Susie Gay with Jeannie at a SAGA Convention Banquet.
Who taught you needlework
skills and when did you first start learning?
My Mother taught me to sew
using her Featherweight Sewing Machine (it is now my Featherweight Sewing
Machine) and my favorite color is always Blue!
What is your favourite form of
embroidery?
Featherstitching is my very, very
favorite embroidery stitch but I love them all.
When do you find time to
embroider/sew?
I stitch almost every day. As far as
finding time to do it? I think we can always find time to do things that
are important to us.
What inspires your designs?
My designs are mainly inspired by old
things. I love old baby clothes. I examine old baby garments for
inspiration and am lucky that many people share their treasured baby clothes
with me. Many of my designs/patterns and classes came from garments shared with
me. I am especially drawn to the styles from 1900 through 1940's.
Do you belong to a sewing guild of any kind?
I love to smock and I do
belong to a local chapter of SAGA, The French Handsewers. I believe it is
essential for us to support our local chapter and national guild to keep the stitching I
love so much alive. Remember: Ask not what SAGA can do for me, but
rather ask yourself "What can I do for SAGA?"
Where is your favourite place
to stitch?
I have two favorite places to
stitch. In the warm weather it is my garden. Natural light is so wonderful
for stitching and the flowers and birds make me happy! In the winter, I love
to stitch by the fire.
What is your most favourite sewing tool?
My most favorite stitching tool (besides
scissors and needle of course) is the Thimble. I carry it with me for any type
of sewing. I don't know how anyone stitches without one. It makes
your stitching so much faster. I think everyone should use one. If
you learned to use a fork….you can learn to use a thimble!
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Of what accomplishment are you
most proud?
Of which I am most proud? And
had the most fun of all doing it? I did some research at the Louisiana
State Human Ecology Textile department years ago when I was allowed to go
through their clothing collection of Infants and Toddler clothing. I was
overwhelmed with ideas as I looked at the baby clothes and helped them catalog
several of their garments. When they ask me to be guest curator for their
museum exhibit, I was thrilled. The LSU textile exhibit ran for a year
and is the thing in my career that I am most proud of and enjoyed enormously. I
masterminded the entire display and the textile department did all the museum
work, creating a professional exhibit. I chose the garments, wrote the
information, decided on every part of the theme and arranged the order of the
display. I titled it "Dream Stitches: Baby's Layette". The
exhibit focused on the stitching and planning of a Baby's Layette, displayed appropriate
items, information and garments dating from 1854 through the 1930's. It
was fabulous!
Jeannie says "I don't think a person should be too
serious about sewing. Do your best and enjoy every stitch!"
The Old Fashioned Baby
and her blog:
OFB Sewing Room Blog!
For more information on the SAGA Convention in Hampton, visit www.smocking.org
Another of SAGA's excellent teachers. I've taken several classes from her and she is delightful. Thank you for this fine series on the SAGA teachers.
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