7/15/09

WW: There Really IS a Story Behind This



Yes, it's an old picture and the quality is not so good. The story behind it is somewhat embarrassing:

I do not sew!

Alterations shops are lifesavers to me.Well, maybe this isn’t a big deal to those of you who are seamstresses, but, unfortunately, I am not in that group. I do not sew.

At all.

In case of emergency, I have been known to use Scotch tape to repair a hemline. Otherwise, I rely on safety pins for emergency situations.

So, years ago, when Tiffany, my older daughter, was in kindergarten, I was less than thrilled when she said to me one Thursday night, “Oh, Mom, I forgot. I need a costume for the play tomorrow. I’m a lamb.”

Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target and such places don’t stock lamb costumes on a regular basis. Nor does anyone else. It was time to be creative.

I went to the closest drugstore and bought several bags of cotton balls. If I remember correctly, there were 300 - 360 in a bag.

Then, back at home, I got a pair of my daughter’s white tights and an old white, long-sleeved blouse. I proceeded to glue cotton balls all over the tights and blouse. Certainly, covered head to toe in cotton balls, she would look like a soft lamb on the following day.

Well, the glue didn’t dry.

Panicked, I decided to put the cotton ball-covered shirt and tights in the dryer to dry the glue.

It worked! Both were totally dry when I took them out of the dryer.

Of course, they were more than dry. Do you know what happens to glued items when they dry like that? They were absolutely stiff!!!!!

The cotton-ball laden tights could stand up without a body inside them! The blouse had arms (sleeves) that stretched out by themselves.

I had to lift up my kindergarten daughter and then place her into the stiffened tights and blouse. It was a perfect fit!

She was adorable and so sweet. Of course, she couldn’t bend her legs or her arms as she moved about on stage. She was molded into the costume.

Funny thing: she’s not smiling on any of the pictures from that day!



- copyright 2008 - Sherry Shealy Martschink
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Other Wordless Wednesday participants are HERE.
Other Wordful Wednesday participants are HERE.

16 comments:

Brenda said...

I don't know what that is but it looks like someone went to a lot of trouble to dress you up like that!

Unknown said...

Brenda: I'm not the one in the picture. You ought to click on the link to read the story. Thanks for visiting.

Tell Me Thursday said...

We are VERY curious. Feel free to link to your story post over at Tell Me Thursday tomorrow too!

QuietMom said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love this picture and am off to read the story about it... :-)

Eternal Apprentice said...

Very nice. I have some pictures like that too... I think we all do. Truly any picture is a story and has a story that it pins-down. Especially pictures from childhood, the more embarassing the better.

Now, I'm off to read the story...

kayerj said...

cute! Here’s my WW hope you can stop by!

Sandee said...

I clicked the link but it takes me to Google sign-in page. So, your link isn't working right for me. :(

Unknown said...

Wow, Sandee! Thanks oodles for letting me know. I'll change and put the story with the picture right now!!!

MommaD said...

She was such a good sport! First time visiting, read your about me--what a life you've lived so far! Looking forward to reading more, following now

Muthering Heights said...

LOLOLOL, that is HILARIOUS!

More Than Words said...

I have to give both of you credit. For you creating her costume at the last minute, and for her wearing it!

Awwwww!!!!! Great memory though!

Deb said...

Hi ~ I can so relate to this story! My daughter wanted to be a unicorn for Halloween one year - how hard could it be to create that costume? I can assure you that there were many colorful words coming from my mouth as I tried to glue the unicorn 'horn' to a winter hat! Too funny. Thanks for jogging my memory bank and for leaving a comment over at my place - much appreciated! Enjoy your day!

jams o donnell said...

Haha Sherry, Perhap she was playing a hi-tech robo-sheep from the future!

The Peach Tart said...

Well you are an industrious one aren't you. Hopefully she appreciated your efforts.

earthtoholly said...

Oh my gosh. I've made this...for myself...and I was 24 years old! I glued countless bags of cotton balls (had to keep running to the drug store for more) to a pair of thermal underwear and put black socks on my forearms. The costume was so heavy and since I spent all night dancing, by the time I got home I felt like I'd lost 10 lbs.!

Your poor little girl is so cute, though, and what a good sport. She must've sensed all that you went through to complete her costume. Good mom!

Anonymous said...

How absolutely CUTE and how great of you to work your fingers to the bone at such SHORT notice..Oh, the frustration that you must have felt. No, no smiles, but I am sure that you were a heroine~!!

 
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