While anxiously awaiting the season premiere of American Idol tonight, everyone at the Recca house, it seems, is diligently working on something. Tobie and Gizmo are both chewing intently on their rawhide bones, Sal and Blaise are out (even though it's only 31 degrees) working on the boat, Sabrina is hard at work on her art project, and I am wondering what the heck I've gotten myself in to.
Sabrina is singing in the NRCA talent show again this year -- which of course means -- once the song has been selected ("Concrete Angel" by Martina McBride) and practiced to perfection (she won the first place trophy last year for her rendition of "I Hope You Dance" by LeAnn Rimes), begins the search for the perfect dress. It can't be too fancy, it can't be too babyish, it can't be too sophisticated AND it has to fit "just right." Last year for some reason we had no problem. A quick trip to Macy's unveiled the perfect black satin (pretty, yet conservative) dress -- complete with a 50% off price tag. This year, however -- seems to be "the year of the HOOCHIE MOMMA" -- and a pretty, yet tasteful dress is nowhere to be found. And believe me -- we looked EVERYWHERE. Exhausted and disgusted we decided to head for home -- but only after one last stop -- the fabric store, as I needed to pick up a piece of canvas for my quilting frame leaders.
To make a long story short -- a very excited and hopeful Sabrina screamed across the store that she had the perfect idea -- "Momma, you can MAKE me a dress!!!" And she ran toward me with a big smile and a pattern in her left hand that she found all by herself while I was looking for something else. I've never made a dress in my life -- I've made quilts, I've made pajama bottoms, I even made her a robe for Valentine's day -- but I've never worked with fine fabric, zippers and notions. This moment flashed in my mind and reminded me of when I was a little girl -- my mother made me some of the most beautiful clothes. I remember her laying the patterns out on the floor and cutting the fabric, measuring and pinning and fitting everything so it would be perfect. I was the envy of all my friends at Lee Burneson Junior High School as I had the most beautiful outfits.
To make a long story short -- a very excited and hopeful Sabrina screamed across the store that she had the perfect idea -- "Momma, you can MAKE me a dress!!!" And she ran toward me with a big smile and a pattern in her left hand that she found all by herself while I was looking for something else. I've never made a dress in my life -- I've made quilts, I've made pajama bottoms, I even made her a robe for Valentine's day -- but I've never worked with fine fabric, zippers and notions. This moment flashed in my mind and reminded me of when I was a little girl -- my mother made me some of the most beautiful clothes. I remember her laying the patterns out on the floor and cutting the fabric, measuring and pinning and fitting everything so it would be perfect. I was the envy of all my friends at Lee Burneson Junior High School as I had the most beautiful outfits. What could I say to this -- here was my daughter, hopeful and excited and "oh so certain" that her momma could just "whip up" the perfect dress for her to wear in the talent show. So after a few minutes of self doubt I said, "o.k. - let's give this a try." So off we went to pick out the perfect fabric, 
a wine colored crepe backed satin with matching lincing, coordinating thread, matching zipper (I've never put a zipper in anything in my life!!) and some of the prettiest hand dyed silk ribbon I've ever seen. The dress (or at least the picture of the dress on the pattern package) really is lovely and she will look beautiful in it -- IF all goes well.
a wine colored crepe backed satin with matching lincing, coordinating thread, matching zipper (I've never put a zipper in anything in my life!!) and some of the prettiest hand dyed silk ribbon I've ever seen. The dress (or at least the picture of the dress on the pattern package) really is lovely and she will look beautiful in it -- IF all goes well.So tonight, while everyone is working on their projects -- I sit here, fussing and worrying about how in the world I am going to make her "the perfect dress" for her solo and missing my mom.
