Celebrating 10 Years of Sewing and Quilting
Today is Fat Tuesday. It’s also the unofficial anniversary of when I learned how to sew! I say unofficial because Mardi Gras isn’t a fixed date on the calendar; like Easter, it changes every year. But I got my first sewing machine over the long holiday weekend in Louisiana in 2014, so I always associate the start of my creative journey with king cake and cheap plastic beads.
I got my first sewing machine in 2014 at the age of 33.
Last fall, I spent some time reflecting on my journey as a maker for a profile on the Create Whimsy website. I wrote:
As a new sewist, I wanted to try everything: garments, bags, quilts, you name it. I devoured online video tutorials and was delighted to discover a large quilting community on Instagram.
Not long after I started sewing, my sister became pregnant with my first niece, and the news created the perfect storm of incentive and adorable projects for me to tackle. My first quilt was a baby quilt, and I was hooked immediately! Working with fabric felt very intuitive to me, and for the first time in my adult life, I could translate the visions in my head into tangible objects and feel pleased with the results.
Me and my sister Kate hold the first quilt I ever made.
When my husband Brent and I moved to Tennessee in 2015, I struggled to find a full-time job as a marketing and communications specialist. Brent encouraged me to focus on quilting instead, and because we could afford everything we needed on his salary (and company-provided health insurance), I dove headfirst into building a creative practice.
That phrase “building a creative practice” makes it sound so official but I’d be lying if I told you I had a grand plan. I’m not into vision boards and the very idea of outlining goals in a five-year-plan makes me break out in hives. But very slowly, I cobbled together a repertoire of skills and a portfolio of work.
Then in 2021, I really hit my stride. Ideas for new quilt designs started flowing out at a surprising rate, and for the first time, it felt like they were in perfect alignment with my knowledge and capabilities. It still feels that way today! Here’s more from the Create Whimsy profile:
My work is more intentional now than it was in the beginning—I have a clearer focus and perspective. When I started quilting, I wanted to learn something new with every project. That loose rule opened my eyes to the wide range of styles and techniques available, but it also meant I ping-ponged around for a long time as I developed my artistic voice.
Now, instead of exploring a breadth of ideas, I find myself focusing on depth. Over the past two years, I’ve gone down a rabbit hole learning various ways to dye and print my own fabric. It’s been a delightful journey and one that feels like it will never end (in a good way!).
I’m so glad I found this creative outlet! I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years bring.
