They Understood The Assignment

Knowing that I was going out of town for Christmas, and knowing that I needed a post for this week (just a personal goal) I knew I needed to sew something before I left. I decided on this “easy to sew” skirt. My cousin Elizabeth said she would like it, so I got to work, BUT she knew she would have to take pictures in it while I was gone. She was going to be staying at my house while I was away, so it worked out for both of us. She needed someone to take the pictures, so Michelle, my one and only sister, got shanghaied into being the photographer.

The fate of my blog was in the hands of Michelle and Elizabeth. Although they are both members of my blog’s “think tank”, would they take pictures that showed the skirt well? Would they pick a nice background for the pictures? Would the skirt fit well? I had to not worry and trust them….Jesus take the wheel. HA HA!

Since I was making this skirt in a hurry, Elizabeth got minimal fabric choices. I had this fabric, and she agreed. She couldn’t get picky now after all she had put me through with that Muppet dress! (Just kidding, I loved making that dress!)

The pattern featured two pieces that went together at the sides, with one side having a zipper. Zipper choices were also minimal, so Elizabeth chose this navy blue one. I think it coordinates well, and you can’t really see it in the finished product anyway.

The skirt has a waist band, here I am using some iron on interfacing. I use this iron for sticky stuff like interfacing or iron on patches. I always get glue on the bottom of my iron, so yes, I have an iron strictly for sticky stuff.

Sometimes I’m the reason why I can’t have nice things! HA!

Hemming the little edge of the waist band. I impressed myself with this picture, it looks so nice and straight! It passed the “up close” test!

Pinning the waist band on, and running out of time. I had to pack and get ready to catch a plane to Georgia!

Hemming in a hurry!

The skirt got finished and set on my sewing table. I told Elizabeth where it was, and where the scrap fabric from it was as well. I told her if she wanted a matching mask, she would have to make it herself, I was out of time. (I taught her how to sew, so she’s capable.)

Off to Georgia we went, Michael, David, and myself to spend Christmas with Mia. The fate of this blog post was left in their hands.

On Christmas Eve they text me the pictures, and what a great gift they were! They did a great job with their photo shoot!

They got different angles…

They used the town Christmas tree as their background, and Elizabeth matched her purse to the skirt!

Did my poor sister have to get on the ground for this shot? Way to go the extra mile!

Elizabeth really paid attention to the details by painting her nails “Wild Orchid”, a color by Besame Cosmetics. She is also wearing Besame’s “Sleeping Beauty Pink” lipstick.

The skirt and Elizabeth then went off to spend Christmas Eve with family. Here she is, opening presents with our sweet Alice.

And while all of that was happening in California, I was in Georgia, unaware that they nailed it!

Then it dawned on me. Almost all of my blog posts have had the pictures taken by the recipient of the garment. Maybe the distance I was away from this shoot all made it feel different.

I wasn’t in Georgia when I mailed Mia her dresses. I wasn’t at the Winchester Mystery House with Michelle and her scary skirt. I wasn’t with Princess Kristen or Elizabeth at Disneyland when they took their pictures. Yes, the people I sew for are getting a one of a kind garment, but I am relying on them to showcase my work, a big responsibility! Guess I give them all a little piece of artistic freedom with my blog. The “after” pictures are each person’s interpretation of how to best show my work, but more than that, how to show their best selves while wearing what I make.

But through every sew thus far Michelle, Mia, and Elizabeth have been messaged by me, and asked questions about colors and buttons by me. I ask them their opinion about my blog, and things to do, and how to present certain things….it’s very much their blog too.

So to each person who has taken the reigns and took the great “after” pictures featured on this blog, thank you! And thank you to all the people behind the phones, taking the pictures while they posed.

You all understood the assignment, A+!!

As for me, onto the next!

P.S. Happy New Year!