Momma Sewed

INFLATION! Has now become the latest dirty word to creep its way into our vocabulary. Pandemic and COVID are so yesterday. Every talking head tells us daily how historic the current rate is. "It's the highest its ever been in 40 years."

I was a teenager in the Seventies and very much remember the struggles my parents had to support our family of four. The ways our family survived was through growing our own food. Every year a large garden was planted. Daddy was an avid fisherman and hunter. So, between the garden and Daddy our pantry and freezer stayed full. But, the one silver bullet that saved us was Momma.

According to her younger sisters, Momma had always been a miser and very cautious with her money. Over the years, she perfected her skills to the point she could make Lincoln slide off a penny. Now, don't get me wrong. She would splurge every once in a while. Along with her ability to literally stretch a dollar until Washington looked like he wasn't constipated anymore, Momma sewed.

Most of my wardrobe was made by her. Every Easter, back when it was a tradition that everyone got a new Easter outfit, the two of us would go to the local Belk store to look at the year's Spring fashions. I can still hear her saying, "I can make that." Then it would be off to the fabric department (yes, our Belk's store had a fabric department) to peruse the bulky pattern books in search of the pattern that would resemb. le the outfit we'd seen on the sales floor. Armed with the pattern our next hunt was the perfect fabrics to make our Easter dresses.

Our kitchen table would become her workspace. She'd place the material on the table. With meticulous skill, each pattern piece would be placed just so to guarantee that once all the pieces were together the result would be a stunning new outfit. I often helped her with pinning the pattern to the fabric and cutting the pieces. I can remember the sound of her sewing machine at night. A Singer cabinet model.

Momma loved sewing. It fed her creative and competitive side. She loved solving puzzles. She also loved being able to say, "I made that."

Like I said earlier, our silver bullet during the inflation of the seventies was Momma armed with a tight fist and her Singer sewing machine.

Check out these gifts for the seamstress in your life available at Southern Pen Gifts:

See Item Descriptions Below:

Musical Sewing Machine with Mice - This whimsical piece plays My Favorite Things. Busy mice turn around the machine's needle and a mischievous mouse spins on a button on the front. This piece will add whimsy and nostalgia to any sewing room. price: 34.79

Vintage Necklace by Gutsy Goodness

18" inch pendant on bronze chain with a singer sewing machine charm and crystal bead. Pendant inscription: Never come between me and my power tool.

Pendant comes in a gift box with a card: The Joy of Sewing and cleaning instructions.

The Joy of Sewing (card insert)

A sewing machine is an impressive power tool but it also provides beneficial therapy. picking up a needle and thread opens possibilities. When you create something beautiful out of fabric you step outside of the day's stresses. A sewing project increases our joy! When you believe anything is possible, you have the opportunity to create a gift that brings comfort and love to someone. There is no greater gift. Sew on! Because...Life takes Guts!

price: 22.49