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My sewing journey started when I was eight years old with a box of unclothed dolls.

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One Christmas, my sister came home from work with dolls that were being donated to local community center. They all needed clothes, and somehow that job landed in my lap. The only problem, I had never sewn a thing.

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I pulled out the sewing machine and figured, "Something is better than nothing."

I laid each doll on a piece of fabric, traced around its body, cut out the shapes, and started stitching. The first few outfits were questionable to say the least.  But by the third or fourth doll, something clicked. A few days later, every doll had a outfit, and I couldn't have been prouder. That was the moment I knew sewing would always be part of my life.

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From there, I learned by doing. By the time I took my first formal sewing class in sixth grade, I already knew enough to surprise my teacher. I finished my class project, a tangerine cotton wrap skirt in just two sessions. Around that same time, I met (the late) designer Joe Brumskill, affectionately known as "JoeBri,” who became my mentor. Under his guidance, I learned theatrical costuming, couture techniques, and the artistry behind exceptional craftsmanship, all while building my own clientele.

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In 2003, I took a leap of faith. I left my job as a decorator to become an independent contractor, launched a Summer Sewing Camp for kids, returned to teaching sewing full-time, and introduced my Valet Alterations Service.

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A few years later, I relocated to Washington, DC, and founded Studio Tissue8, a creative space where sewing, upholstery, art, and community come together.

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Today, after more than 40 years behind a sewing machine, I'm still just as excited to teach as I was to make those first doll clothes. I believe sewing is more than a skill, it's confidence, creativity, problem-solving, and therapy all wrapped into one. Whether I'm teaching someone to thread their very first machine or helping a student transform a forgotten chair into a beautiful heirloom, my goal is always the same: to share my gift, preserve the art of making by hand, and inspire others to discover what they're capable of creating.

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Welcome to Studio Tissue8, where creativity is stitched into everything I do.

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