4 minute read
Sew Mindful
All Matthew Boudreaux AKA Mister Domestic wants to do is spread joy & positivity through sewing and crafting
Mister Domestic
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When did you start sewing?
Although I owned a sewing machine for much of my life, I barely had the skill to sew curtains that didn’t fall apart until after my almost seven year-old daughter Helena was born in 2013. I had always talked to my spouse about wanting to learn to sew and how neat it would be to connect with our child if we were ever blessed to have one. Shortly after her birth, I was gifted a couple of apparel sewing classes for my birthday, which was precisely what I needed to uncork the magic that was hiding inside just waiting for the right inspirational moment.
What has sewing brought to your life?
At its core, sewing has brought a dependable joy filled activity into my life that I know I can escape into any time that I need to re-centre my spirit.
On a grander scale, sewing has provided a medium, and the Internet has given me a platform to create a community of like-minded sewists, quilters and makers that share my mission of spreading joy and positivity. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that, at 43 years of age, me just being
Playroom by Mister Domestic for Art Gallery Fabrics
my authentic self combined with my fearless approach to impossible projects and colour would be the catalyst for all this.
People talk about sewing as a way of instilling an inner hygge. Why do you think sewing and crafting has this effect?
Okay so first, I had no clue what hygge was and, now that I do – it’s my new favourite thing! Sewing and crafting are done at home for the most part, which lends them both to be filled with the comforts and coziness of home. Add on top of that the love that goes into every stitch and the community (whether online or in person) that sewing and crafting both inspire and you’ve got yourself some hygge soup right there!
Tell us about your YouTube channel and the amazing response that you’ve had?
For years, I was petrified to get on YouTube. As anyone who follows me on any of my social media platforms
Playroom by Mister Domestic for Art Gallery Fabrics
know, I unapologetically live my truth and pride myself on my authenticity. I spent too many years peeling back the layers of protective artifice to stand firmly in my skin (warts, vulnerabilities and all) to be anything but me. And YouTube is that space on the interweb where the most of any creator is on display, also potentially inviting the anonymous hatred of trolls into their life. But the leap to YouTube became a business need for Mister Domestic as I found video the easiest way for me to answer questions, and share information to as many folks as possible. I had no idea that it would take off like it did, and that so many people from all across the globe would be drawn to my style of teaching and sharing. Now 150+ videos in, I’ve no plans of stopping and will continue sharing to as many folks as are out there that need a little extra joy and positivity in their lives.
What’s it like to become a fabric designer and having your designs in print?
It’s wild! Never in a million years did I ever think I’d become a fabric designer in my 40s. The guidance and support that I receive from my Art Gallery Fabrics family blows my mind and propels me to heights that I never dared to dream in the past. I tell everyone that I’m a maker first, so I’m always thinking about how different prints and designs could work in actual projects as I’m designing. So it’s super cool to then get those designs and then make the things I was envisioning in my head as I was designing.
If you could collaborate with anyone in the sewing world, who would it be and why?
Awe, I know this is going to sound cheesy, so be forewarned. Honestly, I would continue to collaborate with the entire sewing community online and in person. Every day, multiple times a day, I am awestruck and inspired by folks in this community, which lifts me up and both makes me better as a creative and makes me want to be a better human. The message of spreading joy and positivity through sewing and fabric play over in the Mister Domestic world isn’t something created by me. It’s created by all of us, and I am so honoured to be on this journey with so many awesome folks who just want to keep it positive.
View Mister Domestic fabric collections for Art Gallery Fabrics here hantex.page.link/agf
Playroom By Mister Domestic for Art Gallery Fabrics
