Nosey Parker in the Neighbourhood #3 - The Sewing Edition

1) How long have you been sewing? Are you a first generation sewer or was the knowledge handed down to you? Basically tell us about your journey...

• I've been sewing since I was 8, I'm 67.
• I'm self-taught.  My Mom also sewed, but she had no interest in helping me.  She did teach me to crochet, though.
• I made a lot of my clothes thru out middle school (we called it Junior High), and high school.  No matter how tight the family budget was, if I needed fabric, my Dad would fund the purchase.
• I received a Singer sewing machine for my high school graduation gift.
• I made my wedding gown, I got married at 19.

Dad, me, Bob, Mom, my sister.

• After 4 years of marriage, we bought a home and I started sewing some home decor items.  Then when our girls were born I sewed for them, in addition to making clothing for myself and occasionally for Bob.
• I made all my daughters prom and formal dresses.

When fabric and patterns  became expensive, I pretty much stopped sewing.   When we relocated, after retirement, I gave my fancy sewing machine away and purchased a small portable, to have, "just in case".

I've been retired for 16 years, and started quilting 2 1/2 years ago, using the small portable, a Brother, that I hate, really hate.  I just bought a bottom of the line Janome, a Magnolia, and I love it.  What a great machine, easy to use, and none of the twitchy problems I had with the Brother.  I also hate my iron, but haven't replaced it, yet.

2) Where do you sew?

My sewing area is in my "office".  My cutting area is in the dining room.  I initially did everything in the dining room, but this is easier, overall.

3) What does your sewing room/area look like today in it's real state. Take a picture of it if possible and show it to us real :)

These are embarrassing, but this is the real deal.

The first two are my office/sewing room.

When I started building my fabric stash, 

I cleared this bookcase of all my books

More fabric and my Janome.

This is the dining room, where I do the cutting and deciding.  

I use a flannel back plastic table cloth to protect the table pads.  It's full of nicks a cuts, so it's doing it's job 

4) What is the first thing that you made which you were really proud of? Show us pics of your favourite project.

This first thing I ever made, when I was 8, was a pair of shorty pajamas.  I raided my Mom's fabric stash, and cut them out without a pattern, and sewed them with no help.  I was very proud.  My Mom was furious, but my Dad was proud of me.

Here are a couple of my favorite quilts:

5) Do you always stick to the "rules" when you sew, or are you more improvisation-ally minded?

I stick to a bare minimum of rules.  I seldom use patterns.  Right now is an exception, I making a Swoon quilt.

I'm linking up the Nosey parker in the Neighbourhood.

May your bobbins always be full,