Creative challenge: the first steps

The next few weeks are going to be heavy with posts about my new favorite hobby: Sewing.

Quick background - for those of you who have known me for quite a while, know that I adore fashion. And not so much in the haute couture scene, but more in the everyday individual style sense. Trace back even further to my days in high school and I was heavily involved in our business club's 'Fashion Team' where I worked with local merchants to produce fashion shows. After a few years of traditional college at University of Washington, I decided to needed to pursue my true passion and applied at the Art Institute of Seattle in their fashion merchandizing and designing program. I was accepted, yet after a few weeks of excruciating contemplation, I decided that I could not attend since each year's tuition was upwards of $20,000. I decided to pursue my second passion which was early childhood education and development psychology and I made a very nice little career for myself in that arena.

But I never forgot the fashion.

Fast forward now to me in my mid-30's. I have four kids, a marriage, a home in the suburbs - I'm not the young idealistic kid I was back in Seattle. But luckily through a series of fortunate events, I've had the opportunity to pursue my passion again.

I taught myself how to sew (using that old 1960's singer machine you see pictured above).

I've been self-taught for the past two years going about easy, straight line projects that I pick up from books, website, or blogs.

But now, now I feel the creative urge to start designing. So here it is. I signed up for an online ecourse called 'sewing essentials' which is a daily intensive course that last six weeks. Apparently I'll be pretty proficient by the end of this course.

And while I am doing my daily basic training, I'm in my "workroom" (read: bedroom) designing my daughter's spring and summer wardrobe. If you interested, I'm compiling my inspiration board on Pinterest.

I'm currently getting all fabrics ready (a batch I ordered will come in the mail today) and patterns assembled and ready to go. I'm really excited about this creative process so please come on this journey with me! Yeah!