Skirts, Skirts, Skirts!

Lizard had taken three or four beginner sewing classes when we were in Pittsburgh, but I wasn't sure that she'd learned much. At the time, she had difficulty focusing and would often daydream in any classroom setting.

This summer, Nana offered to sign Lizard up for a week-long American Girl doll-themed sewing class here in Richmond. I was amazed at the creations she'd come home with each night: doll clothing, sleeping bag, hula skirt, tote bag, medical scrubs, etc. Clearly she was gaining skills. Her improved focus had made a difference. Her off-the-charts creativity and incredible patience served her well as a budding seamstress. But still, everything had been pre-cut for the girls in the class and perhaps the teacher gave the kids a generous amount of hand-over-hand help.

About two weeks ago, Lizard asked if I would take her to the sewing store so that she could buy some fabric with money she had saved. Off we went. After considering her options, she fell in love with a piece of leopard-print cotton and added some elastic to her purchase. When we got home, I asked her what she planned to make and she nonchalantly informed me that she planned to make herself a skirt.  "That's nice, but you don't have a pattern and I don't know how to make a skirt," I warned. "Oh, it will be easy," she confidently replied.

She holed herself up in our sewing room (also our dining and music room), and one hour later, out she came wearing the most beautiful leopard-print skirt I've ever seen. "Wow, Lizard! You just went in there and made that without a pattern or any help?!" In her quietly humble way, she grinned and nodded.

We were truly amazed at what she had made. Could it have been a fluke? I recalled that I had once made a pretty decent-looking slip cover without a pattern. To this day, I don't know how I was successful and doubt that I'd be so lucky with a second effort. Maybe this skirt was something like that for Lizard.

Two weeks later, Nana brought home a remnant piece she'd picked up at the fabric store and offered it to Lizard. It had horses all over it and Butterfly gushed over it. "How about I make you a skirt with it, Butterfly?" Lizard generously offered. "Yes, please!" was her sister's grateful reply. Again, one hour later, Lizard came out with a lovely horse-covered skirt for her sister. It was no fluke.

At that point, it dawned on me that perhaps Lizard could make me a skirt. I asked and she was thrilled at the idea, even more so, when I told her I also wanted to pay her for her work. Nana decided she wanted one too.

So on Saturday, we went back to the sewing store and selected fabrics for grown-up sized skirts. And Lizard made the skirts for the remaining female family members. They fit well. They are the perfect length. They are wonderful.

I am exceedingly pleased that Lizard has found a niche, something that she and just she is good at in our family. As a non-competitive, unassertive dreamer in a family of practical, game-playing fact-spouters, she has found her sweet spot, something all her own that isn't about winning or knowing the right answer. She is an artist and we are in awe. We are so proud of her!

Acts 9:36-42

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.