On September 27, 2010 I received an email from the Favecrafts.com Editorial Team asking if I would be interested in answering the Monthly Craft Question over at FaveCraftsBlog. The question was: Who inspired you to become an artist/designer? Why do you like to create?
Here's what I said: I have loved dolls, sewing, floral arrangements, and crafts since I was a very little girl and was always making or sewing something. Even at a very early age I wanted hundreds of dolls and hundreds of clothes and the only way I was going to get them was if I made them myself.
But, before I could do that I had to learn how to sew. And, for that inspiration I would have to credit both my Mother and my ancestors. My mother taught herself how to sew, my grandmother was a seamstress, my aunt was a seamstress, etc. Women from sewing families know what I mean when I say sewing runs in the family. It's in the blood.
So, not only did I have the "sewing gene" but, I also had the "crafting gene." You see, my Dad loved crafting and wood working and he learned that from his Father, who learned it from his Father and so on. My Father always loved to involve his children in whatever he was making and would spend hours on end just teaching us how to do something and do it right.
However, from an early age I liked to rebel so while I learned how to do things "right" I also learned what I liked and didn't like. At a very early age I was already trying to establish my own individuality and creativity.
Despite my rebellious nature my Mother was able to painstakingly teach me how to sew. I say "painstakingly" as even at an early age I didn't like to follow the patterns and read all the instructions so many of my creations were let's just say "crude" at best. However my Mother was able to properly teach me how to sew and sew I did.
But, my Mother did more than just teach me how to sew properly. She also reinforced my individualism and creativity. She said it never hurts to experiment. That's what they make seam rippers for. If it doesn't work just rip it out and start again. So, I did time and time again until I developed my own style.
And for my style and passion I would have to credit my grandmother for that. You see, when I was a very young girl she gave me a very old print of Godey’s Fashions for August 1870 that belonged to my great, great aunt Flossie. I was captivated by the frilly, beautiful dresses and from that moment on I was hooked. From that moment I wanted to make beautiful Victorian dolls.
My Grandmother, my Mother, and my Father have all been a source of inspiration for me. Each brought a different kind of inspiration which I would have to say formed the basis of my creativity as it exists today.
