Learning sewing at school seemed more of a chore than a pleasure. However, it was part of the curriculum and so you accepted it. To take measurements, draft the pattern, fit the garment and then finally sew it just seemed to be a never ending process. It wasn?t until I left school that I began to enjoy sewing. I was able to look through catalogues, see a design that I liked, purchase the pattern, and then sew, thus affording me to make clothes that I liked for a price that was within my budget. Trying to follow the pattern instructions seemed confusing, so I would sew the garments together my way.

After making my debut grown and other ball gowns, I found that sewing became easier which meant that when the time came for my wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses to be made, I was able to tackle the task with ease.

Having two children to clothe I decided to purchase my first electric sewing machine that allowed me to make their clothes in a much shorter time than when I would make them on my mother?s treadle machine. I enjoyed designing and making their play clothes and then their school uniforms. Still, sewing was attempted through necessity rather than fun.

It wasn?t until I attended a Stitches and Craft show and sat in a workshop conducted by Patti Palmer from America that interest in sewing really started. Following Patti Parmer?s workshop was Martha Pullens Heirloom Sewing workshop. I decided to see what Heirloom Sewing was all about. I was so inspired by this workshop that I knew that I had to find out more about this form of sewing. I purchased Marth?s books and read them over and over again from cover to cover and I was convinced that this was the form of sewing that I wanted to do.

Christening Gowns were featured extensively in Heirloom Sewing and so I thought that I would try and find out more about these garments that seemed to have a very interesting history.

I decided to retire from office work, and felt that I would like start my own business, and since I was interested in Christening Gowns, I decided to sew and sell Heirloom Christening Gowns. Because I was working from home, I found it difficult to attract customers, so I thought it might be a good idea to enter our local agricultural show to gauge people?s opinions on my designs.

To my delight and surprise, my first gown that was entered in 1993 gained 1st place in the Heirloom Section. The next year,1994, I not only entered the local show but I decided to try my luck at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. I was fortunate enough to win 1st, Champion and Overall Grand Champion at our local show, and I won two 1sts, 2 Special awards for sewing and embroidery, the Standard of Excellence Award and was the Inaugural winner of the prestigious Francis Binnie Memorial Trophy. Because of my success I was invited to represent the Arts and Crafts at a cocktail party at Government House in Sydney, my presence being requested by the Governor of New South Wales, Governor Peter Sinclair, as he personally wanted to congratulate me on my work. Since that time I have been very successful winning over forty awards for my work.

I have demonstrated sewing on the Madeira stand and conducted workshops at the Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane Craft shows. My garments have been displayed at the shows as well as other venues. I have conducted classes on Heirloom Sewing in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. I have had my own stand under my business name of Precious Moments Fashions at the Sydney Stitches and Craft shows.

I have written my first book titled ?Heirloom Timepiece? produced by Aussie Publishers, as well as written and produced on my own computer, two booklets ?How to sew a Christening Gown? & "How to sew Baby?s Bonnets?. My two videos were released in February, 2001.

These videos are teaching videos based on the basic and advanced techniques in Heirloom Sewing.

My work has been featured in many publications, here in Australia, Country Craft, Craft and Decorating, Machine Embroidery, Bear Collectables, and in Martha Pullen?s Sew Beautiful in America. I now produce my garments in pattern form, which I sell here in Australia and overseas.

My love for sewing has gone from strength to strength and I am now finding that I am keen to try many types of sewing. Since purchasing my first Pfaff machine, not only has my sewing improved, but combining the machine with the computer, a new world has opened up and I find I am trying new and wonderful techniques that I would never have thought possible.

To this end, I am now sewing free motion embroidery, applique, patchwork, quilting as well as embroidering beautiful designs on my Heirloom garments. I am proud to say that I have recently completed my teachers' accreditation and am now a Martha Pullen Licensed Teacher of Heirloom Sewing. It was a lot of work, but well worth it. 

My greatest satisfaction comes from the ladies in my sewing classes. The admiring comments, encouragement and willingness to learn urge me to keep on designing and sewing.