The Good Old Days Continue Even Now

Oh the good old days. When my mom and Aunt Sissy made me dresses with narrow collars and big ruffledy skirts. I had to wear one of those 5 layer tulle (that net-like material) petticoats underneath so the skirt would stand out and show the designs. Those were what I wore to school. And they all had sashes that tied into big bows in the back. Intricate decorative stitches covered the body of the garment, so a lot of work went into the making of those.

Mom was a stay-at-home mom. She stayed at home with us. That was her job! She pretty much raised my sister and I. My dad traveled a lot; he was in the Air Force. She made a home for us. When I say "made a home", I almost mean literally.

She re-upholstered the sectional in the living room, made curtains for the house, repaired absolutely everything and also sewed all the time... doing things like mending clothes to making the clothing itself.

One of my fondest memories is of this crayon apron she made when I was in Kindergarten . It was a small apron, made just for me, and it had an individual pocket on the front for each crayon I had. I think that's where I got my love of color from, from wearing that apron.

Aunt Sissy (my mom's sister) made more dresses for my Barbie doll than "Carter has liver pills" as she used to say. I'm sure my doll was the best dressed Barbie on the block!
Nowadays, most families consist of 2 working parents...enough income to buy ready-made everything but not enough time to make home-made anything.

Now we live in a fast paced era where most households have at least 2 cars and a microwave. A generation of instant gratification, so that a lot of people just don't have the desire for the needle and thread journeys of sewing anymore. It would never be quick enough to make something...just go to the mall instead and pick up whatever you want.


Luckily, my mom taught me to sew when I was 10 or 11. Now I have taught my daughters. I would have taught my sons too, but they have always been too anxious to sit down in front of anything. Except for their Playstation and X-Box. Sit at a sewing machine? Are you kidding me ?, they'd say.

Thinking back to only yesterday my daughter, Chastity, said to me, "Remember Mom... when we were around 7 yrs. old and you used to let us practice sewing with a big needle and thread on a paper towel? Donald and I made so many of those sheets of running stitch pictures. That was when I could get my boys' to sew! Now they are too old for that stuff.

It's funny how I never appreciated those things mama made when I was the recipient, but now I have such fond memories of them because I enjoy sewing so much. I should say, "thank You, Jesus, for bringing me to the realization of what I've got." I have nothing from all the things that Mom and Aunt Sissy made...nothing, nada, zilch! No re-upholstered furniture, though I did re-cover that sectional and use it in my first apartment in 1972, no outfits or gifts, no doll clothes either. But the one thing I do have is the information and skill to make all those things over again.

I made my kids stuff as they were growing up and I made clothes for the girls' dolls too. Now that the kids are pretty much grown up, some with families of their own, I am mostly into home decor.

I still get to make childrens' things...it's just now those things are for my grandchildren. God is good! I love that too! Thank you, Jesus, for my granddaughter, Savannah.

Now I get to enjoy a cup of hot tea and the laid back, creative calm of making something! Thanks, Mom! What a legacy you have given me!

"Teach a child to sew--it's the gift that keeps on giving"