MEET THE INSTRUCTORS 

Meet Our New Sewing Instructor: Julie!

We’re thrilled to welcome a new face to our sewing family!

Get to know Julie through this fun Q&A.

Q: What inspired you to start sewing?
A: My mother’s sewing area was located in my bedroom. While most children fell asleep to the sound of their mother’s voice, I fell asleep to the hum of her old black Singer sewing machine. That sound is music to my ears to this day. I was never allowed to sew on her machine—it was her business tool, after all—but I would sit beside her and watch as she explained her process. There’s something so special about turning fabric into something both beautiful and useful.

My first sewing machine was a second-hand, green-coloured Singer, bought from a local store with money I received from my wedding shower.

Q: How many years have you been sewing?
A: I’ve been sewing for 48 years.  Now you know how long I’ve been married.

Q: Have you ever taken sewing lessons?
A: Aside from four years of Home Economics, I learned mostly through trial and error—and from my mother’s expert advice.

Q: What has been your biggest sewing accomplishment?
A: Designing and sewing my daughter’s wedding dress while we lived 350 kms apart. That was a true labour of love.

Q: What’s the most unique garment you’ve ever made?
A: My mother occasionally did sewing repairs for a downtown hotel and was offered some red velvet curtains from their dining room. I turned them into a very festive holiday dress and called it my Scarlet O’Hara dress.

Q: What is your favorite thing to sew?
A: I love garment sewing and alterations. While working full time in the corporate world, I also ran an alteration business. It was a great creative outlet. My husband called me the bag lady because I’d come home with bags of alterations from coworkers. I’ve pinned many a garment during my lunch hour in office bathrooms and stairwells!

Q: What can students expect in your classes?
A: Encouragement, patience, and a lot of fun! Whether you’re just starting out or building on what you know, I’ll meet you where you are. My goal is for everyone to leave class feeling confident and proud of what they’ve made.

Q: What’s one sewing tip you always share?
A: Start with the basic sewing tools, and build up to the bells and whistles. Don’t overwhelm yourself—enjoy the learning process.

Q: What’s something fun we might not know about you?
A: I once wore two different shoes to church and didn’t notice until halfway through the service!

We’re so excited to have Julie on board!

Beginner Sewing Classes start September 17 and run 1 night a week for 6 weeks – you’re going to love learning from her!

Say hello to Joanne, the heart and hands behind BusyBeeQuiltinStore—an adorable online shop made just for quilters who love the charm of English Paper Piecing (EPP)!??????????

Meet Eva Mikhaila Deeble
Our Crochet Instructor.  She is a Fabulous Fiber Artist named Eva Mikhaila Deeble - purveyor of Knowledge, Art, and How-Tos

Call me Eva (pronouns: she/her) and let's begin!

Q.  What is your history with fiber arts? What inspired you to begin, and how long have you been doing this?

A.  My whole family are artists, artisans, and craftspeople, amateur and professional, so I grew up with it. My mum supplemented her income and later earned most of her income by being a craftswoman for her sister's business. My dad was a jack-of-all-trades, good with his hands in many ways. My grandmother was a master quilter. Her husband was a master carpenter. My great (great?) aunt was apprenticed to one of Queen Alexandra's seamstresses back in England. I'm pretty sure my DNA is a double helix of wool and steel! I do not remember when I started knitting, sewing, and crocheting, so I suppose that makes it around 30 years... Give or take!

Q. What kind of training have you had?

A.  Aside from growing up with crafts all around, I also learned in school. I went to Parsifal Waldorf School until Grade 5, so many arts and crafts were integrated into the curriculum. In more recent years I have been doing occasional online classes and tutorials.

Q.  What are your Biggest Accomplishments

A.  Hard to choose, but my top 3 would be taking my Fiber Arts business to the Maxville Ren Fest, starting to write my own crochet patterns, and recently I designed and made some detailed pieces - 2 based on mythological creatures, and one closely inspired by the deep sea Vampire Squid.

Q. What are some fun facts outside of crochet?

A. Well, I am neurodivergent, and while I am still exploring the details of that, I am a huge advocate for inclusivity and diversity. I have worked in a bank for 8 years, and it still weirds me out when people hand-pick me for special projects, but they are usually right. I love cats, I prefer tea over coffee, and I am an introvert - but I also love dressing up! I am part of the LGBTQ+ and Goth communities.

Q.  What to expect in your classes?

A. A fun and practical approach to the subject matter. I strive to meet students where they are in their various journeys. I offer insights into the history of the craft, balanced with practical strategies for being a crafter in the modern, often busy world. I believe that making things and doing art is an important part of life, and that everyone should have access to the support they need to achieve their goals.

Q. What is your number 1 tip?

A.  Take a bit of time to understand yourself, your strengths and areas of opportunity, and most importantly, your crafting goals. The first three will help you build a map, and your goals are your compass to stay on track. Don't be afraid to explore new goals, but don't let anyone make you feel bad about what you want to achieve with your craft.