Friday, December 31, 2010

Introducing Joyfully Sewn Designs

One of the main reasons I started this blog was to provide a place to get a little more exposure for my sewing business Joyfully Sewn Designs.

Girls Twirl Skirt - Rainbow - Size 6/8



In November of 2009, I started an Etsy shop with just a few items of clothing that I had sewn in my spare time. I still have my Etsy shop, and have also branched out into a second shop on Artfire, but my love for sewing began much earlier than either of my online shops.

As I was growing up, I loved watching my Grandma sew whenever we would come visit her. She was always in the middle of some project, and it was often for me, or another family member. Little by little, I learned from her. Not only did she pass on to me the skills for sewing and her love of sewing, she also inspired me with the desire to use these skills to serve and bless other people. My Grandma is always doing something for someone else.

When I was about 12 or 13, my best friend and I did a sewing class together taught by her mother who was (and is) a good seamstress. We enjoyed working on our sewing projects together, and I gained even more knowledge and skill. I continued sewing off and on over the next few years doing little projects, but I didn't do any really serious sewing until after I graduated from high school.

The Christmas after I finished school, I decided to make a cute little dress and pinafore set for a special little friend of mine. This was my first major project on my own, and parts of it were a challenge, but I was hooked! The mother of the little girl I made the outfit for asked me almost right away if I could do some sewing for her. She was a busy home school mom, and didn't have time to sew.

From there, my ministry grew to include many homeschooling families in our area and even a few friends of friends. Over the past 11 years I have rarely been without a sewing project (or sometimes many projects) to do for friends and customers. I still love sewing, and when my local orders started to slow down some in 2009, I decided to try branching out into the online world.

Jumper and Peasant Blouse - Teal Hearts Size 3



I had several friends who had started Etsy shops, so I thought I'd give Etsy a try to, and launched Joyfully Sewn Designs in November of that year. Now I have two online shops, and I'm excited to continue adding new items to them as the new year gets under way. I will be keeping items in both of my shops, but my new Artfire shop will get the most new items as I'd like to make it my main shop.

Little Girls Jumper Set - Sunflowers Size 2



I'd love to have you come visit my shops and tell me what you think! :)

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Welcome to My Blog

Thanks so much for stopping by my little corner! This is where I will be sharing sewing tips, news and new items from my Etsy and Artfire shops, recipes, online deals, and even a few giveaways! Be on the lookout for my first giveaway to Joyfully Sewn Designs!