In the Cool of the Morning

Walked with a buddy today who lives in Woodlake, a community built on the west side of the Swift Creek Reservoir.

We were treated to a lovely breeze in the mid-morning, just in time to bolster our nerves for the 100 degree plus temps expected in RVA today.

Thrift Store Repair

Tiny stitches, up and down, side to side and then diagonally, trying to repair the binding on a beautiful, once-expensive flag that I found this week at my favorite thrift store.  The sky blue fabric along the top edge was faded and there were just a couple of little rips from where the flagpole had rubbed some areas a few too many times, but I knew I could mend it easily; sewing is in my blood.

Coats, dresses, pants, silky blouses, costumes, curtains, bedspreads, pillows, slipcovers--my house and my parents' house are filled with my mom's handiwork.  Growing up poor on a farm she received a new dress at Christmas, sewn by her mother, and that was it.  She must have had clothes for school but there are so many photos of her as a teen, wearing overalls and a man's shirt, working in the fields every spare minute.  In high school she made her first dress, horribly tight at the shoulders, and wore it until it wore out.  By the time I was old enough to sit and watch her at the sewing machine, she was mastering complicated Vogue patterns.

Patience was her best friend.  She read the pattern directions over and over before even washing her fabric in preparation for cutting.  Maybe she loved following along with the orderly steps and seeing it clearly in her mind before starting or maybe each project was a difficult challenge for her, I'll never know.  She sewed scrumptious designer dresses with tricky materials--chiffons, satins, silks.  Herringbone, stripes, plaids--everything had to match perfectly at the seams. Even today I shop for clothes like a detail freak--turning shirts inside out to see if the seams are well finished and ensuring that the fabric design on the front and back meets exactly at the side seams and continues across the arms.

She also loved to fix and patch her clothes when they had seen too much wear.  Ripped inseams would be reinforced and re-stitched.  Tears, even in noticeable spots, would be patched from her remnant stash.  Darning was a standby, with the aid of an upturned glass or her wooden darning egg.   My dad told me the story of how he had proudly shown off his darned socks to the guys at the office after he first got married.  Even though he had grown up poor as well, he had never before worn anything that someone had made new for him.

Although she tried and tried to teach me the intricacies of making bound buttonholes, setting in shoulder seams without creating that little ridge and the hemming stitch that magically curled up the edges of a scarf as you pulled the thread snug, I only observed sewing and didn't love it like she did.  My skills consist of stitching straight lines, following a few curves, and repairing great thrift store finds.  Because of what I learned at home I can usually spot stitching on a cushion or clothing that will last versus one that will fray before its time.  Whether it's a couch or a coat, I look for matching fabric designs at all the seams.  Some folks might call this being "picky," but my mom would approve of my critical eye.  She would consider it getting your money's worth.

The repair job on this otherwise-lovely flag isn't pretty but it's functional.  When this temporary fix eventually gives out the next step will be to just create a shorter flag by cutting off the faded, torn top binding and making a brand new one for the flagpole to slip through, or even replacing the binding with a contrasting piece of material from my stash.  I can see in my head how to do it, even if my fingers aren't as fine-tuned as they could be.  There's always a way.  Thanks, Mom. 

Emily in her mother-of-the-bride dress.  Nope, she didn't sew the tux.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RVA first-person--3 months with the KonMari Method

Happily surprised to read Sarah Fought's account of her three month journey to simplifying her home/life/mind, using the KonMari Method.  I'm very jealous of her having just one item posted on her refrigerator.

Toward a less-cluttered life

I love the book, too.  The principles and techniques work wonderfully, even if you don't talk to your belongings like I talk to my cat.

The Start of Summer

Despite the record heat of RVA, today was pretty nice.

Swept out the playhouse and unfurled my new-to-me decoration; a real steal from Thrifty Quaker this past winter--about $4.00 for a double-sided, well-sewn flag.  The decks of the playhouse are wide and I plan to relocate a comfy chair on the side that faces the back yard.  Great shade and not too many mosquitoes.  Saw a wild turkey scrounging for treats right below the deck this evening.

 

A more recent find from the same thrift store--a carved parrot.  He looks right at home with the deer skulls (found in the woods, thank you for your concern) and should make for some interesting conversation when Uncle Grumpy and his buddies hang out and enjoy their stogeys.

Why Didn't I Think to Buy an Otoscope Back in the 80's???

Great post by my buddy, Amanda:
New Tool for a Mom's Arsenal

Have Kayaks? Use 'em

This morning three friends and I set out on an unnamed reservoir in our kayaks.  One person had quite a bit of experience--the rest of us, not so much.

Before putting our toe-sies in the water we made a pact--if someone fell out of their kayak we would paddle over to them and extend an oar; they would then grab the oar, hold onto the rescuing kayak, and we would take them over to the shore. We would not jump into the water to save them--understood?  Okay, we're off.

Such high tech times; one of us had to respond to an e-mail during the paddle--crazy?  No, just modern life.

Hardly any other boats on the water during our two-hour paddle.  It was lovely.

 

Maybe this will save my flat summer hair

A good work buddy passes along her perused magazines and I usually squirrel away several months' worth for my summer reading.  Well...Better Homes and Gardens compiled a list of "Blogger Award Winners" in the June issue and I think I've found the answer to my most-pressing hair quandary--the dreaded part.

Taming the dreaded part

If this stylist is right, all my hair worries will be over.  I will save so much time getting ready in the morning.  It will be lovely.  Stay tuned.