Tuesday, February 21, 2012

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.





15 comments:

Lapdog Creations said...

Love the cross stitch - beautiful!

rottrover said...

Ill be watching the Academy Awards for the same reason :-)

SissySees said...

That green brocade sounds right up my alley. Your cross stitch is beautiful. Did you design those?

Winston said...

These are beautiful , the detail is amazing!
Your Black dress sounds right up MY alley!!

booahboo said...

wow.. i never see cross stitch that are so beautiful. You are really good Sue.

when i was growing up.. dad bought us a lot of paper dolls too.. my sisters and i used to draw a lot of clothes for the paper dolls... we still have them :)

booahboo said...

Sure hope Tsar is on the mend. Please give him a big hug from all of us here.

Jo's World said...

Yes, same with me and the Oscars. A friend always writes me in the afternoon asking what I'll be wearing to the awards. I love to tell her it will be my red plaid flannel gown with the eyelet detail around the neck and sleeves!

Your x-stitch is, as always, exquisite. I especially love the Native American with the howling wolf by her side.

How is Our Boy? Back to normal?

We hope so. Cheers and hugs,

Jo

Two French Bulldogs said...

Wow that stitching stuff is so Purrty
Benny & Lily

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

From someone who got a D- on HER skirt in Junior High, SHE's impressed!

SHE had to draw paper dolls, or wait for Betsy McCall.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella, Roxy and HER

bichonpawz said...

I loved paper dolls as a little girl and I still love watching the Academy Awards! Your cross stitch is just beautiful! AWESOME!!!

Molly the Airedale said...

Your cross stitch is just gorgeous!
You sound exactly like my mom - taking a pattern and making it yours!

gMarie said...

Oh how I loved paper dolls and the days spent drawing them new clothes and coloring them - with colored pencils not crayons. Crayons "were" for babies!

Those fairies are beautiful artwork. I hope they are framed and displayed in your home. JB tried to use MY Pillow the other day to put his head on and I flipped out on him. I still need to wash his. g

Dianne said...

Your cross stitch is amazing! Kisses to Tsar and the rest of the gang!

Jed and Abby in MerryLand said...

Mama also loved paper dolls when she was little. Remember Katie Keene paper dolls? She also learned to sew and made most of her own clothes when she was younger. After the American Girl dolls came out [the originals, not the Mattel versions], mama made doll clothes for friends and relations little girls. Still does on occasion.

Never learned to cross stitch. Yours are gorgeous. Do you frame them, or make them into pillows or chair covers?

Jed & Abby

Tina. said...

Gorgeous! Absolutely Beautiful!