My husband Michael and I have been empty nesters for two months. I am not “regularly” employed and my professional résumé of the last 20 years is spotty. Without a child at home to distract me, I have been looking back and asking myself, “What have I done all these years?”
I find myself looking at the blogs of 30-something mothers of young children posting adorable photos of their kids in the cute clothes they have made for them. I feel like I have something in common with these women. I feel drawn to them because I can relate to them. They are having a great time doing creative projects for and with their children while possibly putting their professional careers on hold. However, I feel ageism at work for me. I doubt they would be interested in me. I am a seamtress, not a sewist; I use McCalls, Simplicity and Butterick, not indie patterns with first names. I am an early 50-something, and I blog about handbags and purses.
So I am posting what follows for two reasons. First, here is one of many, many things I have done in the past 20 years. And, second, young mothers, we do have something in common. I’ve been through it and enjoyed every moment!
The first costume I made for Jasper was a bee, and there are no photos to be found. When he was three, he wanted to be a dinosaur.
When Jasper was four, he wanted to be Simba. Well, fine, but I wasn’t making that, so we bought one.
However, Hanna was one, and old enough to dress up, so I made her a bunny costume. Confession: I don’t think I asked her what she wanted to be, I just decided.
From about age one to six, Jasper was car fanatic, and I mean FANATIC. When he was five, he was Jeff Gordon, Nascar driver #24. This prized costume was a joint effort between my husband and me. I painstaking made the outfit – letters, numbers, logos and all. Michael contructed the cardboard car.
Currently, Jasper goes to college not far from home, so he was able to indulge me with this recent photo. That costume will always be loved.
Jasper at twenty-one.
When Hanna was two, we did the basic princess costume.
At six, Jasper was an Indiana Jones, adventuring, sort of guy. I made the vest. Hanna, at three, was Miss Potato Head. I think I pushed for this one. This costume is one of our all-time favorites. Hanna has actually worned it multiple times, as recently as a year or two ago, only it came up to her waist, the armholes were tight and the velcro didn’t close completely in the back.
Another great year, I made Jasper, now seven, an Anakin Skywaker inspired costume. And, Hanna, four, was a beautiful, handcrafted mermaid.
All good things must come to an end. This shiny cape was the last Halloween thing I sewed for Jasper to go with his alien mask when he was eight. Hanna, five, insisted for some reason, that she wanted to be a tiger. I remember we had an Indian summer on that Halloween day, and I think she was roasting in that costume during the school parade.
At nine, Jasper was now in charge of his own costume. He might have been pushing the P.C. boundary, but those Billy Bob teeth he borrowed from his dad are pretty funny.
Hanna, at six, asked me to make her a glamorous Cleopatra costume.
Jasper at age ten, crafted a pretty clever costume as a headless man. Hanna, seven, chose to be a pioneer girl. Did I mind that it was a separate dress, pinafore, and hat, and required yards of fabric? Of course not!
The last costume I made for Hanna was Carman Maranda. It was very cool, but no photos can be found.
Well, this brings my costume retrospective to an end. Young, sewing mothers, I hope you see that we have a lot in common. And I’ll look forward your posts of your handmade prom dresses ten years from now.
Hanna at eighteen.
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