I’ve been at the sewing machine since I was 11 years old. My first project was a sleeveless, pink and white gingham jumper. I actually wore the thing. I’ve been hooked ever since. Yeah, I’ve gotten burned out every now and then, but I always come back to it.
I made most of my own clothes throughout my “Junior High” and High School years.
When I got married I started sewing for my family. I made my husband a white polyester leisure suit. (remember those?)
In the mid 70’s I started smocking and making clothes for my son and daughter and making a few things for local craft shows.
In the early 80’s I decided to make a career out of it. I opened a small shop and sold local crafters’ items and made ruffled curtains like “Dorothy’s”. They were beautiful until it came time to wash and IRON them. Then someone asked me if I made draperies and I said YES. What was I thinking, I’d never made a drapery in my life! But I learned very quickly and she must have liked them because she didn’t bring them back.
Burn out came in the mid 80’s so I went to work at a store selling curtains and other home furnishings. I didn’t like working on the weekends so I went to work in an office. BORING!!!
Went back home and opened a drapery workroom for designers. My first customer was Calico Corners in Richmond, VA. Then I had to work morning, noon and night, weekends, holidays…..back to an office job until 1994…..back to the workroom……1998, back to the office…….2004, back to the workroom, I’ve been there ever since…..then the recession came around and I’m down to one decorator…..that brought me to Etsy. I’m having a blast creating handbags and purses. I’m also going to do craft shows again.
I guess you’d say I’ve gone full circle.
The End