Today I want you to meet wonderful Sally, the creative energy behind Sally Bee Makes. How this busy young mom finds time to sew and blog is beyond me, but I am glad she shares her journey with us all!
Pssst! Sally made the Style Arc Ziggi jacket below in the my Ziggi Sew-Along earler this year. I think she did an awesome job, don’t you? Now let’s hear from Sally!
Crafting has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. Â School holidays were spent learning knitting, cross stitch, quilling and all sorts from my Mum and Gran. Â Sewing was one of the few things we didn’t do, so I’m not sure what it was that planted the seed in my head but I knew that when my Mum asked me if there was anything special I would like for my 21st birthday there was only one answer: a sewing machine. Â After all these years it is still the best present I have been given.
It started off practically – I was fed up of being unable to find clothes that fitted and that I liked, but it took me a while before I started wearing the things I made, not because they weren’t very good (I still wear the first skirt I made) – they weren’t great but they were wearable. Â It was all down to confidence, or rather my lack thereof.
My already low confidence took a big hit when I became a mum. Â I was at home alone with my daughter most days, I was exhausted, wrapped up in looking after Faith, and, let’s face it, mostly smelled of baby sick! Â I lived in jeans and whichever top was least unclean. Â As such I had neither the time nor inclination to sew.
It was arranging Faith’s christening that got me back into it. Â I was determined to make her gown and it was the best thing I could have done. Â The gown was far from perfect but she looked perfect in it, and it was that which made me realise that it doesn’t matter that things aren’t perfectly sewn, no one sees all the mistakes I see and they probably wouldn’t care even if they could. Â What matters is that I like them and feel good in them.
Once I’d got over that hurdle there was no stopping me. Â I began sewing whenever I could, I started wearing the clothes I made more often and I began to feel like me again.
As for perfect sewing, I’m still working on it – I feel like I’ve come on leaps and bounds over the past few years, mainly thanks to picking up tips from sewing blogs. Â Seven years ago when I was sewing my first skirt, I could never have imagined I would be sat in front of that same machine making silk bridesmaid dresses for my sisters wedding and feeling completely calm and confident in my abilities to make something so special.
Why is sewing important to me? Â Well, without it I would be one stressed out, unhappy mum but with it I have the confidence to be me and I think that’s the most perfect thing about it.
Sally, thank you so much for sharing your story and why sewing matters to you. Your daughter Faith is lucky to have you as a creative role model, and you get the fun of making special garments and memories just for her. Keep on sewing!
Happy sewing!
Maris