When assigned this blog, I was somewhat at a loss of what to do. My interests are so vast, I couldn’t decide on just one to write about all semester long. However, at the time, I was a new to Pinterest (now a loyal follower) and was getting so many wonderful ideas about Do It Yourself projects. When I made the commitment, it also dawned on me. This would be a good way to stay connected to my grandmother, Mimi, who passed away this May. Losing her has effected me and the rest of my family incredibly, and this was an amazing way to stay close to her.
My Mimi was the Queen of a Do It Yourself Lifestyle. Whose cooking was out of this world, her crafting skills were impeccable, but most importantly her sewing skills were so beyond.
Eating at my grandparents house was always a treat... a very frequent treat. Mimi and Papa lived five minutes up the road from my house, and it was their main responsibility in life to not let my brother, sister, and I go hungry. And we aren’t talking microwaveable meals, we are talking about some of the best meals and baked goods imaginable. Mimi had three rules about eating at her house: She needed an accurate head count ahead of time, you were not allowed to ask what she was cooking (because it is rude of a guest to ask what is for dinner when they are invited over to someone else’s home for a meal), and you must be ON time- however, if you were late, she would always save you a plate... and a lecture on how impolite it was to be late.
My third birthday cake- Made by Mimi
My dress also Made by Mimi
Mimi’s crafting was always so special, and she was always so creative. I have two bulletin boards constructed by her, one of which is made out of wine corks. When I was born, Mimi took it upon herself to steal me for the day, and made sweatshirts for my parents and both my grandfathers with my footprints and handprints on them. She of course re-created this project with both my brother and sister. My dad still will wear those sweatshirts from time to time.
Mimi’s claim to fame, however, were her sewing skills. I do not believe there is an adjective grand enough to describe her talent in the department. As I have learned recently, her sewing skills developed out of nesscity. She was the oldest child in her family of three children, and her father passed away at the age of 40. Leaving my great-grandmother to raise my grandmother's younger brother and sister, who were significantly younger than my grandmother, on a teacher’s salary. Her need for an incredible wardrobe and the fact she had to get herself through college did not mesh well. So she began to make her own clothes. My great-aunt (Mimi’s sister) recalled her coming to visit with hand made creations for her, and thinking they were the most beautiful things she had ever worn.
My grandmother’s talent developed so much, she went on to win awards for her sewing skills. However, her most impressive seamstress accomplishments, to me, were the two wedding dresses she created, completely on her own; hers and my mother’s. Both dresses are both simply beautiful, and look professionally done. Both have intricate beading. My grandmother’s dress was more on the modest side. Champagne in color, tea length, with quarter length sleeves, and a beautiful beaded band around the center. My mother’s dress, was more traditional and extravagant. A long, floor length skirt, with beautifully puffy sleeves (my mom got married in 1986), cream in color. As the story goes, my mother had envisioned a traditional, but simple gown, which my grandmother ultimately agreed to. However, my grandmother came down with a flu 2 weeks before the wedding, and ended up beading the entire bodice. Of course, it turned out to be a stunning wedding gown.
My wardrobe, from the day I was born until I was about 6 was pretty much exclusively Mimi-made. As a young child, I had a very hard time understanding the uniqueness of my wardrobe, but it wasn’t long into my young adult life I realized how special it was that my grandmother handmade all of my clothes. Truly beautiful clothes. My brother and sisters closets were very similar when they were young children, and more frequently than not, the three of us were in matching Mimi-made ensembles. I have ballet tu-tus, formals dresses, casual dresses, and everything in between made by my grandmother.
Mimi was an incredibly special and talented woman. My family speaks about her everyday, and ALL of our closets miss her immensely.
