A Lifetime of Sewing

I learned to sew at the age of eight. We went on a three week vacation to Connecticut to visit family. Along the way we traveled to different sites. I remember Niagara Falls and Sault Ste. Marie as well as my aunt, uncle, and cousins but that's about it.
We traveled in a green station wagon. Mom, Dad, me, my sister, Cheryl, and brother Dave. She was 10 and he was 3. Car toppers hadn't been created for sale yet so my dad built one. It held our luggage, ice chest and camp stove. We would stop along the road at picnic areas (No rest stops back then.) then and Mom would make breakfast and do what cooking needed preparation for lunch. We usually ate in a restaurant or diner for supper.

So what does a mother do with three children, one still taking afternoon naps, in a station wagon with no air conditioning for three weeks and still stay sane not having murdered her children about day 15? With the luggage in the topper and the third set of seats folded down there was a large flat area for at least two children at a time. Remember, this was before seat belts and child car seats so we could move around and lie down.

Dad had fixed some kind of bench for the back seat to cover the foot wells. That way my brother could nap without falling on the floor or two older sisters pestering him.
Mom had sewn two neon orange chenille bedspreads together and covered an old hide a bed mattress with it.

This was placed in the back-back. We girls had our pillows, some toys, and we could sit or lie down as we chose. Mom did one last thing before we left on vacation. She purchased two dolls. The image isn't the doll I had but something similar.

Mom also purchased lavender gingham check fabric and a pattern. She supplies us with a box of notions, bits of lace and ribbon.

On that trip in the back-back two girls kept themselves busy making clothes for their dolls. I remember this as my first time sewing. I've been sewing and doing other needlework since. I've gone on to become an award winning quilter and wearable art creator.

I began writing patterns years ago. They never got out of the computer. I'm going to get them ready and offer them on craftsy.com. The first is a free, very simple bottle hootie. Here it is. If you have any problems contact me at [email protected].

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