A Sewing Machine
The Seamstress (after Vuillard) In 1935 when Eugenia’s 3 girls were young, her husband died in a fire. The accident was complicated and so was her grief. But eventually, even Eugenia, in typical New Orleans dark fashion was able to joke about her ‘bad luck’ and soon was back to her optimistic self and to the work of raising her girls. She had no money. But what she did have was an upright piano and a sewing machine. She knew 3 chords and a running stitch. It was just enough knowledge to teach her girls 3-part harmony and create stage-ready costumes. She instructed them on hand motions and a simple ball-change dance step for the stage. The girls understood-they were reminded often- they were destined for Hollywood Eventually, the girls earned a regular singing gig. And although a radio broadcast, the young singers would flounce around behind a microphone, in the elaborate costumes their mother had lovingly created. The youngest often wore a satin-y, emerald green gown with a s...
