Hi! I'm Shauna

If you’ve been hanging around checking out Sew Modern Shauna - Thanks! It’s about time I tell you a little about me.  My name is Shauna and Sew Modern Shauna has come about organically as my love for sewing has grown.  My sewing story is a little unconventional. Growing up, I didn’t want a single thing to do with sewing.  My mother was an amazing seamstress, making most of her own clothes, even while she was in high school. The photo below is my mother (on the right) pictured with her sister in gorgeous outfits that she made.  My sisters and I were often dressed in homemade matching dresses, and my dresser drawers were filled with clothing in 1970’s polyester fabrics and motifs. Most of my early school pictures featured outfits made by mom.  Enter the early 1980’s and all I wanted were the Jordache jeans with a big ziggy comb sticking out of the back pocket.  Homemade clothes were not cool and I decided at an early age that I wanted nothing to do with sewing.  I specifically chose a different elective than Home-Ec in Jr. High School. I look back fondly now on the memories of my mom’s blue Singer sewing machine on her sewing desk with it’s drawers overflowing with notions, tools, jam jars filled with buttons, rick-rack and the like.

My mother and her sister matching suits that she made.

Fast forward many years when I had my first child. I cobbled together a toddler sized bear halloween costume for him with the help of a home ec teacher I knew because I had no clue what I was doing! Later when I moved to another state with 3 kids, I had grandiose ideas of making pajamas and “cute clothes”.  A friend of mine helped me get started with patient instruction and the loan her sewing machine.  I loved the time spent at that machine - the sound of the needle and feed dogs humming away, the feel of fabric moving through my fingers across the stitch plate, the thrill of making something.  Most of what I made didn’t turn out the way I wanted but it was still ok. I had a big pile of unfinished projects - my children grew faster than my ability to finish something in their size.  

My mother passed away in 2009 and I brought home her Bernina that had replaced the blue Singer.  I remember when she got that machine - she remarked that it looked like “the cockpit of an airplane” with its fancy buttons and features.  I returned the machine I had borrowed from a friend and signed up for a sewing class at a local fabric store.  Sewing now brought new meaning to me - it allowed me to fee close to her. How I wish I would have learned from her while I still could.

Years after life took me down unexpected roads where I didn't sew much, a friend of mine asked me to learn to quilt with her.  I had ZERO interest in quilting.

I had only ever seen were traditional quilts at craft shows, and while beautiful and skillfully made, they weren’t my style.  Reluctantly, I joined my her in a “learn to quilt class”. Big surprise, not only did I fall in love with making quilts - I jumped off into the deep end of quilt-making and the rest is history! I'm seeing a pattern here.

Since then, I am finding my own creative voice, my own mix of modern quilting garment sewing and bag making interests.  I’m even dabbling in knitting and handwork here and there. I have a list of things I still want to learn - but one thing hasn't changed - I still love time spent sewing. The hum of the machine, the feel of fabric, the awe in making something still draws me in. I’m excited to share what I’m learning with you but more than that - I'd love for you to come along with me!  Tell me your stories and what you love most about sewing and making. Make sure you drop something in the comments before you go!

PS - that sewing table that held my mom's blue Singer? That piece of furniture now sits in my home office as my desk!