Monday, November 20, 2006
Making the dress. Part I
Overview: Joe and Kelly have been invited to the Marine Corps Ball, a formal event rich in tradition and ceremony held on bases around the world to celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday. Living in Japan, where women are half the size of Kelly, Kelly did her shopping via the internet and ordered two gowns (to be safe) online... So she thought. When the gowns did not arrive, Kelly checked the status of her order only to discover; an order had never been placed. Oops. This was on Thursday, six days before the ball. What was to be done?
The event: Marine Corps Birthday Ball
The challenge: Make a formal gown to be worn at the ball
The date: Tuesday November 21 (tomorrow)
Participants: Kelly and Kayako-san (obi tying master)
Materials to be used: Black antique obi (apparently once part of funeral dress), silver obi cord, lengths of sheer black and tan fabric. Assorted sewing notions.
Process:
Kelly will cut material and sew it to make skirt portion of dress. At 10 am on morning of ball tomorrow, Kayako-san will wrap obi around Kelly's boobs. (Obi will cover top of "skirt", which is hiked up to the chest, creating and empire waist dress effect.) Kelly, Kayako-san or one of Kelly's colleagues, will sew hooks in appropriate locations leaving a length of obi free and dangling. Using vast obi-tying knowledge, Kayako-san will tie free end of obi in bow, hopefully not reprimanding Kelly for unconventional use of funeral attire. Kelly will don dress along with sexy black pumps and cute silver handbag and be ready for the ball!
Obstacles:
Time-It is now 10:45 am. I have a Japanese class tonight and must buy groceries for Thanksgiving party of 15. Also clean house. Prepare menu. Tomorrow I work from 10am to 5:00pm. Must finish book club book for Wednesday too.
Sewing ability-The only clothes I've sewn before were a pair of pajama pants from a pattern. (Fell apart after 2 washes.) And dress 8 years ago which took about 3 weeks.
But in my favor:
Pressure - I have a date with Kayako-san tomorrow. I can't disappoint her.
Liquid Encouragement - A full pot of fresh Fairwinds coffee. A backup 2/3 bottle of red wine if that fails.
Optimism - I did sew some pillow covers that have lasted a full 8 months!
Curiosity - Can I do it? Will it look good?
Here we go...
The event: Marine Corps Birthday Ball
The challenge: Make a formal gown to be worn at the ball
The date: Tuesday November 21 (tomorrow)
Participants: Kelly and Kayako-san (obi tying master)
Materials to be used: Black antique obi (apparently once part of funeral dress), silver obi cord, lengths of sheer black and tan fabric. Assorted sewing notions.
Process:
Kelly will cut material and sew it to make skirt portion of dress. At 10 am on morning of ball tomorrow, Kayako-san will wrap obi around Kelly's boobs. (Obi will cover top of "skirt", which is hiked up to the chest, creating and empire waist dress effect.) Kelly, Kayako-san or one of Kelly's colleagues, will sew hooks in appropriate locations leaving a length of obi free and dangling. Using vast obi-tying knowledge, Kayako-san will tie free end of obi in bow, hopefully not reprimanding Kelly for unconventional use of funeral attire. Kelly will don dress along with sexy black pumps and cute silver handbag and be ready for the ball!
Obstacles:
Time-It is now 10:45 am. I have a Japanese class tonight and must buy groceries for Thanksgiving party of 15. Also clean house. Prepare menu. Tomorrow I work from 10am to 5:00pm. Must finish book club book for Wednesday too.
Sewing ability-The only clothes I've sewn before were a pair of pajama pants from a pattern. (Fell apart after 2 washes.) And dress 8 years ago which took about 3 weeks.
But in my favor:
Pressure - I have a date with Kayako-san tomorrow. I can't disappoint her.
Liquid Encouragement - A full pot of fresh Fairwinds coffee. A backup 2/3 bottle of red wine if that fails.
Optimism - I did sew some pillow covers that have lasted a full 8 months!
Curiosity - Can I do it? Will it look good?
Here we go...
