Like many of my fellow sewists, I grew up in a house with an active sewing machine, and some kind of a sewing/crafting room in our houses. It was usually a mess – a beautiful, productive mess that only my mom and I understood and my Dad and brother avoided. I loved that space(s) 🙂
Though we never lived close, I grew up knowing and visiting two of my great grandmothers. My maternal grandmother’s mother, Signe, we called GG (Great Grandmother). My maternal grandfather’s mother, Josephine, we called JoG.
GG was also a sewist, and her home was always a treasure trove of handmade items. My Christmas tree is adorned with several ornaments she hand beaded and sequined on felt. Santas, ice skates (a paperclip makes the skate blade), Christmas trees and bells – all made by hand with beautiful materials.
When I was still a young girl, still learning to sew here and there from my mom when she had fun project for me, we visited my GG. On that trip, she gifted me her sewing box. This was the ultimate treasure box, and I still have it!
Pearls from this box were hand sewn into my wedding dress. Beads and sequins from this box were used on almost every recital gown I ever wore. (For those of you who don’t know, my college degree was Vocal Performance, so I had many recital gowns.)
I recently used sequins and beads from the box to make an old fashioned Christmas stocking for my husband… I’ve only been promising to make him one for 12 years, so I had to pull out all the stops!
In high school, at one of the school dances, a few of my friends showed up in the same dress… I decided then and there that I would always make my own dress so that I’d never show up in the same dress as anyone!
Cue the gift of GG’s sewing machine! AH! A thing of beauty!
This Featherweight Singer make countless dance dresses and recital gowns through my high school and college years. Yes, I took it to college with me! I still love this workhorse. It is simple and reliable and can sew through nearly anything. And its gorgeous.
One of my favorite gowns I designed and made ever, was my Junior Prom dress. It was actually a French class project. We were assigned to study something significant in French culture, then do a report (in French) and give a presentation using something we made (also in French). I chose Christian Dior and French fashion. Because… Dior! Duh!
I designed my dress using many of the same elements he used in his designs. It turned out to be convertible, with the overskirt and straps both being removable. The fabric was a fabulous iridescent shantung (polyester, but still beautiful) in two of my favorite colors, teal and navy. My mom helped me pattern hack to create the dress I had designed and taught me so much about couture sewing techniques.
The dress earned me an A on my project. I then got to wear it to Prom… it was my first date with my now husband over 18 years ago, so I think the dress might be a little magical. 🙂
Over the years, I’ve come to learn that my passion for high end fashion, particularly haute couture gowns, may be genetic 😉 My JoG, who lived most of her adult life on a working farm, had a thing for couture fashions! I think I’ll plan a future post showing some of the treasures we’ve found of hers that my Grammy has kept through the years.
I can’t really remember a time in my life that didn’t involve sewing or crafting of some kind. I am so excited and energized by the resurgence of the craft in society today. Whether you enjoy sewing fashions, sewing for kids, sewing home decor, or anything else, having the skills to make things for yourself – to make the things you dream up is an amazing privilege.
So, what shall I make next????
