Burda Style For people who sew

Where are you from?
“I live in Greenville, SC and I am an elementary school art teacher by day. I teach every grade at my school, four year old kindergarten through fifth grade. It’s a great job—busy, but very rewarding. I help kids make art all day long. I dabble in drawing, painting and printmaking myself. I’d love to illustrate a children’s book one day. At night, I sew fanatically. When I’m not actually sewing or cutting something out, I’m planning what I’m going to sew next. I love to make things. My mom is also an art teacher/artist, so I grew up immersed in all sorts of creative art projects and craftiness.”

Where are you from and/or where do you live?
I’m originally from Stavanger, Norway, but I have lived in Bergen for the past 7 years and consider myself as a local. I finished my master’s degree in medical cell biology one and a half year ago, and I’m currently working on a project that hopefully will turn in to my PhD.

How did you start sewing?
My mum used to sew a lot of clothes for me and my sister, and the sewing machine was always around when I was a kid, so I guess I have always sewn. Also, having both a granddad and a great-granddad who were tailors, and a grandma who sewed a lot, make me think that sewing is in my genes.

Is anyone getting married any time soon? Are you making your gown? If so, read on and check out these brand new sewing patterns for wedding gowns!

Where are you from and/or where do you live?
I am Indonesian and I live in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. I work full time for my own company, an interior contractor and furniture manufacturing company. I am also a mom to two little misfits

How did you start sewing?
I started sewing after having my first child. I was mesmerized by patchwork quilts, then I started taking some quilting lessons, but I think hand quilting is not my thing and so I bought my first sewing machine, hoping I’ll quilt using the machine.

Where are you from and/or where do you live?

I’m from Subang Jaya, Malaysia. I have just graduated with a degree in Food Technology.

How did you start sewing?

I started sewing when I was rather young. I guess watching my mom working wonders with the machine got me to try it out too. I remember that I was always into making my own little projects. I think it started off with making pretty dresses for my Barbie with my mom. Then I moved on to my little pouches, pencil cases and little bags.

I only started sewing clothing for myself a few years back and I have been actively sewing ever since. I always had problems finding clothes that fit well as I’m really petite. And the imported commercial brands that carry petite lines are too expensive for me to splurge on! One day I thought “ I could totally make that!”, it was a simple smocked top and there I moved on to many weekly projects to fill my wardrobe!

Last week we packed our bags and headed to Austin, Texas! While taking in our fair share of technological innovations, new music and fantastic street vendor grub, we helped sponsor a DIY fashion show with some seriously talented designers from around the country. Held at Etsy’s Awesome in Austin space, the show highlighted 15 designers and their handmade creations in front of a huge audience of fashion fans, bloggers, BurdaStyle and Etsy members and tons of SXSW attendees. See photos from the show after the jump!

Video by Jose Lozano at Magic Spoon Productions

In celebration of this week’s SXSW events in Austin, Texas – we are excited to profile a BurdaStyler and an Austin native!

Where are you from and/or where do you live?

I’m from Austin, TX and right now I’m a video editor for a website but I like to make sewing and designing more of a full time gig.

How did you start sewing?

I began sewing in high school but didn’t start working with patterns until college after a few bad experiences turned me off from clothes sewing (who knew reading the pattern directions could be so helpful?). My favorite project in my studio so far is probably my Striped Tulip Skirt, not because it is especially intricate or a masterpiece but because it took me multiple attempts to get it right and I’m glad I stuck with the pattern and finally found a fabric that worked for it.

Where are you from and/or where do you live?

I grew up in a village in the North East of Scotland called Newburgh, but have called Edinburgh my home for 11 years now. It is a beautiful historic city – small enough to cycle around, lots of green space and an extinct volcano right in the middle of the city. I work in a little art house cinema called the Cameo to pay my rent and am currently setting up a studio. I plan to start a business this year selling vintage inspired and reproduction clothing.

Where are you from and/or where do you live?

I was born and raised in California. I moved to Montana when I was 17, where I went to college at the University Montana Western. I moved to Philadelphia two years ago, and I reside in the area currently. Right now I am working on going back to finish my education. I was a fine arts major at UMW, but I took some time off to decide what I really want to do. My main focus is in photography, and in Philly there are so many amazing schools that specialize in the arts. I’m looking into going to Moore right now.

1. Where are you from and where do you live?

I was born in Paris, but I grew up in Normandie and then in the south of France. I live now in Montpellier. I am a 4th-year medical student, and I love it! But I am afraid I’ll soon have to pause sewing, because it demands more and more studying…

1. Where are you from and/or where do you live?

I am from Anhui, China, but have been in the states for very many years now. Currently, I live in Chicago where I am a Biochemistry student at the University of Chicago.

1. Where are you from and/or where do you live?

I live in a tiny village in South Gloucestershire, UK. There is not much there in the way of shops…or anything really. I seem to spend most of my time on the bus at the moment, in search of civilisation. But that is fine; whilst you cannot sew in a moving vehicle, knitting is ideal, which is another of my hobbies. I’ve recently starting studying Fashion Design at college, which is great. Doing what I love everyday is like a dream.