Tag: 2024

All I Want For Christmas is a Red Santa Dress

Published on by operazhenshchina112 Comments

Ever since I was a little girl, I always dreamed of having a “Santa” dress. The rich red velvet and white fur trim around the neck, cuffs, and hem would give me festive feelings of delight. Watching the classic film, “White Christmas”, would heighten this desire every year.

Vera-Ellen, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Bing Crosby in “White Christmas”, 1954

Despite my intentions, the hectic holiday season would always get in the way of my December dream. However, when I was approached to give a program to a retiree group highlighting the Christmas songs of the ages, I knew my time had come. The premise of the program was for me to wear an era-specific costume to match a song that was to be played after I modeled its corresponding outfit. The audience, in turn, had to guess when the song/carol was originally written based on my costume. For the 1990s, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” was on the list.

Mariah Carey in the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” music video, 1994

Hooray ! The Christmas program gave me a fitting excuse to create my Santa dress. While the task seemed simple, it certainly had its challenges. I can’t count how many mock-ups I sewed of different bodice patterns, only to have them be too tight when sewn up in the desired stretch velvet. What was wrong ? Almost giving up, I tried one last pattern.

The Tessa Sheath Dress from Love Notions Patterns popped into my e-mail inbox one Friday as part of the company’s Feature Friday. For $5, I thought I would give it a try.
My first mock-up was promising and when I added length to the bodice, it was perfect. Because I knew I was going to attach a circle skirt to the waist seam, I didn’t bother printing the rest of the PDF pattern. Once sewn together, I measured the circumference of the waist seam and used Mood Fabric’s Circle Skirt Calculator to map out my radius and fabric lay. The calculator worked its magic and gave me one circular piece of velvet, with no back seam to sew.
Fluffy faux fur purchased from Amazon was sewn/glued to the appropriate places and… that was it ! I finally had my Santa dress.

This dress is so much fun ! I have worn it constantly over the season and love giving its skirt a twirl.

One of my favorite features of the dress is its red stretch velour, which hangs heavy in its drape.

Just look at those folds !!

Merry Christmas !

Toi, Toi, Toi,

Mary Martha

From Publix to Prom: Night to Shine 2024

Published on by operazhenshchina117 Comments

Sometimes, the best things in life come when you least expect them. My life took a drastic detour in late 2022 when I made the decision to apply for a part-time job at Publix, a premier supermarket chain in the southeastern United States. I was scared to death. Having never worked outside the home, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but in early 2023, I was hired and soon garnered fame among my customers and co-workers as the perpetually upbeat cashier.

At my register with all my quirky necessities: medical gloves, blue light blocking glasses, and an endless supply of water (Photo courtesy of Merissa Green)

Trademark to Publix is their carryout service, a job performed by our front service clerks, better known as baggers. And this is where my tale begins ! It was at Publix that I became acquainted with Jacob, the bagger with special needs who had a penchant for people’s clothing, tattoos, and painted nails. He would make me laugh to the point that my face felt like it had been permanently stretched as he effusively complimented the throngs of customers on their ordinary outfits and unabashedly inquired if their sprawling tattoos had given them any pain. For every Publix customer story that I would bring home from work, there would be just as many “Jacob” stories to tell my family.

Six weeks into my job, I discovered that I knew Jacob’s mother from P.E.O., which left me stunned. But that wasn’t all─ a week later I received an even bigger bombshell: Jacob was from Russia. Ever since I began teaching myself Russian in late 2015, I had prayed for God to send me a friend from Russia in His perfect timing. Apparently, my prayer had been answered.

The revelation rocked my world. Jacob was adopted from Russia at 18 months old with the given name of Ilja, which was retained as his middle name. Instantaneously, we became the best of friends, spending time together whenever possible. It is with utmost endearment that I call him my Ilja and in turn, he calls me his Masha.

Masha and the Bear: Jacob and Mary Martha

When I heard about Night to Shine, the special needs prom sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, I begged Jacob to take me. Because I was homeschooled in high school, I never had the opportunity to attend prom. And so, at 30 years old, I attended my first prom as a Buddy.

Imagine my surprise when Jacob presented me with a live flower corsage. It was beautiful ! And for those wondering, I still have that corsage.

Wearing the dress I had sewn for Lohengrin, I further accentuated the sparkling shoulders by adding a thin rhinestone belt.

After my King was crowned (I was not permitted to wear a crown as a Buddy), we walked the red carpet in a wave of celebration put on by the paparazzi.

The atmosphere was incredible ! I was so impressed by the efforts of the volunteers to make the event special for everyone. We ate a boxed meal, cheered as the rest of the guests paraded in, and then made our way to the next destination: the photo booths.

Decorating the draped tables nearby were a menagerie of props and accessories to liven up the photo strips that were printed on the spot. Jacob and I had lots of fun choosing our props and poses.

Of course, we had to take a picture with cardboard Tim Tebow. Like every other mom in America, my mother always wanted me to marry the star athlete.

Karaoke came next. Jacob made everyone cry when he sang “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe. Then, we both took to the microphones to belt out Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” with choreographed dance moves. What a blast !

We danced the YMCA…

…joined the Conga line…

…and played the air guitar.

I loved being on the arm of someone so sweet.

Night to Shine was one of the most magical experiences of my life. Not only did it exceed my expectations of what prom would be like, but the impact that it had on the kings and queens was truly awesome. A big ‘thank you’ goes to the countless volunteers who made the evening such a success.

As thus, my tale has come to its dreamy end. The moral of the story is, be careful what you pray for; you might find yourself wrapped in a joy beyond compare.

Toi, Toi, Toi,

Mary Martha

P.S. There’s a video !! Watch to see the action unfold in real time.
https://fb.watch/sDsOug4JHm/