time to revamp…

oh dear… I fear a revamp is in order.

It has actually been on my mind for a couple of years now… funny how time does it thing and marches forward with such audacity, leaving my intentions in the dust.

I have learned SO MUCH in the past 8 years, since that first moment I challenged myself to publish a PDF sewing pattern.

It was 2018, I had just enrolled for COLLEGE. Yikes. I was so beyond excited, and TERRIFIED. I still remember how my body felt like pacing and twirling day and night.

There was about 10 months before my first semester began and I was a tad nervous that I would be ‘too old’ and rusty to keep up with the sprightly youth that would be my classmates (I was 39 at the time). I reached out to my cousin, who was studying design, and asked what I could do to prepare myself. She suggested learning the Adobe programs. I was already proficient with Photoshop and Lightroom, from all the photography over the years. So…. I decided to challenge myself with converting all the sewing patterns I had made for the kids over the years into digital patterns using photoshop. I had a box full of taped-together newspapers, scrawled with notes that posed as ‘patterns’. 

It should be noted… my mother is a GENIUS seamstress. I would love to say I also relished in sewing - but, sadly, no. Sewing was just something you did. I learned how as a child, but I did not think it was a cool skill or anything. I did not see what an art it really was until much later, when I wanted to create something for my own kids, and no pattern seemed to match what was in my head. I would call my mom, and often over the phone, she would talk me through how to add shape and create this or that. 

Over the next few months, the box of mashed together paper patterns slowly become digital files with the help of a scanner, Photoshop, and a Word document.  On a whim, and maybe a smattering of wishing, I published the first couple of compiled patterns to Etsy. I still remember how nervous I was… my insides were butterflies and completely twisted knots. It felt very BOLD.

My first sale happened within the first few days… it was my good friend, Julie, that purchased the first ‘Whimsy Doll’ sewing pattern. She searched it out on her own volition just to show her support for my endeavours. Moments like that are the lights that guide me to the kind of person I want to be for others - I think of Julie and her generosity every time I see a Whimsy Doll. What a GIFT to be reminded of the love others give.

All that to say, I am still here 7 years later! And I absolutely LOVE it. There have absolutely been some major distractions with my intended direction over the years - for the longest time, I didn't believe that making pattern was ‘real’ enough and it was just on the side until I was a ‘real’ person with a job (??????? what does that even mean???????). I will not get into all that, let’s just say… I have found my footing and I am pretty happy about it. Sewing dolls and playful things tell a story and every stitch carries the love and wisdom of the maker - and I LOVE being to help others do that.

All that is say… A few of the patterns I created in the beginning really need an upgrade! I can do it better now! It is time to retire a few. I will share what ones that will be removed from the shop for makeovers soon!

Here are photos of the first Whimsy Doll Sewing Pattern. My Pippa is SO LITTLE. Sigh.