I was born in Germany and sewing is probably in my genes passed down from my grandfather to my mother and then to me. Although I never new my grandfather, the remnants of his tailor shop were a distinct presence in the house where I grew up. Most of all there was one of those old treadle machine which everyone in the family knew how to use -- or at least tried to. Clothes you didn't buy - you make your own. I remember how thrilled I was at the age of 13 when I got my first store-bought jeans!

Once I came to the States, I sewed even before I my first child was born. For years I made my own as well as my children's clothes. When my daughter was 4 yrs old I started working for a drapery business and after about 16 yrs I went out on my own. Then there was a hiatus of about 10-15 years when I sewed very little because I went back to school to get my degree in German Literature and Culture.

About 6 to 8 years ago I began helping our local Botanical Garden with fundraising by making tote bags and potholders with orchid themes for their annual orchid show. Eventually this evolved into becoming more creative -- I added table runners, place mats, eye glass cases and gift bags. And along the way I remembered a promise I had made to myself years earlier: "When I'm retired I'll learn how to quilt". I love the creative aspect of working with fabrics, shapes, colors and especially those beautiful orchid prints. My latest discovery is the "attic window" pattern which always incites me to new and different designs.

I opened my Etsy shop several years ago when I taught Annie, my granddaughter to sew. She was just past the teenage and, of course, knew her way around the internet. She introduced me to Etsy and I now have shops -- this one devoted to all things "orchid", the other to general floral designs as well as cat and dog themed fabrics. Please also visit my other shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ISewTotes