I remember growing up and being allowed to think, dream, play and make a mess creating!!!
My Mom would let me sew (yes, I learned to sew on a Singer treadle sewing machine at about 6 or 7).
On his way home from work, my Dad would stop at the butcher's and bring him a huge sheet of white paper so I could draw on it. I would lay on the hardwood floor and draw to my heart's content. I could look at anything and copy it : ) If any of you are old enough to remember the pirate on the back of book of matches...that was one of my favorite things to draw. I remember imagining what a pirate's life would be like : )
I am going for a fitting on December 1st for a brace for my left leg. I had a stroke when I was 24 and the muscles in the left leg atrophied; I was very fortunate as it is only about 1 1/2 inches difference in my legs. I was paralyzed totally for about 6 months yet with the assistance of friends, doctors and the wonderful staff at U.C.L.A.'s Neurophysiology ward I am pretty okay. The physical therapy made me cry and cuss yet I have lived a normal life for the last 36 years because of it. Now the past comes back to haunt me physically; I have been walking, rather painfully, with a cane for some time and I am bending over to relieve it : ( Yesterday I sewed a black, red and pink tulle net tutu for my youngest grand daughter Lil Malaika. I have made tutu's before and I want her to grow up knowing she is special and that magical times can be anywhere, any place and any time. My oldest daughter asked me why black? I have no answer : ) I wanted it to be different and not just pink. It seems most of her clothing is pink or has pink in it : )
This is the tutu...the black tulle is the bottom layer, then red and the pink is on top.
I took the photos on Shana's antique rose velvet settee.
It is so layered and gathered you barely see the black tulle. There are 3 layers, 6 yards gathered tulle in each color and the waistband is a 2 inch wide black Victoria's Secret elastic.
So, it is very full and sticks straight out like a ballerina's short tutu : )
I wanted to show you what I ahve been up too as Shana, will take it to Lil Malaika on Sunday Novemeber 15th and I am sure they will take photos of her with it on then.
There is a lady, Karla Nathan {Karla's Cottage} who has chronicled her Grand daughter Sugar Wings and I want to give Lil Malaika a sparkly life too : )
I suppose I am like all Grandma's and want my grand children to have a charmed life. It is so cool having this little girl so close as my other 3 live in Cleveland Ohio and I am in Southern California.
This is Lil Malaika the other day in her Halloween green velvet with white velvet wings fairy costume : ) She is close to 3 months old in this photograph. The hands are my youngest daughter, Malaika, proudly holding Lil Malaika up for auntie Shana to take the picture : )
I am living a wonderful life and wanted to share with you : )
Peace
carole
