My Story

Hi, I am Bonnie, and I have been dreaming of teaching you how to sew in a way that is fun, green, modern and easy for over 20 years. My grandmother Virginia Smith - I call her mee ma and might refer to her as Willie too - used to invite me to stay with her at her beach house for a few weeks every Summer. I started when I was 9. Every day to keep me busy and keep herself out of the sun at high noon, she would sit me down at her big oak table and walk me through some amazing sewing project. We made awkward cabbage patch dolls and one shouldered splatter paint flashdance onesies. I loved, and still love, to design. I was born to sew; it just captivated me. I don’t think a day has gone by without my hands on a needle and thread for some reason or another. And I truly believe that I was born to teach you to sew, to bring this beautiful and essential craft back in to your life like my mee ma did mine. I will sit with you one project at a time and lead you through the essential habits you need to be able to make anything you want to.

I work as a freelance tailor in the fashion industry. I know … odd job. I alter and build samples on location for fashion industry photo advertising. Meaning — I travel all over the world with clients, models and photo production teams and I pop up my sewing machine on folding tables with a generator - on a beach or on a mountain or in a mansion - and I sew anything that is needed to help create a particular image. What that means for us: I have sat next to the most famous and talented tailors in the world for 20 years and I have asked every one ‘what is that one thing a person must know to sew anything.’ Common Sewing’s New Basics Beginner’s Series is all of that wisdom expressed in 6 basic projects that will give you all that you need to begin building beautiful things you want.

I have a bigger purpose here too; I believe that to sustain the textiles we live in, we as a people need to know how to work with them. We toss too many things in to the bin and create many millions of tons of waste every year. Fabric is a beautifully renewable resource, and my goal is to offer simple lessons to equip you to work with it so ‘we together will take part in lessening the load on our environment. These 6 basic simple lessons that teach the core skills of sewing will equip you to take care of your textiles; they will also enable you to build things you love and want to protect. I taught these lessons in my studio for 2 years. I have watched students explode creatively. I have seen alumni build etsy fashion businesses, design stage costumes, make heirlooms for their families, sew their own wardrobes, and enjoy sewing as a part of their lives like I do. I have taught mothers and daughters, retired grandfathers and every one in between. I have received notes from beautiful people telling me that learning this craft has given them hope and joy in times that were hard. And I have enjoyed my student’s delight at their creative ability every day! This program is designed to be simple and fun. Now that it is all online, you can take it at your own pace and learn from home. Sewing is easy, you can do it! Let’s begin.