Another Working Day

Do you ever have one of those days when you really seem to be getting a lot done but you wonder if it is worth it? I have made the cover for my display rack, my tablecloth and finished two of my curtains and they look really cool. Thing is I wish I knew how they were going to look all put together and I wont know that till this Saturday. Sooo It's a crap shoot! I'm pretty sure they will look very nice but if it involves sewing .... well let's just say that sewing is not my forte'. Ok.. You want a story...
When I was in high school we were required to do a sewing project for our home ec. Class. This was a long time ago in a very small school district. The average income in this district today is $18,000 for a family of four. This according to their statistics on their website. Anyway, I guess they figure it is important for the girls to be able to make clothing because they probably can not afford to buy it ... But with the cost of material today.. Who Can Afford To Make It? Anyway, the project we had to make had to have a zipper, interfacing, a collar and darts. So my mom and I dutifully went to town to buy material and all the supplies to make this really cool dress that I had found a pattern for. It was kind of like a "gunny sack" style dress, form fitted with puffy sleeves and a wonderful apron that fit over the top of it. I was so excited about making the dress. When I got to school I showed our teacher. She was a little dubious that I could get all of the dress and the apron done in the allotted time but she okay'd the dress at least and if I had time for the apron.. Hey, go for it! So I picked out a large table and began putting the pattern out on the material. First thing that happened was I had not gotten enough material. I was short about 1/2 yard. That's quite a lot when you are making a dress. But with the help of my teacher and almost the entire hour we finally figured out a way to lay out the dress pattern on the material and get most of the dress. My mother and I would have to go back into town to get some more supplies to finish off the collar and the necessary interfacings. So I began cutting out the dress. I cut very carefully each individual piece and put them aside till I was done. Then the next day we began doing the zipper on the back two places and then the sleeves and so on. You have to understand there were only so many sewing machines and we didn't sew every day. So the projects were designed to last at least one month. About two weeks into the making of the dress I finally got to put the front and back together. That is when I discovered that somewhere along the way I had created a wonderful little "V" shaped hole right where the belly button should be. After crying for a few minutes my teacher finally told me about a wonderful product called "wonder under". This meant another trip to the fabric store for yet more supplies. I grew to despise this dress! I put one sleeve on upside down and the other sleeve had the most wonderful even gather right in the arm pit. The color was crooked (just a little... But I knew it) and it had a hole! Granted I was the only one that could see the hole but... It was there! I got a "C" on that dress mostly because of fortitude. At the end of the semester we had a modeling show and mother's tea. We had to wear the dresses we made. I hated that. Not only did I have to model the dress with the hole in the belly but I won an award that year so I had to go down that long aisle two times instead of just once. I just knew everyone was looking at my belly!!
I got home and on came the jeans. My sister made the apron to go with the dress and I wore it once after that but it was just to much. The dress became a very expensive rag for the rag bin and life went on.
Now where was I before talking about my naval dress.... Ah yes. I was discussing my sewing. It is sad that I enjoy all crafting except sewing. In truth there are even a few sewing things I enjoy. I love doing free sewing with small pieces of material. I just did that to a piece of material about 12" by 9" and covered with polyester. Then cover with lace and then burn the fabric with a soldering iron. It is really interesting and you get a really interesting piece from it. I am going to cut it up into small pieces and use it on a lamp shade with beads. Anyway, I also love applique but I have to admit I enjoy doing the hand sewing more than using the machine.
Well, I should go up and finish painting. This morning I had a visit from a huge male pheasant outside. He decided to make a nest under our lilac bush. While I applaud this romantic location I would prefer he move his nest to the area in our pasture that my husband is not mowing. He wants to make a habitat for pheasant and other animals. If he does manage to attract a female under my lilacs I may have to quit mowing for a few months. I do love pheasants and I guess I could get by with only half my lawn mowed. It is for a good reason... Right?
I need to go paint now. I have procrastinated enough. Talk with ya tomorrow. R