Spring has sprung and my crocus' are coming up in the yard. The pansies I planted last fall are starting to raise their heads and wake up. Watching this always gives me a lift. It was fun to watch Carly's boys run up and down their yard as they gloried in the warmness. --Last week, Carly and Jay went on a cruise so 'Grans' got to hang out with Jax, Nasch, Graedy, and Ryder. It was a delight to me. We all got in the car on Friday afternoon and came home to be with Grandpa Matt who was pretty lonely by this time, having spent the week 'batching it'.
Spring in Grantsville means it is time for the Old Folks Sociable! This year it is on Saturday, March 23. If you are not familiar with this event, you should be. Best way to explain it is it is a town reunion for anyone who has ever been a Grantsvillite (Grantsvillian?). As described on Facebook:
"Grantsville Old Folks Sociable - a community event honoring "old folks," founded in 1884. Today, it's a fun-filled celebration for ages 18 & older - with car show, honored guest reception, dinner, show & dancing."
The best part of the day is the visiting with people you love and have grown up with, young and old. At one time or another, we Grantsvillites all serve on the committees who make it happen. This year Matt is asked to chair the Dance part of the Sociable. Melodi, my sister, was the program chair last year; I served as Co-Chair on the 109th Sociable and am currently serving on the board of directors.
What to wear. Matt sent me off on Saturday to look for just the right thing and I spent the day at NordieRack, Kohl's, Ross, TJMaxx...didn't find anything--but did look a lot at shoes......
On Monday I decided to really get serious. I took myself off to SLC as 10am, just as the shops were opening. Dresses were perused and studied at Macy's, NordieRack (I found that I really did need a couple pair of shoes which kept calling to me), JCPenney, Dillard"s, H & M, Ann Taylor, and finally Nordstrom's. I had no luck finding just the right thing. This marathon day was decidedly discouraging.
What I learned is:
- 8 out of 10 dresses have no or 1/2 cap sleeves. Don't work when you wear Mormon underwear*.
- 9 out of 10 dresses have low cut front. See above*.
- 7 out of 10 dresses are mini-length. See above*.
- 9 out of 10 dresses are made with as little fabric as possible, with mediocre (at best) construction. (You should know I am a fabric and construction Nazi. If you know me, you know why. I love 'real' natural fabrics (none of those crummy synthetics for me), rayon linings that breathe--polyester makes you feel as though you were wearing a plastic bag. And the construction :((--don't get me started...)
- Nordstrom Designer is the place I loved--but at an average of $425 on a dress--and did not wish to afford. The construction is really there, design is on trend, and fabrics are scrumptious.
So. The conundrum continues. I am back to finding a 'look' online/catalog/magazine and 'knocking it off' using my own time, ingenuity, and construction acumen. In this part of the process I am still frustrated as most fabric stores have now converted themselves to quilt specialities. Not much fashion fabric to be had in local retail.
As an avid Project Runway follower, it would be my eternal dream to one day shop Mood in NYC or LA. It occured to me that I may have some luck looking into online fabric purchasing. So, I Googled Mood and was excited at what I found. I can purchase yardage-the kind this Nazi loves-and designer fabric and trim from Mood at reasonable prices. Shipping still has to be paid; compare cost of driving to the frustrating fabric store if I purchased local Tooele or SLC retail.
The link is: http://www.moodfabrics.com/index.php
At this juncture, the construction process is still in the planning stages. I guess the next blog post will have to be photos of all of us at the Sociable in what we ended up wearing. As they say in the movies: "I will leave you know."
