One of the things that I remember most about my maternal grandmother is that she loved to sew. And, she was damn good at it. Like, she could whip up a prom dress if you needed one at the last minute and she made more quilts than our family knew what to do with. You only need so many blankets when you live in Southern California.
As a child, I remember playing with her rainbow-colored, plastic-headed pins and produce-inspired pincushion. I’d imagine that they were tiny gum balls clinging to a giant red tomato with a strawberry repelling down the side to safety.
My grandmother would have let me help with the actual sewing, but it just wasn’t my thing. Her talents, creativity and never-ending patience were lost on me; but C.J. would have loved her.
My mother, Nana Grab Bags, loves to sew and her and C.J. have been spending a lot of time in her sewing room lately. They started out using fabric glue and Stitch Witchery on their creations. Now, they have moved on to C.J. draping fabric on himself and Nana Grab Bags pinning it. Then, she carefully removes it and sews it just the way it had been pinned. My son cries as if he’s been assaulted when he gets a small splinter or scrapes his knee playing outside, but if he gets poked or scratched by pins while draping and sewing he doesn’t bat an eye. Instead, he tells me that it’s okay.
How about we take this to the next level?
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My mother offers her style suggestions and they discuss design. But, ultimately, it’s C.J. decision and Nana Grab Bags gladly obliges.
C.J. recently designed his own dress. Brace yourself, because it’s a lot to take in. All fabric, accouterments and placement were C.J.’s decision.
- Some of the fabric C.J. selected because “it’s shiny and sassy and drapey.” Clearly.
- This ribbon reminded C.J. of fairies and fairy tales and Barbie.
- These fabric rosettes are super sassy fancy flowers according to C.J.
- He picked this iron-on patch because it reminded him of Monster High.
- C.J. and Nana started with Mock Smock fabric that comes smocked at the top and pre-finished at the top and bottom. C.J. paired it with pink glitter spandex leggings.
- Draping the fabric and pinning the flower and fringe.
- Nana pinning the back per his instructions.
- Making decisions.
- Nana tied the back so that it would be no-sew.
- Teamwork.
- Strike a pose. Vogue.
- All smiles.
greybat
YOW! Now that’s a dress.
Sammy Schlipshit
Get ready Project Runway….there’s a great contestant headed your way.
Moncrief
That’s awesome! What a great way to spend time together.
mpwaite
That made me smile… Nana is TOPS for recogizing the talent in this young boy,and for letting him express it….
Ruhlmann
This kid is really lucky to have all the significant adults in his life be so accepting and open to his expression.
Dixie Rect
I refuse to believe any of this. Nana was ok with this? I think not. But, then again, CJ and his ‘mother’ are a complete farce too. Its creative writing 101. Bad creative writing at that! Fiction, pure fiction.