FASHION STATEMENT

Along with a slew of other activities this week, I decided to create a birthday THANK YOU card for my 100 year old aunt. 

Her birthday is September 15 so I needed to at least begin this great work.  Nine pages and one hundred 'thank you' moments enabled me to linger a little longer with very old memories.

My earliest recollection was when my sister and I visited my "Auntie Helen" for a whole week when I was about ten years old.  

She lived in a small farm town . . . so small that our visit was front page news in the town paper.

If we were that famous I most certainly wanted to look my best whenever we walked about town.  

 The first thing that comes to mind is SPOOLIES! 

When my aunt washed my hair she put these soft pink things in my hair.

These are still sold today!

Then she wanted me to join her as we visited a neighbor . . . clear across the street and down a block . . .  with my hair in Spoolies!

You can now purchase Spoolies in
three colors!

Someone might see me!

At this young age I was well aware that this was not the best 'fashion statement.'

I insisted I wear a head scarf but three pink spoolies still stuck out in front.

Absolutely no one made a comment, positive or negative.

This was the beginning of many memorable adventures with my aunt.  

She sewed everything including a few items for my sister and me.

I loved fashion but it's all relative at the age of ten.

I was totally in love with Katy Keen Fashion but I could never afford the very thick  books that were published.   My allowance of $.10 per week was little help for this pricy item at $1.25.  My aunt bought me one which I cherished for years. 

This is still sold today!

Perhaps the Katy Keen purchase sparked my auntie Helen's imagination.
The next year she created a 'fashion doll' with the most glamorous wardrobe I'd ever seen.
She used her old sewing scraps.  Can you see the gold on white organza dress in the box below?  She pasted fabric on paper so the essence of see-through fabric was a bit muted.
 I loved each 'fashion'.

I was dishwater blond so this 'hair' was perfect.
The coat with real fur was the most current
Fashion Statement of the day!

Here she is unclothed. See how
the old tape held the wire on the back so the
clothes could stay on.  Aren't they gorgeous?!

Black velvet, lace, wool, silk.
Glorious to the touch.

The doll and clothes came in this box.
20 Cards for $.60!
We are talking for than 50 years old!

I fell in love with fabric. 

 So began my love for sewing.  

I never came near having a fashion statement of my own but I did make a 'fabric statement' in each place I lived. 

 I learned how to sew on a treadle machine my mom bought for me because she thought it was slower and safer.  

I loved it but needed something more portable to take away to college with me.  

So I bought a $12 Singer machine from a friend that I still have.  

I loved to created wardrobes from designer patterns and used unique fabrics.  I continue to make pillows, curtains, slip covers and anything 'fabric' that we enjoy in each home we have inhabited.  

I may not have the 'zing and bling' to BE a fashion statement but our home shows my love of fabric. 

Mine still works and is best on very
heavy fabrics.  LOVE IT!
I saw one the other day for $130

 I now have a modern sewing machine with a few bells and whistles but I still love my little Singer. 

 Like my precious aunt, I love to sew and will continue to do so as long as I am able to make my own 'fashion statement'.  

I may not last 100 years but I can keep sewing fabric for a few more years.

And I refuse to wear spoolies out in public.

For that matter I don't even own any spoolies!