This is a pic of a handmade doll – one that my mom-in-law made for our DD (dear daughter) on a lark – as a weekend project – many years ago. You read that right. A weekend project. Hand stitched EVERYTHING.
My photography skills aren’t the best, but I hope you can see the loving details in Raggedy Anne’s face, dress, hair. She’s a treasure. My mom-in-law was probably last in the line-up of skilled knitters, seamstresses in the family. I’ve broken the chain.
How do I know? Mom-in-law tried (once and only once) to teach me how to use her sewing machine. Truly – just to hem a pair of pants – and I think I drove her to an early afternoon martini that day. Extra dirty, double olives. I’m not equipped for anything involving knitting needles, sewing needles, crochet hooks, embroidery doo-dahs. Am I alone? Anyone else out there lacking the dexterity for crafts and sewing? Sigh.
It doesn’t take much to trip over an article about fast fashion these days and tendencies to ‘buy new’ when a shirt needs a button. Mercifully I can do THAT but not much else. The older I get, the more aspirational I am to buy less and work with what I have. (I can hear a couple of good friends cackling right now, chortling, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ Okay, fine. Shoes are another story, okay? Particularly my love of boots. Shove off!)
Feeling it was time with winter approaching, I spent a few daredevilish days winnowing my wardrobe and it involved a treacherous dive into three closets. I’m not a pack rat, but some clothes hold memories and that’s where things get sticky for me.
I’m a whiz at whipping other people’s closets into shape but my own? Pokey, pokey, pokey. But I get there. As I sorted through a few items never worn and established the piles for Goodwill, the women’s shelter, and a secondhand thrift store, I felt a cloud of melancholy trudging along with me. I can do better – make more conscious and conscientious choices. I don’t want to do this privileged purging routine – ever again.
Meanwhile, I might – no promises – pick up knitting needles again this winter. My dear friend Kathleen is a talented textile artist and two of her handmade scarves are among my all-time favorite accessories. Maybe she’ll give me a pointer or two? I’ll noodle on it because I’m a terrible student (as mom-in-law knew) and I’d hate to drive Kathleen toward any bad habits. Especially any “coping mechanisms” I might provoke. 😉
All of this pondering? Blame it on Raggedy Anne.
Vicki 😊
Victoria Ponders 
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