Smocking

Gramma's been busy!
A little dress for Dolly.
I added the doggies for a bit if fun.

How did I do?

video!

This man walks into my shop in late October.
He asks me if I can make any dress he'd want.
"Within reason." I said.
"My wife is a fan of the pop singer Paula Cole. Her favorite music video is 'I don't want to wait.'
"Can you make the dress on that video? Can you make it a surprise?" "Let me look at the video, and I'll get back to you." I had to find the video on-line, watch it, and guess alot. Which fabric/color? What were her measurements? (Size 12-14 he said. Sigh) How tall is she? (6 feet, 140lbs. That sounds about right) Why can't I ever get a decent look at the details...the silly girl won't hold still long enough for me to get a good look. Flailing about. Rolling around on the floor. Jumping and spinning. The pause button can only do so much.
Why can't I ever see these women? Can't you bring me a blouse or a skirt so I can be sure?
After trying about four different patterns and three different fabrics, I settled on a beautiful sheer chiffon knit, stretch lace and serged every possible edge.


Who's that in the mirror?

I finished it yesterday.
I think I have the jabot tied too high. I'll lower it before he comes today.
He wants to see it before I Christmas gift wrap it for him.
(non-gift wrapping male. Extra $20.00)

Look, Look!!!

This has been our sink for the last 3000 or so hours; approximately 18 days.(I don't do math...)
Finally we got the word! The new counter was on it's way.
Shows how much I know, I thought they would drop it on and be on their way.
Between 11:00am and 2:00pm they said.
I was required to be there for the whole process and as there was no sign of a counter installer in the neighborhood yet, I shut down work at noon and wandered over to JoAnn's for a bit of shopping. I got as far as the Florida/Yale intersection when my phone rang. "They're here!"
JJensen and I had pulled the stove out this morning so they had lots of room. Two quiet and very efficient non-english speaking workmen walked in.
Gray Shirt was the assistant
White Shirt was an extremely competent Corian employee

Here they were testing the template for the bigger counter.
I never saw them take a break.
Notice the daylight?
Five hours later.
No more daylight.
I was astonished at the work ethic.
Fit
Adjust
Wiggle
Trim
Over and over again.
.
We then had to take a drive to Home Depot.
Gotta have a new disposal, after all.

Here is Mrs. Cupcake paging a plumbing section employee for us. Pronto! There they were. Imagine my surprise.
WOW! It really helps to be so cute.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, birthday girl!!

Counters and Sink

We had been wanting to do this for quite awhile. The time was never right and the finances were always leaning in another direction. One weekend in November, Mom and I chanced to go to Home Depot. We'd heard that they, as well as Lowe's, were having a promotion of a free seamless sink with the purchase of Corian (!) counter tops. Should we?
We'd went to look at styles earlier at Lowe's and had gotten a ball-park price. hmmm. I made an appointment with the Home Depot home-decorating department, we went to get the earlier mentioned bulbs, and sat down with a salesman and our home figured measurements. Everything was so simple, the price was good and fair, and the sink was free! ($600.00 value) We were very thankful. The Lord was definitely blessing us.
I hadn't used my Home Depot charge card in a while, so I went to Customer Service to get a temporary one. While waiting in line I noticed another promotion; If you or a family member was currently serving in the U.S. military, was ever in the military, was in the reserves, whether retired or active, you could get another 10% off your entire purchase today because of Veteran's Day. hmmm.
Hey Mom! Could you lay your hands on anything to prove I was somehow related to someone who'd sometime served? I needed to bring proof back to apply the discount. I knew that I had a cousin (Greg) who was currently an officer in the Army. A nephew (Chris) who was newly enlisted, A brother (Dan) who'd served in the Navy. A father who was in the Navy Reserves. A grandfather who'd served in the Student Army Training Corps (playing football). Two Great-Great Grandfathers (Oswald McLaughlin & Thomas White) who'd served in the Civil War, and last but not least, Isaac Jones, who'd served in the Revolutionary War! Now to get at least one document! Leave it to Mom. She found Grandpa Charles' discharge papers and Grandpa McLaughlin's pensionpapers; $2.00 a month.
Way to go Mom!
Come to think if it, who doesn't have someone, if their family has been in the country for at least 50 years...we've had the draft, after all. It's the proof that's a challenge.
Cupcake and Trucker came and ripped out the existing Formica, the template man came on Tuesday, and now we wait for the custom-poured counter...on December 13th. hmmm
Along time to wait. A lot to be thankful for.
Meanwhile we use a bucket for a sink, cutting boards for counters, and have the microwave, toaster oven, and fruit basket on the table.
And use a lot of paper plates.