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My name is Tamara and I was exposed to the rumbled hum of the sewing machine at an early age as 2 strong women modeled this art to me -- my Mother and my Baba. The floral fabric on the backdrop of this website comes from a teeny square that I hold precious, from when my Mother sewed matching dresses/skirts for the ladies of the house: me, at about 4 years old, my now one-eyed dolly named Suzie, and herself.  I remember the grand event of going to the fabric store with my Mom and little sister, picking out our very own patterns for shorts, dresses, and later Home Ec sweatshirts, with the fabric of our own choosing. When I was in still in Elementary School, I remember ogling the Sears Catalog at a particular variegated black skirt with an amazingly detailed back kick pleat. My Mom bought an almost identical match of fabric and with just the catalog picture cut-out, we sent the package off to my Baba. Not long after, we received a Sears skirt clone back in the mail, only better, as my Great-Grandmother always hand stitched the hem. (My Baba has just recently celebrated her 103rd Birthday!) |
When I was a teenager, my Mom sat me behind my first Singer, in the hopes that I would follow suit, and I impatiently started on making my own Barbie clothes. In High School, my best friend and I used to be frequently in trouble with the Home Ec teacher, setting the machine on maximum speed! Like my cooking, I still like to sew on the highest setting! I often sew free hand, without pins, and even avoid the pre-ironing phase. I invite challenge and, just like my Baba, 2 years ago, I proudly sewed my son a bat Halloween costume, without a pattern! |  |
I proudly live in PG, BC with my precious family, work as a Youth Care Worker, and my hobbies include drawing, writing, photography, enjoying the outdoors, and volunteering at my son's school. I channel my creativity into craft time with my sons, unassembled craft kits for children, and one-of-a-kind sewing items -- bibs, blankets, aprons, bean bags, heat bags, and bags. In turn, my 2 sons play the part of my product control panel and have been given opportunities to test drive new products and make and assemble each craft kit to capture photos and to perfect each instruction. I revel in stitching gifts with love and care. I have been making and selling bean bags for 10 years now. About the same time, I started making aprons for everyone and anyone, and I delight in sewing baby blankets that become that favorite blankie or woobie!
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The earth is important to me and I am a serious recycler (I have been known to pick tin cans out of friend's garbage and even bring home plastics from restaurants!). I delight in recycling fabrics, ripping fabrics, piecing material together, challenging grain lines and traditional sewing customs, working around hand stitched hems and re-sewn buttons and sew-cycling rags to stitches! Whenever possible, I recycle clothing, buy previously enjoyed cloth and buttons, and I have even been known to cut down on mass consumerism, scouring second hand shops for thread! I have been selling my wares for the last 8 years and since the last year, my product spans our local community, at the Prince George Art Gallery, Huble Homestead, The Railway Museum, Gingerbread Toys, Pawsitively Gifted (Pet Toys), Barkerville, and I would like to keep going, featuring my products, as local and northern made gifts, in local and northern store windows and gift shops. Sew North Gifts was showcased at a PG Work At Home Mother's Tradeshow, March 6, 2010, in Prince George. |
