My original plan for this post was just to write about my first sewing project. But, as I thought about it, I remembered that my desire to sew came from an exceptionally dorky place, so I figured I might as well write about that first.

Each year, we have a holiday portrait taken of our dogs (for photographic evidence, please direct your attention to: Exhibit A). To keep the pictures from looking the same each year, I always try to find different holiday collars for the dogs to wear. One year (I think it was 2006), unhappy with the collars I had purchased, I decided to dig through the photographer’s trunk of dog outfits to look for something better.

What I found was one of these: 

click the image for purchasing information

Unfortunately, since the photographer only had one, and I was looking for a matched set, I had to use the crappy collars I brought with me. But, when I got home, I started searching online for where to purchase the ties for the following year’s portrait. When I found them, I was shocked to learn that they were nearly $30/each (they’re currently on sale for $15.99, by the way). I mean, I’m crazy when it comes to buying stuff for my dogs, but even I wasn’t prepared to shell out $60.00 for two collars that would be worn for a maximum of 10 minutes.

Looking back, I should have just spent the $60.00, because my first sewing class cost more than that. But, hey, at least I didn’t get ripped off on those ties.

In another dazzling display of thrift, more than a year before I even had access to a sewing machine, I made my first sewing purchase: 

click the image for purchasing information

Almost a year later, and still with no access to a sewing machine, a trip to Japan prompted me to begin looking for Japanese sewing patterns. This lead me to Sweet Lucy’s, and my second sewing purchase:

So, the story begins with a dog tie. Life is weird.