About Me
I have added an “About Me” page as I would like you to know who I am. Since we are in cyberspace I think it’s important for you to know a bit of my background so that you will feel you are on a personal basis with me.
First of all, I want to say I am so pleased to offer you my services. To be able to turn a passion into a livelihood is a truly rewarding endeavor. I am grateful and blessed for it. If you dream of turning your talents into a vocation, follow your heart. I believe the world would be a much happier place if we were able to work in our special talents.
I have been designing and sewing since I was 9. You will hear so many of the seamstresses tell of their sewing for dolls as a beginning seamstress. I was fortunate to have a “living doll”, one of my little brothers. I had a pajama pattern that was too small, so there I was on the floor with paper bags, resizing the pattern, diligently measuring the little guy and then cutting the pj’s out of a flannel print with sheriffs badges and sewing them up. I wish I had those pajamas now, for nostalgic purposes and probably to giggle a little about my sewing skills.
My mom gave me the sewing bug by making dresses for me. I still have a pinafore that she created, packed away in the attic with all my other childhood nostalgia. I happened to come across that particular pattern recently and will be putting up a picture of the “vintage” version and a repro. (My mother will forgive me for saying that I did surpass her sewing skills, but I can never repay her for introducing me to the art of sewing. Her feelings won’t be too hurt because she can outgrow any plant and jar can just about anything under the sun better than me. We all have our talents.)
As a child I was always asking for a new garment, dreaming of dancing around in a pretty dress like a lot of little girls. By the time I was a teenager, it was time for me to take the reins and make my own clothing. I think most young ladies spent their extra money on store bought clothes, but after getting paid for working during the summer or after school you could always find me at the fabric store searching for the perfect fabric for the great pattern I would finally settle on. I remember happily laying out my purchases and cutting and sewing on a big wooden table in my dining room.
After graduating High School I joined the Navy, then graduated bootcamp and computer schooling, I had a 15.00 sewing machine sent out to me, which sewed backward, forward and zigzag, it didn’t even buttonhole…but I would whip up an outfit and wear it on the town soon after. It has always fascinated me that in the olden days women would make the most gorgeous outfits on the simplest of machines. My machine choices have always been more on the big motor, don’t need a lot of fancy gadget style, but I do not know how I lived without my serger.
I spent six years in the Navy and then hung up my hat to become a mom and had four beautiful, healthy children to love and nurture and a pretty nice husband too. I am fortunate to have a daughter to lavish my skills on and I hope she will also become a seamstress. I am a firm believer in passing sewing skills onto our youth. It’s wonderful for the imagination and a skill you carry for all of your life.
My love of vintage fashions was always present, but a bit hidden as when I was younger I was more influenced by current styling, but I would find myself wearing a 1950’s mohair beaded sweater thrown on with jeans or leaning towards the more vintage looking of the modern styles. I always had a fetish for old movies, but more for the costuming and then the plot secondarily. A few years ago I got hooked on vintage and started a pattern collection and the rest is history. I have my favorite eras, but love to “run around in fashion history” rather than get stuck in one era and become bored. I enjoy creating one of a kind garments and do not lean towards creating the same gown multiple times. I understand the fantasy of being a particular movie star, but after making a gown a few times I enjoy the challenge of something new.
My fashion philosophy is that every woman is beautiful and it is my goal to enhance that beauty with lovely, unique garments. Clothing can truly transform a person.
I hope that you have enjoyed my site and I look forward to working with you.
All My Best,
Dawn McGinnis
