Hi from Courtney, October's Guest Blogger and Giveaway Winner

We are pleased to introduce Courtney, the winner of our October giveaway and guest blogger of the month. We asked Courtney a few questions to help us and all of you get to know her.

How long have you been sewing and who taught you?
I originally learned how to sew in elementary school and was taught by my Grandmother. Sewing has always been a big part of my life growing up, when I was younger my grandmother sewed a large portion of my wardrobe and lots of matching dresses for my cabbage patch doll. :-) After she passed away and I grew older, my mom took over the reigns and the sewing machine and sewed almost every dress I wore to any high school dance, including prom. After that, she sewed my wedding gown and most of the dresses for my wedding party as well. It was fitting of course, that my wedding gift from my parents was a sewing machine - an almost identical (although 30 or so years newer) to the one of my Grandma's that I learned to sew on.

Sadly it wasn't until the last year or so that I've actually been an active sewer. However, now that I've picked it back up (and am relearning a lot!) I am hooked - I have a bigger stash than both my mom and Grandma put together and I'm usually at my machine at least once a week. However, with a two year old daughter running around it's sometimes hard to actually get in the time I'd like and I consequently have MANY half finished or not even started projects laying around my sewing area (including my apron from the sew a long months ago)

Can you remember the first thing you made?
I can't remember the first thing I sewed by machine (although I do remember learning with the help of a book my Grandma got me where you sewed right onto the pages of the book and followed their stitch lines. That's how I learned how to make 90 degree turns) but the first thing I remember sewing ever was a small pillow in my girl scout troop in elementary school.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of sewing?
My favorite thing is the finished project - although being my own worst critic and a perfectionist I never seem to be 100% happy with the end results. Being able to hold something in your hands and say "I made this" though is always an amazing feeling that never gets old - bonus if you get compliments on it later.

My least favorite is all the prep work - gathering supplies and notions, washing the fabrics, that sort of thing. Oh and the fact that my machine is rather temperamental has been known to bring on the occasional nasty mood and even a stream of curse words on rare occasions.

When you are not sewing what do you like to do?
My daughter, husband and all our pets (3 cats, 2 dogs, hedgehog, 4 snakes, and mouse population) keep me rather busy. Outside of sewing and family though I'm still an avid crafter - you name it I'm at least willing to try it. I love to color and create with paper and I used to draw/sketch and paint a fair amount although I don't seem to find the time for that as much anymore. I'm also really involved in my Church including a weekly morning bible study and am the creative activity coordinator for our MOPS (http://www.mops.org) group. I also enjoy books and while I love to sit and read that is a hobby I don't get to pursue often, but I do listen to audiobooks a lot.

Tell us a little about your blog.
I actually have two blogs - one of them (daughtersofeveetsy.blogspot.com) is where I put all my creative endeavors and any support or announcements for my etsy shop (which has been woefully neglected as of late). I post things I'm working on or have finished recently, how tos for various things including the creative activity for our MOPS meeting each month, as well as posts from other blogs that I find motivating, helpful or inspirational.

I also have a family blog that I keep updated with day to day type information, I post our weekly menu plans, pictures of our family, the progress of my diet, you name it related to our everyday existance.

Tell us a little about your business.

I run an etsy shop - but as previously mentioned it's been pretty neglected lately. I sell a wide range of items from jewelry to burp cloths and even pet toys. Feel free to check it out kaugomu.etsy.com