Why I do what I do!

I was a bit of a klutzy kid—rough and tumble, moving quickly through life and collecting nicks and bruises along the way. I was hard on my clothes, especially my shoes. My hair was fine, with no body, and I battled a large, persistent cowlick. I rarely felt pretty or cute—until my mother made me a beautiful suit when I was 10 years old.

The jacket and skirt were crafted from a lavender linen-like fabric, and the sleeveless blouse was sprinkled with tiny purple and lavender blossoms. I still remember the feeling when I slipped that outfit on—I felt pretty. It was an odd sensation, but I liked it. It wasn’t just that I felt pretty; there was something more, something that made me feel special. When I wore that suit, I felt different—not exactly powerful, but confident. At the very least, it gave me the sense that there was more to me than I had thought. 

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My mom played a big part in encouraging my sewing and design. She tried to teach me some hand sewing and enrolled me in a 4-H sewing group. I wasn't naturally a good seamstress and Mom's help with projects along the way really encouraged me to keep trying. 

One year for Christmas after my kids were all raised Mom sacrificed part of her very limited income to buy me a dress form. I was overwhelmed—it felt like validation of what I was trying to do. Sometimes, all you need is one person who truly believes in you.

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 I think I’ve been chasing that same “lavender suit” feeling my whole life—that sense of being pretty and special. And yet, there’s resistance to embracing “pretty.” Every culture has its definition of beauty. Today, ours seems tied to attracting a sexual partner, with rigid standards that have nothing to do with our soul, our gifts, or our natural loveliness. On the other end of the spectrum, some dismiss the pursuit of “pretty” as vanity. “Good girls” are taught to be compliant, and to not to call attention to themselves through dress or manner.

​But what if “pretty” is what we are meant to be? What if it isn’t vanity at all? What if it isn’t just about our bodies but about expressing our souls? Pretty might just be  the doorway to discovering who we really are—daughters of Divinity? A way we embrace being angels of Light? Beauty is a visible reflection of loftier ideals, an expression of goodness and virtue. Beauty is connection with the divine.

​I am drawn to beauty and long to create it because I am my Father’s daughter, and that is what He has done and continues to do. I want to be more like Him. That is why I love creating beautiful clothing—not just for myself, but for other women. I want them to experience that same lavender suit feeling. Because just as that lavender suit did for me, a dress with the right fit, a flattering silhouette, and a fabulous fabric can absolutely change the way a woman feels about herself.
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