I love to find ways to do cool things without spending a lot of money. That sounds simple enough, but I really am guided by a love of fine, beautiful things and an unwillingness to spend money on attaining them.
From as long as I can remember, I would sit at home for hours pouring through J.C. Penney catalogs. When we went to town, I'd sit at the counter of the local J.C. Penney fabric counter (the only department type of store and only fabric store in our small town) and go through and through again the Simplicity, McCall, and Vogue pattern books. I studied those books and then I'd look at each fabric bolt, imagining what it could be transformed into with a bit of time and inspiration. I didn't really know what I was looking for in those catalogs, but I was fascinated by the decor and fashion of people who were different than what I knew. I later realized that Penney's wasn't the only design source out there, but for a child in Grove City, PA it was what I could find.
In our little school libraries, I'd find the craft books and later art books and find ways to use the techniques they showed and later to mimic much of the art I saw.
Not having access to funds when I was young and being 6 foot tall when I was 12 lead me to learn to sew really well when I was still young. I didn't realize that most people didn't get what they wanted when they wanted. I also didn't realize that most other people didn't necessarily have to find a way to make cloths that looked like they fit and/or make home decorations that they could afford.
I went to college, studied English, would up with a teaching degree and have been a teacher for 25 years. I still love working with students, but my love of making things has never wained much. I love my Lord and Savior first, my family second, and making things definitely comes in a solid third.
Even if I could afford to buy whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, I think I'd still by nature have to try and make for myself all I could.I don't even think it's a product of the way I was raised as much as it's a by-product of my DNA. I just have to make things. If I can't physically make something, then I can't turn off my brain--I'm still planning things in my head, looking for supplies, thinking of ways I could re-make something into something fabulous that I'd love to have.
If I were trained, I'd probably love to be a decorator. . .but I'd probably switch my mind and want to do something else before long.
