Mel Designs

Growing up, I admired my Mother’s sewing but she was too impatient to teach me. Around the late 1990’s, I asked my husband for a sewing machine for my upcoming birthday. I was so intimidated by it for a very long time. Gradually I started to sew very simple things like lining the edges of greeting cards with stitches. It took me forever to learn how to thread the darn thing!

Yes, at the time everyone was into sewing purses from placemats and then having them monogrammed. I tried that for a while before the trend fell out of favor.

I use very little patterns that I don’t make myself but they are very simple. I would love to have the time to sew from a few of Heather Baileys patterns. I think it would be an awesome learning experience and enhance my abilities as a sewer and designer. Also, I adore her happy, quirky style.

My sewing room doubles as my craft room as I also create general crafting projects for the creative industry. Additionally, I am in a temporary living situation that has about one quarter of the size of my old studio. I am constantly amazed everyday that I am able to find my stash and make anything at all. I do find it imperative that things are immediately returned and stored to the place where I am used to finding them. Sometimes this takes a lot of time but also saves time since I always know where to find my scissors, bobbins, etc.

Anything latino inspires me. The upbeat and energetic music makes me happy. I am a part time Zumba instructor as well so I often find myself going over new steps at the same time I am creating.

I embroider, paint, create original kids crafts, mixed media, jewelry and write for the creative industry as well.