Well it has been a few months since I’ve been on my blog, I
wonder how you are doing but no one says anything, just read through my posts I’m
guessing. It’s okay that’s why I post. I’m a woman who loves clothing and ol
skool sewing.I seriously can’t help it lol! Let me take a few and explain a couple of
things on how I got here…I don’t think I have done that yet.
Well my name is Nadia Lake and I’m an aspiring
designer. I began sewing when I was a
kid, some twenty five plus years ago now. I started because I wanted my dolls to have
new clothes, so I would make them out of any fabric I could find around the
house. My mother had sewing books and I picked those up occasionally to figure
things out. I would ask her for help with the big black Singer sewing machine
she had, but for whatever reason she didn’t show me how to operate it. She said
it was broken and it probably was but that didn’t stop me. I grabbed needle and
thread and my story began.
Throughout the years I did small fixes and alterations on my
own clothes accordingly. I didn’t have the skill to make the outfits yet, so I would
draw on the sides of my notebooks and on random pieces of paper. When I find
that box again I will post some of the pictures for you.
When I was on maternity leave with my son in 2000, I made a
handful of pieces of my own for me and my little one. They were not perfect
like I wanted but I was still trying and it’s amazing I made anything on the
tiny machine I was using but I did.
Along the way when I wanted something different I would
hire a seamstress to make skirts and dresses for me. This still was not enough.
In 2004 my family and I moved to a house that came with a vintage Singer
machine. I thought it was destiny! This machine didn’t require electricity as
it had a foot pedal, and was in working condition. The dream continues and
begins again. That year I made a jean
skirt and an orange blouse. Still not the outfit of my many dreams, it was a
start. I also made some bracelets to go with it, but that’s another story for
another time.
It wasn’t until I read every Singer, Vogue and other sewing
book and encyclopedia I could get my hands on. During this same time, I
practiced the techniques listed in their pages and began watching sewing videos
and tv shows on pbs or cable. I was determined to understand garment
construction to its fullest. I asked friends and family and others for work to
gain more understanding and knowledge. I took on alterations left and right and
thankfully, I have not messed up anyone’s items. I thank them for the
experience and trusting me with their clothes.
From hand sewing to machine operation and serging wasn’t a
short trip, but I appreciate the journey. There were ups and downs throughout
the years, but I guess that how life is and you have to pick yourself up when
you fall and keep on stepping. That’s part
of the reason I continue this journey to see where else it will take me. Also
sewing is so much fun for me, problems and issues seem to melt away when I get
in front of that machine and focus my attention.
Well I will tell you more soon thanks for reading.
