Tropical Zone Gardening: The coconut wireless - chat threat 2, 0 by lourspolaire

lourspolaire wrote:
A glorious morning to you all.

When we moved to Florida, I wanted to have a Christmas wreath hanging at the condo's door. That was the only decoration the condo commandos would allow outside between Dec. 10th and Jan. 6th: a wreath.

I had seen evergreen-looking garland sold at the dollar store and there was a big fur coat hanger left by the previous owner in the walk-in closet. Using pliars, I started bending the hanger into a circle. With the circle done, I returned to the dollar store and purchased 90 feet of the evergreen garland, ornaments of all kinds, strings of pearls, bells, jingle bells, pine cones, lights, anything I could find for $1. It seemed my only criteria was: it must come from the dollar store.

I returned home with my purchases. Gail looked at me as if I had lost my marbles. Gail is a delightful woman, a real-life Saint. She has put up with me for 34 years, but Lord love her to bits, she can't visualise stuff like I can. So, I started wrapping the garland around the circular frame I had made. I then wired every decoration to the wreath with garbage bag ties so nothing would fall off. Gail was knitting and rolling her eyes at her crazy polar bear caught in the clutches of yet another creative frenzy. Once in a while, I could feel a skeptical glance coming my way.

So, I wired the lights in, followed by everything else. In a matter of an hour or so, we had a gorgeous wreath. Gail laughed and said she should never underestimate me. I then wired the wreath to the outside of the condo's door and connected the lights. It worked beautifully. I even caught someone trying to steal my wreath one night. I hated living in that condo! The people were such dorks! Since then, every year, I go to the dollar store and buy 1 pack of Christmas ornaments to add to the wreath. The new addition can't cost more than $1 and it can't be a single item. This year, I have purchased a pack of 5 ornaments for $1. Every year, that wreath hangs on our front door. We love it. Here is a picture of it.

As far as sewing is concerned, when large size clothes became difficult to find in Montreal and my weight kept on increasing, I resolved to take sewing courses. I asked around. One of my friends recommended this sewing school. I had never heard of it and it was a good 35 miles away from home. But, I paid my money and took my chances. The teacher was a harsh sewing fanatic, but she taught me well. It was her way or the highway. And to make matters worse, there was a man in her class and she didn't enjoy that one bit. She thought there was something very wrong with me. I soon become one of her star pupils and a bit of a teacher's pet. At the first course, I realized this was a haute couture and pattern design class. How wonderful, I thought.

I persevered with that teacher for 4 years. I learned everything there is to know about fabric, equipment, pressing, sponging, needlework, interfacing and tailoring. Now, I make a lot of the clothes I wear and I wear a lot of the clothes I made a long while ago because they last and last. Each seam is tacked. Each thread is tied. Everything that needs it is interfaced and holds together very well and everything fits oh so well.

My shorts feature a regular tailored fly, fully interfaced waist band, and a belt loop every 5 inches. I invest about 8 hours work in a pair of pants, or shorts. I also make tailored dress shirts with wonderful collars and double french cuffs that are to die for. Basically, the only ready-made clothes I buy are socks and ties. I even buy nice buttons and make my own cuff links. I have been sewing for 30 years now.

Well, having photographed the wreath, I guess I'll hang it on the door now. Take care all.
Pu'ole, a.k.a. Sylvain.