I wanted to start today’s post with a little bit of story telling…Growing up I always loved to make clothes, little wristlets, tote bags, any and everything! I loved sewing so much that when ever I could I was sitting at a sewing machine. If I wasn’t sewing or at school, I spent my time picking fabrics and helping customers at my mom’s design studio and fabric store (Smile Spinners). I was the girl who would stay in on Friday nights, turn down invitations to football games, say no to hanging out at the mall or even going to sleepovers with the girls- I had to be sewing!
This talent was something that made me quite popular in school but as we all know there are 2 types of popularity- good and bad. Most of the girls thought it was cool that I made my own clothes, I ended up teaching many of them how to sew themselves; the boys liked my creativity too, always asking what I was making next. For the few that didn’t think my sewing was cool they sneered behind my back- which luckily never really bothered me, it just made me want to sew more and more!
When it came time for Homecoming, Prom, Semi Formal or any other event that you could possibly dress up for- I was ready and when I say ready I mean months in advance, design in mind, fabric in hand, and sewing machine ready for action. Now you would think that with how ready I was, and all of the sewing that I did I would actually finish the outfit (dress, bag and maybe a tie for my date) way before the actual date of the event… HA! This is the girl who was almost 3 weeks late to her own birthday, I don’t think I was ever early to anything in my life- and you better believe that even though I was ‘ready’ to make that dress I didn’t start it until the week before!
Maybe I liked working under the pressure (Whirl Wind Sewing), maybe I liked the necessary quick problem solving that was needed when disasters struck, and trust me they did (I’ll share those stories another time!), fabric ran out, things were cut wrong, crystals were melted onto dresses, but I loved the adrenalin rush, staying up well past midnight, telling everyone “nope, I’m not done yet!” and hearing “OMG, Jess, Prom is in 2 days!”.
You know, I always finished just in time- even if I was finishing the hand sewing on a tie while my hair was being done or putting in the last few stitches on a hem just before my date arrived! One would think that things would change as I got older, maybe I would get wiser, learn to balance my time a little better, nope! Not a chance!
I felt the need to open with this story because over the past week I was on vacation. I traveled to a lovely little island off of the coast of North Carolina to help my boyfriend, and his family, celebrate the wedding of his cousin, Ingrid.
I knew, of course, that I was making a dress to wear for the wedding, but I knew I couldn’t just stop at one outfit- we were going away for a whole week! And not to mention there would be plenty of family events to attend and thusly dress for: Easter dinner, family reunion/ Italian dinner feast, a birthday party…
So I got to work, 2 weeks before we were scheduled to leave. Two weeks!! Maybe I’ve changed; maybe I’m getting better at planning my time! HA! I started tracing patterns like a mad woman; luckily I had most of the fabrics already (thanks Smile Spinners), and I began Whirl Wind Sewing.
Here’s my sewing list:
-White jersey top, ¾ sleeves, cowl neck- perfect for any event!
-Grey and gold border print batik skirt, elastic waist, full hem- great day skirt!
-Peach and crème stripe jersey dress, raglan sleeve, embellished neckline with white beads- for Easter dinner!
-White jersey top, ¾ sleeves, cowl neck- perfect for any event!
-Grey and gold border print batik skirt, elastic waist, full hem- great day skirt!
-Peach and crème stripe jersey dress, raglan sleeve, embellished neckline with white beads- for Easter dinner!
-Poppy print cotton dress, full circle skirt, halter bodice, scarf like collar- for wedding!!
Yes the above is what I made in 2 weeks! Mind you I called Smile Spinners with a minor fabric emergency (I was short on poppy fabric!), I was sewing white beads onto the collar of the peach dress on the 8 hour journey down to NC and I tacked the lining of the poppy dress to the zipper once we got settled into our beach side cottage. In the end everything was beautiful, I was done on time, and everyone loved the outfits!
Ok, so really nothing has changed. Even the gossiping girls are still around making their comments, only this time they are said with a loving sarcasm only a family can dish out… “Did you make that??” “No, there’s no way you made this!!” “OMG we hate you Jess!” And I am still Whirl Wind Sewing at the last possible minute!
