"Do the best you can with what you have." Every NHS student of Home Economics knows that was Mrs. Steffens motto. When we were freshman, we all had to make a skirt and top using the same pattern and then wear them on the same day. We all complained about that, but we all learned to sew. Mrs. Steffens always encouraged us to try new food, but she always conveniently left the room so we could run to the window or wash it down the drain. She had to know what we were doing. She was always willing to help you figure out how to make the outfit you wanted. Learning to sew increased our wardrobes. Remember the Fashion Show at the end of the year in the Multipurpose Room using the Prom decorations? I took three years of Home Ec. I use the skills I learned from Mrs. Steffens every day. My family's life has been better because of those skills. So remember, keep your sewing neat, clip those loose threads, press those seams, and if you don't want to eat it get rid of the evidence.
I have the same sentiments about Mrs. Steffens. She was an absolutely wonderful teacher and we did learn in her kitchen and sewing room! I do remember when we had the fashion show! I also remember all of us wearing our cotton flowered tops and skirts on the same day.
I will never forget when she asked someone in the class to bring in a pair of underwear that needed to be repaired. Colleen Brown held her hand up and said she had a pair. Mrs. Steffens asked her then to bring them in and she would show us how to repair them. Poor Colleen. She went home and took a seam out so Mrs. Steffens could show us how to fix them.
My sister, Renee, was an office aid and she had to type something for Mrs. Steffens. Renee took it to her during a class period and Mrs. Steffens said, "Now, I do not know how to type so I have a person that can do that and do it well. If you cannot do something yourself, and you have tried, hire someone to help you." I was so surprised Mrs. Steffens would say that when Renee came home after school and told that at the dinner table. I thought Mrs. Steffens could do everything!
I remember Mrs Steffens saying, "Press,press,press,press,press,press,press,press,press. The difference between a home made garment and a store purchased one is the pressing". When we finally finished a garment and had it just right, she would say,"You look like you just stepped out of the Vogue". When I clear the table and scrape the plates, I often remember her saying, "Many wives throw more out the back door than their husbands can bring in the front door." She taught us to use our time wisely by only ironing the front of our husbands shirts---the part their suit coats didn't cover. A wise and wonderful woman. I wish I had appreciated her more.
I too remember her commit: only ironing the front of our husbands shirts---the part their suit coats didn't cover. She was a great teacher and actually learn alot from her.
She was a great H.E. teacher! I still have recipe's i made in her class & they are still good! When my mom passed away the only item I wanted of her's was her sewing machine cause it's the one I learned on @ home while taking Mrs. Steffens class. Thank you for all that I learned from you!
I remember our awful tomato soup as well as the apron we made for Christmas as a gift to our mothers. I finished it (my way) and was so proud to have her grade it. Mrs. Steffens took one look at it and ripped the seams out. She used her saying "as she shall sew, so shall she rip". To this day, the apron is still in pieces. I never finished it.
I must admit that I did learn alot from our Home Ec classes and to this day, I like to make her chicken casserole she made for us when she had the senior girls as her guests at her house.
It is impressive to see that we all remember something that she taught us. My favorite is the canning. To this day I can my own salsa, tomatoes and low sugar jams. I also "mend" at my sewing machine.
She was a unique women and she "practiced what she preached."
To this very day when I am sewing up something special for my grand-daughters I get that silly little "sing song" phrase marching through my head...." press, press press press press press press". As much as any one of us would hate admitting it back then...Mrs. Steffens actually got through to MANY of us....Now I'm proud to say...Yea, I learned that from Mrs. Steffens!" I remember making those cotton dresses. I saved my own $$$ and went shopping for the most gorgeous polished cotton fabric. It was blue & yellow paisley! Can you even imagine! ! I kept having a problem with the stupid sleeves, but I was so proud that I was NOT going to go to her for help! After 5 trips to the store and 5 right sleeves later I finally decided to accept my stupidity and just ask her for help. How stupid did I feel when she told me all I had to do was flip the pattern over to cut it out. She also decided we needed to clean out the back closet one day. She had the cutest little antique table that she no longer wanted & told me I could have it. I was so thrilled! That was my little dressing table for years. I loved refinishing that thing every 5 years. Sure wish I knew where it was today. And I remember tossing those Wonderful "Cottage Cheese" pancakes out the window!
Kathy Garner (Okano) (1970)
"Do the best you can with what you have." Every NHS student of Home Economics knows that was Mrs. Steffens motto. When we were freshman, we all had to make a skirt and top using the same pattern and then wear them on the same day. We all complained about that, but we all learned to sew. Mrs. Steffens always encouraged us to try new food, but she always conveniently left the room so we could run to the window or wash it down the drain. She had to know what we were doing. She was always willing to help you figure out how to make the outfit you wanted. Learning to sew increased our wardrobes. Remember the Fashion Show at the end of the year in the Multipurpose Room using the Prom decorations? I took three years of Home Ec. I use the skills I learned from Mrs. Steffens every day. My family's life has been better because of those skills.So remember, keep your sewing neat, clip those loose threads, press those seams, and if you don't want to eat it get rid of the evidence.
Marty Somers (Ward) (1970)
I have the same sentiments about Mrs. Steffens. She was an absolutely wonderful teacher and we did learn in her kitchen and sewing room! I do remember when we had the fashion show! I also remember all of us wearing our cotton flowered tops and skirts on the same day.I will never forget when she asked someone in the class to bring in a pair of underwear that needed to be repaired. Colleen Brown held her hand up and said she had a pair. Mrs. Steffens asked her then to bring them in and she would show us how to repair them. Poor Colleen. She went home and took a seam out so Mrs. Steffens could show us how to fix them.
My sister, Renee, was an office aid and she had to type something for Mrs. Steffens. Renee took it to her during a class period and Mrs. Steffens said, "Now, I do not know how to type so I have a person that can do that and do it well. If you cannot do something yourself, and you have tried, hire someone to help you." I was so surprised Mrs. Steffens would say that when Renee came home after school and told that at the dinner table. I thought Mrs. Steffens could do everything!
Colleen Staples (Henderson) (1969)
I remember Mrs Steffens saying, "Press,press,press,press,press,press,press,press,press. The difference between a home made garment and a store purchased one is the pressing". When we finally finished a garment and had it just right, she would say,"You look like you just stepped out of the Vogue".When I clear the table and scrape the plates, I often remember her saying, "Many wives throw more out the back door than their husbands can bring in the front door." She taught us to use our time wisely by only ironing the front of our husbands shirts---the part their suit coats didn't cover.
A wise and wonderful woman. I wish I had appreciated her more.
Maria Sifuentes (Madrid) (1971)
I too remember her commit: only ironing the front of our husbands shirts---the part their suit coats didn't cover. She was a great teacher and actually learn alot from her.Dana Ure (Gross) (1971)
She was a great H.E. teacher! I still have recipe's i made in her class & they are still good! When my mom passed away the only item I wanted of her's was her sewing machine cause it's the one I learned on @ home while taking Mrs. Steffens class. Thank you for all that I learned from you!Elsa Rosales (1971)
I remember our awful tomato soup as well as the apron we made for Christmas as a gift to our mothers. I finished it (my way) and was so proud to have her grade it. Mrs. Steffens took one look at it and ripped the seams out. She used her saying "as she shall sew, so shall she rip". To this day, the apron is still in pieces. I never finished it.I must admit that I did learn alot from our Home Ec classes and to this day, I like to make her chicken casserole she made for us when she had the senior girls as her guests at her house.
Julia Elguezabal (Malcomb) (1971)
It is impressive to see that we all remember something that she taught us. My favorite is the canning. To this day I can my own salsa, tomatoes and low sugar jams. I also "mend" at my sewing machine.She was a unique women and she "practiced what she preached."
Diane Haney (McFarland) (1970)
To this very day when I am sewing up something special for my grand-daughters I get that silly little "sing song" phrase marching through my head...." press, press press press press press press". As much as any one of us would hate admitting it back then...Mrs. Steffens actually got through to MANY of us....Now I'm proud to say...Yea, I learned that from Mrs. Steffens!"I remember making those cotton dresses. I saved my own $$$ and went shopping for the most gorgeous polished cotton fabric. It was blue & yellow paisley! Can you even imagine! ! I kept having a problem with the stupid sleeves, but I was so proud that I was NOT going to go to her for help! After 5 trips to the store and 5 right sleeves later I finally decided to accept my stupidity and just ask her for help. How stupid did I feel when she told me all I had to do was flip the pattern over to cut it out.
She also decided we needed to clean out the back closet one day. She had the cutest little antique table that she no longer wanted & told me I could have it. I was so thrilled! That was my little dressing table for years. I loved refinishing that thing every 5 years. Sure wish I knew where it was today.
And I remember tossing those Wonderful "Cottage Cheese" pancakes out the window!