Schoolclothes

What an exciting concept!  I have a distinct memory of August coming around and it being 'schoolclothes' season.  My mom and grandma would take me shopping for some dresses, undershirts, a new slip, socks, tights, 3 packs of underpants; one solid, one striped, and my favorite one -- the one with tiny yellow rosebuds.  Always tiny rosebuds.  Ahhh, so pretty.  I was always a little distressed that the undershirts didn't come in matching prints.  They were always solid white, but I reconciled it in my little head and loved them anyway.  And, the most lovely item of all -- schoolshoes!  We would go to Devitt's Junior Boot Shop and try on shoes until the right pair satisfied what Mom and Grandma thought important and delighted me.  Oh, was I delighted, delighted every time.  One year, my choice was a dark red pair of t straps with little petal shaped eyelets cut out on the toes.  Heaven.  I got to wear those red shoes to school every day!  Every day!  And, I knew they perfectly complimented all of my dresses.  Even my gold, brown and persimmon plaid swing dress with the white collar and cuffs was beautiful paired with my red shoes.
We always bought a couple of dresses but the best thing was that my mom would make some of my dresses.  She never thought she was a great seamstress.  But, what is a successful seamstress?  One who's interested enough and dedicated enough to want to take on the making of a dress, that's what.  And, she finished them, and I wore them.  And, I loved them.  I wore lots of plaid.  I loved plaid then and I love plaid now.  Plaid comforts me and challenges me.  This is one of those dresses Mom made for me.  Not a school dress -- I need to search and find a photo of one of those!
My goal for today is to make some progress on a sewing project.  Even a little bit.  I'm happily planning to be a part of Goodbye Valentino's RTW fast for 2014.  A big challenge -- I'll need some plaid to keep me inspired, comforted and challenged!