Meet the Team

I started sewing out of necessity. Having just finished college, I needed work clothes for my first job. With no funds to indulge in a work wardrobe, I pulled out my mom’s sewing machine and got to work. I have always been a maker, but, my mom was the real sewer, I had been the dabbler. It was at this time that I taught myself to sew. I learned so much back than, I had no one to seek help from, just my mom’s one sewing book. After sewing on my own for about 5 years I started to go to night school at George Brown for garment construction and patternmaking. I made my way thru the entire program earning a certificate in garment construction. This early experience confirmed my love of textiles. After 10 years in the magazine industry as a designer, I made the leap to go back to school earning a degree in fashion at Ryerson, where I was also introduced to wearable art. I have been sewing for over 35 years. I’m still teaching myself thru research, testing, and trial and error. I continue to design and create wearable art, first for women, now I design and sew a line of innovative men’s shirts. The exciting thing about creating wearable art, is that it has taught me to think outside of the box; honed my skills as a stitcher; and all of this has made me a fabulous problem solver. Having taught myself to initially sew and my love of designing and creating new works, allows me to share my extensive knowledge with my students. As I too continue to learn new things, just like the students at Sew Be It. All these traits makes me one of your awesome instructors.

I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I failed sewing when i was in junior high school. Sewing wasn't my friend then. I only discovered my love of sewing in my university years when I had the best teacher ever! I learned to embrace all my sewing mistakes and begin to enjoy the process of creating something from scratch.

Sewing taught me to think outside the box and problem solving skill because your sewing project do not always turn out the way you planned.

So now I take life the same approach. Just go with it because it will always work itself out.

I've been making clothing for myself since I was a teenager. Weather it was dying clothes, updating thrift-store finds or sewing from scratch I've always enjoyed the creative process involved in making clothes. I'm self taught and have made e-v-e-r-y mistake in the book so I know exactly how it feels to fail in your sewing projects! Trust me, I've been there. I had my own dress business for a few years and learned so much about pattern making, fitting and garment construction during that time. It was also around that time I was introduced to teaching sewing and I loved it from the start. Helping adults, kids and teenagers learn a skill and develop their creativity is so rewarding and I get so much inspiration from seeing people grow as sewers! I'm a knitter too and there hardly goes a day without me either sewing or knitting. I'm a complete craft addict and I must use my hands everyday. I hope to inspire my students to do the same while looking amazing in their most recent hand-made garment!