I love sewing, it’s in my blood. My great grandmother was a seamstress, and my grandparents owned their very own custom drapery business, which my mother worked at and managed.
Summers were spent ‘at the shop’ and although I had zero interest in sewing bedspreads or drapes I did sew dog toys, learn to appreciate fabric’s touch, smell and beauty and found comfort in the sound of a sewing machine. I would sit beside my mother for hours while she would sew, probably rambling on to her the whole time.
In grade 7 when all the other kids choose to make boxer shorts in home ec, I made a giant stuffed dog. In fact, I made two giant stuffed dogs that year that I still have! I didn’t sew much after that, the idea of sewing clothes or drapes was just so boring to me! It wasn’t until I discovered Artist Bears that sewing started to interest me. I had always loved stuffed animals but never thought about making my own. To top it all off, these bears are pieces of art, not just a childs toy. In fact, they aren’t even safe for kids. A perfect way for a me,a grown up to create something adorable.
Most of the bear sewing I did was by hand and that suited me just fine. I thought machine sewing was too difficult for me back then. A bear would take me about a month to complete as I poured my heart and soul into each and every bear. I hated it when someone didn’t want to pay for one, or thought I should just give them one. I suppose they just couldn’t imagine what went into making a bear and didn’t realize what they sell for. Plus, I had a hard time selling a bear let alone give one away.
In case you are curious, here are some pictures of the bears I have created in the past.
So now, here I am years later and shamefully I have not made a bear since my daughter was born, 5 years ago. Instead I have started to sew cute plush animals that she could play with, and just recently I have started to sew clothing for my children.
Problem is, it’s not always cheaper or smarter to DIY when it comes to sewing. I can buy a pair of PJ’s for my son for $10-15, so why spend a couple evening sewing a pair that he will grow out of overnight, plus the cost of materials? I just did this by the way…I learned a lot but probably won’t be making another pair soon…
Nope, I like my sewing to be cute enough to keep around indefinitely, or fast and easy enough that I don’t care if it gets destroyed or grown out of.
So this is where I have come from, stay with me on my journey to see where I am going! I imagine I am going to learn lots along the way, and find my style so I can develop lots of cool patterns to share with you guys.
Do you love to sew? How did you get started and what was the one project, if any, that interested you enough to take the first step?
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Great article Heather. You sure have inherited the sewing gene. Bozsi would be so proud. We’re all proud. Besides Bozsi’s side of the family, there’s also the Papa side. His dad was a tailor, his mother a seamstress (although not professional like Bozsi) and them Papa himself. Yup, you’ve definitely come by the talent honestly.
I kind of miss seeing your animal creations come to life, not just the sewn ones but all the other mediums you’ve mastered over the years.
Maybe one day you can pick up the bear making again.
All of those bears are so gorgeous! To answer your question: no, I do not really like to sew. Oops!