About Me Page
Apparently, no one reads long-form anymore, and as I can be quiet verbose (see below) I have condensed my “About Me” page.
Who I am
- I love patternmaking and enjoy sewing clothing
- I love to learn and have gotten a few degrees and certificates in everything from Teaching, Graphic Design, History, to Fashion Design.
- I learned to sew from my mother, a high school Home Economics class. The lions share of my sewing and patternmaking education come from the amazing teachers at Massey University and from working with fabulous designers in the fashion industry.
- I used to blog regularly, but can now mostly be found co-hosting the live internet sewing show That Sewing Blab, creating videos for my YouTube channel and patternmaking pdf patterns which will be released later this year (2019).
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS…
Newly graduated from Fashion Design at Massey University and working as an assistant to the designers in a New Zealand based company life took an unexpected turn for my husband and me.
We had to move countries, my father passed away, and we became my teenage nephew’s guardians.
I looked up from this lemon-sucking year to find I had lost myself completely. I was working in the fashion industry but not doing anything creative. My life was stuck. I existed on a steady diet of Netflix, Lindt dark chocolate with sea salt, and feeling sorry for what I had lost. My creativity was hiding in a corner far from the grumpy, stressed woman I had become.
MAKING LEMONADE…..
Later I finally asked myself, “What do I want?” Besides being a guardian, aunt, eldest sibling, and stressed out working two jobs I started to wonder, what I really want to do with my life. Years earlier I had planned on writing a blog, but when things got lemony, I shelved the idea. Then I thought that blogging would be a way that I could continue my patternmaking and sewing. I love designing as I love the feeling of creating anything I can dream up but patternmaking is my first love. I love the problem-solving aspects of it. I knew I wanted to use what I learned at Massey University and from working in the industry to create clothing patterns. Starting this blog allowed me to continue to hone my skills. I am excited to report that although life through me a couple more lemons I will be releasing my first pdf patterns later this year.
During this time I also created the live internet show That Sewing Blab to connect with other sewists. Having just moved to a new community I did not know anyone who sewed garments so I sought fellow sewists to share my experiences within the online sewing community. The show has been running for over three years now and I am constantly inspired by the fabulous people who join us on the show and the amazing people who take time out to watch the show every week.
LIFE EXPERIENCE
I have had a really amazing life with many great experiences for education and travel. It seems I have been slowly amassing the skills needed to write this blog and to create patterns over the years without even knowing it. My writing and research skill were honed by getting my Bachelor of Arts in history. Information technology was picked up everywhere. I do love a good techie gadget. The graphic design certificate will be useful. The Bachelor of Education could be of some use when making future tutorials. And my fashion design studies at Massey University will be instrumental in fashion illustration, pattern making, CAD work, and sewing. As for the travelling I have done, well that serves as a fabulous inspiration. I think more will be needed, though.
THANK YOU
I would not be in a position to work on this blog nor have the technical expertise needed if it was not for my husband. He is my largest supporter. Thank you.
My logo design was made simple with the expertise of Mary. She is an Amazon Princess with untold creative powers. She took my crude drawing and turned it into a clean vector gem. Thank you.
And to all the amazing teachers and ridiculously creative students at Massey University’s School of Design thank you for the fantastic education and inspiration.