Vintage Sewing

Yesterday Kim and I discovered an intriguing booth at an antique mall nearby. Stepping inside it's space was like stepping back in time. It took me back to my childhood when I would go to an old-fashioned department store downtown called "The Beehive". Wooden bins, open trays of thread, buttons, thimbles, and trims invited the observer to explore each space. Patterns from an era past reminded me of the fashions of my youth. Such displays simply inspire the observer to learn to sew! Trims and threads in a variety of colors and styles make one dream of creations! Buttons of interesting shapes and colors become central in selecting fabrics and styles to go with them. Backwards, maybe. Usually the pattern would come first, but for a budding seamstress, sometimes the little details inspire and the rest of a project is built around it. How fun it was to step back in time, even if just for a moment. And it made me pause to think. What inspires new seamstresses these days? Only they can tell, but I think it would be so interesting to know!