Redheaded Jill

When I was a kid I loved going to Grandma’s house. They used to live about 10 minutes away. I took my first steps in that house. I had my first sleepover in that house. I watched The Little Mermaid and Wizard of Oz in that house.

When I was 7-8 Grandma and Grandpa moved next door. They tore down the run down farm house (kind of sad actually…) and moved in one of those single story homes you see on the backs of wide load trucks on the highway. (It’s the house I currently live in.)

We’d picnic in the yard and watch them dig the basement. Grandpa would walk up and find four leaf clovers in the grass for us. He had a magic eye. He could spot anything.

When I was in Kindergarten Grandma sewed me a whole wardrobe of dress up clothes. I had a wedding dress, princess jasmine costume, ballerina tutu, princess gown, and all the trimmings. Gloves, feather boas, fur muffs, beaded necklaces… In addition to dress up clothes Grandma made a lot of my church clothes. I had countless dresses, vests, skirts…

In 4th grade I wanted a kimono for my Halloween costume. After school the bus would drop me at Grandma’s and I’d go in for a sewing lesson. Grandma taught me how to use the sewing machine. In fifth grade I was the lead in the school musical and she made me three beautiful costumes. She also sewed me a Queen gown in high school so I could be The evil queen in Once Upon A Mattress.

I would go over to Grandma’s all the time and sew. She had an amazing sewing cabinet full of buttons and fabric and lace and zippers. When Grandma got to a point that she couldn’t sew anymore she let me have her machine. I still use it to this day and hope it will last me till my own granddaughter learns to sew.

After Grandma died I asked my aunt for sewing lessons. She came over a few times before moving and helped me sew a cute dress for my friend’s daughter and a vest. I have since started sewing baby bonnets and fixing holes in my brother’s work pants.

I love sewing and I love Grandma and I love that one reminds me of the other. ❤