Every artist or designer has a completely unique perspective. But occasionally, an artist’s talents, experiences, and circumstances come together perfectly, allowing him or her to carve out a truly unique place in the world. As a Georgian textile artist who has found fame in the Japanese quilting world, it’s safe to say that Stacy Michell lives a life that is truly one of a kind. Through her company, Shades Textiles, each day is colorful, creative and closely connected to the other side of the world.

As a child, Stacy always knew that she was born to be creative. She began sewing at the age of four and by fifth grade, she was teaching her classmates how to quilt. Stacy also loved finger painting and developed a strong connection to color. In fact, it’s Stacy’s eye for color that eventually led to her career. While visiting quilt shows in 1986, Stacy noticed that the industry was lacking in fabric colors.

“The fabric business was a very different creature at that time,” said Stacy, “Companies only offered 65 colors. I saw a need for someone who was providing more colors and a better range.” Stacy began experimenting with dyeing fabric, selling her creations under the name Shades Textiles. In less than a month, she decided to expand beyond solid colors. “I was only three weeks into this career before I said, ‘Boy, stirring buckets is boring.’” Stacy laughs.

Stacy says that her first few shows were “scary”, but soon, one customer would change the course of her career, and her life, forever. “Right off the bat, I met a man from Japan and sold him a lot of fabric and jumped right in,” she says. That man, Japanese textile artist Akio Kawamoto, introduced her to the export market place. “Before that, I really had no idea they made quilts in Japan. In ‘86, you just were not aware of what was going on in other countries.” Soon Stacy’s business took off in Japan – a rarity for a small business owner in the pre-Internet world. “In a way, it was nice. Back then, I would just get an envelope in the mail with samples and a cashier’s check.

Stacy’s gorgeous fabrics, created primarily with one of five techniques, eventually built a large fan base in Japan – and one fan would eventually lead Stacy through the next phase of her career. Famed quilting master and author Kathy Nakajima first used Shades Textiles fabrics as a quilting student of Kawamoto. Nakajima, a well-known Japanese television personality, began featuring Stacy’s fabrics in her many quilting books. As a result, Stacy saw a huge boom in popularity.

“Sometimes I say, I’m like the girl who does flowers for Oprah. I dye the fabrics for Kathy,” Stacy explains. By the time Stacy first visited Japan, she was expecting a crowd of 50,000 quilters at the World Quilt Show, and was greeted by 150,000 quilters instead.

Through her experience with Japan, Stacy was exposed to Hawaiian quilts – an appliqué technique where fabric is folded and cut into Hawaiian floral designs, much like a paper snowflake. Encouraged by Nakajima’s books, Japanese quilters began using Stacy’s colorful fabrics to create Hawaiian quilts – particularly her round hula hoop motifs - as opposed to the traditional two solid fabric colors. Stacy saw an opportunity to create a line of appliqué designs for these quilters.

“Kathy was my inspiration to turn traditional Hawaiian appliqué into machine appliqué – she does everything by hand; I grew up on a machine.” In 2000, Stacy and her associate Toshiko Hashimoto joined forces in Atlanta to create a line of “Hawaiian but not Hawaiian” appliqué designs, using the folding and cutting techniques of traditional designs without the Hawaiian themes. Today, Shades Textiles has created over 130 “All Around Appliqué” block designs featuring themes such as holidays, animals and sports.

“Hawaiian quilts were influenced by paper-cutting German sailors who taught Hawaiian girls how to make snowflakes. At the same time, American missionaries were teaching girls how to do patchwork quilting,” Stacy explains. “Hawaiian women were too proud to do patchwork with only one color of fabric, so eventually they folded it and cut it like snowflakes. So it felt very appropriate to me, 100 years later, to team up with a Japanese fabric maker and use a machine, and not be so heavy in the flora and fauna.”

Today, Stacy continues to paint and dye beautiful fabrics, create All Around Appliqué designs, and publish quilting books. Although she is based out of Atlanta, she continues to visit Japan a couple times a year and stretch her career between the two countries.

Stacy has also returned to one of her earliest talents – teaching quilting. “I love teaching and being at the shows. The energy that you get from a customer or student, it’s a very important part of the situation,” she says. “I find a lot of inspiration from my students, and it’s very important for me that they find success in my products. My customers here wish I was in the studio more, but I have to go out and see the people.” Stacy is even planning to teach quilting on cruises to Hawaii, the Caribbean and other locations.

Stacy advises enterprising quilters to “always listen to your mother” – adding that her mother, quilting entrepreneur Marti Michell, “has always been a great mentor and friend.” She also recommends to “do something different. To be successful, you’ve got to make it on your own.” After almost 25 years of doing exactly that, Stacy has a thriving career, a dedicated following, and literally a world of inspiration in front of her.

Passion for Fashion Winning Gown from 2009

Hi everyone! I am sew excited to be a part of TotallyStitchin as a Stitchin Woman, as well as the spokes “designer” for the new Baby Lock Love of Fashion Program. Love of Fashion is a series of fashion design classes that I teach around the country at various Baby Lock events and Baby Lock Dealers. I hope to share my love of fashion and design through draping, sketching, and other design skills that I uses each and every day in my studio with my clients. I have been using Baby Lock Machines since high school, but all of this came about as a result of the Passion for Fashion Design Competition sponsored by Baby Lock that I won last fall.

Passion for Fashion is just like a Project Runway Design Challenge where designers compete live for two days during the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Mi. Designers all around the country submit a small portfolio entry hoping to be one of 12 finalists selected to come and compete live. This year on Friday September 24th, designers will be given the secret challenge, $100 to buy fabric and the clock will begin. You have to design, pattern, sew and fit to your model by the next day for live judging. At the completion of a live fashion show the winner will be announced. It could be you! I can’t wait to see what that challenge will be this year. This is a wonderful program and Baby Lock will once again sponsor by providing the machines to sew on as well as providing the winner with thier own fabulous Baby lock machine. Winning had such a huge impact on my design work and business, so I encourage anyone who loves fashion sewing to enter the competition. Entry forms are available at www.americansewingexpo.com. As part of the prize package I won a trip to NYC. Next time I will share some of my experiences fabric shopping in NYC.

For couture fashions with impeccable detail and a flawless fit, you could travel to Paris or Milan … or, have your dream dress delivered right to your door, courtesy of Joi Mahon. Joi’s gift for design and expertise in creating the perfect fit have allowed her to make a name for herself as an author, stylist, and most importantly, a nationally-recognized, award-winning designer. Through her company, Dress Forms Design Studio, LLC, Joi has created couture gowns for clients from New York to LA, all from her studio in Sioux City, Iowa.

Joi’s technical ability is so advanced that at least 75% of her clients never meet her in person. Through an extensive process of measuring, samples, and even video or chatting through Skype, Joi has developed a reputation for gorgeous gown designs with a perfect fit for bodies of any shape.

Though Joi is known for many different roles in the fashion industry, including a monthly column in SQE Professional, Dress Forms Design Studio skyrocketed into fame when Joi created “the Infamous Polka-Dotted Wedding Gown” for a client. The fun, flirty pink and black dress included multi-colored tulle and a polka-dot skirt, redefining the conventional bridal gown design. The dress was featured on the cover of Wedding Essentials magazine and in numerous other publications.

“As a designer, it’s very fun when you have a client who allows you to utilize all of your creative ability. The polka-dot dress was a pivotal moment for my business. It’s very reflective of my aesthetic and my ability to think outside of the box,” says Joi.

Joi has always displayed a passion for design and fashion. She began hand-sewing at age 5. In 7th grade, Joi took a sewing class and used a machine to sew a jacket. Joi says that the moment she began sewing, she “just got it.” Her parents bought her a machine the following year, and soon Joi was sewing her first dress.

“I was the sewing nerd who was making gowns and fancy things while everyone else was struggling with their pillow projects,” says Joi. “I spent all of my money on fabric.”

In high school, Joi apprenticed for a tailor, where she developed business skills and crafted her flawless fitting techniques for gowns and wedding dresses by “fitting hundreds and hundreds of people.” Joi continued to follow her dreams as she earned a degree in Fashion Design from Iowa State University while working various sewing jobs, including interning at a bridal shop.

“A month after I graduated college, I leased an office space. As a graduation present, my dad gave me $500 for the first month’s rent.” After two years, Joi decided to move to a private studio. “It works great,” says Joi. “This way I can save on overhead and sink it into art and designs, travel, trade shows, and developing patents, which are not cheap.”

When you consider Joi’s many roles – designer, author, stylist, award-winner, etc. – the most amazing part is that she has accomplished all of this in addition to her most important role – a mother. Joi says she and her daughter inspire each other; she has branched out into children’s clothing, and her daughter loves to hang out at her studio. Joi encourages her daughter’s budding designing talents by making sure that in the studio, “very few things are hands off.”

“I’m actually going to sew one of her designs and have her model it at a show,” says Joi. “It’s very common for her to sleep in crinoline and a tiara.”

Joi has won dozens of awards for her design work, most recently at the 2009 Passion for Fashion event at the American Sewing Expo. Joi says she “had a blast.”

“It was great. Many of my clients tell me to do Project Runway, but I already have an established business. So, I did this event for my clients and dedicated everything to them. I went in there with the mindset that I was creating something for a customer, and it worked,” says Joi. “A lot of people sew what they want versus what a client wants, and you have to sew with that understanding. A good designer takes their own skill and aesthetic and applies it to what the customer wants.”

While Joi continues to publish articles, develop patents, win awards and styling clients, she says that the favorite aspect of her job is definitely designing.

“Whether you’re sketching or draping, there’s very few right and wrongs. When you’re completely creating a pattern, that’s your chance to try anything!”

Joi encourages new designers to step outside of the box and make sewing “more fun and exciting” by experimenting with new fabrics and patterns.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than people taking your art or gift and wearing it with pride,” says Joi. “But it’s hard work to get to that point!”

Inspiration comes in many shapes and forms. My latest inspirational trek was to the Paducah Quilt Festival this past weekend.  Aisle upon Aisle was filled with inspiration whether it was a finished quilt, fabric, thread or mountains of books.  This is truly the motivation capital of the quilting and sewing world. If you never been to Paducah this is a “must do” trip.  It is held annually, usually the last week of April.  Mark your calendars now for 2011.

When it comes to sewing and embroidery, newcomers can feel a little intimidated about trying new projects – let alone selling them. Unless, of course, you’re Jan Page. Just six months after learning how to sew and embroider, Jan had the courage to turn her newfound skills into an embroidery business, Jan’s-n-Stitches.

With an inventory of ready-to-embroider products as well as custom-sewn blankets and bags, Jan is ready to embroider practically anything for anyone. Her customers love her colorful selections and fun product categories, and Jan loves the convenience of working from home as a stay-at-home mother of two.

The world of monogramming and embroidery first caught Jan’s attention after the birth of her daughter almost four years ago. Many friends and family members gave her monogrammed gifts like blankets and diaper bags.

“I absolutely loved them,” says Jan about the gifts. About a year and a half ago, she decided to purchase her own sewing and embroidery machine. “It was a combination of wanting to make things for my daughter and for other people.”

Jan was soon sewing and embroidering baby blankets for her friends and family, and would turn to her Baby Lock retailer, Trish from Robinson Sew and Vac, when she had questions about a new technique or project. After just six months, Jan decided to turn her hobby into a money-making venture.

“Finally, my mom just said ‘You can do this!” Jan says, adding that she had so many requests that she purchased a new machine just for embroidery.

Jan built her business through gifts and word-of-mouth referrals. “For instance, one of my customers gave a gift to someone on Indianapolis, and now I get calls from there. I’ve been getting calls from Nashville, too,” says Jan, who runs her company from Carlisle, Indiana.

Jan’s website, Jansnstitches.com, makes it easy for customers to browse through over 172 fashionable, monogram-ready items. Jan keeps an entire inventory ready for speedy production, and also customizes items by adding minky fabrics, ribbons or other embellishments. She also uses her new-found sewing ability to create adorable blankets, burp cloths and other items.

After just a year in business, Jan’s-n-Stitches is a popular source for monogrammed and embroidered gifts, especially just before Christmas. Jan adds that customers can also bring in items to embroider, like hats or other items for businesses, school groups and non-profit organizations.

Jan’s-n-Stitches also offers house parties, where she’ll print off monogram fonts and bring samples of all her projects, where customers can browse through her catalog and create their dream purses, wristlets and more in a fun party setting.

As a stay-at-home mom, Jan loves that she can be creative and enterprising while spending time with her children. However, as a successful Mary Kay saleswoman, Jan is already entrepreneurial and inspiring. As if that wasn’t enough, Jan also manages the books for her family’s farm, where her husband grows and sells corn and several other crops.

“Anything’s possible,” Jan says, encouraging other new sewers to take their talents as far as they can dream. “I mean, I’ve only been doing this for a year and it’s really taken off. I asked some questions, did some research, and here I am!”

“You should never be afraid to try anything,” Jan adds. And considering how far she has taken her sewing in such a short time, Totally Stitchin’ can’t wait to see what Jan tries next!

One of the very first crafty/sewing projects I learned do do when I was younger was cross stitch. My mom would get me those little 3″x3″ designs with it’s own little plastic frame to proudly display it in. I still love to cross stitch, especially when I am stressed. I find the rythmic motion of making each of those little “x”s relaxing and the end result it so satisfying. I really like how putting together colors you can create a pretty picture that can even include shading and has this wonderful texture with all of the thread.
While I still love the look of vintage patterns, just like any tried and true craft passed down, I was able to find a modern twist on cross stitch. Crafter Ruby Khan has made a Minipop Sampler which features all kinds movie and rock stars. Just a few featured are; Edward Scissorhands, George Lucas, Royal Tenenbaums family (my personal favorite), and Alfred Hitchcock. Visit her Flickr page and you can see all of the wonderful threaded xs in detail.

When you think about gowns and wedding dresses, some of the first words that come to mind are glamour, grace and maturity. Kelly Chaffin, 19, discovered the world of gowns at a young age and quickly wowed the sewing world with a level of talent that is as mature and glamorous as the dresses she creates.

Kelly’s mother taught her to sew as a child, and she began stretching her talents in annual 4H contests at age 9. Her first project, a blue vinyl duffel bag with matching short, won first prize in her category.

Kelly first discovered her love for gowns when she was a freshman in high school. “There’s a category in 4H called ‘Sewing for Others’. I jokingly suggested that I could make a prom dress for my brother’s date,” she says. “And she said yes.”

In addition to winning her 4H category, Kelly’s first dress won second place in the 2005 Simplicity Make Your Own Prom Gown contest and was eventually featured in Threads Magazine. But more importantly, that first gown helped Kelly find her true calling when it came to sewing. “I just fell in love with the materials and the silhouettes,” she says.

Kelly loved sewing the prom dress so much, in fact, that she made her own. Kelly created a bronze satin prom dress (complimented by a matching tux that she made for her date) embellished with detailed embroidery using over 10,000 yards of thread. Her dress eventually won the 2008 Sew Jo-Ann Prom Contest, beating over 800 other dresses.

Kelly’s prom dresses and other creations have caught the eye of noted sewers and publications. After impressing Martha Pullen of Sew Beautiful with her heirloom techniques (as well as being Martha’s youngest student in her class), Kelly was invited to teach sewing to young sewers at the Martha Pullen School of Fashion Arts in Huntsville, AL. “It was so much fun and the kids were adorable,” says Kelly. “I hope they let me teach again.”

This past summer, just before she began her freshman year at Kent State University, Kelly was featured in three publications – Threads Magazine, Brio and Beyond, and Sew Beautiful. All of her award-winning gowns were recently featured in Sew Beautiful magazine, as well as displayed at the 2007 American Sewing Expo.

Kelly also displayed her impressive, award-winning replica of Princess Diana’s wedding dress at the American Sewing Expo, created with 25 yards of fabric and antique and beaded lace. “The women there all remembered that time and how that dress changed the fashion of that time period,” she says. “My mom said she stayed up til 3 in the morning to see Princess Diana’s dress on TV.”

Kelly is studying fashion design at Kent State University and is looking forward to an internship in New York. “My professors and the program are phenomenal. I love it,” she says. “A lot of my professors have worked in the industry and I love hearing about their experiences.” Kelly is heavily involved with fashion shows and exhibits planned by the Fashion Student Organization. “I love all of the opportunities.”

In the future, Kelly says her dream is to open her own store featuring customized wedding dresses. “I think if it’s your own wedding, you should be able to wear what you’ve imagined. It’s your wedding. It should be perfect.” She has also considered creating her own patterns and submitting them to companies and publications – an idea inspired by her love of Simplicity patterns.

No matter where Kelly’s creativity leads her, she’s sure to do it with grace, glamour and plenty of ambition. But right now she is having fun learning. “I’m excited to see where it all takes me.”

Totally Stitchin Advice:

“Polyester pleated charmeuse is a great fabric for gowns that I take to shows. You don’t even have to iron them!”

“Pay attention to fit. A muslin copy is definitely important. Make sure to choose a pattern size that’s right for certain types of girls. Or just create a practice one – practice is really important for clothing sewing.”

“Isabel Toledo (designer of Michelle Obama’s Inauguration dress) was recently at our school. She told us, ‘Don’t loose the sense of originality that you have in sewing.’ I think that’s really important, especially for designers. New designers think, ‘I’ll just make what everyone else is wearing,’ but no one will be wearing that in three years.”

www.savegocco.com &  www.saraprettyfun.com

Sara Martinez has always been an independent and creative woman … so it’s only natural that she would teach herself how to sew. In less than a year - with a little ingenuity and a whole lot of talent - she has already made a name for herself in the online crafting community and the art fair circuit with Pretty Fun, her own line of unique and affordable purses and other colorful accessories.

Why Pretty Fun? According to Sara, these adorable purses wristlets and messenger bags are as fun to sew as they are to wear.

“I love being able to imagine something and actually turn it into something tangible and show it off,” she explains.

Sara has always been artistic, a trait she picked up from her mother and grandmother - both avid sewers. As a child, she loved to make necklaces and other crafts but never took the time to learn sewing until recently, when she found herself in a department store with a pocket full of birthday money. She bought a sewing machine and started sewing right away.

“It was hard at first because I didn’t know a lot of the basic steps,” says Sara. She taught herself mostly using sewing patterns and “a LOT of trial and error. In the beginning, everything took a little bit of work.”

Sara originally began exploring sewing because she wanted to make skirts. “I wanted to make them my own way, so they wouldn’t be like the clothes that everyone else has.”

However, after attempting to make a purse, Sara discovered her passion. With all the different possibilities of fabrics and embellishments, she started devoting all of her free time to sewing. After mastering her purse designs, she began adding her own touch to purses and accessories with beads, buttons and more - she even taught herself hand embroidery!

Soon it only took her an hour to make a purse, and her closet began to fill up with all of her creations. “I had a big pile of them,” Sara says. She decided to share her purses with her friends and other fashionistas. Plus, ” I needed money for more fabric!” she laughs.

Pretty Fun began with the same D-I-Y mindset that Sara used to learn sewing. Rather than start with the traditional avenue of craft shows and art fairs, she decided to create her own virtual shop at saraprettyfun.com. She and her husband Dave used a simple Yahoo site builder to create it.

“It was a lot of fun, even though it took some time. I’m not super computer savvy, so if I can do it, anyone can,” says Sara. Plus, “you can control the way it looks and works, which is great.”

Pretty Fun’s popularity skyrocketed right away, and she began to meet other sewers in the online crafting community, especially fellow merchants at etsy.com, a handmade haven where Pretty Fun customers place their orders.

“It’s a great way to network and connect with people… and it’s a support system where you can bounce ideas back and forth,” she says. “People reach out through emails and cheer each other on.”

Sara says she has formed strong friendships with artists that she has met through Etsy. What’s more, all of her online networking has led to opportunities to sell her purses at art shows. “Those shows can be hard to find, so meeting people through Etsy has been a big help.”

In addition to networking, Sara’s online friendships have helped her discover new ways to make her purses unique, such as Japanese crafting. “I had actually discovered it by reading a blog from a crafter in England,” she says. “My favorite Japanese trend that I just recently discovered is called Gocco. It’s a way of screen printing onto fabric that produces a great handmade result.”

One thing Sara loves the most about her fellow crafting friends is that they inspire each other. When it comes to new ideas and techniques, there’s no end in sight. Currently, she’s been exploring embroidery possibilities on her new Baby Lock Ellure. “I’ve used so many of the built-in designs and I’m already like, ‘I want more!’”

And talk about inspiration - Pretty Fun is proof that your passion may be somewhere unexpected, and with a little imagination and determination, there’s no limit to how far you can go.

No matter how much Pretty Fun grows, however, Sara’s ultimate goal is to keep Pretty Fun just that - an enjoyable outlet for creativity and meeting people. “I have so much fun with it, and that really is the most important part.”

Pretty Great Advice From Pretty Fun

• If you’d like to sell things online, have nice pictures that are eye-catching and highlight your work. Don’t be discouraged if things don’t sell right away.
• If you’re learning a new technique, step away when you get stuck and come back to it later. Don’t give up if you have to set something aside for a while. Just have fun and enjoy what you are doing!

www.savegocco.com &  www.saraprettyfun.com

Of course, she would never freakin’ tell me that she had this great profile on a blog…I had to find out from another co-worker.

Ginger and I have been working together for a couple of years and I’m always amazed by her talents. By day, she’s great graphic designer for Baby Lock. By night, she makes jewelry, creates stationery, sews a bit, silk screens amazing graphics and more.  She is also involved in the handmade movement in St. Louis participates in local shows like Strange Folk Festival.

She also takes herself very lightly, a quality that I neglect to add to my to do list on certain days. (She’s kind of like that hippie grandma who’s seen it all and enjoys the quirkiness in life.

Unknowingly, she makes a non-creative person like me completely in awe of her.  If you know someone like Ginger who has that same gift (but for some reason, you like her anyway), let me know. We just may make her a Stitchin’ Woman .

Dove’s Nest Designs

One of the biggest challenges for anyone, sewer or non-sewer, is finding that perfect balance between a career and life at home. One Stitchin’ Woman who has managed to combine these facets is Megan Midworth of Dove’s Nest Designs.

Megan creates original bags, skirts, jewelry and more with an incredible variety of techniques, including patchwork, appliqué, and even glass lampwork. Each creation is full of bright colors, whimsical designs and amazing detail.

Megan’s D-I-Y attitude inspired her to take on new projects and techniques early on. When she was 13, she began making clothes for herself. By the time she was 18, she was working on quilting techniques and experimenting with patchwork. She eventually majored in art education at the University of Toledo, where she met her husband in an art class. Throughout college, Megan continued to discover and fall in love with new creative outlets.
Megan Midworth of Doves Nest Designs

“When I see a new cool technique, I get excited. I’m like a little kid. Like, ‘I have to learn how to do that!’” she exclaims.

This enthusiasm has led to some of the most unique aspects of Megan’s designs, such as the gorgeous lamp-work glass closures found on Dove’s Nest purses and the appliqué patterns found on the majority of her pieces.

All of Megan’s appliqué patterns begin as a drawing. Megan never uses a set pattern – she loves making every piece different and one-of-a-kind. Every seam on Megan’s skirts, dresses, purses and wallets are serged and then sewn with a regular machine, ensuring that each piece is durable and long-lasting.

“When I get an idea, I’ll go out and look at the trees, or I’ll research by looking through books about an animal.” She draws her inspiration from her family, music, the American Arts and Crafts Movement (“I love the design and detail”), and of course, nature.

“My parents basically instilled that in us,” says Megan, an avid camper and hiker. “It’s important to appreciate nature. It carries over into everything I do.”

Megan’s love of nature has inspired not only her designs, but the name of her company – Dove’s Nest Designs. “Doves signify peace, and a nest is a kind of a home. I have a very close family, so it’s very fitting.”
Megan Midworth of Doves Nest Designs

Megan’s main inspiration, she says, is her mother, artist Cindy McGuire. McGuire began creating one-of-a-kind teddy bears about 16 years ago, when Megan’s little brother was born. Today, she travels all over the world sharing her China Cupboard Bears with collectors and artists. Naturally, this drive and talent had a strong impact on Megan. Megan doesn’t remember exactly when she began to sew, but she does remember her mother teaching her a cross-stitch when she was in preschool. “I was always around it,” she says about sewing. “I guess it all came together from watching her sew and trying to do things myself.”

The best part about Dove’s Nest Designs, says Megan, is that she can spend all day doing the two things she loves most – sewing and spending time with her 2 ½ year old daughter, Indigo. Megan and her husband are expecting their second child in December.

“It’s great to see her grow up,” she says. “And it’s amazing to see some of the ideas she comes up with.” Indigo paints, draws and sculpts – and she has even shown interest in sewing. “She’ll climb on my back and watch me work.” So, has Megan taught Indigo to sew yet? “She’s still too young – I’d say around age four.”

In addition to spending time with her family, Megan loves sewing because “I can be different and people still accept that. When you finish a project and it turns out exactly the way you envisioned it, there’s a big sense of satisfaction and accomplishment,” she says. “I’m just really appreciative that I can do what I’m passionate about.”
Megan Midworth of Doves Nest Designs

Megan is planning to enter the art show circuit next summer, but her main goal is getting Doves Nest Designs established online, through her site at Etsy.com. She loves the online crafting community for their encouragement, feedback and inspiration.

“I’ll get random emails from people who like my work,” she says. “It’s cool for people to connect with you that way, and tell you that they’re inspired by you.”

Megan’s Advice

“Look for inspiration. Look around, look through books – inspiration is everywhere.”

“Everything I make is first sewn with my serger, then with my regular machine to ensure durability and a quality project that will last for years.”

“Remember, if you see something you like, you can probably make it yourself!”

“Keep with it! New techniques can be a struggle, but it will get better if you stick with it. Everything progresses.”