Going into the 5th grade, I spent the majority of my free time at the ice rink. I loved skating, games, and off-ice practices, but my body had different ideas. Whether it was the late nights or my body growing, I started getting chronic migraines. I went to doctors and got MRIs, but the only thing that eased my pain was sleeping. I made the tough decision to stop playing hockey, and with that choice came a lot of newfound free time. I’ve always liked being busy, so I dove into a newer passion, sewing. My mom gave 5th grade me her 40-year-old sewing machine, old sheets, and duct tape, and I got to work. I made purses and dresses galore, and while the creativity was there, the technique was missing. I wanted to know how to sew something so that you couldn’t see the seam and understand how to turn a vision into reality, and so I signed up for sewing lessons at Vogue Fabrics in Evanston, Illinois. 

   For three hours every Saturday until the end of 7th grade, I worked alongside 50-year-old women, learning about patterns, fabric selections, stitch types, and various sewing machines. My mom updated me to her unused Singer Ruby, and I invested in surgery, and I was hooked. By the end of 5th grade, I designed and produced a line of skirts that I sold at Frankie’s on the Park and developed a Cotton Candy brand. 

   In that production process, I learned it wasn’t the act of sewing that engaged me so much; in fact, I despised the repetition. What pulled me in was the opportunity to understand how things were made; how I could manipulate a figure by adding tension, changing the material’s weight, or adding darts. 

   I further refined my craft as I entered high school, focusing on the details. I could mass produce projects, but I focused on individual projects. Another athletic setback with an ACL tear my sophomore year, I was pushed again to re-devote my time to making things. I loved picking up on the little things, hearing that someone couldn’t find what they wanted online or just a mention of a cool item of clothing, and I used those crumbs to make gifts. I made college acceptance sweatshirts for my friends, extensive roman gear for my classmates. I pushed beyond sewing to other mediums to satisfy my intrigue in understanding how things are made. 

   But enough about the specifics. This website is a virtual portfolio for virtual times to capture the evolution of my art, and I hope you enjoy taking a peek around!