What Started It All....

Let me take you back in time.....

Picture it. 1995...Imagine a chubby bubbly short 12 1/2 year old...in the throws of teen confusion. She was quiet, shy, a dreamer, creative...she was teased by many peers but loved dearly by her close friends and family. But there was somebody else that took to me, someone so much older and wiser, had weathered hands, a soft cackly voice, someone who was married to God (a nun), my teacher, one of my mentors, a woman who saw great potential in me, not to just sew good, but to realize my dreams, and keep my creative side thriving! It was the 7th grade, me and some peers sat in a small secluded room each equipped with 40 year old way out of date sewing machines, and we were to make a project.....any project. I choose (haha what a cliche) a pillowcase. Not just any standard sized pillowcase, but one with french seams, which was tricky for a newborn in the sewing world. At first I struggled....I struggled hard. I would stay after hours in school just to get it right, the technique was lacking, my willpower diminishing, then Sister Marie Kelley took her 85 year old weathered hands gently placed them on top of my flawless untouched young child like hands and guided them as my shaky hands started to stitch straighter and straighter...then she let go and just watched me fly solo as I was sewing truly for the first time....I did it, and she patted my shoulder and said "I am very proud of you young lady..." 2 days later, my project was complete and I received and A on it...That jump started a spark in me, I sewed something all by myself, I could take on the world! now 15 years later, I am a 28 year old woman, with steady hands, they are not as young, but still steady...5 years ago, a high school classmate told me Sister Marie Kelley passed away in her sleep, in fact, her death date was 5 years ago today...she was 95, she would of been 100 this year...I miss her, but I know she is looking down on me from heaven still making sure I keep my hands steady....Look at me now Sister, I own my own business as a great master seamstress and you know it, and yes, I still keep my hands steady, and I do that hand over hand maneuver you taught me, I know she is proud of me, and always will be. My minxden shop is dedicated to a few select people, and she is one of those people...Hope I did ya proud sister and I still have that pillow case to this day!