Some Things Never Change

When I was a little girl my mother and I lived with her parents in the country. My mother worked in the city and on Fridays when she got paid, she'd stop on the way home and buy me a book of paper dolls. I loved them and I had a huge collection. I guess I was a collector even then. Most of the paper dolls at that time were movie stars and had gorgeous gowns. I cut them out carefully, enlisting my Grandmother's help on the very elaborate ones. Then during the week as I played with them I would draw pretty gowns for them to wear, color them and cut them out. If I was handed  paper and drawing implements, I drew ladies in beautiful gowns. I think it was the beginning of my love affair with design and sewing and crafts.

As I got a little older I watched my Grandmother make dresses for me on her sewing machine. I observed her every move and eventually I talked her into letting me try using the machine to make doll clothes. In junior high school I began making some of my own clothes and the techniques I'd learned came in very useful when I started working. I needed lots of new clothes for work and for my social life.

As a young single woman working as a bank auditor there were lots of parties and special events to attend. I would leave work on Friday, buy fabric and patterns and spend the weekend sewing. I remember a few of my favorites. I preferred simple lines and letting the fabric and details make the outfit special. One was a simple cocktail dress of emerald green brocade. Another was a full length dress of scarlet velvet. There was a white tunic with lace sleeves worn over white lace pants and a red and black tunic and pants outfit that was a favorite.

For a formal Christmas party given by the bank I designed my own dress. It was a floor length black knit jersey, very demure with high neck, and long sleeves. But the surprise was in the back where it was cut down to the waist and had a deep slit for walking. I loved that dress and I must admit I loved the attention it got.

I don't attend many dressy affairs anymore and if I do, I have a few things hanging in the closet that will do. But I still love the look of beautiful gowns. That's why I watch the Academy Awards. Still, I don't want to waste time and money on making gowns that I'll never wear, so I found another outlet. I do cross stitch of faeries wearing big beautiful gowns.  Here are a few.