Grandma Joyce Turns 100

I had an upcoming event, but not just any event. This was a once in a lifetime, seldom seen by many, event. Michael’s Grandma Joyce was turning 100 years old! What an amazing event, I had to get sewing! I decided to make a dress from the 1940’s, the decade when Grandma Joyce was in her 20’s.

I chose this citrus fabric because it looked like the 1940’s to me, and I already had it in my stash.

I started laying out the pattern pieces.

Here’s what you don’t see often. Me looking frazzled after work, and trying to get some sewing done! This is the magic behind the scenes, HA!

This dress had a lot of things going on with the bodice. I had to first make darts, and then gather the darts! Usually it’s one or the other, but both?! This was uncharted territory for me!

Very carefully pinning my darts into place.

Just when I thought the bodice was bad, look at the front skirt! It had darts but also a cut out in the front where a flat bodice piece would be sewn. I was a little nervous on this sew!

I then attached the bodice front pieces to the skirt front and gathered along both edges. It was almost time to sew in the flat, front bodice piece. I was worried.

But somehow it worked!!

I started prepping my facings by putting interfacing on them.

Then I noticed that I had not caught enough fabric in the hem of the front bodice and it had come apart. So back to pinning, and sewing, and cussing about this bodice.

The next step was to put the darts in the back pieces.

Attaching the back bodice to the back of the skirt.

I take pictures as I sew something. Then later I load them onto my blog and write the post. Looking at this picture, I have no idea what’s going on! What the heck did I take a picture of? It’s just chaos like my sews sometimes are, so enjoy! Ha!

Pinning on the sleeves.

Let’s stop for a moment to talk about Grandma Joyce, the birthday girl. She was born November 11, 1922. 11-11-22, I’m sure a numerologist would have something to say about that. It must have some sort of significant meaning. She was born in England and lived there until getting married and moving to America after WWII. She has lots of stories about her childhood in England, and how it was for her and her family during WWII.

Here she is, just a few years ago.

Of all the things I could say about Grandma Joyce, and the stories I can pass on, the biggest thing to tell about her is how kind and loving she is. She loves her family so much, and fusses over everyone. Taking care of everyone and showing them love is her legacy.

Almost everyone who knows her calls her Grandma Joyce, and I mean everyone. My family my mom, dad, and cousins, my kid’s friends, Michael’s friends, everyone. If you look up “Perfect Grandma” in the dictionary, her picture would be there. She is such a sweet little British lady with the biggest, most unselfish heart ever!

A few simple examples of this; She kept Michael’s favorite candies and ice creams at her house, long after we were married. Just in case he came over and wanted one, which happened often. As for my own children, Mia and David, she would play games with them. They would have dance parties where they would dance along to her Glen Miller albums, and her Hawaiian music. They would play restaurant for hours, slap jack, hangman, and whatever else the kids wanted to do. She always made time for them and made them a priority. She never got tired, and kept up with them, and my kids are her Great Grandchildren!

Here she is with Michael, spoiling him. She made him a rice pudding, one of his favorite things. He’s holding the blue bowl from his childhood that he and his cousins would fight over.

It was only fitting that for her big day, Michael make her a rice pudding. He baked it the morning of her party. No blue bowls were around, so she had to settle for a green one. At 100 years old she needs help eating, so Michael was happy to help her enjoy her rice pudding, which she did, very much!

I do have this blog though, so I had to pose real quick to get some pictures of my finished dress.

David felt very special, Grandma Joyce saw him and said, “there’s David”, she wasn’t sure about the rest of us.

Grandma Joyce did however compliment me, and say, “I like your dress”.

She was in great spirits and surrounded by her family and our love.

Which is, after all, the best gift to give! Grandma Joyce herself taught us that!

As for me, onto the next!

(Which just so happens to be an outfit that made it’s debut at Grandma Joyce’s birthday party, so more of Grandma Joyce to come!)