Fazzled in RL

My work day is over thank goodness. My energy level was somewhere below sea level by the time I took lunch at 3:35. I multi-task with customers (work with two or three at a time). That is frequently the only way I can help everyone who wants to work with me. I felt as though I had a few steps left in me, but I had walked my last mile. I told the two customers waiting for me that I just had to go eat. Surprisingly I didn't feel as though the ground were coming up to meet me, which meant my blood sugar wasn't hitting rock bottom. I had a multi-grain bagel with low fat cream cheese for breakfast and took half with me to keep me going until lunch. I had a chance to take a couple of bites around 1:00.

We were busy and everyone working was worn out. I called the owner's son up to my department to cut fabric for my break. He didn't show. I went in search of him and his mom said he wasn't there, so I asked her to take over for me. She can't run the register, but she can cut fabric. That's better than the owner, who can cut fabric but can't run the register or put the phone on hold and page someone. I'm not criticizing either of them; she runs the stock room, he has had several small strokes.

All I wanted to do was go home and crash. I felt frazzled and stretched. Every time my name was called, I could feel myself square my shoulders and turn around to assess who it was and how badly they needed me; not good. One of my customers told me she could tell I needed a break as in a serious vacation. I had mentioned that the owner suggested I work Sunday or Monday this Labor Day weekend and get caught up. As though that would be sufficient!

But eight or nine uninterrupted hours would be a god send. I could get my fall table with displays finished, rehang one end of a quilt that managed to unhook itself, hang the new patriotic quilt from Kathy, whose husband came in today to let me know how his job search was going, And take down an oriental display and put up the Christmas displays, and coordinate the jelly rolls (forty 2-1/2" x 44" strips of fabric that are rolled together) that has literally been waiting weeks for my color sense (I've managed to roll five). Today my assistant asked if I was ever going to get the kits she cut out for sale? And I was able to tell her two days ago the IT guy finally got the shared printer working with the four computers running Vista, XP & Windows 97 so now I will be able to print the instructions I wrote for the project as few weeks ago as soon as I can discover why the printer says it needs ink, when it has ink. I just wish I had a good way to hold the quilt flat for pictures, mine doesn't look professional. Besides the two shipments I got out, three more came in for me the last of the week. September has hardly begun; I will probably have a good 600-700 bolts come in this month. Can I escape to a tropical island somewhere?

This is the quilt. It's "Nana's Garden" with a few changes to fabric choices. The yellows and greens are softer in person. The tan is bunnies: leaping in the stripes and sitting with their backs to you in the border. Hopefully Tuesday I'll be able to print the instructions, which I tweaked to comply with the fabrics and added some clarification.

It's cute, and I have a buyer for it when I am finished with the display! Yay!

Lunch always revives me. I exercised this evening. It's lovely here, 80 degrees and 31% humidity.

Some People - RL

I'm very fond of the owner's wife where I work. Sometimes she talks about her frustrations. Today she said she "You know how long it's been since I got my new washer." (not really, but recently). She had later driven to the store and paid for it. "I got a bill today that they were charging me a $35 late fee." Her husband went to the store to find out about it and they told him it wasn't paid for, so he paid for the washer and the late fee. (I played ring-around-the-rosy to find out this much). "I don't understand him. Why didn't they know it was paid for? It should have been in their computer." (She doesn't trust computers)

I said "Did you write a check?" She didn't remember. "You surely didn't pay cash. Go look in your checkbook for proof you paid it. The bank can give you a copy of the cancelled check." Here it comes, the unbelieveable response "I don't care about proof." By now she is very agitated. My response "You will need proof you paid for it, so you can get your money back. Go look in your checkbook."

She came back in a few minutes waving her checkbook "I found it!"

Food, Such a Big Deal ! ~ RL

Why does food have to be such a big deal? I mean, it's something you eat, it's not life and death, it's f-o-o-d! If it tastes okay, I'm good. If I didn't have to cook it, that's even better.

I do get hungry, and I'm not good about waiting until it's the official time to eat. I am hypoglycemic (basically the opposite of diabetic), which means I'm supposed to eat 4-6 times a day to keep my blood sugar under control and keep the ground down there where it is supposed to be, rather than face planting myself or walking around disoriented (I knew someone that happened to). So being the happy nibbler I am, works well.

Sundays around our place are nice and relaxing for me. I get to see Stani (SL bf) in chat in the morning, followed by laundry, working on projects, and cleaning. I always think I'll have time to log on during the afternoon and role play in Arran (was Erebos), but I'm normally too busy. I log onto SL in the evenings, usually get to see Stani in world, sometimes make it to the Funky Feats dance, and frequently attend my friend Emy's gig.

For Rob (RL husband) and roomie, Sundays mean prep work for teaching the following week; and any admin stuff Rob needs to do during the weekend. They are both late risers; Rob eats breakfast at brunch time or later. Neither one of them normally wants to discuss the menu for dinner until mid-afternoon at the earliest. I am usually the one who goes to the store and cooks. Who cooks is decided by the choice of menu, which is kind of nice except that Rob rarely cooks and seems to prefer my cooking over roomie's. The person who does the dish best cooks it, so sometimes all three of us rotate through our small pullman style kitchen for one meal. Sunday dinners are our one nice sit down meal each week with the table attractively set. Holiday dinners are excellent; terrific food with both the dinner table and the small buffet set with holiday linens, silver, crystal and centerpieces.

This post came about simply by wishing we could pre-plan Sunday dinner, so I could get the grocery shopping out of the way on Sunday morning. We pre-plan holiday dinners days in advance, what's the big deal about waiting until our tummy tells us what we are in the mood for on Sunday afternoon? There speaks a person who doesn't like grocery shopping, especially when it interrupts work on projects or fun, and is happy to eat almost anything she doesn't prepare herself.

Busy, Busy

I've been caught up in RL with deadlines. Still am, but I am working on blog posts and should have one up this evening.

RL - Happy Easter!!

I'd like to wish everyone who celebrates it a Warm and Wonderful Easter.

My Easter memories growing up center around my family and the small country church our neighbors went to. It was as much fun as Christmas until we got to church. There I had to participate in a kids program where I would be nervous, would I remember where to move and when and remember my lines or the words to the song? Stage fright.

The best memories involve Easter Egg Hunts. Mom and then my brother and I, always decorated eggs. She hid them for us, outdoors over our side lawn amongst the grass and flowers, nooks of low branches and in the clothesline pole. On rainy days, indoors. Brave mom with the good nose, always had to find a few later from the odor. She got smart and switched to plastic eggs for indoor hiding.

I always had a new Easter dress for church. I remember a fluffy yellow organza one the year all of the other girls had pink or blue ones. I was the odd chick out and hated it. Now I could handle that with ease. An absolutely beautiful dress was a raspberry cotton sateen bodice and a printed skirt in a rich floral pattern. Very unusual and in excellent taste, it also showed up like a beacon among the other girls. She remembers these two episodes.

The Easter baskets were always so pretty with bright grasses and eggs and candy and goodies. There was the Easter I ate so much of candy, particularly the flat bottomed eggs with hard shells and soft white insides that I was sick to my stomach. I begged mom to make stew for Easter dinner. She looked at me like I had lost my mind and informed me that she wasn't about to make stew after she had gone to all of the trouble to prepare for a nice Easter dinner. I still won't touch those candies. Wayne at work, assures me he will share from the two bags he buys every year!

Mom still provides a large solid chocolate Easter bunny apiece for us each year! I love them, really I do. She wouldn't believe me if she realized I have a stash of them. mmmm....I forget to eat them. I remember them as Easter draws neigh each year. I am eating one right now...is it last years? The year before?

Work - RL

wow! It's been over a month since I posted! It's been quite a month, good and bad and VERY STRESSFUL. I wanted to share with you a little something from my RL job.

I had a customer yesterday. She came in saying that she had been told by name in California to get coral. (coral what? thread, hemming tape, trim, fabric) I guessed fabric.
me: What kind? cotton, wool, polyester, linen, silk, spandex - a knit, a satin? her: I don't care.
me: Is the color more important or the fabric (thinking which department is the most likely to have coral? that would be mine - name a color and I probably have it in a solid colored cotton - over 200 choices) her: the color
I did not discover that was the wrong answer until after I lead her on a sweep of the shop. She approached me in the quilt department, so we looked at cotton, linen, silk, polyester. I had discovered it was for a dress; they can all be used for dresses. She was one of the least informative customers I have encountered. It is amazing how many of them expect you to know what they want when they give you almost nothing to base that knowledge upon. Finally I dug out of her that it was for a wedding.
me: for you? her: no, I'm the bride. (looking at me like I wasn't paying attention)
me: for your bridesmaids? her: yes (other options: flower girls, mothers, sponsors, junior bridesmaids)

It would have helped if she walked up to me and simply said I am getting married and my maid of honor wants the bridesmaids to wear coral.

Then like many other people, she told me she wanted a particular fabric that she has seen. No content, no swatch, no name, no picture. I asked for a description. hmmm....If she had told me immediately that she wanted a coral fabric with another color running through it (gold), I could have lead her to the bridal/special occasion department and shown her the two bolts that fit that description. No, this was at least 15 minutes later. I called Wayne to the department, and turned her over to him. He really doesn't have as much patience as I give him credit for, however it was someone else's turn, mine had run out.

Twelfth Night Celebration

Lady Emy and I went to a Twelfth Night Celebration yesterday. We had a delightful time renewing old friendships and making new ones. And over the course of two hours became totally stuffed on a fine five remove feast.

Emy has done a wonderful job of transforming this RL re-enactment event into an SL role play occurrence for her fae. The Twelfth Night Celebration and The Twelfth Night Feast

She lamented that there was nothing that attracted her on the merchants tables. I, on the other hand, was quite delighted to see Lady Marion with her vast array of silk threads and fine linen spools. I purchased a gold silk for couching and a red and dark blue linen for tablet weaving. Immediately upon strolling up, Marion mentioned that she has been requested to be head cook for an upcoming event and solicited me to aid her.

Work Today.........I Feel Lousy - - RL

I wrote this yesterday morning and meant to post it, but didn't:

Ooohhhh.....I ate something that didn't agree with me yesterday. It was a bad night and a worse morning. Going back to sleep would be impossible, but heavenly. I want to crawl into a hole with my ginger ale and curl up. Instead I'm getting dressed and going to work, ginger ale in hand. I have a fabric rep today. Thank goodness he isn't set up for all day, I don't think I could handle it. That basically means he is a minor rep = represents fabric manufacturers that are not major players in the market.

Otherwise it would be nine straight hours (with a business lunch) of purchasing decision time for yours truly while I view thousands of fabric samples for hundreds of groups from four to six manufacturers. With him I'll look at about one thousand samples for a few dozen groups and it won't take more than a couple of hours. It would be a piece of cake if I felt good.

I have received about 375 bolts of fabric in the last few days. The manufacturers packing slip had dups on it, determining which took about six man hours each for two people. Getting it checked in, the error handled, dated, coded, priced, space made for it, and put out on the floor is almost finished - the bulk of it probably will be by Monday. Some of it was scanned etc for the website.


Update:
It was a hell of a day (sorry). 'm not usually micro-managed; we (dept mgrs & owners) are really stressed. It started with pressure from my boss's mom (in charge of the stock room) regarding the rep (for one thing the person who handles scheduling didn't bring in anyone extra to cover for me), concluding with my boss's brother telling a co-worker and myself something that we do not want to hear and shouldn't at this point, which may or may not be factual. The hours between, working with customers and dealing with the new fabric, were mostly okay. Along with questions from other people, it was peppered with questions from boss's mom, who then ran my answers past her daughter, and come back and reported that she agreed with me. She didn't ask her everything, so I pulled out the folder with my calculations three more times to supply answers. I am very fond of this lady.

I was a wreck last night. Quick to tear up (I'm normally even-keeled for myself, soft-hearted for others). I needed a really good cuddle. Fortunately for me, when I checked email, Stani had the window open while he was working, hoping to catch me. We were able to spend almost two hours together in live chat. It helped.

Water Water Everywhere - RL

It's never a good sign when The Weather Channel sends a reporter to do stand up in your area. The remnants of Hurricane Ida crept through our area last week. Days of WIND and rain. What is "Heavy Rain Mist" anyway?

By Thursday the ground was already saturated, by Thursday evening sewers were full so rain water backed up onto streets, into driveways and parking lots. White caps in some streets. The underpasses were full (say 15' of standing water). Downtown was closed Thursday afternoon and Friday. Some felt Friday was just as bad. The rain started tapering off Friday and quit on Saturday. Sunday lovely blue skies.

During Hurricane Isabel (the only other really bad storm since I moved here) we lost power for 42 hours. We lost power Thursday as it was getting dark. Rob saw a BIG blue arc that filled the sky and we both heard the transformer POP several blocks away. It came back on Saturday 45 hours later. 155,0000 without electricity. We had one of the top five highest tides in recorded history for this region - 8' high tides (usual high storm tide is 3-1/2') with 52 mph winds and gust of 78 mph the waves were topping out at 15' !! Waves were breaking over the causeway deck leading up to the I-64 bridge between South Hampton Roads and North Hampton Roads. This is what I saw reported, it may have been worse. Trees, lines down, flooding of cars, businesses, homes.

Wind whipped the rain everywhere, our neighbors lost the siding under their eaves and there is a gaping hole a man could walk through to get into their attic from the outside! Our windows (all big) are two panes that slide side to side mounted in tracks similar to those for a shower door. Rain hit the windows on the east side, ran down into and under the tracks onto the sill and down the wall - all Thursday evening and well into the night. We went through every towel, hand towel and washcloth we have - rolling them into the tracks, catching the water moving onto the sill and mopping up the carpet when we weren't quick enough, ringing them out sometimes, putting in dry ones. It finally slacked off enough that Rob felt it could be left unattended and went to bed at 5am.

It was 50 something outdoors the temperature had dropped to 68 inside by the time the electricity came back on. That doesn't sound bad, but I get chilly easily, so I was wearing a kind-of-robe over my clothes with a big triangular angora shawl. My cat Boots, was cool, he spent every night beside my pillow, partly covered with a blanket!

We really did pretty well. We had candles, flashlights, lanterns. Rob went to the grocery early Thursday pm (no work for us - colleges and shop closed) and I made chili immediately, and put it in a crock pot to keep warm. We reheated it Friday in a chafing dish.

By Friday night my best view of the rain was lighted from the back by the street lights (they were on again). Blowing almost horizontal, it looked like clouds of heavy mist blowing over the roofs.

We read, wrote (sitting at computer desk next to a bowl with tea lights), and played monopoly - roomie folded first, I had the railroads, Rob had hotels on the expensive corner and won. Rob worked Friday. By Friday I was b o r e d. I'm not good at sitting around doing not much. It was a dull gray day, poor visibility even with the blinds and curtains open so I couldn't do any handwork (embroidery). I worked Saturday.

Now it's clean up time: everything in the fridge went into the trash. Besides the meat, so many good condiments and cheeses...sigh. And veggies, some had rotted. The freezer was cold but everything was defrosted....ouch. Now laundry and more laundry including an extra large load of towels, run the dishwasher, clean the carpet (tracked in mud), consulting on what everyone feels is important for the fridge, a long trip to the grocery later today.

My first pleasure was a lovely long shower, head to toe clean and body lotion..mmmm....heavenly warmth.

Update: One well thought out shopping list and $245 later, the fridge looks really really bare. But do we really need seven bottles of salad dressing? nooo?? and three different mustards?...yes.

A Little Retro - RL

This is a cute little owl fabric that I had to have for no good reason except it is unique and it appeals to me.

Normally I buy full groups that are new, replenish certain groups by buying the bolts that have sold out, or pick and chose from large groups. I buy single bolts that don't go with a themed group, only if they are novelty prints (cars, horses, ducks etc) that meet a need. Novelty fabrics are one of our specialties.

I just threw this one in willy nilly. My boss would have looked at me in alarm if she had been there and asked if I really needed/wanted that? She hasn't joined me for a buying session for ten months. I regret that; we work really well together. I have the next fabric rep scheduled for next Monday during a time she sometimes comes in...so if she wishes, she could be there. Debi is fun and I think they would be excellent friends if she lived locally.

Because it is not part of a group, when the bolt arrived at the shop I knew it would sit on the shelf virtually untouched unless I came up with a display. It is in the retro section so I found a pattern from that era. I am surprised the style appealed to me. It's very feminine. I am feminine, but I don't think I'm this feminine.


It is Butterick 4945 (bottom right) If the link doesn't work immediately, give it a few seconds. I believe it is from the 1950s. I modified it by placing a pipping between the two fabrics and shortening the bottom piece (twice) to 2-1/2" with hem to give it better balance between the two fabrics.

Me, being me, I didn't read the instructions. I almost never do. But then I usually draft my own patterns, so I am not used to having instructions to rely on. And this is super easy.

Extra long apron strings to tie your special male friend up with - hehe!

Changing Seasons - RL

I love living where the seasons change...the air is crisp or soft and warm, trees burst into new leaf or drop brightly colored crunchy leaves underfoot to shuffle through and kick into piles, even the sky is different with each new season.

The thing I dread about the change of seasons is changing out my closet....major bummer. There are clothes that cause me to automatically smile when I see them for the first time in several months. That's the up side.

Like most people, my closet is not large enough. This time of year I pull out everything I know I won't be wearing til spring - the camis, shorts, thin silk blouses, swim suits and cover ups.

Then I open the two big totes that hold seasonal clothing and place everything in the closet I know I will want to wear. Next comes paring down the transitional items (I always leave some in the closet) so that the bulkier winter sweaters fit. A must is the incredibly warm wool cable sweater in natural Lancastershire wool mom gave me. I probably won't wear it, but last year when the shop lost heat for several days it was a blessing.

I donate everything I haven't worn that I have no really good reason to keep. Nostalgia enters....how did I end up with a dress I wore in high school? My mom never tosses anything. It's an unusual eyelet in a pretty shade of blue. I think I'll offer it to a local theatre company. There's the green boxy tunic length top with bright yellow-gold embroidery (eeah) from India a friend gave me three years ago. mmm... And a soft yellow wool pencil skirt that fits like a dream, but yellow? I don't remember it at all..away it goes. And a longer bittersweet one. Pencil skirts that long and my job just don't cohabit comfortably; I've never worn straight skirts that weren't above the knee. Another mom one.

I love my mother, but we dont' really have the same taste and she's only happy if my tops are loose and my pants are almost falling off.

And an authentic U.S. Air Force flight suit! I don't why Rob (husband) thought I needed one. I only get to go up in private aircraft once or twice on a good year and I haven't been up in any military aircraft that has been used since WWII. I'm keeping it. I even look kind of sexy in it!!

All done. :D

Cas isn't here - RL

The only time my Friday off at work changes (we are closed on Sundays), is when two other people need/want that day off.

The end of the twelve foot shelf used for displaying quilt kits and a few fat quarter bundles

I was asked a couple of days ago if I would switch my day off for next week. I agreed and then we haggled as to which day I will take.

Now I feel like I need to post a notice on the front door - big and bold and hope everyone who cares will actually read it. What is it about people that the ones that could benefit rarely read signs?

Cas will be off on Wednesday, October 14
She will be available on Friday, October 16

This public service announcement would upset my co-workers who feel "my customers" place too much importance upon my assistance. They seem to forget they all have customers that prefer them. I just have more, or else more projects are done by "Cas's groupies" - one of the men started calling them that and it stuck :(

For a little reference check out this post paragraphs 4-7

A corner of my 7'x10' cutting table used for displays and quilt kits. Yes there is clutter behind the display rack....well I'm a bit cluttered. Artistic types aren't usually all that tidy are they? ?

Because I know there will be people who come in on Wednesday and say, "Where is Cas? I know she's off on Fridays" and the next time I see them it will be "Where were you last week? I came in and you weren't here." The next sentence will be:
(a) I had to get something and so someone else helped me (they may describe them, but rarely know their name)
(b) I left again
(c) I was afraid you had quit

Yes, there really are people who will drive I don't know how many miles in metropolitan traffic expecting my help to pull their project together and if I am not there, will turn around and walk out the door!!

The ethnic table is behind the rack on the left, 400+ batiks on the wall, 2-1/2 tables of Civil War prints starting with the table on the right. A tiny portion of the floor space I have for 6,000 bolts of fabric (my department takes up one third of the floor space dedicated to fabric in a shop that used to be a grocery store!)

RL Wedding Gown - Finally Pics !!

Not short at all :(

Back in January, a mother and her best friend came into the fabric shop I work at to look at satin, chiffon, organza, lace in all of it's forms: appliques, fabric and trims for a bridal gown. I worked with them. After the third trip, this time with the bride-to-be who lives out of state, they purchased yards and yards of heavy duchesse satin, chiffon and a light-weight lining from someone else who works there. Mother intended to make the gown, which is a knock off of an Anne Barge gown. Go to this URL and flip the page four times. It's the wide V neck gown on the left page. I think she said $3,500.

In February mom broke her foot. It didn't heal and it didn't heal and she had an operation on it and it took it's sweet time healing. She was on crutches, going up and down stairs both at home and at work on her tush, scooting around the garden planting flowers for the church decorations the same way. But she couldn't handle moving around a table, pulling yards of fabric with her, laying out a pattern etc. She is still in pain daily.

So in June her best friend (I knew her first) comes in and whispers to me "would you even consider making the gown????" I listened to her, took a look at her woebegone face, and said "yes". When she realized she heard me correctly, I thought she was going to cry.

My mother's reaction...."You said WHAT???!? Did you tell them you have never made a wedding gown???" My mother is not one to raise her voice in that manner.

The bride has an unusual figure. Long torso, tiny ribcage and waist, not much bust, wide shoulders and 39" hips! She looks good in wrap dresses and A-line skirts. period. They had purchased a Vogue pattern to base the gown on. It would need to be modified - neck, cut of armholes, shape of train, perhaps width of skirt and add a full lining. Plus the decoration under the bust, but that was something mom could do for her daughter.

The photo session for the portraits was in a few weeks. It was postponed.

Fitting #1: Fitted muslin mock-up based upon the Vogue pattern on bride. eeeah. She's even smaller in the bust. Ripped out empire waist seam across the front, Reshaped bodice, pinned and marked.

Cut out gown, sewed it together - the duchesse satin is a lovely heavy, stable fabric. Did I mention heavy? The seams that should fold over and lay down, don't - they roll. So the neckline and armholes are stay stitched by hand catching the lining and satin and avoiding the full chiffon overlay. eeeah yet again. The lining is too light weight for the satin. It's one I only recommend if they want a light weight slinky gown with a lot of drape. Trouble in River City. All three fabrics begin shredding as soon as a pair of scissors slices into them. Fray check is my friend, but makes them stiff and harder to work with...what to do, what to do....

Fitting #2: The shoulders aren't quite narrow enough, the armholes are typical and don't have quite the right line at the top (nit picky little detail here, but it matters). I later rip out the stitching for the top part of the armholes and re-cut them a bit straighter, which gives the shoulders the correct shape and still covers the bra straps (thank goodness). The bride, who really is a lovely person, wants the neckline an inch lower and the whole bodice tighter. eeeeaah! I tell her that A-line cuts are supposed to skim the body and the fabric will pull around the ribcage if I make it that tight. "But...can you do it?" I roll my eyes and say of course and mark the bodice. More ripping - well no, I cut off the cloth covered bridal buttons and a little bit of fabric on each side of the back opening shaping the cut so that it flows into the original seam at the hip.

I decided to cut off every other button loop on the new piece of loop trim for the center back leaving a little space between each button (O O O O) so they don't look like an 18" line of white m&m's (OOOO). The design is simple enough that I feel that would look like overkill and both mom and daughter like the look. A touch of glue at each cut, two lines of tight stitching to ensure the loops won't pull out and into the bodice it goes.

Bridal buttons have to be the hardest ever to sew on. There are no holes; you sew through a tiny mound of cloth on the back of the button - I use tiny little needles and it's still tough to push them through. I chain stitch them on - in that I attach one and tie a knot and run the double strand of thread under the satin to the next spot and repeat. To make it very unlikely one will be able to pop off.

I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel for a while, but it's a very long tunnel and I have stumbled a couple of times.

Fitting #3: Checked the fit of the bodice, cut of the neckline, width of the shoulders, cut of the armhole - perfect! whew! Then she said "Do you think the neckline is low enough? Another 1/2?" I didn't hear her. Okay, I looked at her and didn't' respond. Marked the hem for the final length.

I cut the train. When asked the bride decided on a 6" train. Mom said okay; I nodded. The gown really called for more. I shaped it to 24-28" and finished the seams on all three layers except for the few inches close to the hems. Sewed the hem tape on the satin layer, pinned all three hems.

Fitting #4: The next evening - just to check and tweak the hem before I finalize it.

Hemmed all three skirts using three different methods, the satin by hand and finished the seams near the hems.

Discovered a tiny hole in the chiffon on the bodice a little above the bust. Major EEeeAH :(( I debated, I deliberated, I went over pros and cons of different ways of handling it. Honest to god I cut off the front bodice, laid a piece of chiffon over the bodice of the gown, cut it for the side seams and stitched them on the sewing machine so they are done in the usual method, finished those seams. Then I shaped and appliqued the chiffon piece over the rest of the bodice by hand - armholes, shoulder seams, neckline!!! Yes really! I do a LOT of handwork and it looks totally normal. I don't believe anyone would realize unless they turned it to the back and studied it.

It bugged the bride that the darts in the chiffon were so pointy. They looked like a pin up doll from a old war time movie! I explained that 3-1/2" of chiffon along the bottom of the bodice, folded into a dart only 4" long equals pointy. And that the only way I could rectify it was to elongate (and curve the end) of the dart so that it went over the tip of her bust. She understood. While I was doing the overlay of chiffon, I modified the front darts as requested. It doesn't look funky or unprofessional as I feared it would.

I gratefully turned over the gown two weeks before the photo session so that mom could do the layered decoration under the bust. I was soooo very vastly relieved to be done with my portion.

I never wanted to see it again.

That wedding gown came back to haunt me.

The Monday before the photo session, I get a call. "Hi, it's...." My heart sinks. Mom is almost in tears and I can hear her best friend in the background. They can't get the stabilizer shaped correctly to use as the foundation for the decoration. I say fine, how about tomorrow? I then realize she needs all the time she can get and agree to go over after I get off at 7:00pm that day. I spend an hour cutting it to shape for her and we have dinner. I tell her if she can't do it call me by Thursday afternoon, not Friday morning.

I get the call I am expecting. I start on it Thursday night and cancel my Friday get together with my best friend.

I can't get a really good look at the details for the decoration. The top layer might be one piece of fabric twisted and ruched; it might be two. I can't quite tell and I don't have the time to experiment.

I covered the foundation with the strange lace they chose. It has a sheen to it and looks like fibers laid over each other randomly and pressed into place. Reminds me of a "modern" Formica kitchen counter from the 50s/60s?. Cut a wide piece of chiffon, tucked the top of it under the top of the foundation piece and stitched it so that it doesn't show on the outside. Hung the gown on my display stand (I used to compete in clothing for the re-enactment group I am in, and still exhibit)Then I stuffed the bodice with fiber fill to give it a bit of shape to work against as I poked and prodded (not what I did, but what it felt like).

I threaded 7 needles at the same time to work on the overlay decoration. Ran basting stitches vertically down the chiffon for 3 1/4" at each spot the little medallions were to be fastened. Then drew up the thread to gather it under the decorative bits. Knotted those off and proceeded to gather/stitch more loosely for an inch below each of those. Sewed on the top seven sets of tiny medallions (8). Then moved to the bottom of the band half way between each of the top gathers and draped the fabric, which I had cut wider than needed to achieve the lower part of the oval on the chiffon. I cut off the excess, anchored the bottom edge and began taking small stitches to ruche the remaining fabric, tugging it up or down toward the edge of the medallion to achieve the desired effect. The stabilizer for the foundation can't handle the ruched chiffon, it starts drawing up, so I fight that. geeeessh! Thankfully I am persuasive. Sewed on the bottom six sets of medallions. It's not perfect, but it's close (horseshoes et al comes to mind). At this point I am absolutely exhausted.

Pic is a bit fuzzy, but it is the only one I have of the back. And it's obvious the fabric pulls in the bodice just the way I told her it would. They don't care. I take a good look at the full page ad they have for the gown. What do you know, it doesn't lay down prettily on the model either.


I worked until 3:30am Saturday morning to finish it, at which time I email her mom to let her know, set my alarm for 7:00am and go to bed...ahhh...blessed sleep...3 hours of it. The lady who is making the veil is due at 8:00am to shape it based upon the train. I wake up before the alarm, shower, bag it up, take it out in a downpour and drive through the main street we both live off of through two flooded sections. The bride is buttoned into the gown and has glowingly given it her stamp of approval by the time the lady shows up.

She had been walking back and forth and bending and twisting so we could see how it moved and I'd call "stop" to take a picture. I didn' smooth it down or tug on it so that it laid prettily for them; I was far too wiped out to care. My little perfectionist's soul is not happy with it.

Mom says "I'm so glad we talked her into a train" I laughed and said "You talked her into a 6" train; I simply cut what I felt it needed" So it helps when they consider you a friend, and it doesn't hurt if you have a good eye for proportions. It is gorgeous, just the right length and an elegant shape; absolutely perfect, everyone loves it. I am assuming that the designer gown has a train; I have no idea what it looks like.

Mom described me as her guardian angel!

I hurry home to have breakfast and go to work for my usual eight hour Saturday stint, thankful it's a short day. I'm a zombie all day.

Its' fairly typical to gain a few pounds while you are engaged. I don't think she will, but she doesn't have any leeway. If she gains two pounds I don't want to hear from her.



My mother's reaction...."I'm so glad we went to Country Club Plaza in Kansas City to purchase your gown. Do you remember asking the clerk if she had it in tall? (I'm 5'8") And when she did, you said "This is IT!!"?" I disappointed her by saying no. My mom and her cousin picked out my gown. It is wonderful, looks like an 1800's frontier school marm getting married! Ivory (which upset dad who felt it wasn't white enough) with a lace yoke, modified leg of mutton sleeves with a lace overlay, 12" wide lace on the hem of the gown, 10" wide lace on the edges of the long veil. Quite unusual and not as fussy as it sounds. We went on to talk about how the plaza flooded before we picked up the gown, but it came through just fine. The fountains on the plaza are lovely. It is a really old shopping area set on the river. Mom shopped there as a teen and young bride with her mother.

I know, I know, way more detail than you ever wanted to read and I've lost almost everyone already. There are friends who have asked how it went, friends I groused to as I struggled, friends I would love to show what I do. Plus I wanted to document this to remind myself never ever to agree to a wedding gown again.

Another RL Funny (at least to me)

I have mentioned that I work in retail and have a regional reputation.

Today Wayne answered the phone and a lady said "Earlier today I was talking to someone at your shop about templates, and it wasn't Cas. Do any other women work there?"

He kept a straight face and handed the phone off to one of the seven other women that work there the lady had obviously never noticed. Then told me. I laughed and laughed until my stomach hurt. Some people just are not observant!

RL small funny

I was just following a late model Toyota Camry with this license plate:
"BUY GEO"
Too funny!

Happy Post

No I haven't forgotten my blog.

The past few days I have been focusing on one happy thing in RL and something upsetting in SL, but it cuts too deeply right now. I need a some time to pass before I can talk about it.

The happy RL thingy: A few of you know that my husband and I have a roomie. This weekend was her graduation ceremony for her doctorate! I think I may be excused for saying "Finally!"

Now don't get me wrong. I went to college, four years for a bachelor's, taught a year, back for graduate work, finished - 1 year for this particular program. Started on a master's course for art and couldn't pick the exact medium I wanted to work in (no decision? they didn't want me), back for an accounting class, tried art again (same thing), tried to locate a college/university in the region that would design a Masters of Fine Art for me for hands on historical fiber (forget the exact wording - nope), 2 years part time for a paralegal certificate. So yeah, I believe in schooling, learning, hitting those books and studio time.

She's been in college for a solid thirteen years! Wow! Determination and will power were very much in evidence. My applause at the ceremonies yesterday was loud and long - only eleven getting their doctorate in Biomedical Sciences. She is in cancer research, slightly different area of study than anyone else as far as she knows. She has been published three times and has had her work cited in other peoples' papers!!

YAY!! Cas jumps up and down and claps wildly!

So this weekend in RL is almost totally about her - the ceremony, gifts, cards and then what she wants to do: a nice dinner out, a couple of movies that she wants us to see too and then me running out in the cool wind and rain to pick up food from a place that doesn't deliver. She deserves it. She wanted to quit several times when the administration in both the college and the medical school (two different institutions joint program) had a major lack of communication and failed to do whatever was scheduled that particular time - usually affecting finances or credit hours or scheduling.

You Need to Put Some Meat on Your Bones

Stupid RL rant alert!

One comment I get tried of hearing is "You need to put some meat on your bones". I hear it at least 10-15 times a year. I heard it again today!

It's patently not true! I'm reasonably slender - not skinny, not anorexic, not even thin. I am 5' 8-1/2" with a 38" bust, and just a tad under optimal BMI (body mass index)for my height. Only a tad mind you. Any time I gain two pounds, I feel sluggish and a bit less flexible.

What's really silly is when my boss says that. She is a couple of inches shorter than I am and really is underweight! Last time I suggested she check her BMI. It had never occurred to her!

I started out normal for a kid and gained weight rapidly when I stopped running. That was the summer I turned fourteen and became a woman. I started the summer with a training bra and suddenly had a C-cup and it hurt to run everywhere. I continued gaining until I was twenty. That fall I transferred to a different college and the brochure talked about the freshmen five (5 lbs gained by Christmas). I decided that was not going to happen to me. I was in a size 18 and knew a 20 would be next if I didn't do something. So I disciplined myself and lost 2 sizes by Christmas! I was thrilled! New clothes!! I stabilized for a few years and then lost some more. I'm pretty happy with myself. I do think losing five pounds would be nice. Highly unlikely though, I indulge in the community sweets drawer at work too often!

So please, as a favor to me, if you know anyone who rocks on their feet in a good wind, don't tell them to put some meat on their bones. It might just mean they are taller than you are (more of a target for that breeze to play with).

kk - rant over.