Fashion Show

So my cousin has been buggin me to blog about my fashion show, which I am ashamed to admit, should have been blogged about without prompting. Here's the scoop:

I applied for a grant from the Junior League of Las Vegas for a $1000 grant to enhance the "Vegas Runway" projects I do in my advanced fashion classes. I crossed my fingers, but did not hold my breath, as I doubted anyone would take the project seriously. Well, the grant was declined. Not surprised, I vowed to continue with the project anyway, and just figure out how to do it with little or no money.

About a month later, I get a call, from a Junior Leaguer, who just happened to be the head songleader and homecoming queen my freshman year in high school! Oh yeah, and she was my IDOL. Well, my idol figured out how to fund the project through the Junior League a different way, which was great, until she told me she wanted us to make 20 evening gowns. My mind's thinking "over my dead body" and my mouth says "ok, we'll do it."

$1000 and 19 evening gowns later, (one kid dropped my class) I was near exhaustion, but had fairy godmothers in the form of Junior Leaguers to keep me going. They coordinated a fashion show at the FASHION SHOW MALL on the REAL fashion show stage (it's on hydraulics and comes up from underground, folks!) They coordinated press right and left (one on campus and one in-studio interview,) had professional judges, photographers, etc. lined up. These kids even got their hair and make up done (never mind that half of them brushed it out and washed it off before they ever made it down the runway.) This production was everything I could have dreamed of, but would never have been able to pull off because I lack an important tool called an "administrative assistant."

Anyway, the show was amazing. All sorts of peeps came out to support. All my friends from NACTE and the CTE department came, former students came, even my swing dancing friend Lenny was there! My old pal Jason Outlaw emceed, which was nice, and it was one of the few parts of the fashion show I contributed to (besides nagging I mean coaching the kids, of course.) My mom, Aunt Mitzi and Michelle came, even my best friend from high school (who, ironically also idolized said Junior Leaguer in high school.) The whole Smith family came, as did the entire Brockett family....in fact Mrs. Brockett (my principal) FLEW IN from San Diego just for my event, then turned right around and flew back out. Who has a cooler boss than that?

Some show highlights: The first three models, the "Teacher Challenge" winners. Mr. Schmidt, Ms. Liggett and Ms. Hartman looked amazing as the stage rose up from underground. I have to say, I think that was my favorite part. They were such good sports for participating like that. Mr. Schmidt even got a fake tan for the occasion. After that, all 19 kids came out in their dresses. It was unbelievable how much confidence they showed (I know they were nervous!) Finally, the three "Recycle and Reuse Challenge" winners came out. The judges deliberated and I tell you, it was anybody's game. It was strange for me, sitting there not knowing who won, because I always know who won, I tally the votes! The winners were: (I'll add photos later)

Best Catwalk: Lupita Wence
Most Creative: Jimi Urquiaga
3rd Place: Breana Schuler
2nd Place: Lissette Serrano
1st Place: Ruth Wittig

I couldn't have been happier with the results. If you had asked me who I thought the judges would pick, I probably would have told you those three. Any one of those dresses could have been spotted on a star walking the red carpet.

There you have it. I'm glad it's over and while I'd love to say I'll never do it again, of course I will, as long as the Jr. League is involved and hands over some cash for materials....

Inadequacies as a Seamstress

So for the second time in three or four years, I've had a student surpass my abilities as a seamstress. It will take years before they catch up to my hours of experience, but having sewn in class for 45 minutes a day, 180 days a year for three years, PLUS whatever they do at home, these girls have left me in the dust. Technically, their skills far surpass mine. What is a teacher to do when posed with this dilemma?

I am taking a break from reading up on a subject I need to cover with one of these students tomorrow. Specifially, installing an invisible zipper. I've never done it. I guess I could figure it out, but even if I did, it would take a couple of tries to get it perfect. Not to mention master teaching it. My student has to put one in an EVENING GOWN. No chance for error, here. I started calling my seamstress friends to see who can help me out. We'll see where that leads....

Anyway, I guess it's high time I either decide to become a better seamstress, or stop raising the bar in class. I have the standards set higher every year, and every year kids keep jumping to them. Some won't, but they are the ones who jump for no one. I suppose it's time to raise the bar on myself.

Ode To My Favorite Soap

Day in and day out, like a nagging refrain,
I hear: "Ms. Sheldon, please help me, remove this darn stain!"

So I calm down the nerves and I offer up hope
by recommending the dependable Fels-Naptha Soap.

Follow the directions and be delighted to find
that your pesky old stain will be gone in no time!

I hope that my message brings you some cheer,
as well as a happy and safe stain-free year!

Attached to bars of Fels-Naptha and given as holiday gifts....

Six Months Since

It's been six months since my last blog post. Six months since I've moved into the new apartment. Six months and the apartment still feels "new." I still have boxes stacked around. I am still not settled into my "new" sewing room. I am simply not settled. Quite contrary. Unsettled is a great word to describe how I feel right down to the depths of my chest. It's almost painful.

I decided to post again because recently I've been getting a lot of questions about my experience. So here are a couple of highlights from the last six months:

1) I finally received my last insurance payment. They threw out about $2500 worth of food and belongings. The payments came in three or four installments. I replaced most of what they threw away/ruined (I got a great new bedspread after the drycleaners ruined mine.)

2) The drycleaners left a lot to be desired. They ruined so much of my stuff, including my fabulous peacock costume! Not to mention, they lost all the pins and medals off my letterman's sweater. Simply irreplacable! I couldn't begin to place a dollar value on it. One of the pins was my mother's high school pin. What can you do?

3) Kitty loves the new place. We've been in this place about 4 times longer than the burned apartment, and he is more comfortable here than he was in the last two places. I promised him we would stay here for a long while.

I guess, officially, the ordeal is over. But I am forever changed. I don't leave the dryer on when I leave the house. I check and double check to make sure the iron is unplugged. I go back in the house to ensure the flat iron is turned off. It makes me nervous just to cook or burn a candle. Seing people barbeque gives me the creeps. And now I am enraged for a different reason when some jack ass throws his cigarette on the ground. All courtesy of a smoking neighbor who was hooked to an oxygen tank. Can you say "duh?"

The Latest

So here is the latest:

1) I have a new apartment. Not nearly as nice as the last one: no fire place, no built-in mircowave. No new floors in kitchen and bath. But, it's all they had. It has new carpet, so I shouldn't really complain. The washer and dryer are actually better than the ones I had; older, but bigger and better. I also met most of my neighbors and they seem very, very nice.

2) The restoration company brought back my sofa, bed, reading chair/ottoman, coffee and end tables with about 20 boxes of stuff. It smells great and looked better than new. I am very pleased with their work. I should have the remainder of my belongings, less the soft goods, by next Friday.

3) Found my Gati! I went to the shelter, and he wasn't there. In fact, they euthanize strays that are caught after three days! I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever find him. Well, on what was to be my first evening in the new apartment alone, I went out to the maintenance shed (where I had spotted strays before) with some milk and tuna fish, and started saying "Gati, your mom is looking for you." He started meowing immediately and ran right out! We sat for a while until I thought he'd let me pick him up and then we went home. He was a little confused because nothing smelled like him, but he eventually found his "hammock" and went to sleep!

4) I should be receiving my first insurance payment, for the food spoilage, in a couple of days. My refrigerator looked like a bachelors (water, cheese and mustard) and the freezer was EMPTY, but the food spoilage bill was still $420. Unbelievable.

Waiting Game

So I'm in Atlanta relaxing at Jesse and Candy's, which is really, really nice. It's beautiful here, they have a gorgeous house, wonderful children and are basically just letting me "be." I'm starting to get anxious, though, that I'm not at home getting things "done."

The restoration company called my mom today and my bed is cleaned and ready to go. That is great news. The bad news? I have no place to put it. The apartment complex doesn't have a new place ready for me yet.

I checked in with the apartment complex this morning, asking about my "new" apartment, which, of course, isn't ready. It needs a new bathroom floor, and I asked, twice, for a new kitchen floor as well (my other apartment had new flooring EVERYWHERE.) Basically, I think they are blowing me off, and writing me off as a "princess" who wants everything "just so." Really, I just want it back the way it was. I think that is only fair.

So, we are now concerned that I will be charged to store my belongings as they are cleaned, since they are apparently supposed to be delivered immediately after cleaning. They put a rush on my bed so I wouldn't have to rent one, now it may end up costing me more, anyway.

Another cause for anxiety is that the cleaning and restoration has eaten up all but $5,100 of my insurance coverage. So everything that needs to be replaced needs to cost less than $5,100 or I just lose it. Needless to say, I will be increasing the insurance coverage as soon as I return home.
I'm beginning to wonder if I am able to go after the guy who started the fire (his insurance company, anyway) for the difference....my policy has coverage that kicks in if I cause a loss to someone else, maybe his does, too.

Ok I'm spent. I think I'm off for another nap.

Aftermath

I have no hairbrush. No emery board. No band aides. Things you don't even realize you had in the first place. So much of my "stuff" was written off....everything under the kitchen and bathroom sinks. Anything paper or plastic. I had to get on a plane to go to a conference and the cleaners hadn't even gotten to my sewing room yet, so I don't know what was "written off" in there....I shutter to think about it. I had just bought some great storage organizers from IKEA and OfficeMax, they didn't come cheap, I might add, and I bet they are gone. I know the insurance will cut me a check to replace them, but it all seems like such a waste.

Since the textile specialist said my fabric should be written off, I went ahead and inventoried it. I was a captive audience, anyway. I had 3 hours to kill from the time the cleaning companies showed up until my friends picked me up for the airport. I used the time to save a few valuables I didn't want ANYONE touching (one of a kind photographs, jewelry, etc) and to inventory the food and fabric.

All the food, except the canned goods were a write off. I had 7 BOXES (who has 7 boxes?) of TEA alone that was now trash. Hot chocolate, spices and seasonings, cereal (5 boxes), cups of soup, cake mix, etc. got tossed. Even a brand new case of water they had me toss, since the smoke permeates plastic. Almost everything in the fridge was gone (the building went almost two days without power) and even though it looked like a bachelor's fridge, it turns out to be a sizeable amount of food when you write it all down.

It is hard to describe for you my affection for (or is that affliction with?) fabric. I always joke to people by telling them "everyone has a vice....some people drink, some smoke, some do drugs, play video games, whatever. Mine? I buy fabric. No matter how hard I try, I just can't stop. I even started working at JoAnn Fabrics at night recently, and my favorite "job" there? Folding, tucking, touching, smelling fabric. Since I have a discount, I occasionally upgrade from $1.00/yard to $10.00/yard, especially if I have a coupon. When the textile specialist walked in I picked up the first bolt I could (denim with cherries embroidered on it,) smelled it, and got choked up. I said "this cost $20....can you imagine what the entire collection cost?" I am guessing 200-300 yards of fabric...I'm not sure, I'd have to add it up. I had just purchased some fabulous fabrics in San Luis Obispo....not easily replaced.... it's not like I go there every other weekend. In fact, I had spend about $50 on oilcloth (a plasticy/vinylish fabric) that we don't even carry at JoAnn. I KNOW they will throw it away. It just pains me to think about it.

I'm in Atlanta now. I've spent the last 3 days at an amazing conference which really helped to settle my soul and get my mind off things. Last night was "Prom Night" and I dressed in a tacky 80's prom dress and won "Bessed Dressed" for which the prize was a $50 Coach Gift Card! If they only knew how much I needed it. I had to buy a new purse just to go to this conference. Not to mention suit case, socks, underwear, yada yada yada. Well, my mom bought it. What would I do without my mom? She took me right out, got me what I needed, and sent me on my way. This fire (nor Gati running away) would have kept me from my conference, and my mom made sure of that.

Jesse Gearhart is on his way to pick me up. I'm going to stay with the Gearharts for a couple of days before returning to Las Vegas to figure everything out.

I just keep telling myself "God will not give you more than you can handle" to which I always respond "then he must think I am one tough broad!"