As a child, I was surrounded by various types of needlecraft. My first memory of sewing was my mom sewing felt holly leaves on her sewing machine to make a Christmas wreath. I remember her letting me try to sew the curved seam on one of them and how hard it was!

    As I learned how to sew, I remember my brothers teasing me because of my lack of speed control. They would tell me that I was going to be a horrible driver and have a lead foot.

    My mom had a box of patterns and a book about pattern making. I used to sit there as a child and pour over them for hours. There was also a plethora of other craft magazines that I had access to. I learned cross stitch, embroidery, crochet, knitting, tatting (lace making), quilting, and clothing construction. 

    By the time I graduated high school, I had made 5 or 6 dresses, shorts, and a swim suit. Unfortunately, I don't have too many pictures of my early work as a seamstress. 

    My crowning sewing achievement in high school was a 1950's style shirt dress. It had a pleated skirt, bound buttonholes, and a fitted top with a side zipper on the skirt. It won first place at the local fair!

    From my mom I learned to be a brave seamstress and that patterns are more of a guide to be changed and adjusted than a dictator to be blindly followed!