Post by Honeylioness on Mar 30, 2009 9:48:09 GMT -5
SES_Books - 03/20/09 11:55 AM
Went to "the city"(not) with my BFF yesterday to have her embroidery machine looked at. Then went to Sears to get an additional part. They didn't have it in stock, nor did they even have any staff who knew anything about the sewing machines in the store. The two ladies who used to run the department both quit three years ago. So we had to use the stores intranet(can you believe one server for ALL the Sears stores(and maybe Kmart) for the entire country! I took us 75 minutes to order ONE part. (It took me 15 minutes at home the night before.) It would have taken twice as long if I hadn't been prompting the salesman's every keystroke. Why do they sell complicated computerized sewing/embroidery machines if thre is no one in the store who knows anything about them?
Then we went to a fabric store that was going out of business. Fun, fun, fun. I could not believe the prices on the fabric, it has been a very long time since I bought any "dress goods". I also spent quite some time with the pattern books. I was appalled at the price of patterns. The only ones with any "elements of design" were Vogue Patterns at $30 plus. Every thing was so plain, as in boring not "simple & elegant". Is it because nobody sews today? I tried to find a tailored stylish suit for the professional woman---NOTHING! There were very few garments that required even the skills of a zipper or even a buttonhole!
I am truly out of the loop. No wonder the fancy Christmas dress we made for her granddaughter got such rave comments.
Come on all you sewers/seamstresses out there, am I expecting too much or am I just getting old?
Those of you in Washington, D.C. is there still a fabric store on "K" street? or was it "G". I visited it 15-20 years ago and it had several floors of the most exquisite fabrics from all over the world. I'm surprised they didn't kick me out for excessive drooling.
Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 03/21/09 07:32 PM
SES_, You'll get a kick out of this...today down at the textile store farther south, a woman who was chatting with us while fabric was being cut told us that her small quilting group had actually been going since World War I, almost a hundred years ago. The original members made quilts for soldiers. The sales lady said that in her town farther north, their local group had been meeting since World War II. They started by knitting scarves and mittens for soldiers. Interesting local history.
SES_Books - 03/21/09 09:28 PM
Sharing-- the county in western Kansas my grandmother lived in was very sparsely populated and had a sewing club that was going strong as early as the 1920's and was the only chance many of the womem got to socialize on a monthly basis without kids. My grandmother was the president for several years. During those years my mother was born as a late surprise and became the club mascot. One of those years (1932, I think) the club made a friendship quilt for my grandmother with each member embroidering a square. I still have that quilt. When I ultimately downsize, I will give it to the county museum as descendants of these women are still the shakers and movers of the county. The club lasted into the 1960's, could be still going for all I know.
Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 03/21/09 09:45 PM
SES_, Oh that is just so marvellous. I think local history is the best history of all. That's a priceless gift, to make sure the quilt has a permanent home in the museum. I'll betcha a cookie that group is still going. Members come and go, but judging from the discussion today at the shop, and from the details of your post, women have such a need to create things of beauty and get together that I can hardly imagine such a group disbanding. Incidently, new shipments include many vintage prints from the 20's and 30's. "What is old is new again" as the saying goes. There is a distinct change from bright, busy prints to the softer, delicate posie prints as all things floral are in vogue.
Went to "the city"(not) with my BFF yesterday to have her embroidery machine looked at. Then went to Sears to get an additional part. They didn't have it in stock, nor did they even have any staff who knew anything about the sewing machines in the store. The two ladies who used to run the department both quit three years ago. So we had to use the stores intranet(can you believe one server for ALL the Sears stores(and maybe Kmart) for the entire country! I took us 75 minutes to order ONE part. (It took me 15 minutes at home the night before.) It would have taken twice as long if I hadn't been prompting the salesman's every keystroke. Why do they sell complicated computerized sewing/embroidery machines if thre is no one in the store who knows anything about them?
Then we went to a fabric store that was going out of business. Fun, fun, fun. I could not believe the prices on the fabric, it has been a very long time since I bought any "dress goods". I also spent quite some time with the pattern books. I was appalled at the price of patterns. The only ones with any "elements of design" were Vogue Patterns at $30 plus. Every thing was so plain, as in boring not "simple & elegant". Is it because nobody sews today? I tried to find a tailored stylish suit for the professional woman---NOTHING! There were very few garments that required even the skills of a zipper or even a buttonhole!
I am truly out of the loop. No wonder the fancy Christmas dress we made for her granddaughter got such rave comments.
Come on all you sewers/seamstresses out there, am I expecting too much or am I just getting old?
Those of you in Washington, D.C. is there still a fabric store on "K" street? or was it "G". I visited it 15-20 years ago and it had several floors of the most exquisite fabrics from all over the world. I'm surprised they didn't kick me out for excessive drooling.
Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 03/21/09 07:32 PM
SES_, You'll get a kick out of this...today down at the textile store farther south, a woman who was chatting with us while fabric was being cut told us that her small quilting group had actually been going since World War I, almost a hundred years ago. The original members made quilts for soldiers. The sales lady said that in her town farther north, their local group had been meeting since World War II. They started by knitting scarves and mittens for soldiers. Interesting local history.
SES_Books - 03/21/09 09:28 PM
Sharing-- the county in western Kansas my grandmother lived in was very sparsely populated and had a sewing club that was going strong as early as the 1920's and was the only chance many of the womem got to socialize on a monthly basis without kids. My grandmother was the president for several years. During those years my mother was born as a late surprise and became the club mascot. One of those years (1932, I think) the club made a friendship quilt for my grandmother with each member embroidering a square. I still have that quilt. When I ultimately downsize, I will give it to the county museum as descendants of these women are still the shakers and movers of the county. The club lasted into the 1960's, could be still going for all I know.
Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 03/21/09 09:45 PM
SES_, Oh that is just so marvellous. I think local history is the best history of all. That's a priceless gift, to make sure the quilt has a permanent home in the museum. I'll betcha a cookie that group is still going. Members come and go, but judging from the discussion today at the shop, and from the details of your post, women have such a need to create things of beauty and get together that I can hardly imagine such a group disbanding. Incidently, new shipments include many vintage prints from the 20's and 30's. "What is old is new again" as the saying goes. There is a distinct change from bright, busy prints to the softer, delicate posie prints as all things floral are in vogue.