My passion for sewing began at the age of 12...
My mother, Ellin, sewed. She was SO good. I do not think she enjoyed it, but she was GOOD. It was, then - in her generation, an expected ability. Something every young girl was taught, and every woman did, whether they were good at it or not. For me, it was not watching her sew that was so intriguing (it was actually a little scary, watching her), but the end result. When she would come out of her sewing room with a new dress, a Halloween costume, or a new summer outfit for one of us, I was just SO enthralled. So, when I was 12 and in the 7th grade, I asked her to show me how to use the machine. And, with my collection of VOGUE, Harpers BAZAAR and GLAMOUR magazines, and her bins of fabric, I created an entire Spring 'collection'. No patterns. Just a measuring tape and my imagination.
I continued to sew through high school. Rather than "school clothes shopping", I would shop for fabric and make an array of tops and skirts. And, of course, I made my senior prom dress.
When I became a mother ( I am blessed with six children in my life. Four of my own ages 19, 18, 16 and 13, and two of my husband's, ages nine and six!) my craft afforded me the opportunity to make some money while I stayed at home. I was also able to SAVE money by making a LOT of the clothes my children and I wore. It was then that my sewing was taken to a whole new level, and I began to get really serious about creating and producing not only clothing, but interior fashions also. I created a line of children's clothing that I sold in a couple of local artisan co-ops, and began to become known around town for my sewing.
Over the last 20 years I have been commissioned for nearly every type of project imaginable, from re-covering furniture to designing and creating formal wedding gowns! I also have a line of yoga mat bags and accessories.
- 36 victorian dresses, sized 2T - 14 for a local tea room - they used the dresses for children's tea parties
- innumerable costumes for school and church plays, a local college's theater department and, of course, Halloween
- commissioned work for clients for outer wear projects, mostly faux fur and wool
- countless custom formal dresses for clients far and wide, and my girl's and their friends for proms and other school events
- our elementary school's stage needed new curtains, so they came to me for help
- again, COUNTLESS commissioned projects for interior designs: curtains, pillows, recovering chairs and sofas, designing and creating bedding... I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Ellin, I am certain, is just thrilled when she looks down and sees me sewing... and singing. Thank you, Momma, for this GIFT.
My mother, Ellin, sewed. She was SO good. I do not think she enjoyed it, but she was GOOD. It was, then - in her generation, an expected ability. Something every young girl was taught, and every woman did, whether they were good at it or not. For me, it was not watching her sew that was so intriguing (it was actually a little scary, watching her), but the end result. When she would come out of her sewing room with a new dress, a Halloween costume, or a new summer outfit for one of us, I was just SO enthralled. So, when I was 12 and in the 7th grade, I asked her to show me how to use the machine. And, with my collection of VOGUE, Harpers BAZAAR and GLAMOUR magazines, and her bins of fabric, I created an entire Spring 'collection'. No patterns. Just a measuring tape and my imagination.
I continued to sew through high school. Rather than "school clothes shopping", I would shop for fabric and make an array of tops and skirts. And, of course, I made my senior prom dress.
When I became a mother ( I am blessed with six children in my life. Four of my own ages 19, 18, 16 and 13, and two of my husband's, ages nine and six!) my craft afforded me the opportunity to make some money while I stayed at home. I was also able to SAVE money by making a LOT of the clothes my children and I wore. It was then that my sewing was taken to a whole new level, and I began to get really serious about creating and producing not only clothing, but interior fashions also. I created a line of children's clothing that I sold in a couple of local artisan co-ops, and began to become known around town for my sewing.
Over the last 20 years I have been commissioned for nearly every type of project imaginable, from re-covering furniture to designing and creating formal wedding gowns! I also have a line of yoga mat bags and accessories.
- 36 victorian dresses, sized 2T - 14 for a local tea room - they used the dresses for children's tea parties
- innumerable costumes for school and church plays, a local college's theater department and, of course, Halloween
- commissioned work for clients for outer wear projects, mostly faux fur and wool
- countless custom formal dresses for clients far and wide, and my girl's and their friends for proms and other school events
- our elementary school's stage needed new curtains, so they came to me for help
- again, COUNTLESS commissioned projects for interior designs: curtains, pillows, recovering chairs and sofas, designing and creating bedding... I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Ellin, I am certain, is just thrilled when she looks down and sees me sewing... and singing. Thank you, Momma, for this GIFT.