Mentors

We all need mentors.  My first one was Edith Head - who wouldn't love her.  She had this impeccable style that wasn't over-bearing, yet completely identifiable!  She didn't out shine her clients, but you knew who she was instantly.  The little icon I use on my site and on my blog is the take off of Edith - Edna from The Incredibles!  She's so much fun in the movie....dahlink!

OK - back to mentors - after Edith was Erma - my teacher.  She had gone from shoulder pads of Joan Crawford to the shoulder pads of Thierry Mugler (who could wear those should pads better than Alexis!)

I was like a sponge and soaked up all I could with Erma and she was a great teacher.  She let me go at the speed I could and it seemed sometimes like I was going at lightening speed.  I would take the cover of W Magazine to her and discuss how I was going to cut this or that line and draw this or that style and how I was going to accomplish techniques and then take the dress back to her in 2 weeks and she would critique it.  I usually got a very good grade.  She used to tell me that basically her school was practicing and practicing - sort of what I learned in music class...."Practice, practice, practice....play, then practice, practice, practice...play, etc.!"  Made sense, and I suppose it was that it was so much fun to figure out one puzzle after another that I couldn't get stumped - no matter how difficult I made the next project.  I really didn't have a need for all these clothes, I just kept making them cause I could.  And it was the freedom to know I could do anything I wanted.  My only limitation now on clothing was fabric, and if I could find fabric, then I could make it.  That is still my main problem with my clients and me - fabric.

But finally it's time I turn around and do the giving so this fall I will start teaching.  I'm really looking forward to it and especially if I can have a student or two who will really take off with the art. (BTW, my tools have never looked this neat, and will never again - this was a special "art" picture!)  I'll start teaching at the local Bernina store where I have purchased all my machines this fall.  Berninas are wonderful machines, and the local store does a fine job in setting up classes.  They are starting to get requests for clothing construction as is the local fabric shop.  We're lucky here to have a good fabric shop.

I'm going to try and include some of the highlights of these upcoming classes here!  I'm really excited about this.  I want to pass this on in a way that will make more people excited and empowered to sew.  It's never been drudgery to me, and always been exciting and freeing....so here we go!