Dream Big And Write Your Own Story

Once upon a shelter in place, I made this dress for Mia. We were in the house, and decided to use some of our time making clothes. Mia chose this pattern which is a 1960’s reissued pattern from Simplicity. Mia loved the look of view B, flowered print and all. Of course I had some similar fabric in my stash, so I went to work!

We had no idea when and where she would ever wear it. She had just graduated from UC Davis, in our living room, covid had just hit, and we had no idea what the future held. We both knew that someday though, she would need a cute, vintage style dress!

So to keep our spirits up and focused on a bright future, we turned to this project. We both would imagine where she would wear this dress. Maybe to a future job, or maybe she would start her own little bakery and wear it there. Maybe she would get an office job somewhere and show up to work in it like Mary Tyler Moore. We are a family of “big dreamers” so the possibilities were endless, and fun to think about during a time in our lives where all we saw was the inside of our house.

Here is a picture of the finished project. Just a typical “shelter in place” day for us. This day was special though, we had a new dress to dream big with.

Of course I took a picture of the button on the back. I do love a good, decorative button!

Little did we know that day that Mia would be getting a job in Georgia, moving out of her childhood bedroom, and going all the way across the country! Of course, the dress went with her.

While Mia’s friend Kristen was out for a visit, they decided to go see some local sites, and ended up at Etowah Meadery.

The Etowah Meadery in Dahlonega, Georgia has an interesting story. Here’s a bit from their website, etowahmeadery.com which tells their story.

~When Blair Housley decided to open a meadery, he began thinking about the ingredients in his meads—honey and fruits. His wife, Sharon, told him about the fruit trees on the old Davis farm in Dahlonega, when it was still part of the land her Cherokee ancestors owned on the Etowah river—the same area where Blair use to go fishing with his friends in high school. Blair studied the history of the Etowah and how much the river provided to the Cherokee and later settlers, and he decided to name the meadery after it.

Etowah Meadery, Corp. was officially formed in July 2016.  It is a Veteran owned company geared towards involving the Dahlonega community in as many ways as possible, as well as supporting several great charities, such as multiple Veteran centric organizations and Georgia House Rabbit Society

Sounds like we’re not the only “dreamers” out there! Seems like a fun place to visit!

So Mia decided to put her vintage flower dress to good use, and took it out for an adventure and some local mead!

Mia was concerned that she wasn’t going to like mead, because she doesn’t like beer…but nope, she said it tasted like a honey wine.

Posing inside the meadery.

While taking picture for my blog, the owner offered to take a picture of Mia and Kristen together. Kristen explained that she was taking pictures for my blog. The owner then told them to feel free to go anywhere in the building, and let them go into the back where they make the mead!

Raise a glass for southern hospitality!

Figuring out how mead is made, HA!

Shiny mead vats and a shiny new dress!

But the girls adventures and this pattern weren’t done yet!

When Grandma Doris passed away, Mia wanted a special dress to wear to her services. Of course, it would have to be homemade! Mia loved the pattern of this dress, and chose it for the dress that she would wear to Grandma’s services. She picked out black fabric, that had little white daisies on it.

At Grandma’s services the dress made it’s debut, and Mia accessorized it with the pink and black feathered hat that Grandma wore on her wedding day. But Grandma was never one to let anything go to waste, and neither is Mia!

She chose to wear it again, and not just let it hang in the closet, forever being associated with saying goodbye to Grandma. She decided that the dress, and herself weren’t getting stuck in the past. The best way to honor Grandma is by wearing the dress on a new adventure, but holding Grandma in her heart while she does it.

The dress went next to Wolf Mountain Vineyards. Such a beautiful place needs a special dress!

This time Mia accessorized her dress with a vintage broach, and Grandpa Bert’s pink neckerchief. He had tons of neckerchiefs. He wore them to match Grandma’s dresses when they would square dance.

Enjoying life, and the view!

Mia got tons of compliments on her dress.

Guess sometimes that neckerchief has to leave your neck and double as a headband!

Look carefully at Mia’s other special accessory. The opal ring she is wearing belonged to my Great Grandma, Clara Belle Ricks, Grandma Doris’ mother. Grandma Doris gave the ring to Mia when she graduated high school. She said she wanted Mia to have it, as they both have October birthdays and an opal is their birthstone. Clara Belle’s birthday was October 8, 1907, and 90 years and 9 days later, Mia was born, on October 17, 1997.

Just for fun here’s a picture of Clara Belle McMichael Ricks, original owner of the ring. The picture says it was taken in Fresno, Ca. I’m not sure of the date, but I am sure that I love her fashion!

Mia and Kristen did a great job with their pictures!

Just for fun here’s something you don’t see much on my blog. It’s the photographer, Kristen, taking the pictures.

When your friend and her mom have a blog and are “extra”, you might need a glass of wine! HA!

This much love and dedication can only come from a great friend!

The girls had a fun time making new memories together.

I guess you never know where life is going to take you, or your dress!

I think Grandpa Bert would get a kick out of knowing that his neckerchiefs have traveled all the way to Georgia. I think he would love that Mia wears them and thinks of him, and tells people about him when they ask her about the neckerchiefs (which they often do!).

I think Grandma Ricks would be happy that Mia has her ring, and thinks of her when she wears it.

It’s important to honor our loved ones who went before us, but it’s also important to not get stuck in the past. Their stories can be told and they can stay in our hearts, but make sure that you’re writing your own story along the way too! Don’t be afraid to be a dreamer!

As for me, onto the next!