In honor of Mardi Gras, a story:
About 12 years ago a box arrived in the mail. There was no return address. It was supposed to contain fabric donated by someone online who wanted to support my fundraising efforts for the local animal shelter.
(I sewed Christmas stockings from vintage fabrics, laces, buttons and flowers which were given to those people who donated $200 to the shelter in December).
Inside was a beautiful velvet crystal-studded, sequin-trimmed Mardi Gras costume.
My friend Ginny modelled it for us last Thanksgiving. Parts of it are old, parts (with the sequins) redone. The train is over 14 feet long.
The dress is a bit risque. A show-girl costume, perhaps? With materials taken from a vintage Krewe costume?
Why would someone anonymously donate this to a stranger to be cut up and destroyed?
(and doesn’t Ginny look fabulous!)
is there any more pie? 
Wow! Where is it now?
In an enormous plastic bin in my basement! I think I need to have a Halloween party next fall…
What a beautiful dress. Maybe the owner couldn’t think of a better use than supporting the local animal shelter–it would have made a lot of gorgeous Christmas stockings. I couldn’t have cut it up either.
The box was postmarked from New Orleans, which makes it even more mysterious.