17 minute read
FASHION FORWARD
22 SHADES OF GRAY
BY TRACEY SIMONE PHOTOS BY MARK DAVIS, M.A.P. GRAPHICS, OTHERS
Advertisement
Some people like to be different. They just do not like to be like everyone else. Nowhere is this truer than when it comes to clothing and fashion. Who wants to look like all the other people out there?
For most women especially, one of the most devastating and even embarrassing things would be to get dressed up to go somewhere just to find that another woman is wearing the same outfit! Oh no! The nerve. How could she? Is there a place to hide?
Well, the ladies of the 518 are lucky. They are fortunate to have an amazing original clothing designer right in their midst! They can ensure that for their next event, they can be stylish, comfortable, and will not look like everyone else. In fact, if they want to, they can even custom order garments made specifically for them. or tell her what you would like. She can partner with you to design exactly what you imagine. She can help you bring your vision to life. You can also shop for items that are already made. She has a big selection of oneof-a-kind outfits that are reasonably priced. Each of her garments is very kind, wonderful woman who truly loves what she does. She will make you something that works for you, make you look fabulous, will not cost an arm and a leg, and is created with attention to detail. She absolutely loves what she does and to the point that her awesome husband built her a shop from which to run her business.
One other thing that is wonderful about 22 Shades of Gray is that some of the garments are made from repurposed fabrics. What once was a pair of jeans may get miraculously transformed into part of a new dress or top. She provides quality that is unrivaled, and she sometimes does special treatments with dyes and bleach that make the fabrics even more interesting. Every item is well made, with durability in mind. Peggy really thinks of everything when she creates her garments. Most items are fully lined, which helps them to retain their shape and to also to wear better over time.
Meet Viola Peggy Gray. She is the owner of 22 Shades of Gray. This very talented woman is a master with a sewing machine. She makes clothing for women of all shapes and sizes and she delivers quality products every time.
If you are interested in unique items that you are guaranteed to not see anywhere else, contact Peggy. You can either bring her your own fabric feminine. They are also all machine washable, comfortable, and very well made. She makes her own patterns, is never afraid to try something new, and works with many different colors, prints and fabrics. Most of her garments even have pockets!
Not only is Peggy an amazing designer who can sew ANYTHING, she is also a lovely soul. Peggy is a friendly,
Every so often, a designer or seamstress jumps out above the rest and Peggy is one such artist. When I saw her work myself for the first time, I knew that I had to see even more. Who is this woman? Who created this jacket? I LOVE this jacket! What? It comes in even more fabrics. Count me in. I need to see more. Once someone introduced me to this designer, I was hooked. I am now a customer and very well
pleased. My daughter seems to be very pleased with my selections from 22 Shades of Gray as well because they somehow seem to go missing from my closet and end up in hers.
If you love clothing and are always looking for something different, but not willing to compromise quality, or style, then 22 Shades of Gray is for you. In these days of ‘dress down’ for work and even working from home, fashion seems to have gotten lost. Well, the truth is, it is not lost at all……it is right in the 518 in Buskirk, New York with Peggy at the 22 Shades of Gray location!
Not too long ago, many ladies used to have to wear business suits to work. If it wasn’t a suit or a professional dress and nice shoes, it was not acceptable in the office. There was a quality as well as a sense of pride in how people looked and dressed, even at work. Oftentimes, ladies could go directly from work and then out to dinner. It is so refreshing to meet Peggy and shop her garments because she offers classy, stylish, feminine outfits that can also go from work to dinner. If it is important to you to be able to express yourself stylishly through clothing, visit 22 Shades of Gray and see Peggy. Please call first to make an appointment.
To learn more and see additional pictures, visit her on Instagram at @22shadesofgray. You can also view her products from the 22 Shades of Gray page on Facebook. To make an appointment, you can dial (518) 686-4195.
YOU ARE ENOUGH. WHITE NOISE SHORTY
BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO BY TAMMY VREELAND
Based on Short Stories From White Noise Volume One
The Ferry
Joyce has had a long stressful week in the city. Her little apartment provides her the necessary tools to be efficient for work, but her home on the island provides her the much-needed peace and quiet her poor body craves.
The commute from the city to the ferry, though, is always stressful. Being so late, and fearful she will miss the last ferry, Joyce takes the backroads at breakneck speed. Not normally a hard task until unexpected fog rolls in. Making her misjudge a crucial turn that causes her car to roll into a ravine.
Shaken but determined, Joyce was surprised that the car only rolled once and she was able to drive the car out of the ravine. No harm, no foul and thankfully no one around to see! Besides the poor condition her car is now in and the excruciating pain in her neck, she pushes through, hoping to catch the ferry.
A little more careful, she edges closer to the dock. It seems later than it should be. In fact, no cars are waiting in line. Joyce looks at the clock on the radio and is shocked to see how late it is! Where had all the time gone? There is no way the ferry would still be here!
But to her surprise, as Joyce rolls closer to the dock, she vaguely sees a man motioning her to come forward. Even in bright sunlight she hated driving the car onto the ferry, fearful she will hit something, but tonight was way worse! She could barely see in front of her because of the heavy fog, but she is relieved she is actually getting on the ferry! late, but perhaps they had been delayed due to the fog? No matter, she parks her car and gets out. Joyce rubs subconsciously at her neck. Although it didn’t hurt, she felt a need to rub it.
Surprised, Joyce realizes she is holding her iPad, then she remembers her phone was dead anyway so she must have grabbed it instead.
An older woman approaches her, “Ma’am what are you doing here?”
Startled by the woman’s appearance, Joyce answers truthfully, “I’m heading home. I know the car looks like a wreck, but it runs and drives.”
The woman tries to hear her, but the insistent noise of waves in her ears drowns the woman’s words out, “What did you say?”
Joyce realizes the woman looks a little unhinged and answers, “I’m just thankful the ferry is still here!”
The woman looks around, frightened, “No, this ferry is...” she stumbles for the right words “under repair. You missed the last ferry!”
Pissed, Joyce raises her voice, “Damn it! Some guy waved me on, so I simply followed him!” Suddenly Joyce feels the familiar lurch of the boat moving. She looks at the woman, “We are moving!”
The old woman closes her eyes but sees nothing but the sea beckoning her. Opening them, she replies tiredly, “I guess you get your ride after all. Just stay in your car. Who knows what will happen in this fog?” Joyce watches the old woman shuffle off. She always feels sorry for the homeless. The demons they deal with must be rough. Joyce finds her way to a bench, that is soaking wet, trying to get on to wi-fi but to no avail. A man clears his throat, interrupting Joyce’s thoughts. Joyce looks around to see where the man is, but the fog keeps him hidden in the shadows.
Unafraid, Joyce speaks up, “Crazy how bad the fog is, uh?”
Annoyed, the man answers, “What are you doing on the ferry?”
Defensively, Joyce answers, “A man waved me on here!”
The man sighs, “Ah yes, that would be Johnny. Poor kid still doesn’t know no better.” Joyce adds, “An older woman asked the same thing. I was going to go find out, but figured what was the point? The ferry only goes to the island, and that’s where I want to go!”
The man sneers a little, “That old woman has her own worries!”
Annoyed that people can be so cruel to the homeless, Joyce comes to her defense, “And what worries would that be?”
The man points toward the windows, “Have you seen how thick the fog is out there? Being the Captain, she has more concerns than you right now!”
Before Joyce can reply, he adds, “We should have never left the port in this fog! One person is not worth the risk!”
Joyce feels guilty but has to ask, “Forgive me, but that old woman is the Captain?” The man nods. “Yup, I remember the day she came to us. All young like you and so proud to be a woman Captain. Me and the guys were not too sure about her. Boats and women tend to have a bad history.” Joyce sighs. She can’t believe in this day and
age there are still such thoughts! Ready to defend the woman again, Joyce replies, “Apparently she was quite capable, to be an older woman and still doing it!”
The man shrugs his shoulders and asks, “What do you do for a living?”
Joyce hates it when someone asks that question. It is never an easy answer, “I am a writer.”
Curious, the man asks, “What do you write?” Joyce sighs, “Horror stories.”
The man laughs out loud and answers, “Really? Didn’t see you as the type. Though I admit, I give you credit for being here alone talking to a stranger.”
Joyce looks around at the desolate ferry with the heavy fog. She supposed most women would be terrified of the situation she was in. Being on the wrong boat, scary looking fog, cell phone dead, no Wi-Fi; however, she can’t help but laugh along with the man, “I know right? I should be sobbing hysterically, but I have never been that kind of woman.”
Surprised at her candor, he wonders, “Why is that?”
Joyce thinks about it before she answers, “As a kid, I used to love anything that scared me. I would take it as a challenge. The more it scared me, the more I would go back and try to conquer it.”
The man can’t help but smile, “Impressive.” Joyce shakes her head, “Not really. Unfortunately, the thing I enjoyed most, being scared, seems no longer an option for me. Nothing I read or see gives me that thrill I first had when I was a kid.” fear, most have not.”
The man wonders, “Do you write your stories on that thing on your lap?”
Joyce looks down at her lap, “My iPad? Yes, in fact, I usually do a lot of my writing while commuting.”
The man hesitates, “I have a story.”
Joyce quickly gets her iPad ready to write. She loves when strangers tell her their stories, “Mind if I write it down as you tell me?” The man agrees, “I’d be honored. There was a ferry due to be retired. Earlier in the week, they had stripped it. Leaving nothing but the shell. The crew was to dock it at the dock not but a stone’s throw away. Leaving none of them to worry of any risks due to lack of equipment.”
The man sighs, “What they did not know was their Captain had made an arrangement with a passenger. The inexperienced Captain thought a quick jaunt to the island and back would not be a big deal. As for the fog, a perfect cover up for the Captain’s shady dealings.”
The man explains, “These ferries are not sea worthy for the open sea, let alone without equipment to help. The crew quickly realized they had passed the dock they were supposed to go to and confronted the Captain.”
Joyce easily types as the man tells his story. Occasionally, she looks around to focus on where the voice is coming from so she can see him. Unfortunately, the fog was only going to allow her to see his outline.
Frustrated, Joyce looks back down at the iPad and continues typing. The man proceeds, “To their surprise, they are met with the passenger pointing a gun at them. They learned the passenger was on the run and no matter what, the passenger was getting off the boat so as not to be discovered.” Disgusted, he explains, “The only thing they had on the boat was the passenger’s car and trailer, which happened to have a Jet Ski loaded on it.”
Joyce smiles, “Ah, let me guess. The passenger insisted on taking the Jet Ski because he did not want to be on the boat when they were rescued?”
The man nods, “What a nightmare it was for the crew to lower the damn thing into the sea, let alone try to tell the passenger he had no way of knowing where to go. Nevertheless, he was not about to listen. The Captain, trying to secure payment, assured the passenger that together, they would find the island.”
Joyce adds, “Somehow they did get to the island, right?”
The man nods sadly, “Yes, but once on the island the Captain refused to say anything to anyone for fear of being found out about helping the fugitive. The Captain, in disguise, left the island with the money and never looked back.”
Joyce is shocked, “This was the Captain’s crew. Surely there would be some sort of loyalty?”
The man agrees but answers, “The crew had never respected the Captain. Getting off the boat, money was not only the Captain’s reason to leave. The Captain knew the crew would have taken punishment into their own hands. They were a rough bunch, so either way it was a risk.”
Joyce is confused, “Once the boat was found, the crew would tell everything. Then the Captain would be held accountable. That
was an awfully big gamble!”
The man sighs, “One the Captain thought they won.”
The man finishes his story, “The ferry was pronounced lost at sea and thought to have claimed all lives. Part of the trailer was found with the license plate still on it, placing the refugee as a possible passenger on the boat. He was pronounced dead, which was exactly what he wanted!”
Joyce is saddened by the story. “What do you think happened on the ferry?”
The man speculates, “It is believed that a rogue wave came upon them. With no power, they had no chance, and the ferry went under.”
Joyce wonders, “What happened to the Captain? Did the money bring everything it was meant to?”
The man smiles, “What most don’t know is that a Captain is honor bound to their boat. Since the dawn of time, that commitment has always been in place. A Captain goes down with the ship, not only out of honor but an escape to the consequences for putting the boat and the crew in a bad position to begin with.”
Joyce is intrigued as she writes, “Consequences? What sort of consequences?” The man sighs, “The sea is not forgiving. Relentless, it will follow you in your dreams. It shows no mercy or compassion. It will eventually erode your determination to never return and then it will inflict its final punishment!”
Joyce closes her iPad and gets up, “The story you told me... fact or fiction?” not for the reader to decide?”
Joyce chuckles, “Spoken like a true author! Thank you for the story.”
Joyce hears nothing in return and realizes the man has left. Feeling tired, she decides to go back to her car. The darkness is overwhelming, but somehow she makes it back inside her car.
Trying to focus on some sort of light, in the distance she sees a weird glow. A little relieved, it looks like it might be the workers. But how were they glowing? Fear washes over her like nothing before as they come closer! They reminded her of jelly fish she had seen pictures of illuminating the sea. One by one, these jelly creatures that looked to have once been men sloshed slowly by her car. Thankfully, they pass by her not paying any attention to her - yet. Joyce hears distant screams coming from what sounds like the old woman.
Knowing she should try to get out and help her, Joyce is more concerned that when she reached for the car door, her own hand passes through it! Now, even more terrified, Joyce looks down and realizes she is not inside her own body. In fact, her own body is slumped over the steering wheel with her neck twisted at a strange angle.
Hearing the tortured screams of the old woman, Joyce realizes she is not up to conquering this fear or, for that matter, staying around long enough to conquer it! Joyce is determined not to stay on this ferry for eternity! Ahead she sees Johnny waving her forward, poor Johnny, still doing his job unaware.
Determined, Joyce manipulates her old body to do one last bidding and drives the car off the ferry onto the dock. Exhausted she lets the first rays of sunrise wash over her as she is thankful. She finally made it home.
********** To this day, no one knows how Joyce’s car ended up on the island. The greater mystery was the time of her death. According to the coroner, her death had happened in the accident the night before.
However, the last story Joyce had w ritten on her iPad had been written several hours later. As for the old lady, she was the Captain in the story. The torment the sea had inflicted on her all those years had finally taken its toll and forced her to face her final punishment …for all Captains go down with their ship, even if it is years later.
