A Working Milliner

Chapter 1:

I feel the soft, light blue silk slipping away in my hands. I hear the door open, and footsteps getting closer. I am a milliner in this fine town of Williamsburg. I work here with one of my greatest friends, makings the best clothing around. Each day, I hear the horses outside clicking away, telling me that today is a new day. I sew with my nimble fingers, making every last stitch perfect. The customers come in and out, asking for special orders. I just love the smile on those people’s faces, when they get their order, and hand me the money. I look forward each time to see those smiles, and make their day. Making an appearance is all about the style of clothing you wear. I make those styles work, and I do work quite a lot. I of course have a star customer, a servant. She comes into my store almost every week, asking new orders for her master. I get many servants doing errands for their master, but I also get middling class folk wanting to get in on the new shipments I have. The servant girl’s master always wants in on the new goodies I have in my store.

Once, I had this customer who was an upper middling class man retrieving something for his wife. He was tall and wore high socks with garters. I’ve had many loyal customers before, but he asks for twenty-five beautiful gowns! That day I was filled with happiness, but I know that I most likely will not get a customer like that again. But I did get a new shipment of silk fabric in today, I love the feel of that smooth material slipping through my fingers. It’s always a pleasure working with it, (in the end). Many fabrics are hard to work with, but always when I’m finished with my creation, I’m proud and I love the results! Bigger gowns and clothing items take a little longer then a simple tunic. Only because there’s a lot more to make with it. I remember when I was a small girl, wanting to work in a millinery. I was an apprentice to another milliner, doing simple things around her shop and learning as much as I could. I also learned arithmetic so I could deal with the money I make, give, and need. At the end of each day I would take out my recording books, and add on from that day’s progress. There’s much to do in the millinery, and it’s my passion to do all that’s needed.

Chapter 2:

I knew that today would come, I’ve been waiting for almost a full month. My hands ache from all the work and affort I put into this creation. My friend helped me as did I with her creation. But this was my project, my time to show who I am. Today is the day that it all stops, the pressure, the stress, the project. My nerves build up inside me, waiting for noon to come, anxiously waiting. I breathe deeply, sucking in as much air as I could. I’m an orderly person, so I had my schedule ready for the day. Please come, please, please come. I thought to myself, knowing they would come, but would they like it? Would my world crash and break down because of the terrible work I’ve down? I put the pressure on myself because on how huge this day is for me. I stare at the door, just waiting for the moment they come through. I walk over to the back room, stalking my product. I glare at it, searching for a hole, a mis-stitch, a rip or a stain! I stop, I run my hand over the beautiful embroidery on the bodice. Everything, looks perfect. I think to myself smiling wide, ear to ear.

Thump… The door! They’re here, I know they’re here. I race to the front of the store eager to see them. I can’t wait to see their faces when…it’s not them. It was just Comfort Wright, my working partner and friend. “Today is the day,” I told her, hoping she would get excited. “Oh, good luck,” she answered in a nice tone. Then she raced to the back like she needed to get something done. I waited too long for this day for these customers not to like this heartfelt beautiful garment I made. These customers are nice gentry class folk that I rarely get. They asked me to make them clothing for a gala that they have that is just a few days away. The are rude, and cocky, and I want to show them that I am not just a simple milliner, but hardworking respected person. They will like it, I will earn their approval, and I will be proud.