This is an attagirl from another Jean, only I'm an 81-year-old retired college
prof in, you guessed it, Home Ec.
I found your Getcrafty book on our library's new books list and was curious. I
was a crafty housewife, with 2 years at Wellesley before I married, and with two
little girls who grew up during the 60's. It was then that I decided that there
was something in this feminism movement so went back to college (Ohio State) as
one of the first adult students. I chose Home Ec because I thought I could do a
better job than some of the teachers who my girls had had in high school. Well!
My whole life changed. I found myself in the middle of the campus riots, arguing
with young men who thought that a woman's place was barefoot, pregnant and one
step behind! When I finished my degrees (MS in Textiles) I could no longer
communicate with my old friends who cried when their children went off to college
and who spent their days playing bridge or watching soaps. I ended up teaching
Home Ec. at the college level and passed on my strong message that women counted,
could still be good parents/wives and also have a career ....but it took planning!!
I'm retired now, back to those great crafts... you name it I've done it... and am
delighted that my 2 girls are both homemakers and career women who, although super
busy are happy with their lives.
Which brings me back to my attagirl message: I'm delighted that your web page is
so successful and that your book is so inviting. The artistic side of life is SO
important and that self satisfaction of doing something creative is what all of us
need in this world. My special pursuit right now is quilting, but I also was an
avid knitter (at Wellesley in 1941 we used to knit in class... can you imagine
Hillary doing that?) and I still love making candles and soap. Thanks for opening
many doors for your generation.
PS: Glad to know that The Reader's Digest sewing book is still a good one... I
used it as a text in all of my clothing construction courses.
