Sewing with Barbara M.

I was born in British Columbia, Canada, but grew up here in the beautiful Puget Sound area of Washington. Sewing and fabrics were very much a part of my life for as long as I can remember! My beloved grandmother was an excellent seamstress, and I can remember the lovely garments she made. Her hands were always busy and she helped support her family of 10 children in Canada with her sewing during the Great Depression. One of my most cherished pieces of furniture is her old Singer treadle sewing machine. My grandmother's sewing talents were passed to my mother, who also made beautiful clothes for me as I grew up. I can remember endless shopping trips to the fabric stores where I was fascinated by all the colors and textures! Eventually I began sewing my own clothing, and after I was married I worked for a time at the upscale Designer's Fabric store in Bellevue, WA. When my daughter was born, I found myself sewing dresses and doll clothing for her, just as my mother and grandmother had done for me. Sewing for children was so enjoyable that my mother and I opened a business called RuBarb Creations, where we made custom clothing for children. In 1995 I became the costume director for a private school. During the next nine years I costumed over 24 plays, including 7 major Shakespeare productions and 6 high school musicals. For over 20 years I was a piano instructor, having taught many children to enjoy playing the piano. My love of teaching and working with kids, and my passion for sewing and the fabric arts led me to finally fulfill my dream of opening a sewing school, where I have taught for over 6 years. I have an Associate of Arts Degree from Northwest University and a BA degree in English/Creative Writing from Seattle Pacific University. My goal is to pass on the joy of sewing, so that others can be encouraged to explore the wonderful creative world of sewing! I hope to enrich lives, giving my students confidence, a sense of accomplishment, and a life-long skill that is slowly leaving our culture. In turn, I hope to inspire others to share their talents with those in the world around us.