When My mom was alive she taught me how to use the sewing machine. She had a treadle machine, that I inherited. Dad had bought it for her.
Soon after she died. I was in a dance festival and I needed a dress for the dance. I was 16 years old and I made a dress like the others. It wasn't too bad. I knew that I could sew if I put my mind to it. After I had children, I made a lot of their clothes. One year Kent didn't have a winter coat and my coat was not very good anymore. I took the material from my old coat and made a coat for Kent. It turned out good. I didn't have a warm coat. One day aunt Ruth came with a new coat for me. She didn't know that I didn't have a coat. She was always doing good things for me.
Grandma Dunn made quilts and I helped her. I also made aprons with Grandma. She had several projects that I helped her with. She taught me a lot.
When we moved to Manassa, several people asked me to sew for them. That gave me a little spending money. I had a little business. The town of Manassa hired me to make banners that they hang across the street for the 24th.
I sewed for my aunts sometimes. Gloria came to my house and we sewed for Marcy, Danette and Cory, more for the girls than for Cory. We made jackets for the girls that were so cute and they wore them for as long as they fit. We made many dresses for them. Those were special times. When I moved away I missed those times a much ans anything.
When I moved to Mesa, Dottie and I made dresses for the choir and costumes for the pageant. We started a drapery business and made curtains for several chapels. I repaired stage curtains for the church. We sewed for people who needed anything made. One time I made a pair of pants for a man who was so large that he couldn't buy pants. Two teen age girls fit into those pants, one in each leg. I have a picture of them, if I knew where it is. I made a pair of pants for a girl who belonged to a riding club. She paid $100 dollars for that job. One time I dressed a bride and groom for the guest table. They were about 8 inches tall. She had a wedding dress and he had a tuxedo. I have a picture of them, too. I don't know where it is either.
Nona sold me here old quilting machine for $1500 dollars. It fit in the basement of the apartment in Mesa, but when I brought it to St George, I had it in the garage, and then I set it up in a building where there was a drapery shop. I worked there until Ward and I married. When we were in Sandy, I stored it in a room off of the garage. When we left Sandy, Wendy took it to her garage. I asked her about it and she had called Desseret Industries and had them take it away.
I have made quilts for every child when they married and for ever grandchild and great grandchild. last year I made bags for every person in my family and embroidered designs and names on them I did names on towels for many people. I have enjoyed many sewing projects.
In December in 2009 I helped finish Debra's wedding dress. The dress was beautiful but it was sleeveless and needed a top. That was a special thing for me. She looked beautiful. I also made a vest for Jon.
I still do jobs for people who need special things. I made flute bags for a man who makes Indian flutes. I made a bag for a business who needed to display samples. There is a lady who needs things altered. I do at least one job for her every month.
I have done some humanitarian things. I put about 50 dresses together. One person makes tops and skirts and I finish them. I have knit hats for them and some for family members.
I recovered a love seat that I have in my bedroom. I bought some fabric for it at 2 dollars a yard and did the work of covering it. It turned out very nice. I have tried to keep my home nice with curtains and draperies. I am thankful for the talent the the Lord gave me to sew.
