The story of starting my blog to document the creation of a me-made wardrobe and other sewing endeavors.
The Dream
I had long since dreamed about being a blogger, growing up as a millennial in the age of technology. Seldom did I speak of this tiny dream, it almost seemed embarrassing, like the younger generation wanting to be youtubers. I never attempted blogging, only ever vague attempts at idea sharing on tumblr, instagram and facebook notes. I am not even on facebook anymore, and notes probably don’t exist anymore. Nor had any formal attempt to start a blog until now.
But alas, I never had a niche. And I knew I wouldn’t have a very successful blog about nothing, I’m no Jerry Seinfeld. So the idea lay in wait, slowly being turned around in my brain in all of the would-be’s. Homemaking?? Motherhood?? Sewing? Baking? Until one fateful day, I thought of this name “Dressmaker Mama” and ideas started flooding my brain. Filled with a burst of inspiration of all the posts and stories I could share. I am not a professional sewist, but I can share my dressmaking journey, and document building a me-made wardrobe. A freedom to be able to share about motherhood, homemaking and sewing, the forefront of which will be sewing.
The Dressmaker
When I first began to sew clothes I didn’t know anyone in my life who shared the same interest. Older women who had stopped sewing long ago, or younger women who had never tried. I craved a community to exchange ideas and stories with. Then I found the depths of the online sewing community and instantly knew I wanted to be a part of it.
I will post more in depth about the origins of my sewing story, as I only began to learn how to sew as a 27 year old woman. However, as soon as I started sewing I knew there was no going back. I’ve slowly built my skills making a variety of clothes in kids and adult sizes and other fabric projects such as bags and pot holders. For Christmas Eve in 2023 with my extended family, I endeavored to make all of my relatives potholders for Christmas. With much trial and error and hours and hours gone by, I knew sewing home items was NOT my niche. After a hearty break from sewing for 2 weeks, I finished a dress project I had put off since October and it struck me… I am a dressmaker. It was what I loved, fueled me with creative energy, passion and excitement. I was not just a woman with a sewing machine, I was a Dressmaker (and a Child of God) but a DRESSMAKER. I loved that God had allowed me the time, skills and budget to start this craft, and an encouraging husband by my side.
The Mama
The other half of the name seems self explanatory, I am a mother, to a darling 2 year old girl. For the sake of internet privacy I have chosen to give her a pseudonym, which will be Elle. She loves to sit on my lap as I sew and tries her best to be “helpful”, which is always rather unhelpfully helpful. [An aside: I have typed helpful so many times I am now convinced it is not a real word, but google assures me that it is]. I have made Elle 4 dresses, to the best of my memory, two of which match garments of my own. My goal is to one day have an entirely “me-made” wardrobe and an 80% me-made wardrobe for Elle, because we still love hand-me-downs and Grammie gifts.
I thank you so much for already joining me in the journey of the Dressmaker Mama, and hope that you will find inspiration, encouragement and community here. Everyday I learn something new about and I am excited to document my growth on this blog.
until next time,
Andrea