Bella Bee is the name of my little 'cottage business' that I have created so that I can do what I love all day long.  I create handmade aprons, potholders, handbags, and other various accessories for the home and for self.  

I absolutely love to sew!  It has been my passion since I took my first home-ec class in middle school.  I remember I made a draw-string bag that I had 'embroidered' my name on, and I made a stuffed animal that I got to pick out myself and make from scratch.  That was so much fun, I remember being super proud of that little dog, and still have till this day.  I remember thinking that my home-ec teacher surely had the best job in the world...afterall, she got to cook and sew all day long, what could be better than that?  After I was introduced to sewing in school, I started asking my mom about the art of sewing and pattern reading.  She was/is a great maker of fabric items!  She made every curtain in our home, and of course changed them up as the styles changed.  She also made many of our clothes when my siblings and I were little, and crocheted blanket after beautiful blanket in the winter months.  Much talent for sure!!  She helped me read my first pattern, and from then I was hooked.  I think my first dress took me about a week or two, but I was darn proud of that thing when I was done.  Both sleeves were the same length, and all the seams were quite even.  During that life changing dress, however, I quickly learned that in order to create something that you love and are proud of, you have to have a great deal of patience.  And surprisingly when it comes to sewing and crafting, my patience level is quite high.  I don't mind taking out a wrongly placed seam, or cutting a whole new piece of fabric...that's just the name of the game. 

These days, I still love to read a pattern, in fact the other night, I found myself doing some bedtime reading of...what else...a pattern.  That's how much of a geek I am.  I was enthralled by all the detailed descriptions of zipper placements and pleats as well as the technical drawings and illustrations.  Since I am completely self-taught (I would love to take some professional classes one day), I am always looking for tips and tricks on patterns, so for me it really is a good read!