I started sewing when I was about 5 years old. I would make "cars" out of fabric and sew them on my mom's old Singer. I made my first dress when I was in the 5th grade, ten years old. We were having "Pioneer Day" at school and I needed a costume. My mom took me to the local fabric store and I picked out a pattern and the fabric and I went home to sew my dress. Just a few problems I overlooked at the time though - I did not really know how to sew! I did not know how to gather, so when I started to sew the bonnet that went with the dress, I pleated the bonnet to the band instead of gathering it. I also did the same for attaching the skirt of the dress to the bodice. My mom took me to visit a neighbor down the street who showed me how to gather and then I "gathered" instead of "pleated" from then on.
As I got older I used my monthly allowance to buy one pattern and the fabric and notions to make that item. No one had ever taught me to sew so when I came across a new technique in a pattern I had to learn it myself. I remember when I would learn something new it was like a revelation - WOW! Now I can understitch... I continued sewing my "one dress a month" all the way through high school. I tackled ambitious projects too, like my 8th Grade Graduation dress. I also made lots of "fancy" dresses for church services. (I will put a few pics of these very old projects on my pictures page).
When it was time for me to get married, there was no question on if I would buy or make my dress. I found the lace at the place where I worked at the time - Cloth World. It was a reembroidered lace from Europe in a very soft ivory - not pure white. I thought it was the only lace that would do for me - but had to put in some extra hours to affort it - $72.00/yard and only 32" wide! I did want silk satin for the base of the dress, but ended up going with a high quality polyester (I spent so much on the lace that I couldn't afford silk!) I used a couple of different patterns to create my dress. Took three months to sew working on it almost every day. I also made all the bridesmaid's dresses and the flower girl dress. Soon I will have pictures of my dress on my pictures page.
Once I got married the "real world" hit me. Hardly any time for sewing let alone money! I have continued to make some of my clothes, but nothing like I used to. For a few years I did not do any sewing at all. But I'm back at it again, trying to figure out which project to do first. (I will have a page with current projects soon). Learning HTML and designing these web pages is taking away precious sewing time - but I enjoy doing this too.
Well that's probably more than you ever wanted to know about me. Take a look around and come back often. New things will be added all the time. I hope you enjoy yourself here and hope you learn something or get a new idea. Please feel free to write me - I enjoy meeting new "sewing buddies."