Proudest Achievement

There are three awards I'm most proud of.

Singer Sewing Award

When I was seven years old, I was making my own play clothesand by eight, most of my school clothes, too. I entered the Singer Youth Sewingcompetition when I was nine. I bet my dad I could win. The grand prize was aSinger sewing machine. While I won at the local and district levels, I onlyearned an honorable mention at the regional level. My prize was a giftcertificate and a very nice sewing basket. Still, I was devastated. Dad was proud.He surprised me with a Singer sewing machine of my very own. I continued makingmany of my clothes throughout high school and college.

Promising Designer

At Mount Mary College, I continued honing my sewing skills and developing as an artist. There I discovered two important things that would shape my sewing future. First, I learned couture sewing techniques – skills that still serve me today and help me to achieve quality results. Secondly, I learned to quilt. My freshman year I entered the Gimbel’s Most Promising Designer Scholarship competition. I was honored to win the award.

State Fair

If you remember my post, Most Impactful Class, I created a quilt for my newly born cousin Ariana. With Diane Gaudynski's help, it turned out to be an award winning quilt. I entered the finished quilt in the Wisconsin State Fair. And, I won. First place in the Baby Quilt Category AND the Exceptional Workmanship award from Wisconsin Quilters Inc. I was thrilled. It is the Exceptional Workmanship award I appreciated most. Having other quilters recognize and honor your work is humbling.

What is your proudest achievement?