My mom taught me to sew when I was young and I took sewing in middle school as part of Home Ec. - the start of my training. My mom made my prom dress – many many pleats and even more hand covered matching buttons. She labored patiently and lovingly through it. I think that is why I am awestruck by the handwork I find, thinking about all the time that went into it.

 After washing one dress I made that included a wonderful handmade pleated apron, I realized that someone had ironed all 100+ pleats in that apron. Thankfully, the apron was wonderful minus the pleats because one wash took them all away. I am practical, everything has to be washable (albeit cold, delicate cycle) and I don’t expect anyone to iron 100 pleats into an apron. But, isn’t it wonderful that once somebody did!