Like many of you, I was nudged quite forcefully into crafting for a living after my previous working life took a tumble in the failing economy. I'm loving it and I'm not looking back - happiest when I'm creating! My father was an upholsterer and my mother made all of my clothes until I earned my own babysitting money to buy trendier fashions-none made as well or with love. I love to sew and photog
raph beautiful things - combining those is icing on the cake! When I found my 1960 Singer 500 "Rocketeer" sewing machine, I was in heaven. I hadn't sewn anything since eighth grade Home Ec class so why was I so compelled to sew? I think it was in my blood all along but I hadn't thought I could measure up to my parents' expertise. I've always had a passion for textiles, especially linen, hemp and vintage fabrics. Loving handmade things and always finding it hard to find affordable quality, I set about learning to sew once again. I found several graphic designers on Etsy whose images I adored so I started off with heat transfers on burlap and linen pillows. I am currently learning screenprinting so that I can take those same graphics as well as some of my own photographs and attempt a new translation of these images - different colors and tactility. When I discovered I could combine them both, I jumped right in. My photographs are printed onto the fabric - amazing! I'm loving my new life as a business owner and crafter and I take great pride in creating something personal, unique and handmade and then selling it to someone who shares in my appreciation of that item. I had no idea this could be my life one day so how do I thank being laid off?
