Replies

1. 
   carolfresia | Jul 10, 2003 03:57pm | #1

   Maybe I'm not supposed to say this, but I wrote most of them. I asked everyone to submit a bio, but only a couple of people did, so I just made 'em up as I went along. Well, actually, I DID fact-check everything, so it's all perfectly accurate!

   And this is an interesting group of people with many varied talents. A pleasure to work with, a fount of ideas and creativity, and good company at lunch hour. For anyone who loves fiberarts, you can imagine how enjoyable it is to spend your days with people who share your passion, rather than having to explain yourself everytime you compliment someone on the cut of their sleeve or the interesting fabric of their skirt.

   Carol

1. 
   rjf | Jul 10, 2003 08:28pm | #2

   And the best part is they know what you're talking about!  And how to appreciate the hard parts!  Some of my clients would ooh and aah over the zig-zag seam finishes and ignore the teensy perfect pintucks.  What is that saying about throwing something before swine???                                rjf

1. 
   carolfresia | Jul 10, 2003 09:02pm | #3

   I hope I never did that! I remember a dress with a lot of black passementerie stitched in beautiful swirls on a wide white collar. Is that still around somewhere, do you think? And of course the hand-smocked dress with the big tear in it. I'm actually kind of fond of that mended rip, and can't wait till my kid can wear that dress.

   Carol

1. 
   betsy | Jul 11, 2003 05:01am | #4

   Carol, didn't you refer to your SON falling asleep in his snowsuit? Is he the one destined to wear the dress? (This was about a year ago when my daughter was heading off to college in upstate NY).

   Edited 7/10/2003 10:03:03 PM ET by Betsy

1. 
   rjf | Jul 11, 2003 02:32pm | #6

   I don't know about that but I do know when Carol's son's mother was a baby, she fell asleep in the carriage on the back porch and when I went to pick her up, she was lightly covered with snow but such a smile!  One of my favorite memories.       rjf

2. 
   betsy | Jul 11, 2003 06:05pm | #7

   Thanks, Carol's son's grandmother. That's a beautiful image, and I'm smiling!

3. 
   carolfresia | Jul 14, 2003 05:19pm | #8

   I do have a son, but the dresses would be for his little sister (just about 3 years old). She's getting to be quite the fashion maven. The other day I was dressed to go on a short hike--not my most stylish outfit, of course--and she told me she thought my clothes were yucky and I should go change! She wore a polka-dot dress and sandals, and had to be hand-carried through the tall weeds and mud. But she did look good. Sigh. I guess I'll need to straighten out my priorities!

   Carol 

4. 
   betsy | Jul 14, 2003 06:19pm | #10

   So glad to hear that your daughter will be wearing your dress. As far as her expressing opinions about your clothing... brace yourself for the future! One of my 19 year old's choice expressions is "what were you thinking?!!?"; that applies to what I have on as well as fabric I have brought home. On her behalf, she has a wonderful eye, and does not give her opinion unless I ask for it. (pretty good, eh?) Her comments are usually very funny, whether or not I agree with her.    I knew that we were in for it when my husband and I decided to go cross country skiing this winter. I was dressed to be able to pull off layers as I warmed up, not "high style", but I've done worse. It was when my husband appeared in old woolen knickers and knee socks that she was thunderstruck. He is immune to what is considered fashionable , and her comments, so we enjoyed quite a laugh together. I have to note that this all happened in the presence of her friends, GASP! One thought that we were pretty cool, Ha!. The other said that his mother wears knickers when she skiis too, and she has done far more unusual things. Daughters... they keep us young!

5. 
   carolfresia | Jul 14, 2003 07:42pm | #11

   I guess I'm just surprised that Crazy P (our newest nickname for said daughter) has developed her eye so early and started expressing it so strongly (this was not the first such incident, and I don't think I dress all that badly for the most part!).  If P turns out to be the next Brook Delorme, I won't be displeased, and it sure would take the pressure off if I end up making her prom dresses!

   Carol

6. 
   rjf | Jul 14, 2003 08:36pm | #12

   "....she thought my clothes were yucky and I should go change!"

   Good heavens!  A 3-year old teenager!       rjf    

7. 
   carolfresia | Jul 14, 2003 08:58pm | #13

   The only thing in my favor right now is that she doesn't know all that many adjectives, so yucky is about the full range of her negative commentary, unless she resorts to "potty words," as she calls them, which she tries to avoid. I'm fastening my seat belt now, because I can tell I'm in for a bumpy ride!

   Carol

2. 
   rjf | Jul 11, 2003 02:27pm | #5

   Wasn't that an olive green print, tiny wallpaper stripe?  The other one was a cotton-rayon mix from Penney's but I thought the tear was in the matching tights.  I'm not sure of their whereabouts.   Arrgh.       rjf                             

1. 
   carolfresia | Jul 14, 2003 05:31pm | #9

   Yes, that dress with the collar was olive green. Not my favorite color as a child, but I still loved that dress. The sprigged and smocked dress is in a closet at my house! I think I got my foot caught in the hem while climbing out of the car at some point (en route to a birthday party, probably), ripped the dress at the waistline seam and then vertically a bit, and fell and torn a hole in the knee of those perfectly matched tights. The mend is almost invisible in the dress, though, so it's quite wearable, and I do love the fabric.

   I bet my First Communion dress is up in the attic, too, and would be very of-the-moment these days. Kind of Courreges for kids, wasn't it, in a novelty pique?

   Carol