Sewing project

[No, you're not viewing the wrong blog, and, yes, there is indeed a photograph of a handmade object on this post.]

I recently undertook my first sewing project since I was thirteen. Here is the super-dooper-make-me-smile-and-swoon-with-delight result...

Here is what I did:

1. I saw cute boots for Mary and I bought them.
2. I decided Mary should be a cowgirl for Halloween.
3. I realized Mary would need a vest.
4. I looked online and thought about making her one myself.
5. I got a headache.
6. I enlisted the help of my very talented and very nice and very helpful mother-in-law.
7. I trimmed the ribbon on the final product.

You may think there are some crucial steps missing--like choosing fabric, finding a pattern, cutting, pinning, SEWING, you know those kinds of crucial steps. Well, Vicky, my mother-in-law, took care of all of that.

After asking for her help, I was too embarrassed to say, "Please, please, please just make the whole thing yourself because if I have to think about this for one second or put one ounce of energy into it I might collapse on the ground into a quivering heap." But, of course, my mother-in-law is no fool and could read between the lines. And, this is the best part, she is so gracious that she politely continued to let me keep saying things like, "I'll come over this weekend and we can work on Mary's vest," or "I hope we can finish Mary's vest by Monday," or "Now that the kids are in bed, we can work on Mary's vest."

Oh, but the results of my non-participation are quite wonderful, aren't they? Much better than if I'd employed everything I learned in sewing lessons (yes, the saddest part is that I used to take sewing lessons), which, is to say, nothing (which was no fault of the teacher--it was like trying to teach algebra to a rock).

The best part is how much Mary loves her vest. I'll admit, at first she was scared of it. (There are certain clothing items that cause Mary to flee in fear, like dresses with tulle.) Then she only wanted to wear it as a bracelet. (!?) But finally she settled into the idea of being a cowgirl--mostly because she likes to say,"Yee-haw!" And thanks to her Grammy, a very cute cowgirl she is.

*****

So maybe I didn't learn much in sewing lessons. But I cannot say I didn't get anything out of it. Sure, I can't thread a bobbin or sew a straight seam...but what I did get out of sewing lessons is a lifelong friendship--with this awesome gal. (Psst. Hurry and check out her family blog before she goes private!) We barely knew each other when our moms decided we two girls would be walking to sewing lessons together. Way to go, moms! I'll admit, my shy self was nervous the first couple of times. But soon we became good friends, and I am very grateful for the time we spent together, the fun we had, and the confidence she instilled in me. Now, years later, she is a mentor and an example--the kind of mom I want to be...fun and caring and open and willing to accept the bad with the good...and able to find time to write a book. (I love ya, Jacqui! And next time I'm in Utah, we have to take a picture!!)