Presidential fabric
I bought this fabric a few years ago. It has all the U.S. presidents on it up through George W. Bush.
I want to make a simple wall hanging featuring our new president. (I would have featured John McCain if he had won the election.) I think it will be a memory of the times to be passed down to my great grandchildren. They can say, “Look at this old thing. She lived way back when Barack Obama was president.”
I am searching for a good image of Obama for the quilt. I found this one, but I will have to write to the Wall Street Journal and ask permission to use it.
Every year on Presidents’ Day I feel guilty. I vividly remember the time I cheated in school. I was a goody two shoes and never copied or did anything wrong at school. But, when I was in the eighth grade we had to memorize all the presidents. We were told we would be held back if we did not pass the test. I tried and tried and flunked two tests. My parents were really upset.
I decided to cheat. I wrote the presidents names on the part of my blouse that tucked into my skirt. We wore “full skirts” in those days – two or more yards of fabric gathered at the waist. My skirt had a snap closure instead of a zipper down the back. On test day, I pulled the waistband around so the closure was on my left side and opened the snaps. I copied the president’s names off my blouse. I knew I would pass.
When I arrived home, I told my mother that I was sure I’d finally passed the test. She said we should celebrate by going shopping. We went into the store dressing room so I could try on some clothes. I took off my skirt and there on the blouse were the names. She stared at them, but she didn’t say anything. My cheating was exposed. She bought me a new outfit and we never ever talked about the incident. I think she was relieved that I didn’t have to repeat eighth grade. A conspiracy of silence. It has haunted me all these years.
I found an article about memorizing president’s names in The Washington Post today. Kids have even more names to memorize than I did. I hope they don’t cheat.
I want to make a simple wall hanging featuring our new president. (I would have featured John McCain if he had won the election.) I think it will be a memory of the times to be passed down to my great grandchildren. They can say, “Look at this old thing. She lived way back when Barack Obama was president.”I am searching for a good image of Obama for the quilt. I found this one, but I will have to write to the Wall Street Journal and ask permission to use it.
Every year on Presidents’ Day I feel guilty. I vividly remember the time I cheated in school. I was a goody two shoes and never copied or did anything wrong at school. But, when I was in the eighth grade we had to memorize all the presidents. We were told we would be held back if we did not pass the test. I tried and tried and flunked two tests. My parents were really upset.I decided to cheat. I wrote the presidents names on the part of my blouse that tucked into my skirt. We wore “full skirts” in those days – two or more yards of fabric gathered at the waist. My skirt had a snap closure instead of a zipper down the back. On test day, I pulled the waistband around so the closure was on my left side and opened the snaps. I copied the president’s names off my blouse. I knew I would pass.
When I arrived home, I told my mother that I was sure I’d finally passed the test. She said we should celebrate by going shopping. We went into the store dressing room so I could try on some clothes. I took off my skirt and there on the blouse were the names. She stared at them, but she didn’t say anything. My cheating was exposed. She bought me a new outfit and we never ever talked about the incident. I think she was relieved that I didn’t have to repeat eighth grade. A conspiracy of silence. It has haunted me all these years.
I found an article about memorizing president’s names in The Washington Post today. Kids have even more names to memorize than I did. I hope they don’t cheat.
posted by Christine Thresh at 8:44 AM
9 Comments:
I love your quilt and the picture you picked for Obama .
WOW! What a fabulous pixelly yumness of a pic! Please keep us posted on it's progress.
We need not mention your transgression. Your guilt might handily takes care of any need to punish!
Very smart way of getting all those names in one place though. I really like that president fabric and your idea. I hope you get the ok on the picture use.
i think we all have a story like that...though no one cares to admit it. Perhaps thats why your mom didnt mention it :)
as for the president quilt...sounds like fun...i look forward to seeing your design when its complete!
I'm just laughing because I truly believed that JFK would receive the results when we took the President's Physical Fitness test in elementary school. I practiced like crazy on a chin-up bar my dad hung in a doorway so I could meet our president's expectations. I was such a short, wimpy kid, that my effort stunned the PE teacher, even if no one noticed at the White House.
Presidents sure play a part in our education!
Nancy,
And you've been a physically fit, fine tuned athlete ever since, right? All due to JFK.
What if you had written the presidents with a laundry marker and could sew that shirttail into the quilt?
All these years later, I wish I still had the blouse. I could have gone over the pencil names with a Pigma pen and used it for back of this quilt. But I think I got rid of that blouse as fast as I could -- destroyed the evidence.
Your story made me smile and laugh and brought back the memory of a similar episode for me. It was third grade and there was a contest for Valentine King and Queen. I was thrilled to be elected the Queen. When I got home and told my mother she was excited until she asked who I voted for and I said "myself". She was not so thrilled and gave me a good "talking-to" about it. Ah, memories, what fun!
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