Potato Sack Girls

I can't write long today because I have to go pack my scrapbooking stuff for a crop at 10 am. Somehow I have put off doing this until today, sewing on an impossible dress last night instead. I am just like my mom--I hate sewing on fabric I didn't pick out that I don't like that much. I have worked on this dress for about three nights now (it's a freebie that my friend Vivianna made for one of my girls from a remnant she had, and it's nicely made--I should be grateful). At any rate, the fabric is synthetic and it's difficult to hem, etc. so I finally pulled the whole mess out and decided that I am tired of working on the dress. I have hemmed the neckline and the sleeves and added lace trim, and cut it off because it was way too long for M and taken the shoulders up twice in different ways, then let them down again twice because it didn't hang right, tried it on A and it didn't work for her either, and finally told M to wear a shirt under it if she thinks it's too low cut. Actually she tried it on yesterday and I think it is fine even without the shoulders taken up. So I cut it off so she wouldn't trip on it because it's hard to put a big hem in it due to the fabric (it pulls and puckers so it would need more trim to cover that up, and I don't have any more of that lace). Now even putting a small hem in it is a nightmare. The pins won't stay in and it won't stay rolled and of course I am handsewing and I am not exactly great at it, although I am improving. It needs to just be serged again like Viv did it initially but I don't have a serger, so I just ironed a small hem. I may have to go and get some of that iron on tape that Fiona was recommending. After all, the dress is synthetic with modern lace trim so it's not exactly an Arts and Sciences project, but I have put so much time into fixing it up that it might as well be.

I am just too picky. Most people would have cut off the bottom and sleeves, hemmed the neckline and let the kid wear it ragged. It is, after all, a free dress. But I of course want it to look good on my daughter. Fortunately this is the potato sack daughter. She would look good in a potato sack (just cinch it!!!) And in fact that is kind of what this is, a blue/green potato sack with lace trim. Actually, if I know M, when she wears it she will look like a million bucks. It's actually a pretty good color for her. She's just one of those people. She doesn't have perfect hair because it's curly and all over the place, and it's not a great cut because she's growing out her bangs and doesn't want her hair layered. But she's pretty gorgeous nonetheless. Amelia is very cute too but she is thinner so she has a different look going on, plus she is not a potato sack girl. Clothes just don't fit her in that easy way--everything she puts on looks too big or too small. Well, not everything but it really needs to be just about perfect in order to look right on her, and that's hard when you are a size 8 in height and a size 6 in weight. What really works is size 7 clothes that were a little too big initially and have shrunk a bit, and then wear boots to keep the pants from looking too short. Not so easy to come by those.

Well, enough about fashion. I'm such an expert, anyway. I watch that "What Not To Wear" show and just cringe. I hate that Stacy witch. When they throw out everyone's favorite clothes and replace them with impractical, expensive clothes that require dry cleaning I just want to laugh. The next time I have $5,000 I won't be spending it on my wardrobe. Maybe I will go to Scotland. Isn't it interesting that I hate the female host but the male host (whose name I can't even remember--he's a bit of a milktoast)---well, he doesn't bother me. Clinton. That's his name. He even seems kind of nice, like a good person to have coffee with or something. Of course, he's probably gay, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a good person to have coffee with, just coffee without the "tea or me" part.

So, isn't it interesting that even I resent the strong woman and the man doesn't get on my nerves? Even on a stupid tv show? (By the way, R leaves the room if this show is on so I don't watch it often--I think he hates both of them).

Well, fashionistsas, that's all for now. Write with your comments about the fashion industry. It's certainly interesting even though it's extremely shallow. But then appearances are always shallow, aren't they? Don't we all just wear costumes every day? Think about it. Bow ties, long ties, button down collars, designer workout gear, Juicy Couture sunglasses, Prada handbags, Scarborough Faire Motorcycle t shirts with dragons on them. Whatever you wear to work or to shop in or even to hang around in the house in reflects a certain image. My hair is in the SCA mode right now, long and unruly, and it says, "I'm not really a suburban mom. I'm different." (In my town that probably means I look like I'm a Satanist instead of the Christian that I really am. I do have a cross up in my foyer but it's made of real barbed wire so it's just a little uncomfortable for people-- no hearts and flowers here on my cross. And there's a headhunters' mask from New Guinea in the family room--I see it as my own personal welcome sign).

See, if people know what they are looking at in my house I definitely send out some mixed signals. You can learn more about me from my house (artifacts in it, not the actual house) than my clothes.

I even wore my Scarby motorcycle shirt over to SCHOOL the other day although I did zip up my jacket so I wouldn't scare the other moms. I am not exactly the Harley culture anyway since I hate motorcycles (I hate the noise and the danger, not the idea of freedom). I'm not free anyway so why should anyone else be free? None of us are really free. But black with a motorcycle and a dragon? Well, why not? (actually this may be R's shirt--I don't remember).

So, if you are married just wear your husband's clothes today and confuse the hell out of people.

Pleasant Valley Mom, trying to figure out a good cropping and cookie selling outfit.