Chapter One
CHAPTER ONE
“Congratulations Justa! It looks wonderful. I’ll be sure to come by to browse soon when I’m not so covered in children!” Called Mrs. Overblessed as she passed by pulling several of her thirteen children behind her and breaking me out of my blatant admiration of my new store front sign.
'Justa Smidge of Fashion' it read. I’d just had it installed above the window between ‘Mr. Curmudgeon’s Haberdashery’ and ‘Mr. Stitch’s Tailoring’ shop.
Technically, my new store was inside Mr Stitch’s Tailoring, but he’d leased me half of his space to allow me a place to display all my recent creations. Up until this past Christmas time, I’d been employed at the Haberdashery next door and very much enjoyed working there while designing and creating clothing and accessories in my spare time. In fact, all of the inspiration for my fashion creations had come from a very special place I’d visited a year ago while closing up shop for Mr. Curmudgeon.
During that visit I’d met so many interesting people, all with their own individual senses of style, I thought there might be others interested in having pieces just as original and got to work on putting them together. By Christmas, I’d finished enough pieces to make a reasonable display in the window and set some out on the floor for people to appreciate and hopefully want to purchase!
Unfortunately, I’d been so busy that I’d not had time to return to the place of my inspiration or thank those that had created and worn their original ideas. Now that my store was all up and open for business, I planned to return for a visit. This was not a place you just popped in for a quick hello however, and I’d spent a great deal of time planning and preparing to make the trip. Getting there was easy enough, it was the getting back part that took some time. I’d been in rather a rush the last time and wanted to be sure to enjoy this next visit and possibly explore a bit. I was curious about some of the surrounding areas and as there were several different climates I’d be traveling through, my list of things to bring was growing extensive.
I would need to bring food of course and I also had a growing pile of gifts for my new friends I’d be visiting.
“Justa! There you are - Oh! You’ve got the sign up! I love it, and what a perfect choice for the window display! Just right for the Winter season.”
Polly, a dear friend of mine, came up behind me, tearing me from my thoughts once again and was admiring the furry, white coats with wide, flowing jeweled cuffs that were shining through the store window. A design I’d first seen worn by Snow Angels in the Monday Mountains. Yes. Snow Angels. I’ll admit I was skeptical when first coming upon the ladies in the snow myself but once I’d gotten to know them a bit it didn’t take long to see that although their surroundings were icy, their hearts were warm and they were very hospitable and helpful. I hoped they might allow me to stay a little longer on my next visit and was even hoping I could ask to stay the night. But - I’m getting ahead of myself, first things first.
“Polly, I’m so glad you’ve agreed to help me with the shop this week. I don’t think it should be much trouble and I’ll be next door closing up shop at the Haberdashery tomorrow night so if you do need help, just call and I’ll run right over.”
“I’ll manage just fine, Justa, I’m excited at the chance to show off that I know the designer of such intriguing fashions! Imagine! Me, a friend of a designer!”
“Oh, Polly, we’ve known each other forever which is about as long as anyone else who might stop in to buy anything so I don’t think they’ll be too impressed to know your connection to me.”
“None the less,” Polly argued, “When you do get your big break and are featured in all the fashion catalogues, I can say I knew you when!”
Polly Wogg had been my dearest friend since we were five years old and started school together and before you think badly of her parents for giving her such an amphibious name for their pretty little girl, I can assure you they did not. Her given name is Jane. Unfortunately, one cannot help the surname they are born into and Jane was called Polly by all the little boys in elementary school because of hers. She didn’t mind so much though, since she said Polly was so much more interesting than Jane and once people met a girl called ‘Polly Wogg’ they didn’t soon forget her. So, Polly she was and has remained ever since.
“Well, I’m grateful to you Polly and I’ll leave you to it as I must be off. I’m to meet Ms. Ledger over at the church to go over the final touches for her wedding ensemble.”
I waved goodbye and walked quickly the three blocks to the church which would be the place of Ms. Ledger’s wedding to Mr. Curmudgeon. The two had met a few years ago, as Ms. Ledger worked at the bank across the road from Mr. Curmudgeon’s Haberdashery and helped him with his book keeping. They both insisted I had a hand in bringing them closer together last New Year’s Day when I closed up shop for Mr. Curmudgeon and allowed him to visit with Ms. Ledger over some of my cinnamon buns. This, added to the fact that I had an interest in designing and sewing original dresses, is why Ms. Ledger had come to me to create her wedding gown as well as her bridesmaid’s dresses.
I entered the church and was brought to a side meeting room where Ms. Marjorie Ledger was waiting for me, her lap piled with papers.
“Ahh Justa, there you are. Almost everything is underway for the ceremony. The shoes for my ladies have arrived and you’ve assured me you have their dresses fitted?”
“I do, Ms. Ledger. They all seem happy with the way they turned out. Will you be needing them for a rehearsal?”
“No, I don’t think we’ll want them until the actual ceremony.”
“I’m glad to hear that, as the feathers are rather fragile and I’d hate to have them messed up before the need to wear them. Now, are there any changes to your gown?”
“The gown is perfection and please tell me you’ll be there to assist me in getting into it!”
“Of course, I’ll be there, you can be sure. Now, tell me, are you still going through with the swans?”
“They are the highlight to the entire ceremony Justa! Not only that but they are so looking forward to being the center of attention! Until I walk down the aisle that is.”
“Very well, I‘ve almost finished your hat and veil and will have them to you the day before. If that is all, I’ll head on home and get back to gluing on feathers.”
She sent me off with a little hug as a woman hauling in large baskets of fruit and flowers came through the door for Ms. Ledger to choose from.
Ms. Ledger had decided on a swan theme for the wedding and wanted to incorporate her two Trumpeter Swans, ‘Shilling’ and ‘Sixpence’, in place of a ring bearer and flower girl. I had my doubts as to how well they would walk the aisle but she assured me that with grapes dropped along the floor, leading to the front of the church, the swans would follow the trail and gobble up the grapes before any of the bridal party stepped on them.
I arrived home and got to work completing the final touches of the veil which was held in place by the beak of a very life like swan which was in fact the hat that Ms. Ledger would be wearing. Gluing on the last of the tail feathers, I left it to dry in my sewing room and went off to bake the cinnamon buns I planned to pack and deliver the next evening and was then off to bed.
“Congratulations Justa! It looks wonderful. I’ll be sure to come by to browse soon when I’m not so covered in children!” Called Mrs. Overblessed as she passed by pulling several of her thirteen children behind her and breaking me out of my blatant admiration of my new store front sign.
'Justa Smidge of Fashion' it read. I’d just had it installed above the window between ‘Mr. Curmudgeon’s Haberdashery’ and ‘Mr. Stitch’s Tailoring’ shop.
Technically, my new store was inside Mr Stitch’s Tailoring, but he’d leased me half of his space to allow me a place to display all my recent creations. Up until this past Christmas time, I’d been employed at the Haberdashery next door and very much enjoyed working there while designing and creating clothing and accessories in my spare time. In fact, all of the inspiration for my fashion creations had come from a very special place I’d visited a year ago while closing up shop for Mr. Curmudgeon.
During that visit I’d met so many interesting people, all with their own individual senses of style, I thought there might be others interested in having pieces just as original and got to work on putting them together. By Christmas, I’d finished enough pieces to make a reasonable display in the window and set some out on the floor for people to appreciate and hopefully want to purchase!
Unfortunately, I’d been so busy that I’d not had time to return to the place of my inspiration or thank those that had created and worn their original ideas. Now that my store was all up and open for business, I planned to return for a visit. This was not a place you just popped in for a quick hello however, and I’d spent a great deal of time planning and preparing to make the trip. Getting there was easy enough, it was the getting back part that took some time. I’d been in rather a rush the last time and wanted to be sure to enjoy this next visit and possibly explore a bit. I was curious about some of the surrounding areas and as there were several different climates I’d be traveling through, my list of things to bring was growing extensive.
I would need to bring food of course and I also had a growing pile of gifts for my new friends I’d be visiting.
“Justa! There you are - Oh! You’ve got the sign up! I love it, and what a perfect choice for the window display! Just right for the Winter season.”
Polly, a dear friend of mine, came up behind me, tearing me from my thoughts once again and was admiring the furry, white coats with wide, flowing jeweled cuffs that were shining through the store window. A design I’d first seen worn by Snow Angels in the Monday Mountains. Yes. Snow Angels. I’ll admit I was skeptical when first coming upon the ladies in the snow myself but once I’d gotten to know them a bit it didn’t take long to see that although their surroundings were icy, their hearts were warm and they were very hospitable and helpful. I hoped they might allow me to stay a little longer on my next visit and was even hoping I could ask to stay the night. But - I’m getting ahead of myself, first things first.
“Polly, I’m so glad you’ve agreed to help me with the shop this week. I don’t think it should be much trouble and I’ll be next door closing up shop at the Haberdashery tomorrow night so if you do need help, just call and I’ll run right over.”
“I’ll manage just fine, Justa, I’m excited at the chance to show off that I know the designer of such intriguing fashions! Imagine! Me, a friend of a designer!”
“Oh, Polly, we’ve known each other forever which is about as long as anyone else who might stop in to buy anything so I don’t think they’ll be too impressed to know your connection to me.”
“None the less,” Polly argued, “When you do get your big break and are featured in all the fashion catalogues, I can say I knew you when!”
Polly Wogg had been my dearest friend since we were five years old and started school together and before you think badly of her parents for giving her such an amphibious name for their pretty little girl, I can assure you they did not. Her given name is Jane. Unfortunately, one cannot help the surname they are born into and Jane was called Polly by all the little boys in elementary school because of hers. She didn’t mind so much though, since she said Polly was so much more interesting than Jane and once people met a girl called ‘Polly Wogg’ they didn’t soon forget her. So, Polly she was and has remained ever since.
“Well, I’m grateful to you Polly and I’ll leave you to it as I must be off. I’m to meet Ms. Ledger over at the church to go over the final touches for her wedding ensemble.”
I waved goodbye and walked quickly the three blocks to the church which would be the place of Ms. Ledger’s wedding to Mr. Curmudgeon. The two had met a few years ago, as Ms. Ledger worked at the bank across the road from Mr. Curmudgeon’s Haberdashery and helped him with his book keeping. They both insisted I had a hand in bringing them closer together last New Year’s Day when I closed up shop for Mr. Curmudgeon and allowed him to visit with Ms. Ledger over some of my cinnamon buns. This, added to the fact that I had an interest in designing and sewing original dresses, is why Ms. Ledger had come to me to create her wedding gown as well as her bridesmaid’s dresses.
I entered the church and was brought to a side meeting room where Ms. Marjorie Ledger was waiting for me, her lap piled with papers.
“Ahh Justa, there you are. Almost everything is underway for the ceremony. The shoes for my ladies have arrived and you’ve assured me you have their dresses fitted?”
“I do, Ms. Ledger. They all seem happy with the way they turned out. Will you be needing them for a rehearsal?”
“No, I don’t think we’ll want them until the actual ceremony.”
“I’m glad to hear that, as the feathers are rather fragile and I’d hate to have them messed up before the need to wear them. Now, are there any changes to your gown?”
“The gown is perfection and please tell me you’ll be there to assist me in getting into it!”
“Of course, I’ll be there, you can be sure. Now, tell me, are you still going through with the swans?”
“They are the highlight to the entire ceremony Justa! Not only that but they are so looking forward to being the center of attention! Until I walk down the aisle that is.”
“Very well, I‘ve almost finished your hat and veil and will have them to you the day before. If that is all, I’ll head on home and get back to gluing on feathers.”
She sent me off with a little hug as a woman hauling in large baskets of fruit and flowers came through the door for Ms. Ledger to choose from.
Ms. Ledger had decided on a swan theme for the wedding and wanted to incorporate her two Trumpeter Swans, ‘Shilling’ and ‘Sixpence’, in place of a ring bearer and flower girl. I had my doubts as to how well they would walk the aisle but she assured me that with grapes dropped along the floor, leading to the front of the church, the swans would follow the trail and gobble up the grapes before any of the bridal party stepped on them.
I arrived home and got to work completing the final touches of the veil which was held in place by the beak of a very life like swan which was in fact the hat that Ms. Ledger would be wearing. Gluing on the last of the tail feathers, I left it to dry in my sewing room and went off to bake the cinnamon buns I planned to pack and deliver the next evening and was then off to bed.
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