Burda Style For people who sew

1. Where are you from and/or where do you live?
Well, I grew up for my earlier years in Southern California, then moved to Manhattan for a number of years before deciding to go to school in BC Canada and now I’m settled in Vancouver BC.

2. What was the 1st thing you made? How did you start sewing?
I started sewing by doing embroidery, which likely explains why I sew all of my clothes by hand. I’ve never had a sewing machine. I used to embroider handkerchiefs a lot, so I’m pretty sure that must have been my first project. Just one of the random things that I saw at some point and decided I wanted to do, so I went to the library and started taking out books that illustrated different stitches. I was probably about 9 when I started sewing.

3. What role does sewing play in your life?
Sewing is another artistic outlet for me, and hopefully will come to be a bit of a financial support, too. I’m an actor, so I love having something like hand sewing or knitting that I can do while I wait backstage. I hope to turn this into a part time job of sorts that will still bring me fulfillment and happiness with a flexible schedule and some cash that would work well with my hectic rehearsal and performance schedules; sounds like it would beat waitressing to me. It also is part of my individuality. I’ve grown up not having a body or tastes that always fit what is out in stores, so sewing clothes is one of my favorite ways of expressing my uniqueness.

4. What is your favorite and what is your least favorite thing about sewing?
My favorite thing is putting on a finished product and knowing that it is finally ‘mine’…at last. My least favorite is when I make a mistake that is just way to much work to go back and fix, but knowing I’ll never be satisfied if I don’t.

5. If you could make something for anyone who would it be and what would you make?
I would love to do some kind of full out historical reproduction of corset and undergarment maybe…and being the selfish person that I am (and an actor) I would love to make it for a role I was playing.

6. What are you looking for on our site? What do you think should be improved and what do you really like?
I love how helpful this site is, between the budget friendly/free patterns, the how-to lessons and sewpedia…not to mention the inspiration that all of my fellow sewers are to me. There is so much creative stimuli to be found on here.

7. What is your motto?
“Pleasure not known is half wasted. To anticipate it is to double it.” – Return of the Native

Shalyn‘s style is very close to my heart. She caught my eye with her 1950’s Cocktail dress and soon there after her Wedding Blouse, once the Mad Men LBD showed up i just knew she had to be a featured member! Check out her top ten favorites and stop by her store for some deals!