Testing

Suburban Chicago, April 1964. Dad must have gotten a new camera; the 1964 album has a few "selfies" from the spring season.

The Life Box (Part 28)

I used to sew many of clothes. It seemed like everyone sewed in the 1970s. It was easy to find fashionable patterns, and there was a fabric store in nearly every shopping mall. Mom and I sewed the ensembles we wore during our European vacation, and I later sewed the garments I packed for my trip to Stuttgart. I think I sewed every bridesmaid gown I wore. Oh golly, I once even sewed a swimsuit.

I saved many of the sewing patterns I used. I was looking today for the pattern for my senior-prom dress, but I could not find it. It was a wraparound halter dress that I made in a silver fabric. I intended to show the pattern to Mom because I wondered if she'd now think the dress was too risqué. It didn't seem daring in 1975 or 1976. (This is not the pattern, but it is very close to it.)

I did find several other patterns from that era, so I wonder if I didn't lend the wraparound halter-dress pattern to someone. I recall I went through a "Cossack phase" during which I sewed many billowy blouses and dresses. I still have those patterns. Here's one:

I made a grey blouse out of the pattern, and I sewed a pink and grey bias-plaid, A-line skirt to match.

I even wore that outfit to a school dance:

Suburban Chicago, January 1975. Dad catches me before the party.

"The Year, in Pictures"

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Candid

Brooklyn, New York, October 1950. Although Dad hadn't started his photography hobby in the early 1950s, he already had an eye for candid shots.

Cooling Off

Colombia, September 1954. My Dad's friend Casey and his kayaking companion jump in. Casey wrote, "We're in the lake already."

Saturday

Door County, Wisconsin, July 1977. Everybody's buzzing around. (Those are thimbleberry bushes behind Dad.)

Familiar

Colombia, August 1954. My Dad's friend Casey wrote, "We're kayaking, and we approach a lake. The view through the trees was so familiar, this could have been in Europe."

Weekend Sounds

Door County, Wisconsin, July 1977. The lawnmower noise is my least favorite part of the weekend.

Evening Practice

Suburban Chicago, February 1969. Mom practices after she returns from work.

Loading

Colombia, 1954. Casey and a friend prepare to leave for the kayaking trip.

The Life Box (Part 20)

Suburban Chicago, about 1964. It looks like I was trying to imitate a still life by the artist Murinas.

A Shared Joy

Columbia, 1954. Casey knew about my Dad's love of kayaking. Casey wrote, "Here's another Lithuanian friend with whom I've had great success kayaking."

Dad helps with the frogging.

Suburban Chicago, January 1982. Dad's accustomed to unraveling projects.

Sunday Custom

Suburban Chicago, December 1966. Mom often relaxed by practicing the piano.

Craft Fair

Holiday ManCraft isn't just for hipsters.

Grab a Book: Fireside Edition

Door County, Wisconsin, April 1976. Mom has her projects within reach as she sits near the fire.

(I posted the mountain-goat photo here. I see that I have not yet scanned the other image on the wall. I'll dig around for it.)

Knitting Together, Again

Door County, Wisconsin, October 1979. Mom and her best friend, Donna, share more knitting time. Mom's still working on that fair-isle, yoked sweater.

Clear your Monday head.

Suburban Chicago, September 1966. Relax by doing something you love.

Possessive

Door County, Wisconsin, December 1977. Gigi controls the yarn.

A Note about Fair-Isle Technique

Color dominance.