ABOUT SEW JOE

I have been stitching garments since I was a little girl.  I had just received a Barbie doll, and since we couldn’t afford the .79 cents for that great little black evening dress, I was fortunate that my mom let me use her sewing machine. I still have the machine, which is probably not worth as much as the bubble-cut Barbie doll I don’t have now.

I started sewing professionally 30 years ago with bridal & bridesmaid gowns, theatrical & Halloween costumes, and did countless alterations. I still want to make a grown-up version of that little black gown that my Barbie had, remember the skin-tight one with the tulle flounce at the ankles? --well you just can’t walk in that thing.

My education includes two years at Pasadena City College in the Fashion Program where I learned more advanced couture sewing methods, pattern draping, flat-pattern making, grading, apparel design, illustration, history of costume, textiles and fashion show production. I included three semesters of ceramics during that time because playing in the mud was just as therapeutic as the sewing.

I’m finally getting time to design and sew handmade purses and accessories.  I like mixing fabrics and textures and adding trinkets and found objects to my work.  Having lots of fun and will be posting them in my new Etsy Shop in the fall of 2010.  Check out some samples of my work below.

                                                                                                                                              --Jeanie Joe