As long as I can remember, I've been somewhat of a fashion designer. Once I figured out how to stitch, staple, and tape, my Barbies have marched to the beat of a different drum.
My Mom taught me how to sew when I was ten. I hated sewing, but I loved to see the finished product. I can't tell you how many "creations" I came up with, nor do I want to! I can't believe I allowed mysef to walk out of the house with some of the things I made
I put sewing on the shelf for a while, until I went to college. As a poor college kid, the luxury of buying something to wear out on the weekend was not always feasible, but I just meant I had to be a bit creative.
I majored in Architecture for three years and decided to switch to Interior Design because I thought it would be more fun and creative. I was wrong! My art professor would always comment on what I was wearing...it was usually something I had concocted the night before. She would laugh, shake her head, and say, "You are in the wrong major!" I dismissed her comment and said, "Hah, I'd probably run out of ideas."
So, I finished college with a BA in Interior Design. After I graduated, I was not successful in finding a job in my field that I felt would allow me to express my creativity. I finally fell into a visual merchandising position at a department store. We had fantastic manniquins, that after I had styled them, looked as if they could walk out of the store, and onto the runway. This resurrected my interest in fashion design in a serious way.
So, here I am, designing and sewing art for the girl that marches to the beat of her own drum. My pieces are heavily influenced by my Architectural background in the way that they are designed, and constructed.
Art is all around us. I just happen to believe we should be able to wear it....Not just look at it.