so much for that idea.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 5:42PM So much for being the perfect Yarnista.
So much for being the perfect employer.
So much for being the perfect mother, daughter, wife, friend, human being.
I give up.
Who wants to give up with me?
Because it can never be perfect. Your beautiful daughter can look like this ten minutes before trick or treating:
Serene. Perfect.
And moments later, be upset and practically in tears because someone stepped on and ripped the tulle skirt that you sewed by hand after visiting two stores and taking time out of the middle of your work day to find the right elastic thread.
And then moments later, rip off the veil and hand her bouquet over to someone else because she wants to run faster than her get up will allow while snagging candy from the neighbors.
So much for the serene, perfect bride. (And let's not forget the giant horsedog that almost ruined this outfit ten times over with just her very existence.)
So much for the idea of being the perfect hostess who graciously and with nary a stray eyebrow hair welcomes 20 guests into her yarn studio on a crisp autumnal afternoon.
The guests themselves were hilarious, kind, and lovely. They had a spirit of adventure -- many of them had traveled a long way to place themselves in the hands of a woman they'd never met.
Me, on the other hand? I had many out-of-place eyebrow hairs as we worked until the very last moment getting things ready.
I dictated a brownie quotient to each attendee. "I am not taking any of these home! Eat more! You're not eating enough! Eat at least four more!"
How's that for a nice hostess? Forcing her guests to eat homemade baked goods. I'm sure Martha Stewart does that all the time. Welcome to my home in the Hamptons. HURRY UP AND EAT MORE. NO, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. MORE. HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO REPEAT MYSELF? SIT IN YOUR SEAT AND EAT, DING DANG IT.
(I'm sorry, hilarious, kind, and lovely knitters. I'm sorry that I was neurotic and had messy eyebrows and forced you to eat my brownies.)
Despite the lack of perfection in any area of my life, I had a lovely weekend, because I've decided to give up being perfect. Because ultimately, Miss B is not going to remember how perfect her bride costume was. Only that I made it and that she liked it. And my lovely workshop attendees are (hopefully) not going to remember the forced consumption of baked goods, just that they had a fun time at a yarn studio one Saturday afternoon in October.
The yarn, on the other hand? That's still going to have to be perfect.
Sorry.
Reader Comments (8)
Oh my goodness does Miss B look adorable! Great job on the brides outfit! Your attendees all look very happy and if I know anything about your brownie baking goodness, I don't think you had to force people to eat the brownies! In fact, I'm going to have to insist you airmail me some pronto! ;) Looks like it was a great time.
Dear HRH FTY,
You could force feed me baked goods and yarn anytime!!! Looks like an amazing day! Your daughter looks so sweet; you're right, the memory will be all about what you did for her with great love!
I love reading your blogs; you hit so many places of home! I hope your "little Halloween Bride," reads every one of these when she grows up and laughs with you as she is sharing them. I know she already knows how much love you spread around her and everything else that you touch - and doing it with humor is the absolute best! Thank you for making me smile!
Just cherish the fact that she's only crying over a ripped skirt right now. . .and anyway, the story is much better the way it is (rather than, "I made the dress & then we trick or treated." period, end of story.) :) I look forward to brownies being the treat for next month's sock yarn (hint, hint).
perfect is highly overrated.
and you really don't *need* to sew tulle skirts for costumes. cut the tulle into strips twice as long as you want the skirt & lark's head knot them over a piece of elastic the size of the recipient's waist. makes super easy bride skirts or ballerina tutus. the knotting is time consuming, but it's easier than sewing that stuff!
BTW, you have my addy. leftover brownies cheerfully accepted here ;)
Well, it's all the little imperfections that make life interesting, right? :)
And I'm sure B thinks you're the perfect mom for her we think you are the perfect yarnista to us! :)
Sharon, It makes me happy to see this!
I had so much fun learning, listening, and seeing where my favorite hand-dyed yarn gets born. What a lovely studio and, really, what a lovely story - the birth and evolution of 3IG!
(when do I confess I only ate two brownies on Sunday?!? Oops.)
Thanks so much Sharon! Kate N.
The brownies were really good. In fact, I think I might be able to eat brownies again some day... once I get over the trauma of you forcing them down our throats. :)