemate, lap quilts, aprons and yes
she made some beautiful pillow cases for me.
I wonder will they ever mean this much to my children or grandchildren
when they someday have them in their home.
I remember every time I made a visit I had some items for her to hem
or mend...
I was so tall and rail thin that my Mother made most of my clothes too and such adorable dresses for my girls and cute outfits for my son. She made all the curtains when we moved into our new, little home. Nowadays, you can't afford to buy the pattern, let along the fabric to sew. I made a velvet winter prom dress for Karen and she loved it--my girls were always excited by the outfits I made them--thank goodness :-)
ReplyDeleteShe sounds as if she was quite the accomplished seamstress / can't even imagine knowing how to cover buttons let alone all that would be needed to make a prom dress. My aunt Lil ( uncle's wife ) was like that...she made my cousin's wedding dress, covered in seed pearls..the whole bit.
ReplyDeleteMy mother and her sister had a business together. They made slipcovers, draperies, bed spreads etc. They were very good at this and were so busy in their business. I have many memories of these two who loved to sew...making life easier for their families. So many people were disappointed when they stopped.
ReplyDeleteBalisha