About

I have been creating, designing and sewing for as long as I can remember.  It began with a deep fascination with historical clothing, and costumes.

I remember I was about 7 or 8 when I told my mother that I wanted to be a pilgrim for Halloween.  I had an idea of how to put a dress together from things that were in my wardrobe but I needed a hat.  Together we embarked on a exciting adventure of creation.  We didn’t use a sewing machine but hand stitched the whole thing.  It turned out just as my fledgling designer mind had envisioned.

When I was 12 I had the chance to take a sewing class through the 4-H program.  It was a revelation.  I learned how to read a pattern and made my first dress using a sewing machine.  The dress I made looked great but didn’t fit me very well.  I realized that commercial patterns left much to be desired for a custom fit.  Plus they were expensive!

Moving forward to my mostly self taught sewing experiences of my teenage years.  I began to expand my repertoire of skills.

Age 15.  I designed my first theater show,  Tales of Arabian Nights.  I wanted to be involved in theater but had discovered that acting was not for me.  There was a pile of donated fabric and I spent a month gloriously making robes and harem pants.  This was my first experience with large scale creation of costumes and bodies of different sizes.  My pattern making mind was born.

Age 16.  I continued to love historical costume and spent the year researching styles.  I created a fashion show of French historical garments and they were modeled at the local high school during a French language fair.

Age 17. I began to educate myself on alteration and clothing redesign.  I loved the local thrift shops and the possibilities created with cheap outdated clothes.  The bag sale was my favorite.  A whole bag of treasures for $5 to take apart, repurpose.  Enjoy.  I got into quilt making and patchwork clothing.

Age 18. I began my stint at Washington and Lee University working as the Costume Shop Manager.  I worked part time in the afternoons supervising students and assisting the costume designer with costume construction.  Jekyll and Hyde was my first production.  My horizons expanded.

Age 19.  I bought a house.  Yikes!  I needed more income then my part time job was bringing in and I began taking in alterations and repairs.  Phew, money problems solved. Alterations were slower in the summer months and my job at Washington and Lee was only during the school year so I also worked on costumes for Theater at Lime Kiln, including the infamous Stonewall country musical.

Through my 20’s I traveled to Montana for 3 different summers to work as stitcher and assistant designer for their Montana Shakespeare in the Parks.  This was a great learning experience to work within a larger costume team.  I learned a few new tricks but mostly it was great to hang out with a bunch of other enthusiasts.

At some point in my early 20’s the costume designer at Washington and Lee left the university mid year and I stepped up as designer and continued through the year – switching to a full time position.  The years rolled on and the theater experiences continued to challenge me.  I altered, built and grew the costume program. I worked with student designers and guest designers. I taught students how to sew.  I learned more about pattern making, more about tailoring, more about teaching.   Life was good.

When I was 30 I got married to a wonderful man.  I began to realize that though I loved my job as Costume Designer and Costume Shop Manager I wanted to take more time to enjoy being with my husband and to explore some of my other creative passions.  Through the years I had helped a number of brides with their wedding dresses and after much thought I decided that I wanted to transition to alterations as a part time gig, quit the full time job and see where it leads me. We have bought another piece of property and are working on renovating it.  I learned a few things about building and got to design a sewing studio for myself in the new house.

In June 2019 after 17 years and well over 100 theater and dance productions under my belt I finished my job as Costume Designer and Costume Shop Manager at Washington and Lee and since then I have set up my new home studio and have been relishing working in my beautiful space.