PRACTICAL
Purses
M
y name is Joanne and I am a purse maker!
I have been sewing since I was a young girl. My first memory of sewing was when I was about 8 or 9. My grandmother was a teacher and she wanted my older sister and me to learn to hand sew before I learned to machine sew. I was taught how to hand embroider on pillow cases. She was an awesome lady. When I was 10 my mom started teaching me to sew with an electric sewing machine. I was a quick learner and was soon involved in 4H and was entering my projects in our local fairs. My senior year of high school I was entered into the state fairs for both sewing and cooking. I won blue ribbons in both categories. I continued to sew after high school and into college.
EQUINE Fashion
I graduated from college with an AAS in Radiology and specialized in mammography. During my work life I also had an entrepreneurial spirit. My first foray in to the world of cra�ing was when my girls were young. I started tole pain�ng and selling at local bazaars. I did that for almost 10 years. Bless my husband for his pa�ence with my cra�ing. I did take a break from cra�ing while my daughters were in high school so I could be involved in their sports and events.
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I started my first Etsy shop on a sugges�on from my oldest daughter. I was making aprons and giving them away when she said “Mom, you should sell them on Etsy”. Well, I had no idea what that was! I did what I always do…dive right in. I started my first shop TheCra�LadyCo in 2016. I have enjoyed the journey. I decided about 3 years ago that I wanted to sew a purse. I found my niche! I started my second Etsy shop to showcase my purses. Wow, it has been an interes�ng �me. I have “evolved” so much.
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