Flashback Friday: Stacey from Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!
Hi, I’m Stacey (that’s me in the red cape) and I blog over at Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy! When I sat down to think about what to write for Flashback Friday, it took me through my own sewing history. I remember the first time I ever completed a sewing project, a simple long sleeve t-shirt in my Home Economics class. I was so very proud of my accomplishment, especially since most of my classmates choose the pillow or pot holder option. Flash forward to three weeks before my first son was due. While looking through a magazine full of decorated nurseries, I came across a set of wall hangings that I decided my son MUST have in his first bedroom. Not realizing he’d decided to come that next week instead, I ran out that very day and bought the first sewing machine I could get my hands on. To be nice, let’s say she was a very basic machine. I did eventually finish those wall hangings though it wasn’t easy. Flash forward another three years, practically due with my second son (clearly I have a late term nesting issue), I decided I must sew this baby’s crib bedding, complete with dust ruffle and patchwork crib bumper. It was at this time that I realized I needed to make room in my life for a creative outlet and began setting aside regular sewing times.
Which got me wondering where this passion came from. It didn’t take me long to land on my mother. She, as far as I can remember, is the first seamstress in our family As my sisters and I were growing up she made all of our Halloween costumes and special event dresses.
I’ll never forget the excitement of taking our annual trip to the fabric store to choose which costume we wanted. I can close my eyes and picture the piles of catalogues and white envelopes filed in long rows. Whether it was the devil costume, Native American princess, Wonder Women, or a giant blue crayon, my mother never failed to produce a well made garment. I know now how many hours must have been spent in making our dreams come true just for one night.
To this day, my favorite party dress was this purple, ruffled chiffon dress she made for Easter. Can you see the satin trim on each layer? I remember feeling so beautiful every time I wore it. I think that memory may have later gotten me through the years of glasses and long limbs, braces and always being the tallest one in my class. Being a mom of three boys, I don’t get to sew things with ruffles and frills very often. But I know it’s the memory of my own mother’s creativity that drives me to seek refuge at the sewing machine. It is my peaceful place. She sews now to make beautiful things as gifts or for charity programs at her church and it is so inspiring. As my children grow, and no longer come running to me to make this or that, I know I’ll move on to sewing for others and the creative spark that she’s planted in me will continue.
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That dress is so great! I can’t even imagine how hard it was to sew! That fabric is a bear! Lovely memories.
Wow, what a lucky girl you were! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
~Jess